[RickDeckard525]

I always liked this cover even though it doesn't look like Harrison Ford. It goes with my name so I set it as my avatar.What do you think?

[paw broon]

I am always curious what other folk choose as an avatar and, as I loved the film, yours appeals to me.  My current one is the best, of course, as The Phantom is the greatest.  Unless you disagree,  but you don't want to upset him as , Ghost who Walks cannot die.  And, he's got 2 huge automatics and a large mountain wolf to back him up.
Sorry, just having fun.

[Roygbiv666]

Dude, my avatar is clearly the best bear ... or ... monkey? Something

I am always curious what other folk choose as an avatar and, as I loved the film, yours appeals to me.  My current one is the best, of course, as The Phantom is the greatest.  Unless you disagree,  but you don't want to upset him as , Ghost who Walks cannot die.  And, he's got 2 huge automatics and a large mountain wolf to back him up.
Sorry, just having fun.

[paw broon]

Ah ha! So that's the way of it, is it?  An avatar competition?  Well, apart from me winning, someone will have to come second.  So, all comers and let's have this out, if you think you're hard enough -  well, harder than Ghost who Walks.   
Actually, I like the bear  er  monkey?

[mr_goldenage]

Man...I have the coolest avatar.....don't you think?

[Geo (R.I.P.)]

Mine is the first and best, without it you won't have an avatars.
Hee, hee!

Geo

[SuperScrounge]

Huh, I thought Roy's avatar was a hand puppet.

Mine might not be able to compete with professional comic book artists, but I like it. (They're two characters from my webcomic, if you were wondering.)

[Roygbiv666]

Technically, my avatar is my drawing in MSPaint of a hand puppet/wash cloth that I bought as a joke, that people disagree on being a bear or a monkey.

Huh, I thought Roy's avatar was a hand puppet.

Mine might not be able to compete with professional comic book artists, but I like it. (They're two characters from my webcomic, if you were wondering.)

[paw broon]

I still like the bear - monkey - er,  hand puppet?

"Mine is the first and best, without it you won't have an avatars.
Hee, hee!" Geo

O.K. you got me there 

Richard, your avatar uses an Italian re-drawing of the Phantom - tut-tut.  Poison Pygmy People on your trail!
Mine's better - not so old jungle saying.

Anyone else want chance their arm?  You're going to have to excel yourselves.

[Roygbiv666]

OK - is this a typo, or just some weird British expression? "Chance their arm"?

... Anyone else want chance their arm?  You're going to have to excel yourselves.

[paw broon]

"weird British expression?"    To you, perhaps but I'm quite sure Mark and the other Brits on here know it well.  See, you learn something every day.  Mind, in my case, I'm starting from a very low level.
Be glad I don't slip into my local patois more often - or gibberish, as some might say.
Obviously the rest of them haven't got it in them for a square go.  Fearties, indeed. (If this were a smiley, it would be sticking it's tongue out)  And if I change my avatar to Stoogie (on site in the UK section in Coloured Slick Fun),  I still win 'cos he's a caution.  Now you'll have to ask me what that means.

[jimmm kelly]

I don't go in for avatars--to each his own--but I've never understood what purpose they serve. However, I do tend to forget where everyone here is from. There seem to be several from the U.K., but I can't keep track.

It would be helpful if, instead of avatars, everyone had a flag to indicate where they're coming from.

Although, this would probably just end up being abused. While I'd be proud to have the maple leaf next to my name and I'm sure others would wave their Union Jack--iconoclasts would probably put up the Bizarro World flag or the ensign for Freedonia.

[Roygbiv666]

Well, since they are called avatars, presumbably they are to let people "put a face to the name", albeit symbolically.

I can do a quick scan of a message board for posts I'm probably interested in must faster using avatars than names, for example.

There's also that tedious "self expression" the kids are into these days that I'm not interested in. 

I never really 'got' online 'handles', but one day I couldn't set up an account with my real name and came up with Roygbiv666. And now you know ... the rest of the story.

I don't go in for avatars--to each his own--but I've never understood what purpose they serve. 

[jimmm kelly]

It's the face to the name that's put that often off puts. There are some irritating avatars on message boards that are hard to put out of mind when reading comments from someone who might in fact be a lovely person. And don't get me started on those distracting animated avatars you see on some boards.

As for names, when you share the same name as a hundred million other people, it gets tough to be recognized at all--thus my use of an alternate spelling. And yet, for some reason, facebook would never accept my alternate spelling--go figure.

[paw broon]

Oh, I don't know about a Union Jack.  I'm much more likely to use the Saltire, Scotland's national flag and thought to be one of the oldest national flags in Europe. Yes, I'd be proud to use that as a symbol beside my name. Have a look here:-
http://www.visitscotland.com/about/arts-culture/uniquely-scottish/saltire
But you're right, jimmm, there are folk who would do silly things with the idea.
When I got a computer some years ago and discovered the amazing online world of comics fandom, it seemed to me that it was de rigeur to have a forum name, unless you were a creator and were happy to have your monicker out there.  So I chose a peculiarly Scottish one, also because the strip from which it comes - The Broons - was drawn by one of the finest artists to grace the comics page, Dudley D. Watkins.
I've changed avatars a few times and The Phantom is up there now because I'm in Phantom reading mode for a while and it inspired me to go to his pic.
You can, of course put a face to a name as there is a section on the forum for that very purpose.  As I have dared to put up a couple of photos as have some of the others, you can too - if you don't think it'll put anyone else off their dinner.  Always a worry

[MarkWarner]

I have no problems with people using handles or "non-them" avatars, but I really think that future of cyberspace is real names and pictures. Luckily for me I am damn handsome.

[paw broon]

Well! Talk about frightening the horses! That's 2 claims for pretty faces today.  The sound of mirrors cracking is distracting me.