Do you associate GB user's with their name, or their avatar?

So I just now (for some reason) noticed my thought process as to how I associate a post to person. I haven't taken much psychology in my schooling (only one class back in High School really) but I would guess that this probably has some relationship/relevance to the way we learn. Each of us learn differently so this intrigued me.

When reading a post, I look at their Avatar before I even read someone's name. What their writing, to me, comes more from their Avatar than their name. If thinking about a post, I would think of someone's avatar before their name. Though once knowing an avatar and recognizing their posts, the names of the posters become stuck in my brain. But not the name first. Never the name first.

So do you associate other users and their posts with their Avatar before their name? Or their name before their avatar?

I realize this is strange, and rather random but it came up while browsing the forums and thought it would be interesting to know others processes.

Both really. It is easier to remember avatars but when I just remember the avatar then I don't remember what the person said or the nature of their posts.

For example, when I joined in March I remembered someone's avatar but not what they said. Then after running into their posts a time or two again I remembered the name, avatar, and posting style (formatting etc).

I usually identify users by their avatar. Like Colbert, im not a big fan of reading. Or words. 

their avatar. a picture can say a thousand words.

like you for example, it says you're a Star Wars nerd. nothing is wrong with that, i love SW

I get to know names eventually, but the avatar seems to be primary. When someone changes their avatar, it's usually a bit of a shock to me.

I prefer to just use the names, so on most forums I have the avatar images ad-blocked. It doesn't work so well here on GB since the avatar images don't seem to have a unique location they're just in there with all the other images. :P

Depends, mostly I connect via avatar, but for for people who often change them I remember their names.

I'll remember names but I can tell who a person is a lot faster by their avatar. That's why I don't change mine and don't like it when people change theirs.

Avatar. Always.

I always remember people's avatars first. It usually takes awhile to actually learn someones name.

Both usually.

Avatars for me.

"I get to know names eventually, but the avatar seems to be primary. When someone changes their avatar, it's usually a bit of a shock to me.

Of course, some users, like Jayge and Karmum, change avatars regularly enough that I have been conditioned not to recognize them by it.

"

I always use names, the avatars are just a little extra to decorate their post, but their name is their means of identification on the site.

It is a mix. I allways used to mainly associate people with their avatars on forums, but I'm more of a regular on the GB forums than I have been on any other forums, and have got to know more names. I still go by avatars a bit, and I still hate people who change their avatar every other day.

who am i

I normaly associate people with their Avatars, which is why is uncontrollably and completly unconditionaly hate HandsomeDead even though he's an alrite dude. Everytime I read his post I see that stupid face of Zach Efron(sp) and then suddenly hate his guts.

I tend to think that avatars are more instantly recognisable than names. I haven't changed my avatar since august because I feel it is now linked to people recognising me.

Avatar.

I remember people by their avatar.

Name usually though there are a few who avatars stand out more so.

Both.

i dont know.
all i know is i think people juge me by my avatar

Avatar for sure.

I shall be remembered as a bad dude/president.

Avatar usually. My avatar has never changed except of course for the great Christmas time 08 where everyone changed their icons to wear santa hats.

I'm sure that most people know the posts are mine solely because of my icon.

Meh, the community around here isn't terribly large so I know most users by their name.

My name is my avatar :o)

"Avatar for sure.I shall be remembered as a bad dude/president."

"Coltonio7 said:

"Avatar for sure.I shall be remembered as a bad dude/president."

And I'll always be remembered as that psycho doctor wielding a guitar. Actually, I think more people remember me through the Motley Crue song.Also, I prefer avatars but inevitably learn names."

I just assume that anyone with a default avatar is an idiot.
Its a good assumption.

"Avatar usually. My avatar has never changed except of course for the great Christmas time 08 where everyone changed their icons to wear santa hats."

"But really Maxszy i wouldnt recognize you without your kenobi-lightsaber pic. Youll have to let me know if you change it"

"I get to know names eventually, but the avatar seems to be primary. When someone changes their avatar, it's usually a bit of a shock to me."

"Dr_Feelgood38 said:

"Coltonio7 said:

"Avatar for sure.I shall be remembered as a bad dude/president."

And I'll always be remembered as that psycho doctor wielding a guitar. Actually, I think more people remember me through the Motley Crue song.Also, I prefer avatars but inevitably learn names."

Until I stopped and looked at your avatar, I thought it was a guy conjuring a fireball."

definitely avatar. and then it totally messes with my head when they change it.

most people said avatar which sucks

usually avatar but only after i see them on the site enough

I'll usually start with the username

Both.

I look at avatars, but I learn names pretty quickly. Author and Last Post are nothing more than names and colors on the forums with the avatar to the left, so if I see someone I like ... I click. 

i suck at names so i usually just remember avatars.

After a while, i usually begin to think the person looks like their avatar in real life.

"i suck at names so i usually just remember avatars. After a while, i usually begin to think the person looks like their avatar in real life."

"Gunner said:

"i suck at names so i usually just remember avatars. After a while, i usually begin to think the person looks like their avatar in real life."

In that case you should... fix your head."

mine shouldn't be too hard. Which is why I chose it

"Vinchenzo said:

"Gunner said:

"i suck at names so i usually just remember avatars. After a while, i usually begin to think the person looks like their avatar in real life."

In that case you should... fix your head."

no you. You're the one who is a talking tiger."

"Gunner said:

"Vinchenzo said:

"Gunner said:

"i suck at names so i usually just remember avatars. After a while, i usually begin to think the person looks like their avatar in real life."

In that case you should... fix your head."

no you. You're the one who is a talking tiger."

SO YOU SAYING I SHOULD CHANGE MY AVATAR? Because I was thinking Galactus.You know. Galactus."

The forum listings place the avatar right next to the topic title while the username is way too the right, so I have to learn to recognize people by their avatars. Some people change their avatars too often to do that consistently, but there is usually a central theme to them.

Remember my name...You'll be screaming it later..

"It is a mix. I allways used to mainly associate people with their avatars on forums, but I'm more of a regular on the GB forums than I have been on any other forums, and have got to know more names. I still go by avatars a bit, and I still hate people who change their avatar every other day. "

I remember the avatars as well.  Every time I see that teddy bear I think of Matty.  Same for MasterbatingBear.  But that makes me even more curious of what the users really look like.