Why do guys use girl avatars?

[Ceewan]

I do not understand why a guy would want to be asscoiated with the picture of a girl, even if it is a picture they enjoy. I am totally clueless why guys would want to do this but apparently many of them here do. Maybe I could get some insight into this strange hetrosexual(?) behavior. Each to their own mind you, personally I just would not want someone to see a picture of a female model and associate that with me...in any tense. A members name is underneath the avatar and the avatar is a symbol for the member.

Any comments?

 

[The Prisoner]

Speaking strictly for myself, since my chosen nic tends to conjur up a mental image of condiment scum I like to give people something pleasant to look at to associate with the name. There's nothing more pleasant in my opinion than a cute idol, hence my use of one as an avatar.

 

[desioner]

Agreeing with gravyslime, I want people to enjoy looking at my avatar. And I see the avatar as my own little tribute to a model, idol & adult actress. I don't change mine often but when I do it's for someone that I enjoyed watching very much. I like that it's associated with me. I like the possibility of someone not knowing anything about the girl in my avatar to watching or finding out more and potentially becoming a fan just like me.

 

[CL™©®]

Agreeing with gravyslime, I want people to enjoy looking at my avatar. And I see the avatar as my own little tribute to a model, idol & adult actress. I don't change mine often but when I do it's for someone that I enjoyed watching very much. I like that it's associated with me. I like the possibility of someone not knowing anything about the girl in my avatar to watching or finding out more and potentially becoming a fan just like me.

X2
I usually use my fave in my ava & sig.
What's the difference if you use a girl in your ava, then in your sig?
uzzled::joker:

 

[elgringo14]

Ceewan you are scared of falling into traps? andalaugh:andalaugh:andalaugh:

 

[jjjjeczalik]

Nothing strange or nefarious

I do not understand why a guy would want to be asscoiated with the picture of a girl, even if it is a picture they enjoy. I am totally clueless why guys would want to do this but apparently many of them here do.

When I first started lurking AO, I noticed that the majority of posters (at least where I was lurking) used their favorite actress/idol as their avatar. So I merely thought that it was the custom here at AO. I then followed suit.

I'm not sure that anything more could be read into that. On facebook, etc., I use a photo of my face. I'm not that I'd want to do that here.

 

[diomedes]

I'm with Ceewan, it just seems illogical. I can't suggest any representation of myself as a girl, cause I'm obviously not. Of course, everyone does it their own way and there's nothing wrong with that either. But would it be more natural to put an image of a different guy than myself? For example, I'd like to look like Jason Statham, but making an avatar of that seems odd for similar reasons. That might be equally mis-representing. So technically if there's a wrong trend for avatar setting, there must be correct ones too. Oh well. I think I'm ok with people having sex in a coffee cup, I think that will stick around for now.

 

[Ceewan]

X2
I usually use my fave in my ava & sig.
What's the difference if you use a girl in your ava, then in your sig?
uzzled::joker:

Your avatar is your "face" on a forum. How you want to be represented to other members. That is the purpose of an avatar, so that you become more than just another faceless name on the internet. A signature is usually a way of adding a little pizazz to your comments by adding a message or interesting graphic, (and often by combining the two).


So the difference would be that having a girl in your avatar means that is how you want to be represented and having a girl in your signature is how you want to make your posts more interesting.

 

[CoolKevin]

I missed this,

I like to think everybody would associate Yuko Ogura with me, I know it is a wild dream, but it is all I have to cling onto, even that is going to disappear soon (she is getting married soon)

so I may have to find an new Idol,

but some people have pictures of there wife or girlfriend in there wallet, this another extension of a dream wallet, after all the internet is a fantasy

 

[sts]

I don't see avatars as a representation of yourself but more like something you like and related to the board. For example if I'm on a car forum I'll maybe use a pic of my favorite car, a videogame forum I'll have a videogame or anime character, on AO I have Ayu now ...

 

[mister_playboy]

Your avatar is your "face" on a forum. How you want to be represented to other members. That is the purpose of an avatar, so that you become more than just another faceless name on the internet.

Chichi Asada's face is a wee bit nicer to look at then mine... and for those who know who my avatar is, they can idenify me as a guy who likes big juggs. :joker: It's a signal to my brethren.

 

[firebo14]

My ava for example, identify me as a guy who loves PAIZURI!!111:tea:

 

[vincent_z]

That pseudonymistic element

As I have indicated elsewhere on A-O, I use a semi-anonymous pseudonym here. Were I to use a picture of my face as my avatar; that would pretty much destroy my anonymity. (Someone would recognize me.) :donotwant:
On other forums or W-WW sites where I do identify myself, I am much more likely to use a photograph of myself.

 

[isityours]

the very thought of using a photo of yourself for anything other than a resume (and family photos etc) esp on the net is appalling to me. i find the ability to take a photo of yourself and post it for anyone to see incomprehensible.
i think the etymology and current usage of the word are also in question. on yahoo for example users can choose an avatar which is based on a human and hair, accessories, clothing etc can be customised. in this sense users are representing a projection of, or from, themselves. personally i just use a picture of something i like to look at and i hope others will enjoy too (same as several others who replied here).

i must say, i like elgringo's pic.

@coolkevin
i didnt even notice your pic was Yuuko. i thought it was Miu NAKAMURA. unfortunately for me the only thing i associate your username with is that hideous pig-girl in your sig (no offence).

 

[CoolKevin]

@coolkevin
i didnt even notice your pic was Yuuko. i thought it was Miu NAKAMURA. unfortunately for me the only thing i associate your username with is that hideous pig-girl in your sig (no offence).

I suppose that is the problem with small avatars, sometimes it is hard to tell,

As for my signature she is not the prettiest, I have been looking for something to replace her for ages, but not found anything I really want yet

 

[isityours]

I suppose that is the problem with small avatars, sometimes it is hard to tell

now that i know, she looks like Yuuko.

As for my signature she is not the prettiest, I have been looking for something to replace her for ages, but not found anything I really want yet

i shouldnt have been so blunt. i thought you were being faceitious...
i meant no harm.

can i suggest this pic?

no, really, im just kidding. pay no attention.

 

[Ceewan]

the very thought of using a photo of yourself for anything other than a resume (and family photos etc) esp on the net is appalling to me. i find the ability to take a photo of yourself and post it for anyone to see incomprehensible.

That makes sense in a few forums I suppose, like a porn forum. I play chess online and many users use pictures of themselves, which I find cool and very normal. People share photos of themselves and their families all the time on the net in blogs and at facebook. I fail to see what is incomprehensible or appalling about that. Each to their own of course yet I find being able to share some of your life, with potentially over a billlion people, to be one of the truly awe inspiring facts of the internet. Youtube, for example, is one of the most used platforms for such sharing and reaching out to others that surpasses physical, political and language barriers. Kind of cool, in my opinion.

A self potrait is always a good choice for an avatar in most forums, unless you would prefer to be someone else. Anonymity is sometimes preferable on the internet but by no means is it, or should it be, a rule of thumb. That is my view on it anyway.

 

[isityours]

That makes sense in a few forums I suppose, like a porn forum. I play chess online and many users use pictures of themselves, which I find cool and very normal. People share photos of themselves and their families all the time on the net in blogs and at facebook. I fail to see what is incomprehensible or appalling about that. Each to their own of course yet I find being able to share some of your life, with potentially over a billlion people, to be one of the truly awe inspiring facts of the internet. Youtube, for example, is one of the most used platforms for such sharing and reaching out to others that surpasses physical, political and language barriers. Kind of cool, in my opinion.

A self potrait is always a good choice for an avatar in most forums, unless you would prefer to be someone else. Anonymity is sometimes preferable on the internet but by no means is it, or should it be, a rule of thumb. That is my view on it anyway.

sure. i was speaking personally of course. the fact that over a million or a billion people could have free access to a picture of myself or family just feels wrong. im just overly paranoid i guess. the only time i ever make my real face or personal info available over the internet is when i use skype to talk to my family or friends.

 

[macchan]

Simply because girls are cutes.

 

[WillEater]

Unable to find a small pic of me.. andalaugh: