Silly question, but I'm curious: Do people relate to you differently, when you have a different avatar?

Question

(Recently Enki changed his, and I noticed he changed it right back again; it must have shocked people. And Moon did the same thing--mysterious woman, cute duck; Flutterbypurr went from a kind of dream-figure to a man's man; Shahrizat showed only an eye, but we liked her face. And D'Mac has lost his letters!!!---and on and on)

So,
1) Do people act differently toward you when you change your avatar? (You know; like, answer in a different way....)
2) Do you find yourself feeling different or answering differently, when a person changes her/his avatar?
3) Do YOU feel different toward others, when you're wearing a different "mask"?

BTW, how so? If you feel like saying it...

And by "avatar," I was including photos and cartoons and such--anything that changes the look of your identity here. 'Kay?

AlVaro, how observant. I did have blonde hair, then I cut it and now it's red, but actually, I wasn't then looking for what I'm noticing now, and I didn't see much change, then. I was just playing and trying to create most looked like me, but they don't have any with wrinkles, he he he, or as my daughter once said, (she 2, me 27) as I leaned over her to kiss her, Goodnight, "Oh, Mommy, I want stripes around my mouth, like yours!"

uh, "WHAT" most looked like me--typo!

THANK YOU FOR THE ENTHUSIASM AND THOUGHT YOU PUT INTO ANSWERING THIS QUESTION! SO MANY OF YOU REALLY PUT THOUGHT INTO THIS, AND I FEEL VERY LUCKY, AND I LEARNED MUCH. D'MAC, YOUR OBSERVATION WAS REALLY HELPFUL; TD, THANKS FOR THE LINK, FARM BRED, FOR YOUR HONESTY, SAD AS THAT IS, AND TO SO MANY NEW "FACES" FROM WHOM I LEARNED SO MUCH. I'M GLAD I ASKED THIS "SILLY" QUESTION.
EVANESCENCE, JACH, CCONSAUL, I COULD JUST ABOUT NAME YOU ALL!!! THANKS, YOU TERRIFIC PEOPLE!

Answer 1

Sadly, the answer is sometimes, yes.

It is difficult for one such as me, to swim in the same ocean as most of you. Many would not want to swim with me, when they realize that my scales are arranged differently from that of their own. They would not want to swim with me, when they see that I swim a different dance to the ones they have always known.

Such is the price of being different. Such is the ugly truth of discrimination. And I have known it from oceans before

But on, I must swim. And as much as I loathe the idea of shedding my scales, but for this journey, I must don the silvery skin of the swarm. So I may enjoy a temporary sense of camaraderie, at least until I find that little place where I can belong...

Or until we all swim helplessly to a common end, into the waiting nets of doom…..

(I hope my thoughts are clear. Thank you if you can understand. I can only offer you my name...)

Answer 2

I initially put my picture on as an avatar, but for some reason it disappeared for awhile and I had to use this cartoon image that I built. I could not get it to look old enough however, and as soon as my picture was available again, I put it right back. I was concerned that someone might interpret the avatar as an attempt to seem younger than I am. There are some sad things happening on the web these days and I do not want anyone to think that I am part of that world.

I think that people do think of us differently according to how we present ourselves and change our images. I think it is wise to keep a detached presence, especially on a site that specializes in questions and answers. I have developed friendships online, but only after a long period of time, and all of those friendships were born out of common interest.

I think that people who change their avatars are just being playful. Let them have their fun and who knows, eventually it may help them to decide which face they should present to the real world! It might just be a form of therapy!

Answer 3

i haven't noticed whether they do or not. But i'm not the Most observant Pirate up in the Crows Nest, either. ; )

I change my Cartoon quite a bit.(Gawd ,i need a life;) sometimes it's just clothing, but i have my fun...

My Favorite is the one of me with a fish tail and wings. There is a wild cat standing next to me. . I have captioned it ,
" Sorry Laurie, You Flying Mermaid,now."
(ppl that have seen the Nextel TV ad will get it. They might not think it's funny,like i do, but they'll get it. LOL)

I don't mind the Avatar Change , But the full ID change ,that some ppl do, kind of surprized me at first. I miss the first one that someone used. Shawn...

My "Mask" may be ever-changing, but anybody can see the real me ,if they look at my Yahoo 360. I go by the same name everywhere online .Laurie.Land .

I don't care for the fact that ppl ,here at Answers, aren't accountable for their actions (can hide behind aliases) . That's why we have so many ppl using Y/A as a way to try to be mean to other ppl, just for the fun of it.
i don't want to be one of those ppl.

Peace,
~Laurie

Answer 4

Before I had the cartoon avatar...a little brown guy with and earring in his ear wearing a hat turned backward. I got suspended for some of my questions and answers...so I decided to show my real face.

I've notice that I get a lot more responses. I feel like maybe people really want to see the face behind the questions, the good, the bad, and the ugly...nevertheless it's ME.

I also get more insulting comments, mostly racist remarks, but I just respond politely. I've asked controversial questions that upset people, but I try to avoid posting the "PC" questions and answers. I just put them out there...some people love to hate you.

With that said since I've put up my real pic I get more people wanting to be on my contact list. I also get a lot of positive feedback, more positive than negative. I don't know if that's a direct correlation to me posting my pic or just coincidence.

Answer 5

A very interesting question!

1. Yes, this has been shown before in material I've read, albeit with handles. People who have changed their handle from something innocuous to something sexy get different responses and I'm sure react differently.

In someplaces I've been, you have to use your last name; since my last name is also often a women's first name, I have on occasion been flirted with or propositioned by boys/men who have been embarrassed when they've been told the truth! 8^)

2. No, I try to treat everyone consistently.

3. No. I have changed my avatar, but it was to use the avatar I use on other sites.

wl

Answer 6

I must have a hot photo on myspace cuz I keep getting messages about new girls that just move to town that have webcams. I think the most important thing the avatar does is say whether you are a guy or girl. I think you really have to try to make an ugly avatar, so it makes everyone seem pretty.

Answer 7

Yeah sorta. My avatar makes me look kid-like in that its a cartoon and people respond differently to real-life images that cartoons (my experience tells me.)
Personally I liked when enki changed his cause it was a cute picture. Seemingly cute pictures attract more answers. I have yet to successfully change my avatar but I can't wait.
And yes I do feel different to others wearing different masks.

Answer 8

Yes, they do. I was on here for months and very few people visited my 360 or read my questions and answers until I changed from my cartoon avatar to my pictures. Instantly what I had to say had more merit. I am as guilty as anyone. A good looking avatar will get me to read their post more quickly.

Answer 9

Desiderata, I love that poem...♥

..i change my avatar/pic constantly depending on my mood...when i feel so low, i put on the "closed eyes" pic; when i'm feeling great, i use my pics like this one; when i'm just like okay, i use cartoon avatars..but i dont change my avatar name though so my fans and contacts would not get confused...♥

..as for the answerer's attitude on the way they answer my Qs, it all depends on the question itself..i dont think my avatar has anything to do with it..♥..if the Q really sucks then i'll get 0 answer...lol..

Answer 10

Honestly, I don't pay too much attention with the changes if I knew exactly who they are. I will still answer the same way.
But you know what? It's kind of silly too, but I always got this feeling that the avatar somehow reflects the person's personality.
When I see a funny one, I kind of harmonize my answer to its aura...and that's what I do with a mystic, mysterious, or ecstatic avatar too...