Influence of Avatars and Images: are you affected?

This got me to thinking about avatars as logos which are like a companies avatars.

Link

It is a true test of a product’s success if even after its logo is removed, the consumer would still recognize it by the distinct colour, shape or detailing of its packaging.

Link USA Today

Here's a quiz. Name the companies associated with the following:

• golden arches

• a "swoosh"

• a big red bull's-eye?

You know those are the logos of McDonald's, Nike and Target because a strong logo is a powerful way to help customers remember a company.

Link

Logo development is not only an art, but a science. A successful logo encompasses the message, service, product and image of a business all in one. Companies are known to pay thousands of dollars for a good brand name and logo. In order for people to remember a business, creating a
successful logo is of great importance, and is worth the money an experienced marketing firm or artist gets paid.

I like avatars ...

One thing that I wish was possible is to be able to keep the avatars connected to the posts when they were made. That way one could associate a mood or disposition of the poster (to the degree that their avatar reflects that) at the time a thought was shared.

But then again most folks aren't silly or sad enough to change avatars every couple of days like yours truly.

reply to post by LadySkadi


It is mostly out of boredom of the avatar or the joke has become stale for me is why I change them. But like I said, it would be more often just good ones are hard to find. Although most people really liked the stormtrooper one. And the ATS logo on the added coffee cup was done by hand (no logos that small to fit it).

Originally posted by projectvxn
reply to post by wonderworld

 

I surround myself with various viewpoints. I'm lucky in that I have managed to find people that can give their view points without being dismissive of mine. But if the S ever HTF I would have a solid group of people that would go to hell and back with me.

Good point. If and when SHTF I only have 2 military friends, 1 hunter and a bunch of unprepared tag alongs that will be glad I stocked up.

Maybe I'll switch my avatar to a warrior chick.

I initially did a test using paintbrush program, to make sure I could upload an avatar of the correct dimensions etc. I was thinking of replacing it shortly thereafter, but I think my avatar is unique and highly creative. It lets people know how hard some words are to pronounce.

OP, avatars do have some effect on me. Whilst someone suggested that pluckynoones avatar was the most "influential" on ATS, I disagree. I do however know her name, not due to anything Ive read by her, but because of the picture.

Sanchosearlyjones or whatever his name is. Thanks to his impressionable avatar, I noticed the video in Civic Video, sanchos stood out like dog balls. I enjoyed watching the video, it was a bit B grade, but enjoyable and very funny.

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WOMEN
When I see the tasteful avatars of "manga-style" women, such as you LadySkadi, I think "When I get married, my wife will look something like that," followed by "The real girl probably looks nothing like her, " followed by "But I don't know, I don't know!, the mystery is killing me." The mystery is good. networkdude hit the nail on the head with his post (pg7, 2nd post)

"manga-style" avatars of women who look Gothic are cool, UNTIL they look malnourished, abused, have signs of S&M about them, or look like total SKANK(as opposed to a carefully selected skank look)

Dear Antonia, are you fishing for compliments? You are beautiful, how can you NOT consider yourself attractive?
----------------------------------------------------
MEN
implied violence in avatars is gross, Ive noticed the women don't do this anywhere near as much. Real guns in avatars are nasty to see and put me off too (as opposed to a BFG from a FPS).

Manga-style bloke looking tough is cool to see. The site owners/admin/some mods have those cool manga-style portraits of themselves.
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In closing, what and how a person speaks reshapes my initial view of them, which was only superficial to begin with.

Mine is easy to read.

I made it to be very clear on my political stance.

Plus penguins are awesome.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Originally posted by Signals
Now, who has the most influential Avatar on ATS ?????

I actually don't like that one at all. I think people who are "trying" to be sexy are very unsexy. It has the potential to be attractive, but the tongue just ruins it for me.

I just read the whole thread and found it a great read!

I like your avatar the best, BH. It's one of the few avatars I've really noticed. Besides, like I told you before, your cute doggie gives me the warm fuzzies. Megan Fox? Nah, not so much. But then again I'm a heterosexual female.

Originally posted by kinda kurious


Hopefully mine screams: "Hey look at me. I'm unique just like everybody else."

It screams: "I am a German and I hope to be a worthy replacement for Mademoiselle"...








[edit on 21-10-2009 by Vanitas]

Originally posted by Blaine91555
This got me to thinking about avatars as logos which are like a companies avatars.

Link

It is a true test of a product’s success if even after its logo is removed, the consumer would still recognize it by the distinct colour, shape or detailing of its packaging.

Link USA Today

Here's a quiz. Name the companies associated with the following:

• golden arches

• a "swoosh"

• a big red bull's-eye?

You know those are the logos of McDonald's, Nike and Target because a strong logo is a powerful way to help customers remember a company.

Link

Logo development is not only an art, but a science. A successful logo encompasses the message, service, product and image of a business all in one. Companies are known to pay thousands of dollars for a good brand name and logo. In order for people to remember a business, creating a
successful logo is of great importance, and is worth the money an experienced marketing firm or artist gets paid.

So very true. Many company logos and slogans are so enmeshed with peoples everyday awareness that the influences hold major weight. Big, big, big money in marketing and advertising... why? because when it works, it works big time...

reply to post by Inkrinhuminge


Pluckynoonez has used many different ones over the years, including one of herself for a VERY short time. I still like her original cat-girl anime one best.

But it is not so much the avatar that sets off the person, but getting to know them from their postings. And yes, I do have mention of a plucky-kiss in my sig line, but before passing judgement visit the comments section of both our profiles to get the full story.

I have a number of avatars... but I mainly use this thor one and my alien one. The reason I have them is because I simply thought they were cool pictures and they fit nicely with the ATS subject matter.

Whenever I use the scary alien one, I get told by some people I have no right to be posting in particular forums.. or that I shouldn't be skeptical of particular alien/abduction stories... that I'm too evil and all kinds of junk.

People definitely react differently to me depending on what avatar I am using.

I guess avatars do tell us something about the member behind them... Mine is that I like science fiction... but others have attempted to tell me differently. I guess it's just a reflection of their own fears, paranoia's or plain stupidity.

Here's a great example that makes me giggle each time I read it!

Originally posted by TheFaiThfulSkepTic
Atleast i dont believe the movie aliens is a valid avatar to have on a truth thinking conspirators forum.

Go lock yourself up in your room and watch some sci fi videos you turd.
Link

Hehehehe!

IRM

reply to post by Inkrinhuminge

Dear Antonia, are you fishing for compliments? You are beautiful, how can you NOT consider yourself attractive?

I'm not, I grew up being terrorized for having a wandering eye, black hair and rather strong eyebrows. When i was a teenager i became fat and ugly to them (at 5'7 and 125 pounds imagine it). I also developed zits I never was able to be rid of them. It didn't help that i liked to wear the flashiest, strangest clothes around and i didn't match them. I also had piles of gray alien, glow in the dark or glittery accessories i wore. All of that sticks with me I think. It shouldn't but it does. I still get comments from time to time for my scars and the fact my stomach sticks out a bit. On some level I must be attractive since i did manage to snag a mate but I don't put much stock in looks really.

Thanks for the compliment though. I agree with you concerning violent images. I acknowledge the usefulness of guns but i find posing with them and such in bad taste. I also know violence is a reality but i just think plastering it all over the place is unnecessary. But it's a free country so hey!

[edit on 21-10-2009 by antonia]

I tend to use avatars as a way of identification. Where as i might not remember a name i will remember a funny or strange Avatar. Im not Influenced by most Avatars... Well almost not. The ones with women in them always seem to disarm me and i find i tend to be a bit more receptive to the suggestions in their posts> but thats just an indication of my weakness when it comes to the opposite sex. Im sure most guys will attest to this. Women are our Kryptonite, My one weakness im quite happy to encourage

I was considering putting a pic of myself but knowing humans the way i do i was pretty certain they would see the image and not the message.

Originally posted by patmac
My avatar is just a reminder to everyone, that technology can very quickly get out of control.

I thought I would remind you that Hal was OKas a computer. What messed Hal up was the dichotomy and conundrum from the lies at mission control and management. It was the human element that was bad.

Computers don't make mistakes. Only humans.

Oh, yea, my avitar is one of my own illustrations, so... It says what I feel and communicates my attitude too.

To the OP, your avitar is a stand out. I very much love the color and method used.

And, I know for a fact that images communicate a lot of unspoken information and qualitative data because that's my chosen path of understanding, including 40 years of study. Remember Einstein's "Spooky action at a distance?" It is the same as "non-locality" in physics. You can embed "things" (thoughts, emotion, etc.) in objects. Even an image can contain an intention of the creator. But, that's our little secret.

ZG

Originally posted by TiM3LoRd
I tend to use avatars as a way of identification.

Well it appears to have worked. I knew who you were the second I saw your avatar as it's so original/memorable.

IRM

Originally posted by Historical-Mozart

SNIP

So, tell me, what does YOUR avatar mean to you and what do you want it to convey to others? I love your avatar and am drawn to it.

I chose two different avs. and can't really decide which one I like the best, to be honest. Both have very similar characteristics though...

The one I'm using now called to me, really. I see beauty, mystery, inner strength, whimsy, life, a connectedness to something greater than oneself. All in all, the picture does reflect 'me' in many ways both in personality and my person...

ETA: I don't glow in real life, though

[edit on 22-10-2009 by LadySkadi]

Look at her, sitting there all miserable...waiting for the other shoe to drop...anticipating the inevitable....

This is my favorite avatar. It reflects my mood and it comes in handy for Halloween too.

reply to post by Blaine91555
I am CRAZY about your avatar!!!!!!
Love it...Its precious!

Just another refresher...
______________________

Images (in general) all convey a message... There's intent behind the images. I'm interested in whether that intent is noticed, internalized, acted upon...

Are we 'aware' of this? Are we reacting to the message that's being conveyed in that image and how influential is it to us as well as to those viewing it?




[edit on 22-10-2009 by LadySkadi]

reply to post by dgtempe


I liked the one with the spoon as well though. There was just something mysterious about it. And there was another one, but it has been so long that I cannot describe it.