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Never trust a man wearing a woman's avatar

July 05, 2007 in News comments 20

A study conducted by Kristine Nowak and Christian Rauh of the University of Connecticut has indicated that people with androgynous avatars or avatars which do not match their gender are seen as less trustworthy.

The study was conducted using online world Second Life, although results are also applicable to games such as World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI or any MMORPG which involves creation of a unique character.

In his 1970's gender-bending phase, David Bowie would have made a pretty dubious computer avatar, a new study suggests.

The study reveals that androgynous digital personas (avatars) are perceived as less trustworthy than ones that are clearly either male or female.

It also seems that people typically extend this impression to the person behind the avatar too. The results hint that avatar design and behaviour may have a range of unforeseen psychological influences and that such virtual personas need to be carefully designed to make the right impression, the researchers argue.
Deis via newscientisttech.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Jul 6, 2007

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  • 0
    Deis Jul 5, 07
    So, I'm all right then.

    quote
    "In online interactions, your uncertainty is very high," Nowak says. "You're really searching for anything - the screen name, the avatar's appearance, or how long it takes to respond to message - to reduce that uncertainty."
    quote
    Perception of gender can help resolve such uncertainty, Donath says, and is therefore important part of online interactions.
    That makes sense. I always knew there was something off about Krunal.
  • 0
    Wolfwood Jul 5, 07
    Like I said at Neoseeker years ago, anyone with an anime avatar is a pervert, and of dubious intent by default.
  • 0
    Cruxis Mana Jul 5, 07
    I can see why some people have a problem with it, but I wouldn't trust someone any less just because they have a female avatar when there actually male ...
    If you really want to know, just ask ^^
    (( You can usually tell by how someone types though in most cases ...))
  • 0
    Shadow net583x s Jul 5, 07
    Like, with Pokemon Battle Revolution, would you not want to battle someone because they are a guy with a girl character?

    IMO that would just be stupid not to want to just for that reason
  • 0
    Shadow of Death Jul 5, 07
    Hey! I (usually) use a female avatar -_- This is an exception actually...because it is animated (Extracted it myself)...and Ichigo Kurosaki is uberness ;;

    But on most sites, I use Female characters as my avatar -_-

    Well, I AM a bit of a hentai and such, so yeah (but what male, after hitting puberty, isn't?) >_>
  • 0
    Xtrordinary Jul 5, 07
    Tallteen86 ; Many are not perverts simply for hitting puberty.

    Anyways, I think this research is done by people who are sad because their e-girlfriends (Who had female avatars) resulted in being males.
    • 0
      Deis Jul 5, 07
      One of the pair was female.
  • 0
    Xtrordinary Jul 5, 07
    With a male avatar, perhaps?
  • 0
    Storm* Jul 5, 07
    Ok, that's odd. By the way, leave Krunal alone, Rani Mukerji deserves recognition Great actress. Anyways, I never had a female avatar myself, but can't more be shown in signatures? They should target signatures...why the hell would anyone study this? They sure are running out of things to study, heh.
  • 0
    tidus04 Jul 5, 07
    I am not trustworthy then, but I though I was
  • -1
    Seeker X Jul 6, 07
    quote
    indicated that people with androgynous avatars or avatars which do not match their gender are seen as less trustworthy.
    When it comes to MMORPGs and things of the such, they're not just untrustworthy, they're dangerous.
  • 0
    Miss Razz Jul 6, 07
    ... and here I was, thinking I had male avatars because I liked the pictures. Silly me, I should have realized I only picked them to be untrustworthy
  • 0
    Evanster Jul 6, 07
    What do they know? Absolutely *bleep*ing nothing.
    • 0
      tidus04 Jul 6, 07
      Fully agree with you, but they would not say this for no reason =/
  • 0
    Daisy Jul 6, 07
    Final Fantasy XII was not a MMORPG. Final Fantasy XI was. ^__~

    On topic, I think I don't really care if someone is male or female and what their avatar says about them. It's the way they post, or in the case of a MMORPG or other online game where you are in contact with people, it's the way they play the game.

    You could be a fifty year old dude with an avatar of Snake Pliskin and if you are spawn camping or being a general ass in a forum your still an ass and coming across as untrustworthy, just as much as you would have with an avatar of Aeris.
  • 0
    Shadow of Death Jul 6, 07
    quote Xtrordinary
    Tallteen86 ; Many are not perverts simply for hitting puberty.
    That...was a joke ;; Though many teenage boys are horny all the time >_>

    Yeah, they are just reading too much into the whole "Female/Male" avatar thing...

    And LOL Xtrordinary, about the having an e-Girlfriend who was really a dood with a female avatar ;; Could be, could be...though one of the researches is apparently a female...
  • 0
    Synthesis Jul 6, 07
    They probably did this bacause they were bored and ran out of ideas...
  • 0
    Revenger of Wastelan Jul 6, 07
    Never though it that way, its kinda funny.
    And my friend is always making girly avatars and i always saw him as untrusty for other. XD
  • 0
    JJBDude Jul 6, 07
    I can understand where they are coming from but I can't help but just laugh at what I just read. People have prefferences and if they see fit to have a opposite sex avatar I honestly don't think that's going to make them less trustworthy. Pshhh.

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