Has your opinion of anyone on R&S changed after seeing their actual picture?

Question

Recently, Old Man from Scene 24 encouraged a day for everyone to use their real pictures, to help see that there are actual people behind the avatars, and to help people relate to one another, which can sometimes be difficult to do, especially when faced with an avatar. I think that sometimes an avatar depersonalizes the interaction, and we tend to feel faced with something cold and unfeeling...not another living person.

With all that, I think it is a valuable thing to appreciate the very human interaction, and to see that we are all, after all, real people, with different opinions, but having a lot more in common than we think. So, has there ever been a time that your opinion of someone changed after you saw the person behind the avatar?

Answer 1

Good question, but I'm going to have to say "no".



My opinion of R&Sers, albeit dynamic and fluxional, is formed purely from the way that they couch their questions and answers. The facade that is the avatar, for me, in no real way affects my perception. Meh, even the "real" picture of the person is just the cover of the book.

Answer 2

Seeing as photographs are not an adequate replacement for human interaction, I'm going to have to say 'no'. My opinion would not change based on an actual image of the people behind the avatars. Besides, the way people respond to some of the questions on here sometimes shows more about the person behind the avatar than a photo would. Now, if we had a video Q&A day, my answer might well be different.

Answer 3

Does it change my opinion?

No.

i have been surprised when I have seen actual pictures though. Most avatars look like they're 18-20, so my mental picture of people is around that age. And it's a little surprising to realize that many of them are a lot older than what I had pictured. But it hasn't changed my opinions though. I still respect them all. ;)

Answer 4

I couldn't use my picture if I wanted to. I have TRIED to upload a photo from my 360 but it will NOT recognize that I have one. I have asked Yahoo about this and received a form letter that they are aware that some users have this problem and that they're working on it. That was more than a year ago and the problem still exists. Sigh. Guess you guys and gals will just have to think that this 50 year old blue eyed blonde hillbilly Jewish mama from Arkansas looks like a 17 year old blonde cartoon. :P



Shalom y'all.



edit: Admits to saving that great photo of my friend RJ to my computer and enlarged it so I have a mental image of the mensch I have come to love here in Y/A.. I thought of him as a hero before I saw that photo that fits my mental image of him quite well. I'm proud to be connected to this young man.

Answer 5

yes, it does change how you interact- that is why I think the avatars are a good idea- it keeps you honest, instead of 'careful' not to hurt another's feelings. or- especially the guys who may find a girl to be 'pretty'- so he will play up to her more than he would an avatar- and vice versa.(i know when I think a guy is cute- I am alot nicer) Also, it can work the other way around...let's say the person is by one's personal defintion 'unattractive'- physically- they may get ignored, whereas, with an avatar they may have been listened to. shallow? yes, but true.

Answer 6

Hmm. It hasn't mattered to me all that much. My impressions of people are assembled over time from reading their words and interactions; pictures and avatars are largely a visual access trigger for that information.



I guess I'm somewhat weird in that, so it probably does matter a lot for others. How people respond to me does change tremendously depending on my avatar -- especially when I was using Jenny from Dr Who (still on my 360, the blond with the great smile). Generally the farther along the scale towards conventionally attractive woman, the more BAs and positive response.



But plenty of people still refer to me with masculine pronouns, even with female avatars, so I guess not everyone pays attention. :-)



Sociologically, I'm interested in how people make judgements about others based on appearance, inventing wee stories in their heads, and how that effects people of striking appearance ('good' and 'bad') who have to live with that.



Does a picture create a false sense of knowing?

Answer 7

I think some of the pictures may shock me, if i'm being honest.

But it sounds like good fun :) And I agree with what your saying, I think it would be easier to relate to others.

I don't know how to get an avatar (i'm not that good on computers :P ) and I dont really see the point in one.



Edit: Yes, I do agree bullying/favouritsm could happen, and seterotypes - i'm naturally blonde and people always assume I am dumb :( However, we must have some faith in our fellow R & S's right? :)

Answer 8

I use my real pic here now and then,and yes, you are right..i am sometimes surprised, when i see the real person.

It does not changes my attitude about them tho and it has no influence whatsoever on my ´´rating´´ them.

I love brains in people and i don´t really care, how do they look.

Someone above wrote about a hate mail..i get it more, when i use ´´real me´´..too.

Everyone is free to look at 360 pic..i love cats, so i usually stick with them as my avatars.

Answer 9

I don't think I have seen pictures of any of my contacts, that's a picture of me <--- from about 3 years ago (just before the Lebanon war). I've had pictures of my children up, too. I don't think it's so much the picture as the name. I know the first names of several of my contacts, and I'd say I see them as more 'real,' but the opinion hasn't changed.

Answer 10

About 5 years on Y!A India.

Answer 11

I agree.



A while back one of the regulars posted a YouTube with avatars followed by pictures of the regulars its was really interesting to see the faces behind my giggling.



I'll see if I can find the link......for my buddays...

Answer 12

First you post a question about "eggnog" on your keyboard, and now about actual pictures of R&S users...



Have you been staring at my pictures again? :p



Seriously though: I value opinions over looks. I don't need a picture to remember there's a real person typing that particular answer to my question. And there's too many creeps in the online world for me to ever post my actual picture in this section. I send pictures of myself to the people I actually have conversations with, and that I feel I can trust.

Answer 13

I think I participated in that- it was the only time Ronald H. McChrist ever had a real pic on there...





a few days later, my account got the sh!tcan- someone must not have liked what they saw :P

Answer 14

It may or may not. I like the expressions people use in pictures to represent themselves. Mine is always on my page, but it is so lame, I really just don't have many pictures to put on a computer. Mabye after Christmas.

Answer 15

It has not changed my personal opinion of anyone but I do feel like the physically attractive females on this site sometimes get shown favoritism.

Answer 16

No, no change in opinion. I used to have a real pic as my avatar, but Yapoo won't let me do it again. They sent me a violation notice saying that I broke it. lol

Answer 17

It doesn't matter to me what they actually do look like one way or another. It is the thoughts that count more. That is why I have chosen to stay anonymous and continue to use a cartoon likeness of my real self.

Answer 18

only where my opinion of their gender was wrong. i've had to adjust my mental picture quite radically, at times. i'd use a real photo from time to time, but the yamster hates me and won't let me into 360.

Answer 19

I got more hatemail when I used my real picture, so I changed it to a picture of my cat <3

Answer 20

i missed that...



no, my opinion of people didn't change when i had a chance to see their real pics. (i have seen several)



i pay more attention to the way they ask and answer questions.



((jack))

Answer 21

No, I've been surprised. I've assumed gender and age incorrectly alot, but my opinion of those people doesn't change.

Answer 22

I don't recall "Real Photo Day". I think it's interesting though and I'd definitely be up for it (were it to happen again)

Answer 23

A few people are much more attractive than any avatar.

Answer 24

I missed that day. But it's okay, I really DO look like Wilford Brimley with a cat coming out of my forehead. Srsly.

Answer 25

Actual picture ....



Do you think someone would actually use a mug like that as a fake ???



{{{{Christy}}}} .... I always show you favoritism ... oh wait ... then that makes sense !

Answer 26

I look just like the picture! It's uncanny!!!



(Well,... my eyes are a bit smaller...)



Linz and Christy are amongst the HOTTEST of the hot on Y! Answers!!!...

imho

Answer 27

I love seeing real pictures. It makes my affection for you all grow. :oD

Answer 28

No, I must have missed that. But, I use picture of me anyway.

Answer 29

What do you mean...this IS my real picture.