Avatars - What Purpose Do They Serve?

[Abraham]

I'm not against them, per se - I do, however, find them somewhat distracting to whatever the posters has to say, as I can't get away from them, so to speak... I guess I prefer more verbal and less visual. You say 'tomahtoe' - I say 'tomato'...

My question, posted with no ax to grind, but simply curious is: What motivates you, whoever you may be, to post with attendant avatar?

[Oldgringo]

Me? It took me 67 years to get this pretty and I want everyone to be able to see me...sorta'.

[DoubleJ]

like many others, it allows me to quickly find my post, so I can laugh at whatever retar- I mean, comical, thing I said previously.
or, it allows me to associate a particular verbage, mannerism, or writing style, or viewpoint to a particular poster.
otherwise, it's all just text on a screen.

besides, don'tcha like mah glasses???

[TxRVer]

Avatars help as an identifier. When you get to know people on a forum, you can quickly identify their posts. It's a quicker visual clue than the board name.

[DoubleJ]

I do, however, find them somewhat distracting to whatever the posters has to say,

You can also turn off the feature so you don't see other people's avatars, to your preference.

[Abraham]

Aha!

Avatars - quick reference tool.

Didn't think of them of em that way.

Or they can be used to see the beauty of Oldgringo.

I'm learnin...

However, finding they can be turned off does have it's appeal...

Hey, I'm easily distracted by visual cues.

I find myself staring at them and going blank.

[nitrogen]

They're fun.

[tfrazier]

Yeah, I can spot Nitrogen real quick this way, and know that any factual errors I've made in the thread to support a conservative view point are about to be pointed out!

(Dude, just poking fun! And you were right about that particular "fact" I hastily posted)

And I think Oldgringo is actually a 20 year old hot blonde female posing on the forum as an "Old Gringo" to pick up dates.

[nitrogen]

Yeah, I can spot Nitrogen real quick this way, and know that any factual errors I've made in the thread to support a conservative view point are about to be pointed out!

(Dude, just poking fun! And you were right about that particular "fact" I hastily posted)

Hey I'm cool if you're cool.
You should see how hardcore liberals react when I do it to them. It's usually much less good natured.

[jbirds1210]

I worked my butt off for the privilege of posting my avatar

Jason

[Oldgringo]

HEY! If everybody is going to make light of my avatar, I can always look the other way. I have rights!

[AEA]

I worked my butt off for the privilege of posting my avatar

Jason

Cool Brother!

.7.

[agbullet2k1]

How else would anyone know that I'm actually a sniper cat?

[WarHawk-AVG]

They won't let me use my avatar


I have a smaller one too

[The Annoyed Man]

I worked my butt off for the privilege of posting my avatar

Jason

I could post one of those if I want, but I haven't paid dues in years. Sure there was work, but there was also beer and cigars. It wasn't all that hard!