Poll: Does your avatar affect your words

[rancher of monsters]

So I found myself in a couple of situations recently where I believe somebody's avatar effected me.

In one, somebody made a semi-smug comment, something I don't think would have annoyed me as much normally. But thier avatar was this blond guy with his chin upturned and a smug smile on his face.

Another time somebody made a very serious remark which was also enhanced by a creepy faced Anime girl with a blank expression.

So my question is do the avatars we use influence the interpretation of our words? Would someone be surprised or put off if I used cutsey talk with my avatar looking the way it does? Do people lean towards certain avatars that reflect thier comments?

 

[Bobic]

I believe everyone reads my comments in a manly roar.

 

[tomtom94]

Occasionally I make subconscious judgments about people's avatars, or lack of them, when responding.

I respond better to people who I know and who have bright colourful avatars.

 

[Squarez]

When people have a non-human avatar, then generally no. But if it's a person I imagine them saying whatever their saying with the expression their avatar is showing.

Which is why I think I come across more pissed off to people than I mean to...

 

[Naheal]

My own avatar is just a personification of whatever happens to have my interest at the time.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I'd most certainly hope not.

 

[delet]

I just look at the words, but I'm sure some people will look at something like an avatar looking angry and think that person is angry all the time.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Avatar's usually don't effect my judgments. Words usually do. I sometimes detect a sense of smugness in a person's comment and in extreme cases and avatar can further punctuate my feelings.

 

[rokkolpo]

People might find me very annoying due to my stereo spy noise.

can anyone verify?

 

[drbarno]

I'm not sure, I've never really given that much point. Generally if I agree with someones point I would post that while giving my own opinion, and If i don't agree just post my own opinion again.

 

[Zyphonee]

There's plenty of moments in which, because of my avatar, I found myself reading my own posts with a caricaturization of a British accent.

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

Nah. My avatar is pretty much synonymous with me. It's my character. It's me.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yes, yes it does.

Maybe I should switch back to my old man avatar, so I can seem more distinguished?

 

[Kolosus]

Yep. I'm a Redhead IRL.
Therefore i make Redhaired comments.......

 

[Swaki]

in a way, i can allow myself to write something a little dark and creepy, hoping that people will see it as me just being in character, but thats only in all the "write something your avatar would say" other than that no, it may add a little humour in some cases since im mostly a nice guy and the avatar can throw people off a little.

and ill admit if people have a gif avatar i dislike them a little, its just so annoying having something moving around and blinking in the background, im trying to read over here.

 

[adakias]

Ohh god I hope this isn't the case.

I picked this avatar because it was the only one I had on my computer at the time. I haven't gotten around to changing it because I don't know what to change it to and anyways, I really do like the color. I have no idea how others interpret it, but it makes me feel a little arrogant and serious, and I'm definitely neither of those things. I should probably change it to a picture of a kitten popping out of a box or something.

 

[Swaki]

Yep. I'm a Redhead IRL.
Therefore i make Redhaired comments.......

i can see that, that comment completely lacked soul.

 

[ChaoticKraus]

When people have a non-human avatar, then generally no. But if it's a person I imagine them saying whatever their saying with the expression their avatar is showing.

Which is why I think I come across more pissed off to people than I mean to...

I'm with this guy, i normally don't look very hard at the avatars. But if there is a face i automatically asign it a fitting voice and imagine them saying it. I sure hope people don't see me as a washed-up crazy old hippie though . I'm pretty much the opposite.

 

[unoleian]

I ended up switching my avatar because the T.S. Venture I used to use looked far too smug and haughty-taughty for his own good, and was actually starting to annoy me with his expression. I can't imagine if it had any effect on the interpretation of my posts by others, but it was certainly affecting mine.

I know I sometimes make judgments about a post (and the user) by a combo of the post, screen name, and avatar as a unit. It's a subconscious thing, mostly. I'm not actively analyzing it as a point, it just.....happens.