Thread: Tell me, Do you take people without an avatar less seriously?

I don't take them less seriously, but I have the tendency of forgetting who they are. A name is always easier to remember when applied to an image (or sound, smell, whatever).

Same. I also have trouble remembering which arbitrary online identity a person was when they change their avatar from something I was familiar with. Unless I 'know' a member 'personally', enough to talk to them frequently and use their username to mentally identify them, the change of an avatar usually leaves me completely clueless as to who they 'were'.

No, I am not that vain. It just helps remembering as said. Also, funny avatars cheer the day every now and then

this topic made me upload my av

But for me it doesnt really matter, i got avs and signatures turned off. They are just a distraction to the mind.

I used to. Now it only matters if I know the person or not, really.

I need an Avatar.

Originally Posted by Howard

I need an Avatar.

Here Howard, you could try here

I wouldn't say I take them "less seriously" but they definitely are less memorable. Same with post counts. People just don't "stick out" with small post counts.

I generally remember someone with an avatar or signature better.

No, I normally remember people by their username.

Well, an avatar can make me take people both more seriously and less seriously (before I get to know them), while not having one at all lands you with the ones who have a bland avatar.
Avatars do make you more memorable, though, as pointed out.

Originally Posted by khh

Avatars does make you more memorable, though, as pointed out.

There we are.

I forget them easier, the only one I know of without an avy is Luminous.

Originally Posted by Invader

I don't take them less seriously, but I have the tendency of forgetting who they are. A name is always easier to remember when applied to an image (or sound, smell, whatever).

Same. I figure an avatar (and sig) to be just a little bit more insight into a person's persona (seeing as how things like that are the most constant/static representatives we have of that person's character, online). When someone doesn't have an ava or sig, to me, it's kinda like they are walking around with a bag over their head; sure, you can get what you can out of the things they say and do, but it all just seems kinda 'faceless', if they don't have their sig and ava (face) behind it as a reminder of who they 'are.'

Their are some people who I remember by name, and some by avatar/signature. But I do take people w/out them less seriously, also w/ low counts (mostly under 50 or so). Some people remembered by name are, Oneironaut, Guitarboy, Abra. Avatars, Invader. And of course Exobyte cuz s/he always writes in blue.

yea, I think it's boring for people not to have an avatar, and they don't have much of an identity.

You totally need an avatar, even if it mutates randomly (like me).

But yeah, hard to take someone seriously if they don't care enough to find a half-decent picture to upload...

Besides that, it makes them a whole lot less memorable. To succeed without an avatar, you need to have an outrageously high post count.

And who doesnt like a good felix the cat?

Hm. I don't really care about an avatar or a sig.
To be honest, often times I find not having either sympathetic.

I usually always have an avatar on message boards...but I've been a member of DV for years and have only recently come back after being gone about a year. I prefer to be slightly more invisible to all who don't already know me from before. I'll probably get an avatar eventually...but I'm having commitment issues...

Commit! Avatars make the world go round, even if you aren't that well known to newer members.

EDIT: I've seen you around a good deal, actually.

I think I should consider having, or not having, an avatar as important as what a member says or posts.
Like some members have posted in this thread already, an avatar is like having a face to remember - even if its a generic avatar.
Sometimes I assume they're lurkers with no real vested interest in a forum community.

of course this could be offset by:
-how long they've been on the forum
-how often they post

I never feel like a legitimate poster on a message board until I have an avatar. People without them just seem like a blip on the radar, or at least somebody who isn't going to spend much time or energy on the forum. I don't really take them "less seriously" though.

I like to slip underneath the radar.