Do users' profile pictures affect your opinion of them?

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Do you think of forum members differently if they have a profile picture you do/don't like? Does it happen subconsciously or do you actively notice? I know that some users have their face as their profile picture, but most of us don't. Do you think you would treat another member differently if they suddenly changed their profile picture to one of their face?

Edited December 28, 2016 by \/

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

No, I would not. To me avatars are just fun little pictures that different people put up for different reasons... and unless someone puts up something truly offensive I don't use it as a reason to treat them any different than I treat everybody else.

[silvadel 1,393]

It can give certain preconceptions based upon what shows up there.  I mean a picture is worth 1,000 words and the picture was picked out by the person in question.

[Colt 45 148]

Not usually, unless it's something offensive or inappropriate.

[Zachary 5,521]

Unless it's something that offends me or inappropriate for kids, I'm don't see any problem about that.

Edited December 28, 2016 by Zachary

[The_Gobo 36,257]

To some extent yes, though that's usually just a case of first appearances.
Usually fade out of that after speaking with the user over time.
(ignore my eyebrow  <_< )

Edited December 28, 2016 by The_Gobo

[Ganondorf8 11,310]

Not really. Profile pictures are meant to be seen as an expression of that particular user's interests or they just happened to want it there for reasons only they know. Unless the image was something inappropriate to others, bothered me in particular, or even confusing in what it's trying to convey, I'm pretty much okay with what people want to display.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Avatars are a part of how people present themselves online, along with things like usernames and signatures. None of that is too important to me compared to how people treat others and what kind of content they share, but I think it's natural to form impressions of people based on whatever you observe about em.

[Driz 1,552]

Not in the sense of "I don't like your picture, therefore I don't like you" sort of deal, no. I wouldn't treat someone different solely because of their avatars. But I do tend to get some hints as to what that person is like based on their choice of a profile picture. A little bit of their personality, of their tastes, etc. etc. Furthermore, I also tend to fall in love with anyone with a cute avatar picture. 

 

But of course, this interpretation is all broken once I actually speak to said person and realize they're totally different of what I assumed they were.

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

Depends. If it's a generic picture from MLP, the most i would think is "oh, he probably likes *insert pony here*"

 

If he has like an original avatar which he drew himself or whatever, then i would think he likes being an artist.

 

But i shouldn't judge too much.

[The_Gobo 36,257]

Avatars are a part of how people present themselves online, along with things like usernames and signatures. None of that is too important to me compared to how people treat others and what kind of content they share, but I think it's natural to form impressions of people based on whatever you observe about em.

Egg-zachery.

What Mother Gaia here said.

[Thuja 3,659]

To be honest, I think I judge people more on their username than their profile pic(unless it was something offensive).  I try not to judge people though, I try to treat people how I wish to be treated.

Edited December 28, 2016 by Thuja

[DixonTheAdversary 1,632]

No. People's profile pictures are not how I judge them, it is what they post.

[Luminance 2,186]

Do you think of forum members differently if they have a profile picture you do/don't like? Does it happen subconsciously or do you actively notice? I know that some users have their face as their profile picture, but most of us don't. Do you think you would treat another member differently if they suddenly changed their profile picture to one of their face?

Good question there.

 

I try to not see and judge based on whether a profile pic approves with me but rather, I like to know more of that specific user by greeting them or to know them better and that's when everything including their particular picture makes sense.

[KrazyDashie 1,847]

i wouldn't, unless well... its offensive or inappropriate

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

Not really, I leave that up to their posts. All I see in someones profile picture is what they're interested in.

[Mortar 143]

Hardly, since so few actually use photos.  Besides, given the type of crowd we are, that sort of thing shouldn't matter.  Right?

[Alphys Hedge 671]

Slightly, but not much.

 

It's mainly the reason I changed my profile pic from this:

To this:

 

I thought the first one would give off the impression that I'm trying to be edgy, so I changed it to a more friendly pic of her.

[GeekySonic 1,150]

Yes. If you have a Burn Notice picture for your profile picture, I will probably love you forever.

[Storm Striker 35]

No, not really. If I do like it, then I appreciate the art. If I don't, well it's not like I have to stare at it forever. There are some exceptions though.

[Derpaherpamerpa 160]

I'm more used to reddit so I sometimes don't even notice the avatar.

I do look at the username to see if it checks out though

[Bizarre Wizard 4,996]

Definitely yes. In any case person chooses their avatar and username, and it can tell pretty much about personality. It's like form an opinion about someone on base of appearance. Most believable you will think better about person who's clean, neat and dressed in style. 

 

Edited December 28, 2016 by Alolan Crypty

[Invincible 2,091]

If I don't know them very well, yeah.

 

Same principle would apply if I saw someone wearing rags - I'd assume them to be a bum.

 

People often prejudice based on first impression, it isn't anything surprising or new.

[Lisa 5,553]

Yes, profile pictures, usernames and signatures in this case can tell tonnes about a person online. If someone's profile picture is something I don't like/agree with or whatever else, I probably won't like that person.

[Derplight Sperkle 1,013]

Typically the avatar won't be the first thing I use to judge people. It will be the post quality and content that will ultimately determine how I judge a person.

 

The avatar/signature just gives me an idea what they like.