Animal avitars- actual creatures? Or a person in a costume?

When you interact with someone sporting an animal avitar, do you perceive them as the actual animal an (anthropomorphized fox, rabbit etc..), or do you percieve them as someone wearing a costume (someone in a rabbit suit)?

The anthropomorphized - damn, that's a hell of a word to spell - animal they appear to be. Like, "Hey, how's my favorite fox doing today". It usually seems to be preferred.

To me, it seems nitpicky to differentiate between their furry av "costume" and anybody else's av - because its all costumes.

I perceive them as animals, and I don't risk a lot if I bet nearly all of them think of it that way.

I dont treat them as 'animals' as we know them IRL because these talk and carry banana phones. I treat them more like either cartoon, fairy tale or other alternate universe creatures but with some mixed in perception of them as being like RL animals. If they just talk to me like any 'human' av and do no 'roleplay' or such, then I see them as a human in a costume subconsciously. If they make an effort to roleplay whom or what they are trying project to others, then it helps me see them as that character.

*grump*

You will treat me like a real virtual squirrel, dammit!

For me, "cartoon character" comes to mind. Like Annah said, none of them act like animals really.

So, hmmmm, does this mean I can make you into Squirrel Stew or just lick you for flavoring..

If you send me a copyable acorn I *might* forgive you for that.

*giggle* That's an awesome avi, Kris....

And it explains why you like to hang around the forums. Looks like you have a predilection for nuts.

Neither.

I perceive avatars as a representation of what someone feels they are. When I meet an animal avatar (or a robot, or an alien) I just see them as another sentient being. Perhaps they are different than the run-of-the-mill human, but that's how they see themselves.

I don't think of furries as being animals because I know they are sentient. It's another race of intelligent being.

I treat all avatars I meet as people. I love furries and animal avs, as well as any other creative avatar. But I treat them all with equal respect and openess, no matter what they look like.

But wow..I have to admit..some really great furry type avs lately. I saw a girl walking around the club/shop the other night by herself. I was downstairs working, and cam'd up to see who was there..and I was amazed at how well she was put together. Leg warmers, sweater/sweat-shirt kinda thing, fantastic detail on her face and everywhere else. I'm thinking she was a rabbit-kinda av, but not absolutely sure.

Kris..that is a fantastic AV as well. I'm really impressed by the quality of the furry ones I've seen lately.

Ok. Proof that some of us DO behave like animals! Here's me hibernating through the winter months.







Yes. I know its a common misconception that squirrels hibernate. They don't. But I needed a flimsy excuse to spam the thread with another cute picture of me. Sorry.

hehe, ok I will send you a few trees that will suffice your needs...but you still didnt give an answer to the options..

Shadow

I'm a guy in a suit, yep, but I like to RP if folks wanna RP with me.

LOL great question! Depends on the avie...

If it's a furry suit that I can still see the human face underneath then it's a costume! ^_^

But if its one of the vauegly Disneyesque (thinking Robin Hood) two legged "animal" then... well.. I dunno. I don't think of them as an actual animal, and I'm always kinda caught off balance when they act 'furry'. Less than 'real' animal, but not really person in a suit. Does that make sense? I dunno.. I'm not really friends with a lot of furry folks so maybe it's different if you're in the community...

The only avie's I've ever really thought of as actual animal's were Psyra's birds... oh and Totoro! ^^;;

Woof.

LOL Travis...

I try not to read too much into how a person appears when I'm talking to them. I try to get to know the person inside.

heh yah thas one'f liam's best seriously, i love the eyes especially, when fully open they are like hypno-disks

one'f my favorite moments in science fiction was in the 'near future' cyber quadrilogy 'otherland' by tad williams... in it, some characters are going into one of the more 'off the beaten path' (think like more early SL, kinda hippie community place almost) and one of the first 'people' they meet is a 'fameous' avatar designer, who is.. a breakfast nook, complete with set table, and chairs, and omlettes and the whole deal...

its just such an interesting moment where these people who are used to just dealing with other 'people' online as jus that, generic humanoid 'people' avatars, now suddenly have to switch gears completely and talk with this breakfast nook, and in fact get some information out of it.

just as RL people like to interact on different levels, people in virtual communities often have different ways of seeing themselves, eachother, and how they want to be percieved as well.

There are people who are 100% roleplay, they are a fox space pirate out to steal the galactic treasure, and either you interact with them that way, or you blow off cause they don want to deal with anything 'less'

then theres people who jus are people who like haiving more interesting designs, jus like you may put on a fancy outfit for a night on the town without actually *being* a world class jet-setter, or you may go to an interview for a new job clean shaven and wearing a suit and tie, when yer normally a kinda laid back jeans and tshirt kinda guy, its kinda the same, its somethin different, mebbe lil interesting, and reasonably unique/individual/artistic (especially if you have a little know how and can design or modify existing avatars yerself)

then there are people who do jus wanna wear silly suits and have fun, the old hippo avatar, or the kinda scary 'pill bunny' avatar i would say would be more representative of that...

and thats jus three broad categories, everyone is a lil different honestly, and

OMG you've read those too!!!! I'm on the second one right now - my co-worker got them for me for Christmas specifically because I was talking to her about SL and it reminded her of Otherland....I read those books and I keep envisioning what SL will be in 10 or 20 years. Then I log in and try to create an Egyptian mythology avatar and goof it all up. But you're right, the breakfast guy was awesome.

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and honestly just like RL as you get to know someone you will know how they prefer to be interacted with, what level of roleplay versus comfort, versus jus bein silly, kinda makes up their online identity

Honestly? My first reaction is usually, "Wow, that's way too many prims there."

heh that whole avatar has less prims than single 'bling' items i've seen for sale heh

yeah, but I rather like the 'stoned squirrel' look of the sleepy eyes, too

And yes! Liam rawks

About a month ago I got "little" - that is I started wearing an avie that was supposed to be about 5 years old (my favorite age in my more whimsical momments). I'd been trying to build a new avie that was more "me" and was getting really frustrated and a friend commented on how for the longest time she thought of "me" as the Chihiro (the little girl from Spirited Away) cosplay avie I made long ago... so I made a 5 year old "me".

The thing is I never even considered roleplaying a child when I did it - I just wanted a doll I could dress with less stress - but most folks I met expected me to act young! It was completely the opposite experience, I figured SL was surreal enough for folks to handle a very precocious five year old, but they saw me and expected a kid.

The pressure to play that role is very strong now. Even though my appearance is starting to grow familiar on me, I'm disturbed to find my persona be less comfortable and more likely to play that role.

Beauty may be only skin deep, but to some degree clothes do seem to make the man (or the little girl, or fox space pirate as the case may be). I'm thinking about being elderly next... actually.. damn, now I *need* to be a breakfast nook! >_<

But what do the folks here think of old and young avies? Is it similar to how you react to furry ones or different?