Avatars...What are they and the point of them
Avatars on Internet forums serve the purpose of representing users and their actions, personalizing their contributions to the forum, and may represent different parts of their persona, beliefs, interests or social status in the forum.
I didn't "use" an avatar (AV) when I first went to Chatropolis, until I stumbled into the Gang Bang room, and I was surrounded by all these pictures flashing past me, some sexy women in certain poses, or half naked men...some nudes, some not...some sensual...others leaving nothing to the imagination...the people using them, seemed to be the "in" people...the cool people, popular regular members of the chat room, it was quite strange to see, seen as the room I had been going in for over 2 years previous no one ever, ever bothered with an AV...
I was quiet for a while in there, mainly because I was new to the room..I didn't know one person..but..I continued to go in, because I liked the theme of the room..sometimes just watched the room past me by, make the odd remark here an there, till one day..I got friendly talking to one of the regular girls..she said to me "girl, you need an AV..I will make you one"...which of course, I was happy about..I didn't care what it was..so long as I had one to use..and the funny thing was..soon as I started to "wear" this avatar (which, I might add, was not sexual..just a cute girl in a sporty kinda outfit)..the amount of people who started talking to me after that, in that room was unbelievable..because I was still the same person behind the picture..and yet for some reason..I was more accepted...shallow?...I very much think so...However...I think, there are many other reasons for people wanting to use an avatar other than just being part of a crowd...
A few people have said to me before, they like to use certain pictures..to try and portray themselves, although I think you can do that pretty much by opening your mouth and speaking..but, I can relate to what they mean, seen as I do try now, if and when I use an AV to be of similar age, same colour eyes, hair, to the girl in the picture that kind of thing..a fun..cute but sexy picture to use as my own AV...some use celebrities, rock stars, film stars, or..the more outrageous will use pictures of masturbation, porn type poses, close ups of breasts..all depending on the type of person you are, or the image you wish to portray of yourself in your choice of Avatar...I do actually know a couple of people who use their real picture as an AV, I wouldn't myself, but that's from a woman's point of veiw...You get the idiot now and again saying in the AV predominant rooms "You are hiding behind fake pictures"....but why in the world would I want my real picture flashing around in a sex chat site, yes people have seen me, but..I wouldn't want strangers to be seeing my picture everyday, doing god only knows what with it..because, there are some very freaky people out there (-achem- said loosely -lol-.)
Different themes..for example...there are rooms for people who are interested in BDSM...So if you enter those types of rooms...most of the members there, do wear avatars..linked to the theme of the room..whips, chains, gagged, bondage type of AV's...Some people have writing on their AV as well..not just their own name, ie."Master, looking for a slut"...also if they are a "Master" character/persona...they may have a picture of a dominant looking male, with a woman on her knee's for him etc..etc...Mostly, people stick to the theme of the room if they are involved in the domination/submission, it lets people know what they are all about, if..they pick the correct avatar...
There was a time, once..in one of the rooms..avatars were not working, wouldn't show up on the screen for some reason, a glitch in the system..I went in this room and....you would think someone really famous or important had DIED..or there had been some type of disaster in the world!!! people were distraught (laughing remembering) they couldn't seem to hold a conversation for more than 5 minutes without mentioning the fact they felt "lost" without their avatars..I would sit reading what they were saying, laughing to myself at the fact some were so bothered near enough traumatized because they couldn't use their precious pictures..I had been without one, for long enough, so it didn't really matter to me, and after that day..I used to go in, without my avatar on, because I got used to not using one again (I think they didn't work for about 6 days)...and I would get (and still do) comments like "oh, Angel, you are naked today!"...It doesn't matter to me now..whether I use one or not because people know me and talk to me regardless of whether I use one..but still, the conversation does seem to revolve alot about what avatar you are using that certain day...
Others, just use an avatar for fun, they make them..enjoy making them for other people to use as well..and really, that's what it is all about..to have some fun with them but AV or not...you are still, and always will be...the same person behind the picture.
