Seriously thoughtful Do avatar images influence your impression of personality?

[Spectrum]

Wide smile is mesmerizing!

[Moejoe]

I change my avatar dependent on mood and what's influencing me. I have no idea what it's going to be from one day to the next I must admit that I've thought of posters being a specific gender because of their avatars, and sometimes I've confused the post of one person for another because avatars were similar.

[FizzyWater]

I'd be more likely to think people's avatars are an extension of who people wish they were, if it had anything to do with their personalities. I know it's true for me - I've always been the overly responsible one in the family and at work. So I envy the "flapper" personality - one that can just go out there and grab fun as it comes!

If I had to pick one that was more like me, it'd have to be:

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

As someone who partially uses his presence on MR to promote his business, I have most often used avatars designed to represent my books site, not me... though I have used the "Steve Headroom" shot on occasion, as I have also used it on my site at times. I see no reason why an avatar has to be a representation of a person... an icon works as well.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

Wide smile is mesmerizing!

Yes it is.

[montsnmags]

I probably take some first impression from avatars, especially the amusing or impressive ones, be they artistic, or animated like RWood's and TadW's (one of my faves). I'm not sure how long those first impressions last before they're overwhelmed by reality.

I love your avatar, Ea. I don't know that I take anything from it other than that pleasure.

My avatar does change, but it does tend to gravitate to this one, created by the often-absent-and-much-missed Taylor514ce. I have no idea what first impression people get from it. It amuses me, and without being so foolish as to delve too much into the reasons lest I not like what I see, I also feel that the mask fits my face like a glove (a glove made in the shape of my face).

I think if first avatar impressions count, they can only count up to one. If that's what people want to count to, well, I'm a monkey-masked fool in a propeller-beanie... move on, there's nothing else to see here. If people look beyond that initial mask though, I would hope that they'd then get the distinct impression that I'm more than that - that I'm a monkey-masked fool in a propeller-beanie, that also likes icecream.

In the end though, people will take impressions from your avatar, your location, your job, your gender, your hobbies, your proclivities, your signature or even your use of fonts, slang, grammar or choice of words. A cynical part of me sometimes thinks that much of our impression of an individual is determined by a ragbag of nurtured prejudices vying for attention. I regularly beat with a stick that cynical part of me, but it just lies there looking at me with now-confirmed disappointment. Bastiche.

Avatars are possibly what people want to be, how they want to be perceived, or how they actually are, or are even meant ironically (in that they're the exact opposite of who they are). Possibly they're an outlet for or example of their own creativity. I figure that unreliability of determination is not without its charm, as it tempts one into finding out more about that person, by interacting with them. That seems to me like a good thing. Hey, it worked for Zelda.

Cheers,
Monkey-faced beanie-boy (a.k.a. Marc)
(PS. There are no useful impressions to be obtained from my username without awareness of what it actually means - generally difficult without me telling you, and dull when I do)

[SolRaven]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Not really, but I do find it confusing when two people use the same avatar!

Sweetpea whenever I see you avatar I'm immediately reminded of my cat that went missing 1.5 years ago. If I didn't know any better I'd think that was her in you avatar. Her markings, the shape of her head, everything, looked just like your kitty in your avatar. Even the way she use to cuddle and nuzzle her self into you was like your avatar. Heck, I may even have this exact same pic of her.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by RWood

I have kept the same avatar (except for a single two-week period) since I first joined MobileRead. Many people -- self included -- will see the avatar and if it registers in the brain then I just skip the name and go directly to the body of the post. I use (if available) the same name on all forums; but, a unique avatar for each forum. This helps me to keep the posting on track. If the avatar is a moving bar code then this must be MobileRead and we will avoid talking about Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Even when she has changed her avatars, I have always known that they were Daffy. Some people like Alex (founder of MobileRead) and Bob Russell (a MobileRead moderator) have drawings that look like them. I met Bob once and his avatar looks more like him than his driver's license photo looks like him.

ok, quick bar code story... my son has a bar code tatooed right smack dab in the middle of his shoulder blades. the numbers underneath are my, and my daughters birthdates.

...back to your regularly scheduled banter...

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I change my avatar dependent on mood and what's influencing me. I have no idea what it's going to be from one day to the next I must admit that I've thought of posters being a specific gender because of their avatars, and sometimes I've confused the post of one person for another because avatars were similar.

and I swear there are times you change your avi more often than I change my undies! (times folks! not always!)

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I probably take some first impression from avatars, especially the amusing or impressive ones, be they artistic, or animated like RWood's and TadW's (one of my faves). I'm not sure how long those first impressions last before they're overwhelmed by reality.

I love your avatar, Ea. I don't know that I take anything from it other than that pleasure.

My avatar does change, but it does tend to gravitate to this one, created by the often-absent-and-much-missed Taylor514ce. I have no idea what first impression people get from it. It amuses me, and without being so foolish as to delve too much into the reasons lest I not like what I see, I also feel that the mask fits my face like a glove (a glove made in the shape of my face).

I think if first avatar impressions count, they can only count up to one. If that's what people want to count to, well, I'm a monkey-masked fool in a propeller-beanie... move on, there's nothing else to see here. If people look beyond that initial mask though, I would hope that they'd then get the distinct impression that I'm more than that - that I'm a monkey-masked fool in a propeller-beanie, that also likes icecream.

In the end though, people will take impressions from your avatar, your location, your job, your gender, your hobbies, your proclivities, your signature or even your use of fonts, slang, grammar or choice of words. A cynical part of me sometimes thinks that much of our impression of an individual is determined by a ragbag of nurtured prejudices vying for attention. I regularly beat with a stick that cynical part of me, but it just lies there looking at me with now-confirmed disappointment. Bastiche.

Avatars are possibly what people want to be, how they want to be perceived, or how they actually are, or are even meant ironically (in that they're the exact opposite of who they are). Possibly they're an outlet for or example of their own creativity. I figure that unreliability of determination is not without its charm, as it tempts one into finding out more about that person, by interacting with them. That seems to me like a good thing. Hey, it worked for Zelda.

Cheers,
Monkey-faced beanie-boy (a.k.a. Marc)
(PS. There are no useful impressions to be obtained from my username without awareness of what it actually means - generally difficult without me telling you, and dull when I do)

to me the message I get from your avi is; "everyday is an adventure with Marc!"

[Katti's Cat]

Originally Posted by Lirael

it's sort of like, the avatar becomes the "face" of that person.

Rofl - I better look for another one

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by RWood

I met Bob once and his avatar looks more like him than his driver's license photo looks like him.

So, either his avatar is awesome or his driver's license photo is horrible... (or both!)

Originally Posted by SolRaven

Sweetpea whenever I see you avatar I'm immediately reminded of my cat that went missing 1.5 years ago. If I didn't know any better I'd think that was her in you avatar. Her markings, the shape of her head, everything, looked just like your kitty in your avatar. Even the way she use to cuddle and nuzzle her self into you was like your avatar. Heck, I may even have this exact same pic of her.

I generally use a cat avatar. And this cat was so easy to make pictures from! He was always asleep. He passed away 1.5 years ago.

And you do know that this picture was 'shopped, right?

(let's see, it has Mark, DGM, Z, Daffy and I can't remember the other one!)

[vivaldirules]

No...

[Ea]

I often confuse people with the same avatar - and unless they have a really gender specific user name, I also usually unconsciously get a hint from teh avatar. For example, this thread is the third time I'm surprised to learn the daffy4u is female.

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I probably take some first impression from avatars, especially the amusing or impressive ones, be they artistic, or animated like RWood's and TadW's (one of my faves). I'm not sure how long those first impressions last before they're overwhelmed by reality.

I love your avatar, Ea. I don't know that I take anything from it other than that pleasure.

My avatar does change, but it does tend to gravitate to this one, created by the often-absent-and-much-missed Taylor514ce. I have no idea what first impression people get from it. It amuses me, and without being so foolish as to delve too much into the reasons lest I not like what I see, I also feel that the mask fits my face like a glove (a glove made in the shape of my face).

I think, for me, avatars are reality online. It's the only visual cue I have to the identity of the person. In your case, the propellor hat says 'nerd', 'IT'. The monkey face is someone who's a bit unconventional, perhaps artistic, have wide mental horizons. Remeber you chose this exact picture over others - and you chose to have an avatar image in the first place.

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

As someone who partially uses his presence on MR to promote his business, I have most often used avatars designed to represent my books site, not me... though I have used the "Steve Headroom" shot on occasion, as I have also used it on my site at times. I see no reason why an avatar has to be a representation of a person... an icon works as well.

Do you know what your avatar reminds me of if I don't look too closely?

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I'd be more likely to think people's avatars are an extension of who people wish they were, if it had anything to do with their personalities. I know it's true for me - I've always been the overly responsible one in the family and at work. So I envy the "flapper" personality - one that can just go out there and grab fun as it comes.

You're probably right. It's like dressing up for a carnival - people's costumes can be quite telling.

[kennyc]

Yes avatars and pseudonyms. Some use the avatar to push their agenda -- those bother me. I also hate animated avatars because they are so distracting as I'm trying to read. I prefer people use their real names so automatically discount any postings made under an assumed name.

It's also annoying when avatars change constantly.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yes avatars and pseudonyms. Some use the avatar to push their agenda -- those bother me. I also hate animated avatars because they are so distracting as I'm trying to read. I prefer people use their real names so automatically discount any postings made under an assumed name.

It's also annoying when avatars change constantly.

I agree with you about animated avatars - some of them are really annoying (and before anyone mentions it, clicking 'esc' everytime you enter a page, is a bit annoying, too )

Kenny, you thought my name wasn't real - how would know if people do or not? I also don't see you discount a lot of posters with what appears quite obvisously not to be real names
Some people may have good reasons not to divulge their real name on the Internet, too.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Ea

...and you chose to have an avatar image in the first place...

I was badgered into having one.