How/why did you pick your avatar?

Corrine · Jul 28, 2012

Kosh said something to me and I shared with him how I got my rose avatar. I told Kosh the background and it occurred to me that it would be fun to get the background on how/why others chose their avatar.

Do you use the same avatar everywhere, as I do? Do you always keep the same avatar or change it depending on your mood, the season, or just because you're tired of it?

Here's my story:

The first site I joined was in 2000 (Freedomlist) when it was just a message board. Soon thereafter, it was converted to a forum and we were able to add an avatar. I was looking for an appropriate flower but couldn't find one that I liked. A fellow Admin created the rose avatar for me and I have used it everywhere since. I always tell people that it was a gif from a friend. :)

Because I have used it for so many years, that rose is identified with me. I've been recognized at forums by my rose. :rose:

GZ · Jul 28, 2012

That is a good story Corrine!

Unfortunately, I don't have such a fun story behind my avatar...

My current Avatar here I made using a photo I found online and Inkwell/GIMP...

My current Avatar @ TSF is another self made image made from scratch using a pencil/paper/scanner MS Paint and GIMP. It is a combination of two of my most favorite video games... Worms and Final Fantasy VIII...

I change my avatars often... Usually at a whim... For a while @ TSF I was changing my Avatar every 1000 posts.

Corrine · Jul 28, 2012

GZ said:
My current Avatar here I made using a photo I found online and Inkwell/GIMP...

Corrine looks at GZ's post again. Looks around. Checks GZ's profile. Nope. Gotta ask.

What avatar here?

The TSF avatar is great -- and very personal since you created it yourself.

GZ · Jul 28, 2012

Yeah... I just noticed that!

All fixed! :lol:

writhziden · Jul 29, 2012

I chose my avatar because it is silly, and I'm a silly person. :dance:

Laxer · Jul 29, 2012

Mine is pretty simple...

It's lacrosse and it's a beautiful shot from '08 I believe...

Might change it to something from a hopkins player but would have to find a clip with a good angle :grin1:

Tekno Venus · Jul 29, 2012

Mine was made for me by a friend at Seven Forums. He was/is amazing at GFX work.

usasma · Jul 29, 2012

Originally mine was a picture of Ray Charles - a man I admire because of what he achieved despite being blind.
I finally started to get over the trauma of my eye problems back in 2008/2009 and went looking for something different to replace the Ray Charles avatar.
Just FYI, the avatar is still used on my usasma2 profile over at Microsoft Answers.

I wasn't able to find any thing suitable that made a statement - so I settled for this picture I took of a camel while I was sitting on it's back. It was taken on a trip to Giza to see the pyramids back in 2008. I've been using it long enough now that it's become a part of me, so I now carry it to any other forum that I visit.

There's one other avatar that I use (it's a part of my MVP profile) and it's simply a picture of my wife (then my girlfriend) and I from back in 2002.

FredeGail · Jul 29, 2012

I'm just simply in love with astronomy.

Kosh Vorlon · Jul 29, 2012

Laxer said:
Might change it to something from a hopkins player but would have to find a clip with a good angle :grin1:

Oh, please don't. You chose to highlight the best team/school already! (Gee - I wonder which University I graduated from? :cool3:)

As for me, I wanted a symbol of trust, respect, never giving up, the best there is at what he does, justice, and just a bit of patriotism (plus combat skills) that almost everyone would recognize - and even if not real, I could think of no better choice. It took me a while with photoshop to get the picture and the shield matched up just right. It was done for the first forum where I was a SuperMod for New Line Cinema (the Blade Forum - actually all 3 of them while they lasted). I've used it ever since.

Haven't figured how to use a customized version in TSF (others seem to have done it - might be a feature held back until a history is shown or something. I did find the character even if it isn't the image I want, but I'll find a way eventually as except for the MVP site where I can only use my picture or nothing and chose nothing - but may test that to see what happens :shocked:) which are the only exceptions as I spread out looking to diversify more after 16 months or so almost exclusively in Answers (after a year also only in Answers and then about 6 months only in VF). As I had learned in other things but somehow forgot in this arena, you lose your edge if you allow yourself to see things from only one point of view. This also gets me to meet new and different people and I've both found some old friends I'd lost touch with - who recognized me immediately even though I'd changed my username that otherwise might not have happened - and made new ones also, even in such short times.

And since I was asked once by an admin here "Who is that?", once I recovered for those who maybe weren't ever into comics or superheroes or perhaps are in countries where such things are not readily available (or overlooked or even disliked one so overtly nationalistic), it's Captain America! http://marvel.com/universe/Captain_America_(Steve_Rogers).

JaidynM · Jul 29, 2012

The first forum I ever joined (back when I was 7 or 8 and played online RPGs such as Adventure Quest) was the Battleon forum. I vaguely remember a staff member having my avatar (but with a green eye rather than purple) and thought it looked very cool. The next place I moved on to was Kongregate where, with the help of some other users managed to dig up this avatar. I've used it ever since.

jcgriff2 · Jul 29, 2012

I've used 100s - used to change them daily depending on the 'mission of the day'!

For the last year or so - Drexel University avatars. Most recent done by a good friend here.

GZ · Jul 29, 2012

jcgriff2 said:
I've used 100s - used to change them daily depending on thre 'mission of the day'!

For the last year or so - Drexel University avatars. Most recent done by a good friend here.

I knew it was custom... It has a reflection!!!

GZ · Jul 29, 2012

Kosh Vorlon said:
Haven't figured how to use a customized version in TSF (others seem to have done it - might be a feature held back until a history is shown or something.

@ TSF, you need a minimum of 500 posts (enthusiast status) or be a member of a team to use custom avatars. I think it is similar here as well... Don't know I was a team member within minutes of signing up! :lol:

Hey... I have a new one for ya... Something I think of everytime I see your name...

sari · Jul 29, 2012

A friend created mine for me a number of years ago when I first came online. I teasingly called myself a domestic goddess, and he found this picture and added my name to it. I've used it for over 6 years now at all the sites I belong to.

joeten · Jul 29, 2012

I change them fairly frequently I have had cats,dogs,man bashing on a keyboard I had the dark knight at one point but anything slightly quirky will do

Kosh Vorlon · Jul 29, 2012

GZ said:
Kosh Vorlon said:

Haven't figured how to use a customized version in TSF (others seem to have done it - might be a feature held back until a history is shown or something.

Click to expand...

@ TSF, you need a minimum of 500 posts (enthusiast status) or be a member of a team to use custom avatars. I think it is similar here as well... Don't know I was a team member within minutes of signing up! :lol:

At TSF, it became an option as soon as they gave me MVP status. If there's a delay here, I didn't notice as I also got MVP status pretty fast and I never noticed a problem from the first time I tried.

But thanks.

Do you know my name is based on Kosh, the Vorlon Ambassador to Babylon-5 in the TV series? And on the rare occasion I have a beer, it's St. Pauli Girl.

Have a good one...

GZ · Jul 29, 2012

Man.. That is a tough one... I don't know if they had St. Pauli Girl on Epsilon III...

Patrick · Jul 29, 2012

My avatar is Pyong. Pyong originated back in 2006 on DeviantArt and was used as an emotion on various forums and messaging clients, specifically MSN.

I very rarely change it, and when I do, I usually soon after come right back to Pyong

TheCyberMan · Jul 29, 2012

I am simply a Doctor Who fan and the Cybermen are one of my favourite foes to pit their wits against the doctor.

The Daleks are another favourite and i used to talk like one without the aid of a glass of water.:grin1:

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