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

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...

Thinlómien · 08-05-2009, 07:53 AM

I think I'm an odd case - I'm kind of stuck with this avatar. I may try something else for a while - penguins (lots of different ones!), other Mucha women, ww theme pictures (ringwraith, Gildor) or I've had very different stuff in the past: a football protest, a raccoon, a chimp, a few Galadriels, Winnie the Pooh etc - but I always come back to this one, it just feels like me. It's a bit weird that I'm so fixated, but I like the bright beautiful colours and Mucha's artwork and the atmosphere in the picture and all that - but I blame my mum who sent/gave me this picture as a postcard several times when I was small always forgetting she had given it to me before. Apparently the picture reminded her of me - well the girl there is kind of thoughtful, lazy and playful at the same time and that kind of fits me.

satansaloser2005 · 08-05-2009, 02:17 PM

I tend to change my avvie to fit the theme of the game, at least to an extent. (For instance, for I started with a Hermione/books avatar for Lari's game, a Pirates of the Carribean one for Brinn's, the gloves for when I helped co-mod Mnemo's, etc.) Also, if I'm killed I'll switch to one of my Firefly icons, and sometimes I'll put up an icon that tells people in the game what I am (but that's only if I'm being a complete whackjob and has only happened once or twice that I remember.) My icon normally carries over from the previous game until I change it for a new, or forget to change it at all, and I don't have a default because....well, I've not found one I like enough yet, to be honest. (Though I am a bit fond of my Hamlet with a happy ending icon that I made a while back.)

And Lommie, that icon is you to me. I recognize you with different ones, but when I see that picture I automatically know it's you.

Laurinquë · 08-05-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I think I'm an odd case - I'm kind of stuck with this avatar. I may try something else for a while - penguins (lots of different ones!), other Mucha women, ww theme pictures (ringwraith, Gildor) or I've had very different stuff in the past: a football protest, a raccoon, a chimp, a few Galadriels, Winnie the Pooh etc - but I always come back to this one, it just feels like me. It's a bit weird that I'm so fixated, but I like the bright beautiful colours and Mucha's artwork and the atmosphere in the picture and all that - but I blame my mum who sent/gave me this picture as a postcard several times when I was small always forgetting she had given it to me before. Apparently the picture reminded her of me - well the girl there is kind of thoughtful, lazy and playful at the same time and that kind of fits me.

I am a great fan of Mucha's work as well, (especially your 'Summer' picture) but I could never use it as my avatar - that is a right held by Thinlómien alone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGEW

Now, Laurinque for a while really wanted me to change back to my Sam avvie because it reminds her of TGEW, despite the fact that she knows me in RL and sees me just about every other day.

I gave up on that war. It was a lost cause anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Then I had my Gallén-Kallela period - a Finnish artist in the early 20th century renowned especially from his paintings on Kalevala...

That was my favourite!

As for my avatar; I had a Phodopus roborovskii photo for a while, being my favourite animal, but it was getting a bit dull so I thought that in light of my recent trip to the North Slope of Alaska I would change it to a phalarope. Not deep or meaningful in anyway I fear, but biology geeks never do grow up.

But back to this thread's main question; I am an exceedingly visual person who is just about incapable of seeing users as being independent from their avatars. I get hopelessly muddled and a little distressed when things change, and as is the way of things on the Downs, as soon as I become accustomed to someone's avvie - they change it. Not that's it's a bad thing, but I do find it a bit difficult to find the person again.

Groin Redbeard · 08-05-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

That was my favourite!

I don't know. I actually liked Nogrod's Bombadil avvie, the one where Bombadil is standing in the middle of a wheat-field. It seems to fit Nogrod's personality: he may seem distant, yet has a very Bombadilish attitude when you talk to him.

Also, I agree Laurinquë about Lommy's avvie. Lommy doesn't seem like Lommy without it.

08-03-2009, 10:54 AM	#1
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	#3
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	#6
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.”

08-05-2009, 07:53 AM	#7
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	I think I'm an odd case - I'm kind of stuck with this avatar. I may try something else for a while - penguins (lots of different ones!), other Mucha women, ww theme pictures (ringwraith, Gildor) or I've had very different stuff in the past: a football protest, a raccoon, a chimp, a few Galadriels, Winnie the Pooh etc - but I always come back to this one, it just feels like me. It's a bit weird that I'm so fixated, but I like the bright beautiful colours and Mucha's artwork and the atmosphere in the picture and all that - but I blame my mum who sent/gave me this picture as a postcard several times when I was small always forgetting she had given it to me before. Apparently the picture reminded her of me - well the girl there is kind of thoughtful, lazy and playful at the same time and that kind of fits me. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

08-05-2009, 02:17 PM	#8
satansaloser2005 The Sweetest Spoiler Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: from beneath you it giggles incessantly Posts: 5,789	I tend to change my avvie to fit the theme of the game, at least to an extent. (For instance, for I started with a Hermione/books avatar for Lari's game, a Pirates of the Carribean one for Brinn's, the gloves for when I helped co-mod Mnemo's, etc.) Also, if I'm killed I'll switch to one of my Firefly icons, and sometimes I'll put up an icon that tells people in the game what I am (but that's only if I'm being a complete whackjob and has only happened once or twice that I remember.) My icon normally carries over from the previous game until I change it for a new, or forget to change it at all, and I don't have a default because....well, I've not found one I like enough yet, to be honest. (Though I am a bit fond of my Hamlet with a happy ending icon that I made a while back.) And Lommie, that icon is you to me. I recognize you with different ones, but when I see that picture I automatically know it's you. __________________ "My heart always cowers behind the defense of my wit." Friendship is two pals munching on a well-cooked face together. Fenris bookworm.