A recent blog post What do Avatars Mean to Us | chrisbrogan.com and twitter discussions (ok not so recent, I’ve been busy – or procrastinating – whatever) have prompted me to navel gaze and ponder my tendency to use a cartoon of myself as an avatar. Looking through the hard drive, I see it has been going on for some time, and I’m fairly consistent. Ipod, coffee, casual black/gray clothes are definitely things you would see if you met me in person. The glasses come and go, as they do in real life. I should put glasses on the “current me” but am far too lazy to revamp her just yet.
This was the first South Park style me – created with a South Park studio – either http://www.sp-studio.de/ or http://images.southparkstudios.com/games/create/ I use both. Her hair was redder, and she had no ipod, so she’s a couple of years old at least. Letting the angry show more than usual. I kept this one for quite a while.
When I installed AIM, I tried the WeeMee, which never did look quite right. Too perky.
Being easily distractable, I then tried the DoppelMe, and that wasn’t quite right either.
Honestly, I don’t know where this one came from, but the resemblance is still there.
Back to South Park, looking a little less angry, kind of tired, just a worn out mom of three.
This one was made after attempting to get my red hair back, instead of the usual bleaching of the grays I do, which is turning me blonder than blonde. But hey, it isn’t gray. The red turned out badly, nearly this shade, and yes, I was in angry mode again. The new hair color and cut just wasn’t happening.
This is the final version (for now?) but it will be a long time before I get the time or energy to redo her and change the image all over the damn internets. By now, I’m using her myself as a visual cue to things I’ve posted. The hot pink helps me find my place in the twitterstream or a page of blog comments.
As for why a cartoon and not a real photo, the rumors about cameras being unable to capture my image are rampant, if untrue. I don’t look in the mirror much, why would I want to see my own face staring out of the computer at me? Bleh on that. Bleh, I say.
Bonus: The South Park is a around, stubby legged little thing. I’ll always look taller and thinner than people expect. Hah!
Tags: avatars, images, internet, social media
