If or when you find out whata fellow p&ser really looks like does that change the way you view or answer...?

Question

their Q & A's?

I'll give a couple of examples:

It's really easy to flirt with tarabearsmom because she has a sexy foot avatar....but what if you looked at her 360 and saw that she is really 835 lbs and toothless....would you still flirt with her the same way?

OR--we treat Montana Matilda like a hilarious old woman and actually talk with a little more respect b/c she may be 'older', but what if she was really an 18 yr old girl gone wild type--would you respond differently?

TRUTH

I really don't think it necessarily makes someone shallow unless you decide to treat them rudely, it just shows how much we put into the way someone looks (all of us) in order to decide who we think a person is...this goes for age too.

I think those of us who are on here often and get to know other users have an idea of what someone may look like, and it's funny when it's nothing like that. I love being able to answer freely w/o worrying about the social stigmas! It amazes me how many ppl have thought I was in my forties...(I'm not even close)...would it change the way they look at me after telling them I'm 25?

Answer 1

It's a good question ... the answer is, I'm not really sure! I do have an image in my mind of what my friends look like, but it wouldn't bother me if my imagination was off base.

I've seen three friends' photos who have cartoons as avatars, and they basically did look the way I'd imagined them, but I think I would treat them the same way if they didn't.

I probably respond more to the way people "talk" on here than their picture, and I do bear in mind that to some extent we're in fantasy-land here ... I know a "sexy" avatar doesn't necessarily reflect the real person, and that a weird-looking one doesn't mean the person is a freak in real life.

I never thought you were in your 40s! I thought you were about my age, which you are. However, I've made incorrect assumptions about other people in regard to age or even gender at times. Lots of people think I'm a teenager, but that's mostly my fault for being so freaking immature a lot of the time.

Also, I know what you mean: I have thought certain guys on here have cute avatars, then realised I really had no way of telling if they were 15 or 55!

Sorry this is so rambling ... just random thoughts ... today's programme has been brought to you by stream-of-consciousness ...

Answer 2

To me, it's not important what the person really LOOKS like, but what he/she IS like - and that's something I get from their questions and answers ... at least to the extent that I am prepared to trust what they say at face value. There are many who obviously have created for themselves a character or alter ego, and I respond to that character, even if I know the real person behind it is entirely different. Usually the impression of a person I have built up before discovering their looks, age, etc., is the one that sticks with me - and really, isn't that the only thing that's important?

Answer 3

What!?? You're 25?? ahaha!!! I'm sorry, but I did think you were much older than that (I think it was the whole bar thing and, for some reason, your avatar)

But really, I love flirting with people on here and seeing how they really look wouldnt change the way I think about them. The great thing about Y!A is that you have no choice but to like [most] people for their personality

Answer 4

No, it wouldn't change the way I view
or answer.

I answer based on the question, not the
look of the person or avatar.

I would be very disappointed though if a
person asked a question about weight
struggles and found out that they were
skinny and just asked the question as a
joke.

I personally don't look at peoples 360s
and I don't look at peoples profile, I just
answer the question and move on. :~)

.

Answer 5

Well... I've been loose here in Cyberia for over 10 years. Back then the only gauge of another person online we had was by their words and actions. Digital photography, scanners, and webcams hadn't come into common use until much later.

It doesn't matter to me if someone is fat, thin, what color they are, their sexual or spiritual preferences, political affiliations... Yadda yadda yadda. What counts is our ability to effectively communicate with one another, good or bad, on mutually acceptable terms.

Answer 6

You've made an interesting point.
I don't know that we could ever really know what anyone on here looks like, unless we actually met them in person. I see very few avatars that I thought were the persons likeness.

Answer 7

I'll be really pissed if those aren't Farm Bred's abs, damn it! LOL. No seriously, all I know is that ever since I loaded my photo instead of an avatar I'm a little more cautious about what I say. What if someone I know is reading this?!

Answer 8

What!!!! Don't tell me you really don't look like Lucille Ball !!!!! Do you at least have red hair???
Seriously .... I think that is what is great, about this place , you get to know the person, mainly through their answers and questions.... who really cares what they look like in real life... Old.. young... pretty or plain...It doesn't matter to me... The anonymity, is what will let you spill the beans, to complete strangers, when you normally wouldn't....

Answer 9

I agree, I think we do sort of assume they might just be the person in their picture, like all those sexy tummy shots {male or female}, or as you pointed out, feet. But I find I tend to like someone based on their repeated answers, I just might notice them easier if their picture is unique.

Answer 10

It doesn't change the way I answer their questions. I think it's interesting to find out what someone looks like but it doesn't change how I think of them.