In this context, an avatar is a movable image that represents a person in a virtual reality environment or in cyberspace, and not the type of blue humanoid Na'vi from the movie. I put emphasis on representation, as of course you can't put yourself in a computer and literally go on the internet. So basically what you show of yourself on the internet is but a facade of you.
The thing is, what you choose to show to others reflects you. If for example I pretended that I was an average boy that's soccer fanatic and that loves to eat pizza and drink cola, it would show what I think that the average boy likes. Likewise, I could decide to portray myself as one of those stupid TV show girls that are really bitchy and whose worst nightmare is that the really-cute-blond-guy-with-blue-eyes that they desperately love notices that they broke a nail. So, using the Gaia Dream Avatar generator, here's an avatar for each person:
And then, there's also the choice of words. If I wrote stuff "OMG, I am sooooo excited!!!!!!!!!" or "YOLO!" it's really going to make me sound like one of those bratty girls with a really fatalistic voice. If I were however to write stuff like "Yeah, sounds cool" it gives me more of a masculine-type voice.
But in both cases, these online profiles aren't me at all. They are how I decided to portray myself. So depending on what your intentions are, avatars and online personalities will or won't reflect who you are. That is one of the main reasons that, unless you actually know the person you're talking to in real life, you don't really know who it is on the other end.
I'm an example of a real trickster and keep on changing online personalities. For some I'm Elisabeth. For others I'm John. For others I'm Crystal, and for some I'm Jared. But for most people online, I'm good old Firejay or Firejay112. The main reason I do this is because I hate it when those people with online forms know my real-life name. It creeps me out. For me, the main reason why I masquerade behind multiple identities is mostly to protect myself.
Anyways, 'till the next post,
Firejay
