Non-Human Avatars

1. 69

   J Sunhawkposted 13 years ago

   HubPages asks that you include a picture of yourself in your profile. I see pictures of people, but also pictures of cats, dogs, scenery, boats, babies, etc.
   
   Some say a picture of yourself boosts your image and status among fellow Hubbers.
   
   So what's the deal with the unusual avatars?
   
   Does the non-human picture hurt or harm your persona on HubPages?

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   1. 0

      WizardOfOzposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      some people just don't care.

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   2. 0

      selrachposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Your avatar of the invisible man is cool

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   3. 0

      andycoolposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I've chosen this avatar to depict my character as a writer... my username too wants to tell the readers something. I think since it's a virtual world username and avatar should be chosen in such a way that it tells your readers about you, how honest and dedicated you're etc. When people start to discover you through your writings they'll pay attention to the brand created by you. And it'll be easier for them to recognise you and trust the content. Choosing an avatar is all about creating your own brand!

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   4. 61

      anime_nanetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Go get an avatar

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   5. 69

      cornwall_UKposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't have a picture of myself.  I don't have a camera, I don't photograph well either and I am exceeeeeedingly shy.
      
      My current avatar reflects my username, and my writing which is about this part of the country/world.

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2. 60

   A la carteposted 13 years ago

   I like my avatar and that is why it is there:)

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   1. 69

      J Sunhawkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I like it, too.

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3. 81

   KCC Big Countryposted 13 years ago

   Many writers prefer to remain anonymous and believe their writing should stand on it's own merit.  Some do it because of possible conflicts with their 9 to 5 job.

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4. 60

   Randy Godwinposted 13 years ago

   I hate those animal avatars!

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   1. 71

      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, animal avatar are such a waste of space.

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   2. 69

      J Sunhawkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think your avatar of a water hose is fine.
      
      :-)

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      1. 71

         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         A water hose?

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         1. 68

            bayouladyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            lol!Cagsil, when I first saw your avatar, I had to zoom to see what it was, but it looked like vapor to me.Certainly not a water hose.

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      2. 60

         Randy Godwinposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks!  Yours is unique also!

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   3. 69

      tritrainposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      As a squirrel, I'm very concerned about snake avatars.

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         Randy Godwinposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Squirrels are safe here!  I heard they have worms!

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      TopUniverseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      lol

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   5. 60

      secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      like the one you've got? 
      I don't mind avatars that aren't the person,because they still say something about the person.
      The ones I don't like are the ones that don't put a pic in at all - they don't seem trustworthy, and they're not distinctive - I often recognise writers by their avatar

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5. 71

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   I would say it hurts you if you're looking to get freelance writing jobs from other sources, other than writing on Hubpages.
   
   If you're not looking to do that, then it really don't make a difference. Even those who write strictly sales hubs, don't require a picture of themselves to make sales.
   
   Most online purchases are buyers, not just on lookers. Especially, targeted written hubs.
   
   If you're trying to be someone, then a picture will have more weight than that of something else.
   
   I personally, rotate images between video game icons and my real self. On occasion, I'll post my real picture and leave it up for a while and then change it. There are a lot people who do that as well.

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6. 81

   KCC Big Countryposted 13 years ago

   I've had a clapping monkey up for 2 years.....and a red high heel for only a couple of days. 
   
   I don't think having an avatar versus a photo hurts a writer's chances at other work.  But, it might.  Who's to say any of the writers with photos are actually photos of themselves anyway?

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   1. 62

      Kidgasposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It's hard to get used to avatars that change at times.  I miss that monkey.

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      1. 81

         KCC Big Countryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I almost feel ashamed for mentioning it, but NO ONE, not one single person has said anything about me changing it.  You're the first.  My daughter has been after me to change it for a long time.  Since my 2nd anniversary is coming up, I thought I'd change it, but I don't particularly like the red shoe, but I wanted to choose something feminine since most people assume I'm male.

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            Website Examinerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I assumed it was temporary.

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         2. 79

            TamCorposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            
            
            Wow, KCC--I have never once imagined that you were a male--too funny!
            
            I hadn't see your new avatar before now, so let me be the second to comment on it, lol.  I like the red shoe better than the clapping monkey--I have to admit, those little things kinda creep me out, haha. 
            
            I use a non-human avatar only because I am so extremely UN-photogenic...

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            1. 81

               KCC Big Countryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Thank you.  I'm in search of a new avatar.

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         3. 0

            shazwellynposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            It is really odd... I always thought you were male KCC... until you corrected me.  I thought that Sunforged was female for a long time too - this might have had something to do with when he was talking about his pregnancy, before his partner had their baby.  Then, of course, his hubs were very much female orientated - I guess he was in tune with the whole sequence and appeared as if he was the one having the baby! 
            
            Perhaps he is in touch with his feminine side - Gia has touched his heart! hehehe
            
            Only one person has identified the change in my Avatar.  Funny that!

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   2. 77

      frogdroppingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You had to point out the change! I had seen your new avatar but the change of clothes flew over my head, I honestly didn't recognise you!
      
      As for the OP - mine was an act of folly that stuck. I actually look nothing like my avatar I also think that if I changed it now, the world would stop turning
      
      I have thought to do so, put a picture of me there, but then there's the name. Equally ridiculous and hardly a name that could be classed as professional.
      
      My advice? Think carefully before you click the submit button *nods*

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      1. 69

         J Sunhawkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         When i was a kid, I collected frogs, dropped them in a tub and observed them.
         
         I no longer have the tub.
         
         :-)

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7. 68

   bayouladyposted 13 years ago

   I've been wondering about my fluer de lis kitchen bar stools. I am bayoulady but don't want a picture of a bayou. As for my face...good heavens......I want to keep my followers!HA!

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8. 56

   telecommuterposted 13 years ago

   But, it's me.

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9. 73

   sofsposted 13 years ago

   I like the guessing game, I love light and purple and here I got a combination of both, I loved the Eustoma flowers that sat on my window sill all summer long, which was my first.

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      Website Examinerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Impressive. Poetic. Eloquent.

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10. 67

    waynetposted 13 years ago

    I'll never show my real face here....Doh!

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       shazwellynposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       You are just an animation of the real you! hehehe

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          waynetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Yep computer generated special effects is better!

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             shazwellynposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Oh?  I thought those fuzzy flickered squiggles where the effect of those mushrooms that the farmer had picked for my breakfast this morning!
             
             (lol... Disclaimer - *this is a joke!* - lol)

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                waynetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Magic mushrooms?.....reminds me of a story that I'll probably write as a hubpage!!

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                   shazwellynposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   I have one too! lol

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11. 95

    melbelposted 13 years ago

    I'm stuck with my ugly mug until I can find something different, lol.

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12. 79

    Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

    Spammer fail
    
    I believe that in terms of avatars, something is better than nothing.

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    1. 59

       YU_First 1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Strange, what I,d really love to change more than anything is my avatar name! ... Hope hub pages tech team reverses the permanency at some point in time.

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    2. 67

       lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Hey lady, where the heck have you been? I haven't seen you around these parts in a long time!

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          shazwellynposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          She has probably been having a real life... unlike the rest of us!lol

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       ralwusposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Aha! I knew you'd return.

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13. 77

    Shadesbreathposted 13 years ago

    I think there's some advantages to posting a PROFESSIONAL looking picture of yourself or of someone professional looking who isn't you, since nobody will know the difference anyway, if your intent is to be some serious, commercially minded, advice giver.  If not, then your avatar is just part of the brand you create for yourself.  (You can have more than one account, so you can create multiple brands for different reasons, which many do.)  I don't recommend changing brand features unless there is something wrong with the one you have.

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14. 61

    anime_nanetposted 13 years ago

    I write about anime so to me an anime avatar makes perfect sense.

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       Home Girlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Mine is just  me getting ready to work. Not the best, but I could not find any avatar I liked.

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15. 76

    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    I'm kind of fond of inanimate monkeys, myself!
    But I have been admiring your red pump, KCC. Very chic and intriguing! Maybe I will follow suit and change my avatar to some kind of footwear. What do you think?

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       KCC Big Countryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       LOL...we should have the right and left foot of the same pair.

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16. 76

    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    As a serious answer to the OP's question.
    I think it's whatever you are comfortable with. Since this is a writing site and not a social networking site, it's a great place to create a personality to go along with your hubber name.
    
    This is just my opinion, but I think it's best to pick one or the other. If you want to use real photos of yourself, go for it.
    If you want to use a photo or avatar, that's cool, too. People will come to know you by your avatar.
    What can be jarring (and NOT in a good way) is when someone you've known for months as (for example) a "sunset" or a "cowboy" or a "flower" suddenly switches to a real photo.
    The used to be a hubber here whose avatar photo when I joined was an adorable pic of her as a very young girl. It was B/W and just had such a feeling to it. One day she switched to a current mug shot of herself. I never got over it.
    Eventually she left HP. But I don't think it had anything to do with her photo !

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    1. 69

       J Sunhawkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       What's an OP?
       
       Orderly person?

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          TopUniverseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          I think OP means original poster.

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17. 0

    Listerinoposted 13 years ago

    I just wanted something kind of anonymous and that related to my hubs. I haven't found something I really like yet so I'm still hunting. I didn't want a picture of myself on here simple because I wasn't sure at first if I wanted my family and friends to know about my articles here. But I decided I didn't care if they knew so I guess I could put a picture of myself up. It's just more fun to have an avatar.

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18. 93

    Pcunixposted 13 years ago

    I would never put a picture of myself here.
    
    Well, unless I found a clown wig in an old drawer and went to a party wearing it and a friend took a picture and sent it to me the next day.  I'd put a picture like that here, sure.

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    1. 69

       J Sunhawkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Your clown wig is fine, but I think you're wearing it upside-down.

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       mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       and I thought you were a rainbow person - not a party-going person in a wig!  awww. . . so disappointed now.

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          sofsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Oh where is the pink panther... the cat ....the pink.... leopard.. or what???

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19. 81

    kerrygposted 13 years ago

    AAARRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo

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20. 69

    blondepoetposted 13 years ago

    Lol where is your pic....
    Oh between you and I I know your avatar is the invisible man but these other hubbers cannot see it.It is only because I have x-ray glasses. Oh the things I see....woo hooo
    
    

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21. 80

    mega1posted 13 years ago

    I change my avatar constantly because I'm also very changeable - sort of squirrely, actually, but that would be too close to reality.  Today I'm a close sunflower - tomorrow I may be a cheetah again, or a warrior woman - you get a kind of clue about how I'm feeling from my avatar... kittenish sometimes.  I love it when people are always changing their pics - it makes life just a bit more interesting to me.  Even tho some people get very upset when I change and give me a hard time - I have never been an iconoclast!  whatever that is.

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