Avatar Association

[Lace Neil Singer]

No, not the movie; I'm talking about that little picture under your name. XD This came up in discussion on another forum; we were talking about how we start to look at avatars and somehow, see the person as that avatar. XD It's particularly funny when you have genderswap avatars; ie, a man who has a feminine avatar and vice versa. On the forum that the discussion took place, my avatar is of the Black Cat from Marvel comics. I've actually had people look at my avatar and associate it with me; tho flattering, is not exactly true at all. And frankly, I'd be a little insulted if anyone on Fractching is thinking that I'm a psychopathic narcissist. XD

Anyone do this? Do you look at a person's avatar and see that person? If they have had the same avatar for a while, then change it to something completely different, do you then "lose" them on the forum and have trouble finding their posts? Any other opinions on this subject?

[draggar]

And frankly, I'd be a little insulted if anyone on Fractching is thinking that I'm a psychopathic narcissist.

What, you're not?

Depends on the avatar. If it's a real photo of a person (and not some celebrity or obviously not them) then I do tend to think that. If it's not a real person (or is a high profile person) then I would think it's their message, someone they look up to, or someone they're a fan of. I'm unfamiliar with the charater in your avatar but I'll assume you are a fan of him (or at least the anime series he's from).

Oh god, do some people think I am an animated (like in magic, not drawn) Gadsden flag?

[Hobbs]

Well, from a thread back on CS, I know there are a few CSers who raise hell if they change thier avatar. As for me, I change it with my mood and no one seems to care, and that's all right with me. I do tend to think in the realm of associating avatar with person; so when someone posts "I did <blank> today..." I imagine the avatar doing said action. *The results are often amusing.

*A good example is the CSer with Trinity as her avatar. When she talks about her kids, I imagine Trinity driving a minivan or something. Apologies if you're on this board, but I don't remember your name, Trinity-CSer.

[HYHYBT]

It's natural enough (though I assure you I strongly disresemble mine) to associate the only visual image you have of someone with what they look like; it's not that different than thinking of "Lace Neil Singer" as your real name, and in both cases it stops working the moment you think about what you're thinking. As it happens, HYHYBT *is* my real name, which is why I've given up being upset over people mispronouncing it.

(And yes, that last sentence is a joke, just in case someone thinks otherwise.)

[IDrinkaRum]

Oh God ... I hope no one thinks I look like Cowthulhu!

I'm neither a cow nor am I Cuthulhu.

And Rummy is not my name.

Just for the record.

[Ghel]

Well, knowing that people would associate me with my avatar, I picked a nice, sweet, um, secretary-type character. Because, um, that's how I want to be viewed. Yeah, that's it.

[jackfaire]

Lol I don't tend to use an avatar but my handle is also the name I write and travel under.

I use my legal name with people that know me personally and at work. The rest of the time I prefer my handle, penname, gamer tag (all the same), whatever you want to call it.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Feel free to associate my avatar with me, if only because it is, in fact, a picture of me MP5 FTW!

The human mind, to say nothing of other animals, is built to make associations. If one thing always follows or precedes another, you come to expect both. It's therefore no surprise that this happens for many people.

[smileyeagle1021]

I don't know what everyone is talking about when they say their avatars don't look like them... I mean I really do look like an Eagle with a cheesy grin carrying a smiley face

[muses_nightmare]

I totally tend to do that when people have a photo, even a celebrity. My mind does strange things sometimes. I don't know if anyone has ever assumed my avatar was me, except maybe on Deviantart, in which case that's fine because it is me.

[Lace Neil Singer]

What, you're not?

Depends on the avatar. If it's a real photo of a person (and not some celebrity or obviously not them) then I do tend to think that. If it's not a real person (or is a high profile person) then I would think it's their message, someone they look up to, or someone they're a fan of. I'm unfamiliar with the charater in your avatar but I'll assume you are a fan of him (or at least the anime series he's from).

Oh god, do some people think I am an animated (like in magic, not drawn) Gadsden flag?

You are a snake... aren't you? XD

My avatar is actually from a video game; one of the Streetfighter games, one I've never actually played but I like the graphics and the character, Vega, is the one I normally play in the Streetfighter games I DO play. XD

I find on CS.com that people associate me with my avatar on there; I've tried to change it on a couple of occasions, only to find people demanding that I change it back.

[ArenaBoy]

I'd be flattered if people think of me as a bald guy who wears misshapen glasses.

My avatar by the way is Spider Jerusalem, from a comic called Transmetropolitan. He's like Hunter S. Thompson only more insane.

[Bloodsoul]

So, wait.. does that mean I'm Steve Allen? Or a disc-shaped piece of card board?

[draggar]

I'd be flattered if people think of me as a bald guy who wears misshapen glasses.

I thought they were old-school 3D glasses.

[Lace Neil Singer]

So, wait.. does that mean I'm Steve Allen? Or a disc-shaped piece of card board?

You're Steve Allen, of course! Inventor of the pog.