Avvies, identity and change - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Durelin · 08-01-2009, 02:18 PM

I believe I went back to my 'original' (as far as I can remember) Warcract Dark Elf avatar (which when I first used I had no idea where it was from) when I decided I wanted to become more active again on the 'Downs after an absence, and mostly just in the RP section, the section I enjoy the most and have always participated in the most consistently (shows something about my consistency, or rather lack).

It was a back to my roots thing. Yeah.

Other than that my avatar changes are about sharing my interests, fitting with a theme (such as fitting with an RPG I'm participating in), or putting up a cool image people can associate with me...mostly the last reason.

For all those who have too much time on their hands, ponder the suggestion that those who don't feel the need to use avatars, especially those who have resisted the urge to use them for a long time, are extremely comfortable with themselves and feel no need to make themselves stand out with a cool avatar.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-01-2009, 03:20 PM

I have changed my avatar, but not often I can only remember two of them, when I first joined, I had a picture of Samwise with his and Frodo's swords in his hands. It was because of my user name, it fits, i guess, because Sam very well might be my favourite character in Tolkien's writings.
I now have one of a tea pot building (which, incidentally, is my default one on LJ) the only reason is because I like tea.
Now, Laurinque for a while really wanted me to change back to my Sam avvie because it reminds her of TGEW, despite the fact that she knows me in RL and sees me just about every other day.

As far as other avvies go, Hookbill's has changed quite a lot since I first joined. But the one that I liked best was the one that said "News, it's good.", I still think of that when I read his posts.

Eönwë, on the other hand, I couldn't imagine him without his avvie. Lalwende falls into the same category. If she changed her avvvie, I think that the BD would explode or smething.

Nogrod, to me is still Tom Bombadil, simply because I really liked that avatar.

For me, if I am friends with a Downer on Facebook, I rely less on their avatar to make an image. I will now associate them with photos that they have posted of themselves. Though, I still think of their avatar when I see them.

Morsul the Dark · 08-01-2009, 08:41 PM

ok so I used to infamous for nearly daily avvie changes....

lets see:
http://www.frbatlanta.org/publica/hi...es_black_m.gif
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/qui...4281118_50.jpg
the wonka one
cookies...
there was a wizard...
a different wizard...

umm...

a bunch more

Valesse · 08-01-2009, 11:15 PM

I have only used three avatars on the Barrowdowns- the first two were of a yellow tabby in a red bathing cap and suit (the only change on which was that of the scrolling text). It was a crazy picture, and because I linger like a fog in the mirth quarter, it fit rather well. I did have concerns that other users who more fully utilized the forums thought that I had only enough recall to the books, or exposure from the movies to slap names on Crazy Captions or scenarios in Be Careful What You Wish For. A silly fear indeed! But it occurred to me none-the-less.

My current one is a quickly aging piece of pop-culture (Ron "following the butterflies" from Potter Puppet Pals) and was put in place a few years ago just before the overhaul of the avatar system to disallow the use of animated .gifs. As childish as it seems to me, I don't want to give it up simply because it moves and to not have that would mean to give up a kind of bizarre and pointless privilege. Heren and I are part of an elite crowd, you realize.

Now that it has been mentioned, It seems as if those without avatars seem to be literally names without faces. I think I might actually even have a harder time remembering what that individual user has posted (in a WW game, for instance) as compared to one with an avatar... similar to the difference in having to recall something from radio or from a person in the room. For me the second option is always easier, but perhaps I'm simply require a tad more visual stimulation than the rest.

Of all of the avatar changes which shocked me the most was Hookbill's latest one for some reason. I like the new one a lot, but it's very different to what I'm used to! It hasn't made me feel any differently about the Down's favorite Newspaper Editor, though. He's an odd duck, but by gum he's our odd duck.

Nogrod · 08-02-2009, 04:02 PM

Even if this might be self-evident, I'd like to make this comment.

It seems that when you know a person any better the avvies mainly enrich your view of them ("Ha, s/he took that kind of avvie, interesting...") but when you're in contact with someone whom you don't actually know so well the avvie (and the screen-name) I think is quite an important thing forming an idea of someone.

Let's make a recent example. Pitchwife came into the 'Downs and entered a WW-game with an avvie of a Lassie... Looking at the combination it was not so unpredictable almost everyone took him as a female...

Or what has been discussed on McCaber's avvie here...

But anyway, what I was thinking about putting this thread up was indeed the fact that when you don't know the other person in RL you're discussing with in a forum - or who's posts you read - you form an idea of that person anyway. And as some have said being especially visual people forming their ideas heavily on visual things, I think we all are visual creatures. So it's not only what the others write but also how they present themselves visually (by means of an avvie) that plays a part in our view of others.

If someone uses only "funny avatars" you make certain judgements about that person (surely related to what that person talks), or if someone only uses "artistic" avvies you come up with probably different thoughts... whatever. (Think of the difference of two fictive 'Downers: the other uses only Orlando Bloom avvies and the other uses as avvies only rare pics of some medieval manuscripts...) It is a sum total of many things, but I do think the avvies have a role to play here, which role is not so small one might think.

If you asked me, I would answer that I have never myself thought of my avvie from the perspective of "imago-management"... I've just used ones I've felt are nice or great - or fitting to certain occasion (like this last one jubilating the landing on the Moon 40 years ago).

But sure, being honest, it is also a pic I want to give to others of me and who I am... It's pretty hard to deny that either - whether it is "I love this kind of art" or "my sense of humour appreciates this", "this Tolkien character I find interesting" or whatever. And from this POV also not using an avvie is a statement of one sort... as has been clearly seen from the discussion.

As Eönwë said: interesting to see two people changing their avvies with this discussion!

Feanor of the Peredhil · 08-02-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

As Eönwë said: interesting to see two people changing their avvies with this discussion!

I'd meant to for a while. I got a kick out of iSnape, but it seemed somehow odd that a brief moment of laughter was identifying me for so long. Almost as if the laughter was turning to hysterics: it was only ever supposed to last a day or so, and I got lazy.

Your mention of how avvies are perceived just gave me the kick I needed to think about what image I actually wanted to play with. I was actually in search of radiolaria, but a supernova worked out beautifully. I think we learn as much about ourselves as we do about others by looking at itty bitty pictures people (including ourselves) choose.

Morthoron · 08-02-2009, 06:27 PM

I have used two avatars in my entire existence on the net, the one I'm currently (and only temporarily) using, and the one I will eventually return to, which I've attached.

I'm not much for change, obviously.

P.S. Hopefully the link is fixed, Nog.

Pitchwife · 08-03-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Pitchwife came into the 'Downs and entered a WW-game with an avvie of a Lassie... Looking at the combination it was not so unpredictable almost everyone took him as a female...

Just for the record, the lassie in question (may he rest in peace) was a laddie named Seamus (and nothing to do with the TV dog). Not that you could have known.
Funny you mention this - it didn't occur to me that the sheltie avatar would add to the gender confusion caused by my screen name, as I knew the dog was male and didn't think of the TV lassie (who in RL was a laddie as well, by the way) at all when I chose him to represent me. I didn't consider it when I changed my avvie, either, but hopefully the new one, Number 6 (who, as we all know, is not a number but a free man!) will reduce some of the confusion as a side effect. The nice thing about the new one is that I have a cherished T-shirt with that picture and my current sig on it, so I'm now wearing my RL clothes on the Downs!

Nogrod · 08-03-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Funny you mention this - it didn't occur to me that the sheltie avatar would add to the gender confusion caused by my screen name, as I knew the dog was male and didn't think of the TV lassie (who in RL was a laddie as well, by the way) at all when I chose him to represent me.

A case in point indeed on how people interpret things differently!

I mean to me (having being a youngster at 70's and partly 80's in Finland) someone adoring a pic of sheltie was 100% female to be sure! They had pics of those dogs in their rooms but no guy could have ever done that...

So I mean it's not a question whether the dog in the pic (or the famous Lassie) is male or female, but to love a pic like that was just "girly" when I was of the age people had posters on their walls...

I'm happy to see the world is not like that black and white anymore.

08-01-2009, 03:20 PM	#2
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	I have changed my avatar, but not often I can only remember two of them, when I first joined, I had a picture of Samwise with his and Frodo's swords in his hands. It was because of my user name, it fits, i guess, because Sam very well might be my favourite character in Tolkien's writings. I now have one of a tea pot building (which, incidentally, is my default one on LJ) the only reason is because I like tea. Now, Laurinque for a while really wanted me to change back to my Sam avvie because it reminds her of TGEW, despite the fact that she knows me in RL and sees me just about every other day. As far as other avvies go, Hookbill's has changed quite a lot since I first joined. But the one that I liked best was the one that said "News, it's good.", I still think of that when I read his posts. Eönwë, on the other hand, I couldn't imagine him without his avvie. Lalwende falls into the same category. If she changed her avvvie, I think that the BD would explode or smething. Nogrod, to me is still Tom Bombadil, simply because I really liked that avatar. For me, if I am friends with a Downer on Facebook, I rely less on their avatar to make an image. I will now associate them with photos that they have posted of themselves. Though, I still think of their avatar when I see them. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

08-01-2009, 08:41 PM	#3
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	ok so I used to infamous for nearly daily avvie changes.... lets see: http://www.frbatlanta.org/publica/hi...es_black_m.gif http://images2.fanpop.com/images/qui...4281118_50.jpg the wonka one cookies... there was a wizard... a different wizard... umm... a bunch more __________________ Morsul the Resurrected

08-01-2009, 11:15 PM	#4
Valesse Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: \|Away Posts: 614	I have only used three avatars on the Barrowdowns- the first two were of a yellow tabby in a red bathing cap and suit (the only change on which was that of the scrolling text). It was a crazy picture, and because I linger like a fog in the mirth quarter, it fit rather well. I did have concerns that other users who more fully utilized the forums thought that I had only enough recall to the books, or exposure from the movies to slap names on Crazy Captions or scenarios in Be Careful What You Wish For. A silly fear indeed! But it occurred to me none-the-less. My current one is a quickly aging piece of pop-culture (Ron "following the butterflies" from Potter Puppet Pals) and was put in place a few years ago just before the overhaul of the avatar system to disallow the use of animated .gifs. As childish as it seems to me, I don't want to give it up simply because it moves and to not have that would mean to give up a kind of bizarre and pointless privilege. Heren and I are part of an elite crowd, you realize. Now that it has been mentioned, It seems as if those without avatars seem to be literally names without faces. I think I might actually even have a harder time remembering what that individual user has posted (in a WW game, for instance) as compared to one with an avatar... similar to the difference in having to recall something from radio or from a person in the room. For me the second option is always easier, but perhaps I'm simply require a tad more visual stimulation than the rest. Of all of the avatar changes which shocked me the most was Hookbill's latest one for some reason. I like the new one a lot, but it's very different to what I'm used to! It hasn't made me feel any differently about the Down's favorite Newspaper Editor, though. He's an odd duck, but by gum he's our odd duck. __________________ "Loo, what sholde a man in thyse dayes now wryte, 'egges' or 'eyren'?" - Caxton, Eneydos

08-02-2009, 04:02 PM	#5
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Even if this might be self-evident, I'd like to make this comment. It seems that when you know a person any better the avvies mainly enrich your view of them ("Ha, s/he took that kind of avvie, interesting...") but when you're in contact with someone whom you don't actually know so well the avvie (and the screen-name) I think is quite an important thing forming an idea of someone. Let's make a recent example. Pitchwife came into the 'Downs and entered a WW-game with an avvie of a Lassie... Looking at the combination it was not so unpredictable almost everyone took him as a female... Or what has been discussed on McCaber's avvie here... But anyway, what I was thinking about putting this thread up was indeed the fact that when you don't know the other person in RL you're discussing with in a forum - or who's posts you read - you form an idea of that person anyway. And as some have said being especially visual people forming their ideas heavily on visual things, I think we all are visual creatures. So it's not only what the others write but also how they present themselves visually (by means of an avvie) that plays a part in our view of others. If someone uses only "funny avatars" you make certain judgements about that person (surely related to what that person talks), or if someone only uses "artistic" avvies you come up with probably different thoughts... whatever. (Think of the difference of two fictive 'Downers: the other uses only Orlando Bloom avvies and the other uses as avvies only rare pics of some medieval manuscripts...) It is a sum total of many things, but I do think the avvies have a role to play here, which role is not so small one might think. If you asked me, I would answer that I have never myself thought of my avvie from the perspective of "imago-management"... I've just used ones I've felt are nice or great - or fitting to certain occasion (like this last one jubilating the landing on the Moon 40 years ago). But sure, being honest, it is also a pic I want to give to others of me and who I am... It's pretty hard to deny that either - whether it is "I love this kind of art" or "my sense of humour appreciates this", "this Tolkien character I find interesting" or whatever. And from this POV also not using an avvie is a statement of one sort... as has been clearly seen from the discussion. As Eönwë said: interesting to see two people changing their avvies with this discussion! __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

08-01-2009, 02:18 PM	#1
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	I believe I went back to my 'original' (as far as I can remember) Warcract Dark Elf avatar (which when I first used I had no idea where it was from) when I decided I wanted to become more active again on the 'Downs after an absence, and mostly just in the RP section, the section I enjoy the most and have always participated in the most consistently (shows something about my consistency, or rather lack). It was a back to my roots thing. Yeah. Other than that my avatar changes are about sharing my interests, fitting with a theme (such as fitting with an RPG I'm participating in), or putting up a cool image people can associate with me...mostly the last reason. For all those who have too much time on their hands, ponder the suggestion that those who don't feel the need to use avatars, especially those who have resisted the urge to use them for a long time, are extremely comfortable with themselves and feel no need to make themselves stand out with a cool avatar.