Karl, an excellent thread.
It's too bad actually that we sometimes judge by avatars and not by posts.
Of course for the most part, we try to visualize whom it is we are speaking to.
Perhaps that makes it easier to either agree or disagree with a member?
After reading the thread about Dark avatars one would think perhaps there are many of us who have evil beliefs.
Yes, my avatar is a fallen angel in hell.
It doesn't mean that Iam against those who have Christian beliefs, or that I worship the devil.
I actually had someone ask me yesterday, if I practice Wicca, as that was another impression they had of me. I don't. But I respect it.
Iam a pretty open book here. I have posted my personal life, and pictures of myself. Not much to hide.
I think it's just as cool if members don't want to share too much about themselves. An avatar is just a picture, and the post should give more reflection into the member.
Of course, we all know where we were when finding out Nefermore was a male!

hmmm AD, angelic, sometimes "dark" avatars....

Pain comes to mind, or sorrow I should say.


I don't really know what to say, I think you know who you are and what you like and it doesn't matter what others say.




[edit on 16-7-2008 by elevatedone]

As I read here, I am feeling sorry that I don't know more of you.

SkyFloating, to me, your name and avatar have me thinking you are female, an environmentalist, spiritual, sensitive and maybe soft-spoken in real life.

Access Denied, I always thought you were a guy! Sorry. Until I heard from you yesterday. I really respect your posts. I have the impression you are intelligent and strong, outspoken and calm.

The rest of you, I don't really know... I'll have to hang out in this forum more. I guess I withhold judgment to a certain extent until I feel I know the person from their posts and not just their avatar... Interesting.

Lord knows what you can make of mine

Originally posted by Psychopump


Skyfloating
A happy female idealist of age 30 to 40. Very spiritually inclined but not attached to any mainstream religion (except maybe buddhism). Vegetarian and a good cook. (don´t ask me where I´m getting this!) 2 or 3 children who never get in trouble.

Hmmmm...
I wonder if I got close on anything?

Happy yes. Female no. 33 yes. Spiritual but unattached yes. Vegetarian: Hell no. Children: No.


LDragonFire: I always wanted to be that cool surfer dude, but Im not I went on to learn diving instead. I see you as a sex-oriented motorbiker.

[edit on 16-7-2008 by Skyfloating]

Originally posted by Skyfloating

Originally posted by Psychopump


Skyfloating
A happy female idealist of age 30 to 40. Very spiritually inclined but not attached to any mainstream religion (except maybe buddhism). Vegetarian and a good cook. (don´t ask me where I´m getting this!) 2 or 3 children who never get in trouble.

Hmmmm...
I wonder if I got close on anything?

Happy yes. Female no. 33 yes. Spiritual but unattached yes. Vegetarian: Hell no. Children: No.


LDragonFire: I always wanted to be that cool surfer dude, but Im not I went on to learn diving instead. I see you as a sex-oriented motorbiker.

[edit on 16-7-2008 by Skyfloating]

Errmm

I had you down as female as well

Sorry

just shows what we subconciously pick up from the avatars...great thread

Hi, Karlhungis, remember I sent you and U2U just to ask you who that creepy guy in your avatar was? (Hadn't seen the film yet then.)

Well, I still think your avater is creepy, but anyone who likes the films of the Coen brothers can't be all that bad... In my opinion.

Funny how Im seen as a female environmentalist and vegetarian

Thats "judging by avatars" for ya.

I always assumed that the avatar was the perceived reflection of its owner, as it sometimes can determine some characteristic or value about or of the poster.

I suppose a person goes through a subconscious selection process when choosing their avatar, not wanting to give too much personal information away yet leaking certain elements about their true self under a veil.

So, what about members with no avatars - do we tend to get shunned as a perception that we are, well, maybe not as committed to this site, almost on the periphery of the conversation due to our lack of 'identity'??

Good thread btw.

Breifne

(ps. sorry if this have been stated earlier, I have not had the time to read all posts).

Originally posted by Skyfloating

LDragonFire: I always wanted to be that cool surfer dude, but Im not I went on to learn diving instead. I see you as a sex-oriented motorbiker.

I knew water had something to do with you, and Jedi pointed out blue, now it could be because your Av lots of blue sky and a island beach but you have a flow about you, that is cool.

I was raised around bikers lol Hells Angels and Satans Lovers, but I have left that life behind me.

And AccessDenied I know U! and you are A Very Cool Woman!! but when I first met you I thought you were a guy, it's the strength or your energy we are picking up on.



[edit on 16-7-2008 by LDragonFire]

I have always felt that posters with good looking female avatars get more responses along the 'empathetic' and 'contagion' lines - ''Oh, you are so right'', when actually you want to say something completely different.

I just suppose that is the male mind thinking! Again, the important thing here is the 'perception' of the poster via the avatar, rather than their post.

KarlHungis, my minds' eye had you pegged for a rotund, bearded man late 40's, well-read, and an isolationist.

...And an Oregon Ducks fan.

Originally posted by Breifne
So, what about members with no avatars - do we tend to get shunned as a perception that we are, well, maybe not as committed to this site, almost on the periphery of the conversation due to our lack of 'identity'??

I wouldn't say "shunned". For me, I forget people without an avatar that I can visually associate them to more easily than the ones who have a memorable picture.

I also change my avatar pretty frequently. I wonder the effect that has on people's perceptions.

Perhaps that's why no one has commented on mine... Or maybe people don't have anything nice to say, so they're just keeping their mouths shut... Oh, no... Now people are going to think I'm paranoid.

[edit on 16-7-2008 by Benevolent Heretic]