[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Sweet&Content

I agree... avatars and signature lines sometimes give me a feeling of "should I or shouldn't I address this person?" I don't mean anything negative or disrespectful by that... It's just if I see a really "dark" or "brooding" avi or signature picture/quote, I will avoid conversing with that person until I know more about them.

I won't avoid that person, necessarily, but you are right (as I draw a line between what you actually said and I'm thinking now) in that our responses to another's choice in avatars will help dictate our connection with that person. If I see another foo foo-ey avi, I'm tickled pink. I fully believe in spreading the love, joy, glitter and sparklies. But there are plenty of avatars that might be construed as "dark" but someone else sees it as "artistic" or the like. Our perceptions definitely lead us to those we interact with and help outline how we may (or may not) approach them initially.