How Do Avatars Affect Your Perception Of Posts?

[Tank_Guy#3]

It doesn't generally affect me. I try not judge the basis of my response by what their avatar is. I draw some general conclusions about the person, but I don't say "I'm going to attack this person until he leaves!" just by what their avatar is.

 

[scipian]

not too much. I may assume they're male or female but it doesn't usually affect how I think of them. Granted, I'll look twice if it's a pretty girl or an interesting avatar but they don't really change my opinion. Signatures, on the other hand, certainly do.

EDIT: In fact, I just changed my avatar and added a signature. I'm now a new person!

 

[Masquerouge]

not too much. I may assume they're male or female but it doesn't usually affect how I think of them. Granted, I'll look twice if it's a pretty girl or an interesting avatar but they don't really change my opinion. Signatures, on the other hand, certainly do.

Ah. Good point!

 

[Perfection]

Also even with a new member you have a big componant that the OP's pictures left out, and that is conversational context. Those pictures change the context in our mind (because it forces us to make up one), but it generally doesn't within a forum.

 

[GenMarshall]

Now a question to you all. Does the Avatars affect your perception of the Gender of the poster?

 

[Tycoon101]

I really do judge people by their avatars; if the avatar is creative and original I have a greater amount of respect for them. If their avatar is idiotic, then I give them less respect.

Although, mainly the Avatar+User Title together change my perception of others.

 

[scipian]

Now a question to you all. Does the Avatars affect your perception of the Gender of the poster?

Definitely. I would think you'd be female if you hadn't already said differently.

 

[Perfection]

The simple rule is as follows:
Only assume that the gender of the avatar corresponds with the gender of the person if the avatar is ugly.

 

[CartesianFart]

I look at avatars not as something that give me a particular sense of a person as a whole but only as an ornament.

Of course,to me,my avatar is only a metaphor of who i am as a person;curiosity of a child with a mean vulgar streak.

 

[.Shane.]

As you probably know, our brains primarily concentrates on visual stimuli. So when reading a post here on OT our perception of it is partially based on factors other than its content, for example the posters avatar.

There's some truth to that. I had one lunatic poster PM me that I was essentially the anti-christ because of an avatar I used. Which if he/she/it had just asked, they'd of found was a joke regarding the person in the picture.

So, overall, I don't pay them much mind, but I do see them, at times, as a kind of acid test for how attuned somone is to a certain vibe.... if that makes any sense.

 

[.Shane.]

Now a question to you all. Does the Avatars affect your perception of the Gender of the poster?

No. I assume everyone on the internet is a guy.

I really do judge people by their avatars; if the avatar is creative and original I have a greater amount of respect for them. If their avatar is idiotic, then I give them less respect.

Yeah, that's kinda what my prior post was (poorly) alluding to. I can appreciate a clever avatar.

 

[Masquerouge]

No. I assume everyone on the internet is a guy.

Safe bet! So do I. I even assume that feminine user names are actually guys.

 

[Sidhe]

I look at avatars not as something that give me a particular sense of a person as a whole but only as an ornament.

Of course,to me,my avatar is only a metaphor of who i am as a person;curiosity of a child with a mean vulgar streak.

I see, I always though that was you at age 7 Or your inner child one of the two.

 

[Zarn]

Avatars don't mean much at all to me.

 

[Ansar]

I recognize who the person is by their avatar.

No avatars, and I have to look at the signature.

 

[JonnyB]

It had more of an effect when I first came to OT and I didn't know anybody.
I also find my opinion of posts can be affected my smileys in the sig.
For example Perfection used to have several in his sig and for a while I found it hard to recognize when he was making serious comments.

 

[mangxema]

Slightly, but not too much. And even then, rarely.

 

[Irish Caesar]

I recognize who the person is by their avatar.

No avatars, and I have to look at the signature.

And if they change their name and their avatar?

 

[CaptainF]

I admire cool avatars, but I won't think someone is a tool or anything just because of theirs.

It also tends not to affect how I read their posts, at least, not as much as signatures.

By the way, what sort of e-image do I convey?

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

Anyway, i think you recognise people on the basis on their avatar. I was once really confused by one guy who had the same avatar as MobBoss, but was advocating left wing ideas.

Wait until april 1.

By the way, what sort of e-image do I convey

not a slam, but your avie doesn't hit any of my cultural buttons, so its neutral.

Now a question to you all. Does the Avatars affect your perception of the Gender of the poster?

It used to, until I learned better.