What is the point of avatars?

;) Myself, I believe what makes the BEST avatar is when the individual achieves a fairly-good in-depth self-portrait: I honestly worked HARD to CHOOSE the best options where mine WOULD be! :D

[I am honestly even MORE blue in my DL pic.]

Mine turned out to be an internal self-portrait combined with an external one--it looks like the sum of my self: philosophical, medical, all components considered, an image of the inadequately-breathing dead, a way of being honest with myself in regard to my overall health picture, a coping mechanism in its way [just like my nick, I think they make a good match]. ;)

I think that is the BEST way to reflect one's overall look, if one does in fact capture the WHOLE of one's *look*--looking outside AND INSIDE, the honest facts of their lives.

In that sense, I believe my avatar is a declaration that I am at peace with myself, my life, my fate, which is a gift I would wish for anyone on the path to happiness. :)

I think overall the avatar system is fun, light-hearted, and I actually appreciate the somewhat entertaining way to express my more macabre reality. ;)

I mean, where else can you find such a *cute* way to visually express that I have lost my ever-lovin' mind than that pic showing me there holding my head after it's gone and rolled off? ;)

I also appreciate that it gives ALL users the chance to sort through what they value, how they perceive themselves, how they wish to appear vs how they DO actually appear...what they hope to see in the mirror vs reality...whether they like ALL their components...whether they like THEMSELVES...key factors brought to light by your excellent question--THANKS! :D

The point of them is fun, and the point that some people don't have the ability to upload a picture of them selves, due to not having a webcam or another camera that they can use to take their picture and put it on the system.

As for being a man, there are a lot of very young people that use this and many other system like it and it really isn't advisable for them to be uploading pictures of them selves to the net for obvious reasons (predetors)

The fact that you have asked this and dn't actually have your own picture on here may raise some interesting questions.

Oh another reason people don't use their own pictures is because they are hidding their age you see some people use this system for very unlawful things and here in australia there is actually a police department that monitors these sort of places 18 out of 24 hours a day. I know this because someone I know works with them a lot in the IT department, and these people don't want the police knowing who they really are.

On the new yahoo IM you have the option of putting a picture . If you don't want to put your picture then you can create an Avatar and post that as your picture. They are cute little cartoon figures they you make up yourself

The avatar gives a picture of how the person thinks about themselves. I find them useful (combined with looking at the person's question history) in determining how to properly frame an answer to a question. I've chosen an avatar that resembles me, insofar as it is possible given the limitations. She may be somewhat younger and thinner than I am, but I identify enough with her that I see her as a good face for me in this forum.

Wow, who are you mad at?

It's just for fun! My gosh! Not everyone has the option of putting their own picture on the internet. It's fun to have an avatar to play around with.

Geeze put a smile in your attitude bud, lifes too short!

Privacy,I'd rather not have an photo of myself on the net and this,to me,is a better expression of who I am.And What I feel myself to be.It has nothing to do with what I wished I looked like or hiding.Besides I have to admit,it's fun...and no harm in it.Unlike posting ones real photo on the net and later regreting it,because of all the nuts out there.

Silly?

I disagree -

Many of these little pix icons do the following:

. . . help the answering public find someone quickly (a favorite)

. . . protect the contributors' real identity

. . . manifest one's creativity

. . . allow some to really stand out; attract attention (more traffic)

. . . key one's emotions, to stimulate answering energies

There are lots more reasons to ENJOY these colorful additions, and perhaps others who answer can fill in the gaps?

what a boring old fa*t you are, they are just a bit of fun

anything is better than a common mask

also its easier to identify someone, I'm more likely to reconize their avatar than their name

be brave, they're not difficult to do, only took me 3 hours and loads of help

I agree, I know there are some average people out their. use your own pic. not a cartoon. dont hide behind your avatar. I totally agree.

Yup. I don't like avatars. Its a hassle (no offense) I'm just plain lazy

haha