People who don't have avatars

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Make it difficult for (at least me) to recognize them.

I'm visual. The only way I know anyone on a forum is if they have an avatar, because then I connect the avatar with the name.
If I don't see an avatar I wonder who all these random, pictureless people are...they all have the same name - "the person with no picture."
It's probably an Aspie thing for me - I am really really visual and can't remember names at all. It's like prosopagnosia, except for names.

Anyone else have this issue? I'm turning this into a poll b/c I'm curious - do you connect better on a forum if others have avatars? Do you think it's a visual-thinker Asperger's deal?

Note - I'm not complaining at all...just so people don't take me wrong. Just an interesting observation.

Sometimes I quickly skim through posts without really reading them in-depth...I take more note of a person's avatar when I do this. But if I really take my time and read through some posts, I pay more attention to people's user names.

It's funny, no matter what I do (skimming or reading), I still never look at names unless there's a picture there....and then it's like - instant connection.

Weird.

i always look at the post first, i took the first option but this thread made me make an avatar.

Im too lazy, or unskilled, or have to old a computer, or something- i just never got around to putting up an avatar.

But it does make a difference.

Ive gotten rather smitten with a number of ladies who were brave enough to post thier actual faces as avatars here.

I knew it! I knew I wasn't the only one!! !! !

I tend to ignore the entire left column and only read the text of the message. I don't usually connect the messages with specific people. I guess I'm not really here to connect with people, just to get information and a hear a variety of opinions on topics relating to autism.

I'm both. I match it with both username and avatar. Then it's always weird when they change them and I may still refer them as their old avatar until I get used to the new one they put up.

People without avatars just blur together as an anonymous mass to me. I also find it frustrating when two or more members use the same stock avatar - I tend to get those users posts mixed up.

I get confused when people change their avatar ....

What really grinds my gears is when a person uses one of those pre-made WP avatars. I don't know why, but those just get on my nerves.

I can admit that avatars affect my perception of forum members.

Sometimes I even visualize them as their avatar - so if it is a cat, then I imagine you look like a cat in reality