Do you think that the avatar a person uses affects how you think about them, or how you react to their posts. Or do you never look at them so it has no affect on you.
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Do you think that the avatar a person uses affects how you think about them, or how you react to their posts. Or do you never look at them so it has no affect on you.
People with arses for avatars are often arses and people with breasts for avatars are often tits.
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
Avatars are too small to reflect an entire person.
I was thinking of it more as a "first impressions" kind of thing. They say that first impressions are very important. I just wondered if, subconsciously, the avatar influenced how we read the other persons post and hence meaning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfmight
Sometimes.
Usually, the avatar is just a quick visual reference as to who is posting, without having to read their name.
I'm envious of people who's avatars have become synonymous with their identity, such as your Quincy.
Pinhead suits me just fine. I like the sneer.
Good post, poor rod.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbarossa
I was more thinking of drawing a conclusion based on the avatar they see. I suspect that would be entirely subconcious, so not really drawing a conclusion per se.
e.g. a new member may read your posts as being more aggresive than you intend them to be, simply because of the image which accompanies them. Like a subliminal advertising type thing.
i always imagine columbo or whichever tv detective it is reading JP's posts. and lilmiss reading dorisinsinuates :dabs:
do you imagine a sri lankan rapper woman reading mine? :unsure:
No, but I don't imagine anyone reading anyone's posts. In any case, your avatar looks fairly neutral to me and is unlikely to affect how I perceive your posts. Save that it may make them seem a wee bit more bland.Quote:
Originally Posted by GepperRankins
so the union jack in mine means i'm a nazi?:blink:
:schnauz:Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
I'm convinced that MagicNakor really is a wizard, and Lynx really is a muppet, so I guess you're right. :)
Also, for ages I thought Sara looked like Xev. :w00t:
Not a nazi, no. However it does come across rather aggresively, based on the highjacking of the Union Flag by the extreme right wing, football hooligans etc. Tell me, was that your intent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Proper Bo
I suppose my avatar combined with my sig does make me look aggressive! :o
never thought about that before. :(
rod?Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
It's a band's logo (ironically, skins who sing alot about football)
P.S Not right wing
I don't think anyone who knows you would be affected, other than at the most subliminal level. However that can be quite important.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbarossa
As for new(ish) members, they may take you at face value.
It's not really your intent I'm talking about, I thought I got that across. It's how you may be perceived by others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Proper Bo
More importantly the negative effect the image may have, out of the corner of their eye, as people read your posts.
For example I had no idea it related to a band, so what I see is a Union Flag, which to me now has negative imagery. What you intended when you chose it is of little moment to me or any other reader.
Maybe I intended it to be misinterpreted for comedic value:smilie4:
Maybe so, however again it's not really your intent I'm interested in. More the actual effect it has on how people perceive your posts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Proper Bo
Another example, Busyman has a gun firing. Does that make other people get the message that he is more aggresive than he actually is. Thus (again subconsciously) reading his posts in a more aggressive manner than he actually intends them.
Skizo has George Bush as an avatar, does that make other people perceive him as being a buffoon?
It may very well for some people, or a figure of derision.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbarossa
I say again, I suspect that there may be more to this than conscious value judgements.
I just felt like using the word "buffoon". It was enjoyable. :)
Actually it's a good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbarossa
I think some people (like me) would take that as badinage. Whereas others may have taken it as a sarcastic pop at Skizo.
I know that this decision will mostly be based on past experience, however to what extent was that past experience based on first impresssions.
I think yours suits JPaul as you are very anylitical and just like Columbo you eventually get to the point.
I'm keeping my eye on Skizo... :shifty:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...sh-combine.gif
I'm going to take that post as a compliment, tho' I'm not entirely sure there wasn't a wee barb in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gripper
Yours really is rather sinister, I don't see how it wouldn't have some effect on your readers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Skillian
My avatar was designed specifically to confuse merkins. Which it does, bitch!
:smilie4:Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
i know that it's a character out of a game, so like. i can't imagine it having an effect other than saying he's a fan of half life 2
I thought Geppers was a zombie or something
Yours has a feel of friendly pop rather than a sarcastic dig. That of course is on a conscious, analytical levelQuote:
Originally Posted by manker
For me it doesn't evoke any strong emotional response. I wonder if it does for anyone else, consciously or subconsciously.
I return you to the point I made earlier. I had no idea it was a character from a game. So all I get is the image, in isolation. To me it's a sinister image.Quote:
Originally Posted by GepperRankins
It's back to what you intended, as compared to what I perceived.
Most have little or no effect being neutral with an occasional that suits the poster and creates a package.
This is the only time I think an av affects my perception of any posts...
So you don't think there may be any sub-conscious element. A subliminal preconception based on your own personal prejudices with regard to negative symbolism attached to an image, or person.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
The only thing I see is a quick referance to the poster as mentioned so as to not having to read the name. Those whose av are well chosen to fit thier posting style just have created a better package so in short no...Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
Fair point, I wasn't really saying that it was one way or the other. I just wanted to put the notion across to see if there was any validity in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
Do you think however that it may have an effect on newer members. Using Barbie's avatar as an obvious example. Will people who don't know him read it as being more aggressive, simply because of that.
If theyre excitable perhaps...Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
Indeed.
Think smileys have more affect as Ive learned...Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
I started using it on a different forum. I was a mod and we did a fantasy football thing. About 25% of the players were American. The fantasy football game took over the whole forum and in the end the forum was devoted exclusively to footie.Quote:
Originally Posted by JPaul
To a man, the Americans were rubbish at getting their transfers, team changes and injury swaps to me on time. So I got one of the blokes to make me this avatar as a parody of the, then popliar, American Idol.
I like it so I use it here even tho' it has no relevance at all.
Or does it :shifty:
This is true.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
Dicktwat :angry:
:)