Avatar message?

[DennisK]

Do you find that avatars may send the wrong message depending on your post?  So many posts are misinterpreted due to our innate need for visual communication.  It's often time difficult to read sarcasm and subtle jabs because we yearn for having a visual reference.  Since they are usually unchanging, do you think avatars get in the way of communication?  It recently dawned on me that mine can lead people to think I am out to antagonize or maybe my avatar subconsciously effects another's interpretation of my post.  I love sarcasm, but I don't always include it in my posts.  Do you believe me, or do you think I'm being sarcastic now?   Any thoughts?

[curiosityandthecat]

I just thought you had poor teeth, hypertrichosis and an abnormally long tongue.

 

[rlrose328]

Well, the heart on curio's avatar makes me like him more.  

I don't let the avatars influence me one way or the other.  I know they are just some symbol that we find appealing or that illustrates something we like or believe.  And I know that we all like and believe different things.  Mine is my hubby and kid right now, taken when they were waiting overnight in line to get a WII the day before they were released...

[curiosityandthecat]

Well, the heart on curio's avatar makes me like him more.  

[derail]

In case anyone's curious as to what my avatar refers:

[youtube:25ti13k4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqQISNKWZSA[/youtube:25ti13k4]

From the game Portal.  

[/derail]

[rlrose328]

That is a scream!  Thank you for sharing that.  My son was making art with fused beads and I kept finding "companion cube" 3-D beaded cubes on many sites and had no idea where they came from.  Now I know.  

[oldschooldoc]

Well, the heart on curio's avatar makes me like him more.  

[derail]

In case anyone's curious as to what my avatar refers:

From the game Portal.  

[/derail]

Curio, I love that game!! THE CAKE IS A LIE!

[Wechtlein Uns]

Well, I think avatars give us the impression of who we are as people. not necessarily for each post. Smilies have that job.

[Kevin]

My avatar sends off this message:

PRAISE HIS NOODLY APPENDAGE!! THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE CREAT0R!!!

But people can take it however they want

[Sophus]

Well, I think avatars give us the impression of who we are as people. not necessarily for each post. Smilies have that job.

I know they are just some symbol that we find appealing or that illustrates something we like or believe. And I know that we all like and believe different things. Mine is my hubby and kid right now, taken when they were waiting overnight in line to get a WII the day before they were released...

Well, yours did lead me to presuming you a man once  

[rlrose328]

Well, yours did lead me to presuming you a man once  

I refuse to change and conform.   :banna:

[Wechtlein Uns]

Well, I think avatars give us the impression of who we are as people. not necessarily for each post. Smilies have that job.

 
I feel sad.

[Sophus]

I refuse to change and conform.   :banna:

Amen! I love a rebellious soul. Stick it to the man!

Umm... perhaps I should withdraw my "amen" for obvious reasons....

But... but... how could you...?  
I feel sad.

Oh well in that case I absolutely adore it.  

[Whitney]

I view avatars as a way to add a bit of individuality to an otherwise faceless conversational setting.  Unless someone were to put up "god hates fags" or something equally hateful/juvenile, I wouldn't expect me to sway my opinion of the person either way.  I'll actually recognize people by their avatar before I remember their screen name...which makes it very confusing for me if someone likes to change theirs often.

[DennisK]

I'll actually recognize people by their avatar before I remember their screen name...which makes it very confusing for me if someone likes to change theirs often.

Exactly, visual images make more of an impression.  I think avatars have more power over our subconscious than we think.  They may not directly effect every post, but I feel they do have an overall effect.

By the way, I am having bridge work done this week.  The tongue, on the other hand, is a family trait.

[karadan]

Well, the heart on curio's avatar makes me like him more.  

[derail]

In case anyone's curious as to what my avatar refers:

[youtube:lpbxm6xe]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqQISNKWZSA[/youtube:lpbxm6xe]

From the game Portal.   It is there for your love......And cake

If you liked the original Half Life, you need to check this out:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oGlhgVz5r6E

Made by fans of the game using the source engine. Nothing to do with Valve apparently. A complete conversion of the original!!

I R salivating.