Poll: Avatar or Name?

[Danny Ocean]

I find, in all the forums that I go to, that I get really thrown when someone changes their avatar. To the extend that I forget what they may have posted before.
I think this is because I recognise people on forums by glancing at their avatar, and not their name. Give me someone's name and I'll be flummoxed, but show me their picture and I'll recognise them straight away.

How do you recognise people on forums? Does it make a difference?

 

[SargentToughie]

Yeah, I actually changed my avitar the other day... because that's somewhat related to the thread

 

[Evilbunny]

well, if they say something important I'll remember their name. If it's just a random person I'll probably only recognize the avatar.

 

[Haliwali]

It used to be a lot easier 3 months ago. Then all you guys showed up and I start losing track of who's who (I'm not very good with names and faces.) Begin the Purge!

 

[Smiles]

I go by avatar, because in reality I can barely recognize people by their faces and I can't remember names, avatars are far more diverse and interesting, easier to remember...

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

I go by name because I've been thrown off many times by using their avatar as a reference. Though admittedly, I would still be thrown off if someone used an avatar that had already been used by someone else; like if Fire Daemon's avatar suddenly started spelling things badly, I would be pretty confused for a moment, lol.

 

[Zemalac]

I usually glance at the name first, but from then on I'll assisiate that name with that avatar. When avatars change it throws me for a moment.

 

[Alphavillain]

I just dislike those Avatars which are like John473xb7. You can tell John wanted to be just called John, but, finding that name taken he had to add some highly irrelevant and indeed random apellation. That annoys me.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Do the 'H's in my name annoy you?

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Meh, Avatar and Name. I am all over the place on different forums with different names but the same avatar.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Do the 'H's in my name annoy you?

Slightly.

I like simple iconic avatars that are easy to remember (see left).
An object in the middle of white space draws the eye, it makes a good focal point. And the name is like an introductory 'Hello', so it has to be something a bit iconic as well. This is why I think the popularization of numbered names is such a travesty.

 

[vede]

I'm still having trouble recognizing Khell_sennet since he changed his avatar from the dancing kirby to the running blue thing.

I agree with Anarchemitis. Easy to remember, and consistent, the avatars should be.

 

[Danny Ocean]

I'll have to go make myself an avatar then..hmm...

 

[m_jim]

I definitely look for the avatars. When folks, change their icons, it really throws me for a loop. I do try to remember the names of good posters, though.

 

[zen5887]

If purps changes his avatar we will all plunge in darkness =|

 

[Nikomikiri]

I go by both usually. I read the post then check the name and avatar.
Usually I can recognize a name, but it does throw me off sometimes when people randomly change avatar's.

 

[HomeAliveIn45]

The visual aid of pictures fits perfectly with my mental age of a first grader

 

[HeartagramMan]

i change my avatar weekly.
so anyone trying to keep track of me like that is royally screwed!
hahahahaha

dont worry it's usually a heartagram

 

[LewsTherin]

I just changed mine from the heroic Drizzt Do'urden to this picture I made in paint just to throw people off ^^