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| Thread: To what extent do our avatars affect people's perception of us? |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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blizzardboy
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Nerf Herder
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posted November 14, 2010 10:47 PM |
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To what extent do our avatars affect people's perception of us?
Reflect on this.
As far as my person is concerned, I must say that depending on what a person's avatar is, it can subtlety affect how I perceive that person.
One example is with Carcity. In the past he had the avatar of the laughing skeleton - most of you know what picture I'm talking about - and during that time I rarely took anything he said with a good measure of respect because he just seemed like a jovial idiot to me. When he switched to the picture of the fiery redhead, I started respecting him more (key word: more  ), and although I'm sure he's gradually matured over time, my perceptions shifted significantly all at once with his avatar change.
Another is with Geny. With his traditional avatar of the 'Benediction' icon, I saw him as a sideline guy and supporter, almost as if he were the mascot of a sports team. Now that it's changed to the Silent Stalker, that image of him has faded somewhat.
We also have Xerox. When I first started posting here he had the avatar of the Heroes 4 Titan, which looked rather immature and blockheaded. I recall he underwent a few avatar switches, but he eventually ended up settling with the fiery demonic avatar, at which point I started looking at him as a more mature person than when he had the H4 Titan avatar.
Or Vlaad. When I was first started posting here he had the picture of the elegant king stroking his chin. I saw him as somewhat pious and detached, but when he switched to his new avatar, I saw him as wizened, deep, and like a grandfather figure.
Or we have Elvin. At one point he had the avatar of the Arcane Archer, and I perceived him as somewhat obnoxious since he was using such an imba unit as his avatar. When he switched to the Assassin's Creed avatar, he changed to being seen as more elusive and relaxed.
Or PhoenixReborn. Originally he seemed to constantly switch to a new avatar every few days, and I saw him as unreliable and fickle. Eventually he settled with the shining unicorn avatar, and then... yeah..... no comment
Alcibiades at one point had the avatar of the bald H5 priest, and I saw him as a reserved and serious poster. When he switched to the brunette-haired knight, I saw him as more youthful, but still serious.
When Veco had the avatar of the Dungeon Siege creature, I saw him as being pensive and reflective, because of how he had his hand on his chin and was looking into the distance. With his newer avatar, I see him as more unstable, loco, and comical.
Even the perceptions of myself change somewhat according to my avatar. When I first got the avatar of the white squirrel with the large testicles, I only had it up for a few weeks before I switched back to my older custom avatar, because I started looking at myself as a complete joke and I eventually wanted something more serious; I'll just switch to the white squirrel every so often but I can't hardly stick with it for a long period of time.
***
Now of course, these reflections I'm giving might be somewhat exaggerated, but having looked back on it, they are true. Does anybody realize that a person's avatar has an effect on how you perceive them? If so, perhaps an avatar decision is more important than you realize!
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"Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us."
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veco
Legendary Hero
who am I?
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posted November 14, 2010 11:00 PM |
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Edited by veco at 23:03, 14 Nov 2010.
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Of course it has a huge impact, hoomanz depend massively on what they see. The avatar is similar to a smiley in that regard
as it sets that one smiley on all of your posts. Rereading old posts after a person switched avatars changes how you feel about the post.
Being fully aware of that I switched to the peekaboo anime avvie because the old rusty Gnarl was a bit too "sophisticated" It was a real struggle between the two though.
 vs  ?
cute/spooky one wins
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none of my business.
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Adrius
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Stand and fight!
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posted November 14, 2010 11:06 PM |
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Edited by Adrius at 23:11, 14 Nov 2010.
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Geny had some black angry dude as an avatar earlier that kinda freaked me out. I was a nervous newbie though.
Was really surprised when I learned that he wasn't even black 
I still get annoyed when I see that H4 Titan avvie, anyone who wields it starts with bad Adrius approval by default. Poor newbies.
Having the Guts avatar has caused me to use more big words and bb code. My favourite is bold + georgia + red, makes me look all rage and serious and stuff.
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
Yeah.
EDIT:
@B-boy: Really agreed on the Vlaad and Alcibiades avvies. Alci felt much more... threatening before (combined with his mod-status), and Vlaad just felt utterly superior somehow.
Might just be that I've become more familar with the forum, but earlier I would've hesitated to reply to their posts.
But again... nervous newbie.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted November 15, 2010 01:03 AM |
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BAN veco!!!
I don't know what influenced me into thinking that
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MightyMage
Honorable
Legendary Hero
of INSANITY and DELICIOUSNESS
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posted November 15, 2010 02:01 AM |
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For years (I'm talking 2001 - 2005) people thought I was black just because I had H3's Dracon as my avvie. Go figure.
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Though I must still bow
in awe for the awesomeness that is
MightyMage. For he is all I could ever
want to be! - OhforfSake
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted November 15, 2010 02:35 AM |
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everyone knows you are actually blue
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Aculias
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Pretty Boy Angel Sacraficer
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posted November 15, 2010 08:04 AM |
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Well when i came into my first name, no one knew me & i was having a little fun with a real old Mod named Rogue.
Then about 3 days later I had this name & i always wanted to see a Chimera in a Heroes game.
I found a tight pic & had that Chimera Pic for about 7 years.
Even had my same Signature since i created my Aculias name.
Except I added the Angel Sacraficer in 2002 i think.
When i dominated An Old great heroes 3 player named Art Pendragon.
I had the game 100% won then after i accidently sacraficed 12/15 Arch Angels.
So good news & bad news.
Good news is I brought back 18 pikemen
Bad news is I lost all my Arch Angels forever lol.
I dont think I seen my mouth ever drop in a heroes game lol.
When i heard the rare death cry of the A Angels, i knew i screwed myself back when the TOH was a hugh cutthroat tourney!
MerMan is my Initials.
M.E.R My first 3 letters of my first name starts with Man lol.
Man once i talk, I can go for a long time LOL.
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Dreaming of a Better World
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Carcity
Supreme Hero
Blind Sage
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posted November 15, 2010 08:24 AM |
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How can you take the red fiery guy more serious than the laughing skeleton? I get that you think my current one looks more mature and respecting and all, but seriously?
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Why can't you save anybody?
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baklava
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Mostly harmless
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posted November 15, 2010 08:54 AM |
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Well to be perfectly honest it looks kinda like a gay version of Rutger Hauer in his younger days. 
Also, JJ, I disagree; what's next, if you start using someone else's avatar everyone'll think you're that someone and not yourself?
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"Let me tell you what the blues
is. When you ain't got no
money,
you got the blues."
Howlin Wolf
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Elvin
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
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posted November 15, 2010 09:58 AM |
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I always took it for a granted, people do judge a book by its cover  But hey our avatars affect even us so that's hardly surprising. Funny you should mention the arcane archer, initially I disliked it for the same reason. Alas the H2 phoenix did not fit well in a shield and since I already had a tradition of elven avatars I figured what the heck, might as well continue. Amusingly I am not much of an elven fan, it just happened that my initial avatar was the portrait for my first Baldur's Gate 2 character. Then there was Elvin Fury that was too hard to resist and the story goes on.
Pretty much agree with city, he did had the image of a full written all over him though I believe it was the combination of his posting style with the avatar that gave that impression. Aidan suited him better since it was more passionate and serious(though I still considered the character immature ), as for Dante it kinda gives him an emo status.
I found Geny's benediction hilarious myself. I obviously could not take it very seriously, one can never forget the witty dark spammy Wrathmont  When pan left and he started changing avatars it felt like he lost his identity but the current one fits him too much That and the status fit like a glove.
Xerox.. Yep blockheaded is the word, then that ghost gave him the sneaky yet shy creep image and currently he looks naughty, pretty fitting 
Vlaad remains as awesome as ever, he may look more respectable and less snobbish but the wit is still there. Of course I rather prefered the previous one.
Phoenix, I always saw him as the quiet guy who is not quite ready to settle down. Current one is actually funny though I am not sure if it was intentional
Alci indeed gained a more youthful and casual look but I believe that his more open posting helped in that respect. That priest and rapid thread locking gave a strict image heheh
About veco if you knew gnarl you'd consider him comical from the start. Both fit his carefree, lighthearted and mischievous nature.
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H5 is still alive and kicking, join us in the Duel Map discord server!
Map also hosted on Moddb
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted November 15, 2010 10:08 AM |
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I honestly don't pay much attention to Avatars, maybe because there for a long time I changed avatars what seemed like every day. I have noticed that people do treat me different now. *shrugs*
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Message received.
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted November 15, 2010 10:12 AM |
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My avatar wants to cleave through this thread.
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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SwampLord
Supreme Hero
Lord of the Swamp
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posted November 15, 2010 06:15 PM |
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I would agree that avatars do probably tend to affect peoples' perceptions of one's postings. I'd think it's more of an enhancing effect, though; if you post silly things and have a silly avatar, or if you post in a bit of a stupid or argumentative fashion and have an avatar that reflects that, it's probably going to enhance the negative perception people might have of you.
I'm kinda curious as to what impression my avatar might give.
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They can take my swamp, they can take my town, but they will never take my FREEDOM!
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted November 15, 2010 06:58 PM |
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I don't think Mordock influences anyone's perception of me. If it did, well, congrats to you?
C'mon, I don't really look like an axe murderer, do I?
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted November 15, 2010 08:02 PM |
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Edited by Fauch at 20:03, 15 Nov 2010.
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I don't know if I get influenced by avatars, but I usually look at the avatar to know who posted. (which isn't always a good idea)
oh, and I'm really a 3 headed dog in real life.
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted November 15, 2010 08:05 PM |
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Edited by Geny at 21:53, 15 Nov 2010.
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For the avatars did greatly affect my view of a member, but only when it was my first encounter with him/her. For example, when I just joined william had this wrinkled necro hero as an avatar and for quite a while I thought he was a very mature grown up trying to explain his point of view to the younger people... Yeah, I know.
After I get to know a certain member his avatar changes may confuse me for a short while, but don't really change my opinion of him.
As for our own avatars changing our behavior, for me it was always the other way around - I changed my avvies depending on what image of myself I wanted to point out.
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DON'T BE A NOOB, JOIN A.D.V.E.N.T.U.R.E.
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bLiZzArdbOY
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Nerf Herder
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posted November 15, 2010 09:25 PM |
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Quote:
Also, JJ, I disagree; what's next, if you start using someone else's avatar everyone'll think you're that someone and not yourself?
Admit it, when you see my avatar, for a fraction of a second you can't help but visualize me as a hairy man in his 50s wearing suspenders and drinking beer out of a tin stein while surrounded by sexually attractive grocery produce.
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"Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us."
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted November 15, 2010 09:27 PM |
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Nope but it does make me wonder why you spend so much time fantasizing about JJ.
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bLiZzArdbOY
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Nerf Herder
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posted November 15, 2010 09:32 PM |
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Who doesn't spend a lot of time fantasizing about JJ?
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"Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us."
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Keksimaton
Promising
Supreme Hero
Talk to the hand
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posted November 15, 2010 09:40 PM |
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Just imagine how much it would affect our perception of our fellow forum goers if all our posts were written by hand.
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Noone shall pass, but no one besides him shall pass.
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