Avvies, identity and change - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nogrod · 08-03-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

Says a lot about me, if you know how to read it.

"Rebell Yell"? "White Wedding"?, "Dancing With Myself"? "Flesh For Fantasy"? "Cradle of Love"? "Eyes Without a Face"? ... His lifestyle, his education, his image as a sex-object / idol, motorcycles, punk, heavy-rock, disco,...? Now what to pic from there?

But yes, you indeed raise one more subject I think we haven't discussed a lot here - even if I think I pointed at this thing in my first post.

So how will others read what we use as our avvies? Is there any reason for you to believe that what you think your avvie tries to say or what you think of it conveys will be interpreted that same way by others as well?

alatar · 08-03-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

"Rebell Yell"? "White Wedding"?, "Dancing With Myself"? "Flesh For Fantasy"? "Cradle of Love"? "Eyes Without a Face"? ... His lifestyle, his education, his image as a sex-object / idol, motorcycles, punk, heavy-rock, disco,...? Now what to pic from there?

He and I have *so* much in common, I thought the choice only obvious...

Quote:

So how will others read what we use as our avvies? Is there any reason for you to believe that what you think your avvie tries to say or what you think of it conveys will be interpreted that same way by others as well?

Take it from me, no one *ever* misinterprets anything that you as the writer intends. It's as if what's in your mind, when you pick a sig, upload an avvie or craft a post, gets right into the reader's mind without any degeneration, transmutation or propagation.

Nogrod · 08-03-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

Take it from me, no one *ever* misinterprets anything that you as the writer intends. It's as if what's in your mind, when you pick a sig, upload an avvie or craft a post, gets right into the reader's mind without any degeneration, transmutation or propagation.

Exactly!

Bêthberry · 08-03-2009, 10:54 AM

*raises an eyebrow* "Canonicity and the Avatar" rears its head.

Mnemosyne · 08-03-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

*raises an eyebrow* "Canonicity and the Avatar" rears its head.

Ai! Ai! *runs and scampers into a corner*

Estelyn Telcontar · 08-03-2009, 03:11 PM

After seven years of appearing almost exclusively as Fiona (with a slight divergence to the Asterix image which impersonates my Merisuwyniel RPG character) I hate to disappoint people, but I am not a princess! I know, I know - the personal title says I am, and of course I had to choose a princess image to go with it. Most movie/fairytale princesses were too saccharine for my taste, so Fiona was a logical choice. I like her unconventional style!

Contrary to what some might think when I step into a cozy conversation threatening to send in the chat skwerlz, I am not an ogre (or is it ogress?) either!

However, I will admit to being female, so the avatar is not all wrong...

Eönwë · 08-03-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

*raises an eyebrow* "Canonicity and the Avatar" rears its head.

I quickly turned my tail and fled, bravely taking to my feet, I beat a very brave retreat....

Anyway, yes I agree that each name avatar is viewed differently by each person, and that is what makes it more interesting (though can sometimes lead to embarrassing moments, for example when I though TheGreatElvenWarrior was male

. But then she did have a picture of Sam).

What does my avatar tell others about me, I wonder. And also, after being on the Downs for a while I think that the name Eönwë might be just a little too much.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-03-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

And note that I can't change my avatar as I use it as a bookmark within threads to see where I last left off. If I changed it, I wouldn't be able to find me.

I do the exact same thing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Anyway, yes I agree that each name avatar is viewed differently by each person, and that is what makes it more interesting (though can sometimes lead to embarrassing moments, for example when I though TheGreatElvenWarrior was male

. But then she did have a picture of Sam).

There were many people who thought I was male, though I wasn't and still am not.

I have judged people by their avatars for two years (and one day, hehe). For a long time, I thought that Eonwe was older than he actually is. For about a year and a half I was convinced that he was in his thirties at least, because of his avatar.
It is the same with Groin Redbeard. I thought he looked like a dwarf because he had a dwarf as his avatar, so obviously, he has a beard!

mormegil · 08-03-2009, 11:54 PM

For me I've only selected a few avatars. My first was a chimp in a pink shirt pointing a gun. I liked it but when I saw the current avatar I liked it more. I have more or less stuck with it throughout. It was selected because it reminds me of me. I'm about as smart as a chimp, but I can dress the part of a smart person and if anybody disagrees I've got my gun.

I do occasionally change when major sporting events are going that I'm interested in. I've been my favorite college football team's logo before.

Anyway, Nog in looking back at your avvies I remember many images and feeling of times past. In particular the second one and the owl. Those seem to resonate the most. I think the second one was around for a while and it was actually the way I imagined you looked for quite some time. But it's also tied to feeling and other memories, certain thoughts I had about this new downer etc...

08-03-2009, 10:54 AM	#4
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	raises an eyebrow "Canonicity and the Avatar" rears its head. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

08-03-2009, 03:11 PM	#6
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	After seven years of appearing almost exclusively as Fiona (with a slight divergence to the Asterix image which impersonates my Merisuwyniel RPG character) I hate to disappoint people, but I am not a princess! I know, I know - the personal title says I am, and of course I had to choose a princess image to go with it. Most movie/fairytale princesses were too saccharine for my taste, so Fiona was a logical choice. I like her unconventional style! Contrary to what some might think when I step into a cozy conversation threatening to send in the chat skwerlz, I am not an ogre (or is it ogress?) either! However, I will admit to being female, so the avatar is not all wrong... __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

08-03-2009, 11:54 PM	#9
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,651	For me I've only selected a few avatars. My first was a chimp in a pink shirt pointing a gun. I liked it but when I saw the current avatar I liked it more. I have more or less stuck with it throughout. It was selected because it reminds me of me. I'm about as smart as a chimp, but I can dress the part of a smart person and if anybody disagrees I've got my gun. I do occasionally change when major sporting events are going that I'm interested in. I've been my favorite college football team's logo before. Anyway, Nog in looking back at your avvies I remember many images and feeling of times past. In particular the second one and the owl. Those seem to resonate the most. I think the second one was around for a while and it was actually the way I imagined you looked for quite some time. But it's also tied to feeling and other memories, certain thoughts I had about this new downer etc... __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”