Jump to content
Search In
  • More options...
Find results that contain...
Find results in...
TheMagicMushroomMan

Do profile pictures change your perception of a user?

Recommended Posts

58 minutes ago, Omniarch said:

 @LordEntr0py's pfp

"Look at this poser. Are those actual goggles on his head?"
 

1 hour ago, StupidBunny said:

Sometimes I feel like my own pfp affects how I post in subtle ways.  Like maybe looking at a little dumb cartoon bunny while I type makes me a little less self-serious than I might otherwise be.  The same is probably true of looking at other peoples pfps but then again half the time I'm just reading the thread and only half looking at who actually said what

A guy on a Discord server I run says he deliberately chose a cute username in order to take on a cute persona, because he wanted to make sure he was being a good guy. I respect the hell out of that, but it also made me realise that there often *is* something to read from the avatar/username that someone has chosen.

 

1 hour ago, Omniarch said:

 

I didn't even know who Frank Zappa was until I heard him mentioned in the context of @Doomkid's avatar, so as far as I'm concerned 'kid owns that face, and owns it well.

Spoiler

 

 

Share this post


Link to post

i think yes. because pfps im confused about people genres xD

Edited by URROVA

Share this post


Link to post
19 minutes ago, durian said:

I hope not! Mine is not intended to be in any way representative of who I am (beyond someone who rather liked Keen 4).

 

I keep wondering when you'll return to the Oracle Chamber tho (unless you're the Oracle janitor in which case you better thank me for rescuing your ass on Hard)

 

Also your username makes me assume you're just a stimky fruit that obtained sentience somehow

Share this post


Link to post

In a majority of cases, not by a lot -- but sometimes it's unavoidable. 

 

Orb8eIg.png

 

RT3cGak.png

 

c8T6Hze.png

 

If it has a noticeable effect, it's more likely to be positive for me, at least on these forums. 

 

 

And when someone has an anime avatar, their posts are more credible to me. :)

Share this post


Link to post

This genuinely makes me wonder how people really see me because of my avatar and if its a reason to change it...

 

A lot of my online friends seem to perceive the way i say things as overly planned and my words suspiciously carefully chosen, when IRL, people's perception of me couldn't be more different from that. If i were to guess is that people get that vibe from the (arguably corporate-like) minimalism, very abstract representation of a human face/head and generally not very descriptive.

 

Though to reply to the OP: DEFINITELY. I think most people do pay a lot of attention to one's online avatar even if they aren't conscious of it (i know it can often be the case for myself unless i stop to think about it), to make up for the fact that there isn't a face in front of you that allows you to pick up on subtle clues or signs through for better communication.

 

EDIT: I think people also more consciously choose their online avatar based on their interests, personality, humor, etc. So i think it isn't entirely wrong to make assumptions about their personality based off their online avatar.

Share this post


Link to post

Yes the Avatar has a minor influence on my thoughts to the user.

 

However it acts more of an anchor of someone's personality, so I recognise them more via their avatar moreso than their user name. I find if the user is consistent with their topics / behaviour / content then it really begins to dig in and I make note of their names too. At this points, I have certain expectations from their post.

 

Here are some of my perceptions of some users on top of my head:

@Doomkid A voice of reason, deathmatch lover, popular guy
@scifista42 Mr help everyone with editing questions (sadly vanished)
@seed Regular, likable although a furry or something like that
@[McD]James Fast food lover, funny but probably not trying to be
@AtimZarr1 Doom lore expert, large and informative posts
@Maes Likely a veteran of Doom and Doom forum and probably guilty of creating Cyberdemon porn wads

@Major Arlene Is a female Doomer, who I think might be a moderator, I think is a decent person
@Murdoch and @Biodegradable Regular posters, or so I think they are. I literally haven't concluded anything about them, but I have the assumption they're good for the community

@Sergeant_Mark_IV Brutal Doom!!!

@Linguica As Boss man of this forum and Avatar looking angry all the time, I get the feeling he is always a bit tired, grumpy and won't tolerate BS and does what he has to do to keep this community going.

There should be more people but I can't remember all now. But if someone changes their avatar frequently, they're likely to lose any perceptions I had of them.

Edited by Chezza

Share this post


Link to post

It tends to alter my perception of them aesthetically, but not anything more meaningful. I tend to associate profile pictures with the person behind them; for example, if someone has a profile picture of a silver-haired anime villain, I tend to picture someone who's young and maybe has a bit of an edge. I also immediately respect people's tastes more if their profile picture is a character from a series I like. It doesn't affect the way I think about them as a person beyond that superficial level.

 

Unless it's a profile picture of a middle-aged white guy in his truck with sunglass and a baseball cap. That's the exception.

Share this post


Link to post

Very, even given a lot of information on the person, the profile pic usually I guess paints the mood some.

 

Share this post


Link to post

I myself do associate people's profile pictures with them, but not as in I imagine them saying out loud a post with the avatar characters' voice. I don't think I even associate the avatar with them or vice versa. I just see the avatar and know who made the post without even needing to read their username, though that only really works with people I've seen plenty of times like SGTMKIV or Doomkid.

Also good luck trying to associate my online profile pictures with me lol, since I change them pretty damn often.

Share this post


Link to post
1 hour ago, Chezza said:

@Major Arlene Is a female Doomer, who I think might be a moderator, I think is a decent person

 

thanks I think ;p yes I am a moderator.

 

I do tend to view my current PFP as a representation of myself (it was based on my irl appearance after all) so I tend to speak with the same voice I would generally speak with anywhere else (although ofc text can sometimes not translate well with my liberal use of sarcasm).

I do tend to view PFPs as a representation of something the user holds on to, even if it's a meme, that represents to me that the user holds humor close to their heart. While not always the case, that's how I tend to treat their online "voice". I've had to scrutinize some of that a little though, as my experience as a moderator relies a lot on first impressions and use of internet voice.

Share this post


Link to post

To me, I don't think that changing PFPs over time changes my perception of the users, especially the ones that talk the most, because what I value are their actions, not the PFPs.

Share this post


Link to post
2 hours ago, Chezza said:

@Murdoch and @Biodegradable Regular posters, or so I think they are. I literally haven't concluded anything about them, but I have the assumption they're good for the community

 

That's what we want you to think...

Share this post


Link to post

I've cheated here in some ways, because actually it's a my "portrait" done by friend.(Can't guarantee that this avatar stay forever, though. In different places I'm using different avatars.)

Share this post


Link to post
3 hours ago, Linguica said:

same

I'm trustworthy? Sounds like malarkey to me

Share this post


Link to post

@LordEntr0py & @Doomkid: "Watch out where those huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow."

 

3 hours ago, MattFright said:

I think people also more consciously choose their online avatar based on their interests, personality, humor, etc. So i think it isn't entirely wrong to make assumptions about their personality based off their online avatar.

I generally agree with your assessment. But there would seem to be some people (especially the ones that change their profile pics periodically) that pick their image at random. For example, the people who change their pics don't display any apparent connection between their pics, suggesting a whimsical reason for their choice. [I suppose that, too, counts in defining their real-life personas.]

Share this post


Link to post
1 hour ago, Scuba Steve said:

I judge you based on your registration date.

Says the salaryman with the self-satisfied grin. [:wink:]

Share this post


Link to post

Any avatar I use is not intended to represent myself in any way, shape or form, but sometimes they can show only a little of my interests. I do not judge people based on their avatars.

Share this post


Link to post
6 hours ago, Chezza said:

@Linguica As Boss man of this forum and Avatar looking angry all the time, I get the feeling he is always a bit tired, grumpy and won't tolerate BS and does what he has to do to keep this community going.

Are you certain you haven't gotten him confused with Bloodshedder in terms of avatar?

Share this post


Link to post

 

Wait, I have been getting judged on my profile picture this whole time?

 

So let me get this straight, I'm being seen as an armoured hell knight brooding on a throne? Judging people from afar with mild disdain and indifference? That's not a good PR image. 

 

I chose the picture in a rushed attempt to fit the name. The name itself was from a prank I played on my elder brother with a map I made containing a custom revenant. I named the revenant 'Final Verdict' and it worked as the name implied. Lightning fast, no ranged attack and able to pass judgement with one slap. It vexed him greatly, much to my delight. I don't mean that in a malicious way, you know how it is with siblings. Irritating little munchkins, even if he does have 10+ years on me.

 

Beyond that I have no attachment to my profile picture. It was a rushed attempt to find a picture that fit the name. I did consider the Angel of Death but figured that would be too grim. People don't like to be reminded of their mortality after all....

 

Nope, disregard any similarity that statement might have with my avatar. Purely a mere coincidence and I'm not falling into that trap of questioning myself every time I say something 'odd'. Because I'm slightly eccentric and do that all the time.

 

Honestly though, I don't really judge posters based on their profile pic. I might associate the person with the picture once I know them a little but nothing beyond that. Although some stick out more than others. For example Doomkid is Frank Zappa and I can never see it any other way. Maes is known simply as cyber-cheeks due to his fixation on cyberdemon glutes. Murdoch is the laughing horse and so on.

 

Generally it's people who post a lot that I do this with, but it's either nice or humorous labels. Never anything hateful or vile. I don't judge people in life that way so I don't do that here.

 

Normally I simply go by the posts they've made. They could have a rabid dog as their avatar but I won't associate that with the poster. I'll base my opinion on their attitude, humour and if they seem like decent people. Nothing else. I enjoy a laugh and appreciate sarcasm/humour, so I tend to mesh more with those that are funny or eccentric. But it's a preference, not a requirement. I'll treat anyone with some respect, unless they are complete pricks.

 

I assumed most people did that but reading this thread makes me think twice.

 

I probably won't change mine in any case, I tend to stick with one profile picture. It's funny when you consider the story behind my name/avatar, the irony of being judged on that myself is not lost on me.

 

Share this post


Link to post

If someone has been using an avatar for a long time, then slowly that avatar is synonymous with them for me.

Share this post


Link to post
16 hours ago, Avoozl said:

Are you certain you haven't gotten him confused with Bloodshedder in terms of avatar?

Is bloodsheddar's avatar the one with the angry fish? He may actually match the description.

Edited by Chezza

Share this post


Link to post

Usually I'll read their comments in their pfps voice if I recognise them but if I don't I usually just come up with something that suits them.

Share this post


Link to post

I associate rapidly animated avatars with childishness. Otherwise they’re just an image that makes it quicker and easier to identify a poster and decide whether or not to read what they’ve said.

Share this post


Link to post

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×