Drastically Changing Our AV's

[SandorWren]

I find it very confusing when someone drastically changes their AV. Disturbing actually.

[Scylla Rhiadra]

3 minutes ago, Bagnu said:

I find it very confusing when someone drastically changes their AV. Disturbing actually.

I think that, just as most of us come to identify with how we look, so too we tend to use the visuals of the avatar appearance of others as sort of "hooks" upon which to hang our sense of the identity of others. And really, our own identities here are also to some degree dependent upon those with whom we most customarily engage, so there may even be a sense that there is something of ourselves at stake when others change their appearance.

So, yes, I think it is often "disturbing."

But it's also, I think, good, because it undercuts our tendency to assume that people can be read from the "outside." In the same, more specific way that gender fluidity is reinforced by our ability to easily (and, theoretically, without detection) assume gender identities that do not simply correspond with our RL ones, so more generally does the "shock" of seeing someone we know "change" undercut our complacency about the relationship between identity and appearance. It reminds us that we are who we choose to be, and not how we "look" -- or how you choose to "read" me from the outside.

So, being disturbed is sometimes a good thing, no?

[Talligurl]

you mean like when i go from blue hair to pink?

 

[SandorWren]

21 minutes ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

I think that, just as most of us come to identify with how we look, so too we tend to use the visuals of the avatar appearance of others as sort of "hooks" upon which to hang our sense of the identity of others. And really, our own identities here are also to some degree dependent upon those with whom we most customarily engage, so there may even be a sense that there is something of ourselves at stake when others change their appearance.

So, yes, I think it is often "disturbing."

But it's also, I think, good, because it undercuts our tendency to assume that people can be read from the "outside." In the same, more specific way that gender fluidity is reinforced by our ability to easily (and, theoretically, without detection) assume gender identities that do not simply correspond with our RL ones, so more generally does the "shock" of seeing someone we know "change" undercut our complacency about the relationship between identity and appearance. It reminds us that we are who we choose to be, and not how we "look" -- or how you choose to "read" me from the outside.

So, being disturbed is sometimes a good thing, no?

I still want know as how I met you. Or some variation. Not judging a book by it's cover is a good thing though. I feel our identity is a combination of our appearance and personality. I won't change my AV too much, because my psychological identity is linked to that.

 

7 minutes ago, Talligurl said:

you mean like when i go from blue hair to pink?

 

LMAO NO!!!

Edited August 10, 2020 by Bagnu

[Arielle Popstar]

6 minutes ago, Bagnu said:

I still want know as how I met you. Or some variation. Not judging a book by it's cover is a good thing though. L feel our identity is a combination of our appearance and personality. I won't change my AV too much, because my psychological identity is linked to that.

We do evolve and grow on a personal level in r/l (hopefully) so it stands to reason that our avatars will too even aside from changes in fashion, emotional states etc. 

[Nick0678]

I enjoy it when my friends don't stereotype their avatar so i find it very refreshing when they show me something totally new and different . It's a nice way to avoid SL monotony.

Edited August 10, 2020 by Nick0678

[SandorWren]

3 minutes ago, Arielle Popstar said:

We do evolve and grow on a personal level in r/l (hopefully) so it stands to reason that our avatars will too even aside from changes in fashion, emotional states etc. 

i will always stay Pearl though. I definitely will improve my AV over time, but I personally wouldn't be able to change my appearance drastically. Of course I change my dresses and shoes.

[SandorWren]

So to everyone who knows me or doesn't...I'm Pearl lol!!!

Edited August 10, 2020 by Bagnu

[Arielle Popstar]

2 minutes ago, Bagnu said:

i will always stay Pearl though. I definitely will improve my AV over time, but I personally wouldn't be able to change my appearance drastically. Of course I change my dresses and shoes.

When you have your avatar to where you are satisfied with the look, take a picture and keep it for future or better yet, keep a reference outfit and compare the changes in 6 months, a year, 5 years. I have some from when I joined and on occasion put on and shudder and quickly hide again

[Paul Hexem]

I actually just changed bodies last week. New body, new head, new hair. The clothes are close to the same, since most stuff comes in multiple bodies, I just go into the pack and dig out the other version.

My lady says she's already used to it.

Edited August 10, 2020 by Paul Hexem
Pictures

[SandorWren]

Just now, Arielle Popstar said:

When you have your avatar to where you are satisfied with the look, take a picture and keep it for future or better yet, keep a reference outfit and compare the changes in 6 months, a year, 5 years. I have some from when I joined and on occasion put on and shudder and quickly hide again

Of course I will change. I want to keep my basic appearance though,

[Skell Dagger]

You would probably be enormously disturbed by me, then.

All the same person. No alts.

[SandorWren]

1 minute ago, Skell Dagger said:

You would probably be enormously disturbed by me, then.

All the same person. No alts.

Yes I would be. I don't mean that offensively though.

[Nalates Urriah]

Many of us are attached to our SL appearance. And yet over time we change. I think the more attached we are the slower we change. But most do change.

The step by step changes...

There are threads around here where these types of images are the thing. It helps to have good images of your avatar. Getting some each year pays off when these memes come up.

[Nalates Urriah]

5 minutes ago, Skell Dagger said:

You would probably be enormously disturbed by me, then.

All the same person. No alts.

WE ARE! But you do it so well!

...of course in many cases we were seriously disturbed before we met you.

[Eva Knoller]

I would confuse and disturb the hell out of you then. I change between a dozen heads,  numerous skins, and hundreds of hairstyles. My avatar is a doll. 
 

And honestly, what is there to be confused by? You do realize not everyone experiences the virtual world as you do, or is here for the same reasons that you are, right?

[Madelaine McMasters]

Gonna post my menagerie again...

I've disturbed a few people over the years, sometimes with that menagerie.

Edited August 10, 2020 by Madelaine McMasters

[fhlurs]

For me.. I get tired of how I look or my shape is or face shape in like a good month or 2, so I feel like I change up my face more than my body, but don’t think it’s super drastic though, but that’s the fun of being able to do whatever and whenever you want on here! 

[Rowan Amore]

It wouldn't disturb me at all.  If I'm friends with YOU, it's not your avatar I'm friends with.  For me it all goes back to....how a.person looks has nothing to.do.with whether I'd message them in the first place.  If a friend showed up tomorrow as a troll doll or whatnot, I'd probably just ask where they got it and then go shopping with them for troll clothes.

[Nick0678]

50 minutes ago, Arielle Popstar said:

I have some from when I joined and on occasion put on and shudder and quickly hide again

You mean like this old fellow? Hahaha.

 

[SandorWren]

49 minutes ago, Eva Knoller said:

And honestly, what is there to be confused by? You do realize not everyone experiences the virtual world as you do, or is here for the same reasons that you are, right?

I do of course. Everyone has their own reason for being here.

[SandorWren]

1 hour ago, Nalates Urriah said:

Many of us are attached to our SL appearance. And yet over time we change. I think the more attached we are the slower we change. But most do change.

The step by step changes...

There are threads around here where these types of images are the thing. It helps to have good images of your avatar. Getting some each year pays off when these memes come up.

You are still basically recognizable though.

[SandorWren]

29 minutes ago, RowanMinx said:

It wouldn't disturb me at all.  If I'm friends with YOU, it's not your avatar I'm friends with.  For me it all goes back to....how a.person looks has nothing to.do.with whether I'd message them in the first place.  If a friend showed up tomorrow as a troll doll or whatnot, I'd probably just ask where they got it and then go shopping with them for troll clothes.

Maybe I'm a little shallower lol!

[Ajay McDowwll]

1 hour ago, Bagnu said:

Yes I would be. I don't mean that offensively though.

I mean, I've changed my avatar over time, due to the introduction of mesh as well as the whole BOM thing... but I'd say Skell has done it with both style and panache.

That may be just me.

[Ajay McDowwll]

1 hour ago, Bagnu said:

i will always stay Pearl though. I definitely will improve my AV over time, but I personally wouldn't be able to change my appearance drastically. Of course I change my dresses and shoes.

You may think that but... things change.  Here I am, in 2007:

And here I am in 2020:

I mean, this isn't even "me", so to speak.  I was just annoyed this day, ergo:  demon.  But  we all change our appearance for varying reasons here and there.  I don't see it being such a big deal.

For the record, this is me when I'm mildly less peevish.  So, Ajay, just not as intense.

In the end, it's always me.  I don't see why any version of it should be disturbing.