Why the avatar?

or; what do we use to represent ourselves?

from JoeUser Forums
With the new format for the forums and Zoomba's article about putting up an avatar to be a "cool kid" (if you haven't read it yet, read this article here), many of us have been putting up (or changing) our avatars. It's gotten me to thinking - why do we pick what we pick?

For months my avatar was a portrait of Miguel de Unamuno, my favorite author. But with the new format, I felt I wanted a change. So now it's Holly, the hologrammatic computer program from my favorite BBC TV show, Red Dwarf. Norman Lovett played him just so well, as did Hattie Hayridge during the middle series . . . (Hattie's female Holly is my avatar on MSN Messenger.) I picked it because I'm just such a fan, and Holly is just so funny. Heh. I'm weird.

But the question then presents itself - why do we have the avatar that we do? Serenity has an actual avatar as her avatar . . . George Nash has a picture of himself . . . Zoo has a red-headed little something . . . I can't tell what Jennifer's is . . . BlueDev's is a cool flaming eye with a door or something . . .

So . . . what is it? What's your avatar and why do you use it?

Spill it already.
5,886 views 45 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Alf.  I like Cats.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Alf. I like Cats.


Or is it that you're hairy and short?
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mine is from the cover art on the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. My favorite book of all time.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I thought I recognized that symbol . . . it's been forever since I've read that book . . . it's about time I read it again. Oh wait, school just started and I'm too bloody busy reading El Cantar de Mio Cid and Popul Vuh to read anything else . . . stupid spanish lit classes!
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
My Avatar has been on my Email and IM for a while now. I copied it to my blog site a long time ago but never figured out how to place it so it could be seen when I made replies.

It’s not from a story or show or anything, it’s a female that I tried to make reflect the way I look. And I found this jazzy looking hat that looked like one I love to wear!

My full-size Avatar is with even shorter hair; my new look and is dressed in boots made for walking! I’ll try to copy it here so you can see her. Her name’s D!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
My full-size Avatar is with even shorter hair; my new look and is dressed in boots made for walking! I’ll try to copy it here so you can see her. Her name’s D!


Do it! Do it! I wanna see . . .
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I chose mine because she's a character from my online comic.. May I Help You? Which started out as a caricature of myself and a friend of mine and has developed a life of its own. But it's a dear project to me, and it means a lot to me.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
But it's a dear project to me, and it means a lot to me.


Very nice, harumph! I'll have to check out your comic.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Because if I'm going to Pick anything for my avatar it's going to be of my own design of cross guitars. Is there anything more fun to pick? ;~D
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mine's a dime. Like, stops on a dime. It's a nod to my driving skills in emergency situations.   
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
No particular meaning other than I love cats.


Very nice, now I at least understand the what it is . . .

Is there anything more fun to pick? ;~D


Heck no Ted!
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
It's a nod to my driving skills in emergency situations.


I'd love to hear about these driving skills in a post some time, Nicky . . .
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mine's pretty easy to decipher. I change my avatar every so often, but right now it's a Soldier and spouse couple.

I might change it again soon. I get bored looking at the same thing sometimes.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mine's just a monkey with headphones. Because that's all we are really - monkeys with less fur and shinier stuff.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Because that's all we are really - monkeys with less fur and shinier stuff.


LOL True, but a good laugh!
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I get bored looking at the same thing sometimes.


I'm the same way, Tex. That's why I had to change mine with the new format and all . . .
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Zoo has a red-headed little something


Samurai...specifically one by the name of Kenshin, from the animated Japanese show, Rurouni Kenshin. If you're interested look it up on Wikipedia...I'm not going to go into detail here, because I'll probably bore everyone.
I use it because I respect the code of the warrior...I know, outdated and all...but I admire samurai and their loyalty. They are very interesting...and this particular fictional samurai is a protector and he doesn't kill anymore, although he was a vicious assassin during a war. Anywho, like I said, if you want to know all about it check Wikipedia.
~Zoo
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Samurai...specifically one by the name of Kenshin, from the animated Japanese show, Rurouni Kenshin. If you're interested look it up on Wikipedia...I'm not going to go into detail here, because I'll probably bore everyone.


  Very nice, good to know. How was your first week of school anyway, Zoo? Settling in to University life? Found a beautiful gaggle of young, pliable women to pass your time with? Hope so.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Very nice, good to know. How was your first week of school anyway, Zoo? Settling in to University life? Found a beautiful gaggle of young, pliable women to pass your time with? Hope so.


Oh, it was alright...I've actually been here since the 18th and classes started on the 22nd. I have an impressive amount of work to get done before next week, thank God for a 3 day weekend. Unfortunately, no gaggle of girls yet...but I'm working on it.

~Zoo
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Unfortunately, no gaggle of girls yet...but I'm working on it.


Hop to it! I'm aching to visit Florida, and if you've got a nice little group of say . . . fifteen or twenty girls to split between the two of us . . . we could have a really good time!

Ah, nubile co-eds. What a problem, and a blessing.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mine is General Robert E Lee as in famous southern general during the civil war. And as most here can tell you....I have this thing about the Confederacy. My old one was the Stars & Bars (Confederate flag).
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh..oh.. I know what Kenshin is!!! Actually, about two years ago, we (the family) started watching Rurouni Kenshin together as a family activity. For the seven year old, we felt it had a good morality to the story. Plus, the kiddo is a japanophile. Goes crazy over anything Japanese. She went nuts over "The Last Samurai" when she realized it was the same era as Kenshin. Kudos on the avatar..
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
She went nuts over "The Last Samurai" when she realized it was the same era as Kenshin.


I sure did enjoy that movie . . . it was a goodie.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
it was a goodie.


Probably one of the best Tom Cruise movies I've seen, but not because of Mr. Cruise. It was a well made, detailed film, and I enjoyed it very much.