Comments on: Picture Perfect (Or The Power Of The Avatar) http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/ The Human Side of Media and the Social Side of Marketing Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:36:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pake Gravatar? Ngapain! « Ijoitem's Weblog http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-18474 Pake Gravatar? Ngapain! « Ijoitem's Weblog Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:30:46 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-18474 [...] Sampai saya bolak-balik halaman blog ini: - danny’s link - [...] [...] Sampai saya bolak-balik halaman blog ini: – danny’s link – [...]

]]> By: M.L. Stone http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2370 M.L. Stone Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:29:55 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2370 Danny, following up your response to Jason, I too wonder about the perceived transparency (or lack of) with Twitterers who chose a popular image, whether it be photographic or artistic, to represent their online selves. If one chooses a cartoon or manga-styled avatar or a logo, does that make one less authentic then a Twitterer with a headshot? I am using the blacked out avatar in support of the protest and have the information listed in my profile. If anyone should want to ask me or to look at my profile, the reasons for the avatar blackout are there. And I do have to wonder which is more off-putting: sporting the blackout avatar or having the Twitter default O_o in one's profile. Danny, following up your response to Jason, I too wonder about the perceived transparency (or lack of) with Twitterers who chose a popular image, whether it be photographic or artistic, to represent their online selves. If one chooses a cartoon or manga-styled avatar or a logo, does that make one less authentic then a Twitterer with a headshot?

I am using the blacked out avatar in support of the protest and have the information listed in my profile. If anyone should want to ask me or to look at my profile, the reasons for the avatar blackout are there. And I do have to wonder which is more off-putting: sporting the blackout avatar or having the Twitter default O_o in one’s profile.

]]> By: Confessions of a Content Pimp » Blog Archive » What Writer’s Block Taught Me About The Power of a Twitter Avatar http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2358 Confessions of a Content Pimp » Blog Archive » What Writer’s Block Taught Me About The Power of a Twitter Avatar Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:42:17 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2358 [...] a few of my Twitter friends followed suit shortly after me. Brown, who also recently has his own “Power of the Avatar” epiphany as well, notes that the ripple affect has been amazing. “There are more appearing every [...] [...] a few of my Twitter friends followed suit shortly after me. Brown, who also recently has his own “Power of the Avatar” epiphany as well, notes that the ripple affect has been amazing. “There are more appearing every [...]

]]> By: Stephen http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2356 Stephen Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:47:03 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2356 It seems to me that a lot of international folks don't really understand Kiwi culture. That's ok. To get a gauge on where the #blackout came from, the protest was conceived in a small town school classroom in Warkworth (Pop. 3270) on the Saturday and enacted on the Monday. There was no movement as far as I was aware of when I woke up on that Monday morning, yet by Monday lunchtime it was buzzing around the net. As far as I can see from the media coverage within New Zealand, the new government is having to answer questions as to the implementation of this new law and perhaps there has been enough coverage of the protest for CHANGE to happen. Thank you to all of our international friends like @dannybrown and @stephenfry for bringing this protest into the consciousness of so many, your efforts are truly appreciated. I have also already thanked all of my new Twitter followers from the past week who have chosen to see past the "lack of transparency" and had faith in me even though I had blacked out my profile. Arohanui (big love) @peacefulwarrior It seems to me that a lot of international folks don’t really understand Kiwi culture. That’s ok.

To get a gauge on where the #blackout came from, the protest was conceived in a small town school classroom in Warkworth (Pop. 3270) on the Saturday and enacted on the Monday. There was no movement as far as I was aware of when I woke up on that Monday morning, yet by Monday lunchtime it was buzzing around the net.

As far as I can see from the media coverage within New Zealand, the new government is having to answer questions as to the implementation of this new law and perhaps there has been enough coverage of the protest for CHANGE to happen.

Thank you to all of our international friends like @dannybrown and @stephenfry for bringing this protest into the consciousness of so many, your efforts are truly appreciated.

I have also already thanked all of my new Twitter followers from the past week who have chosen to see past the “lack of transparency” and had faith in me even though I had blacked out my profile.

Arohanui (big love)
@peacefulwarrior

]]> By: Nicole's Blog http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2255 Nicole's Blog Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:54:35 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2255 <strong>Power of the avatar...</strong> Danny Brown has blacked out his avatar on Twitter and Facebook to protest some newly planned Internet... Power of the avatar…

Danny Brown has blacked out his avatar on Twitter and Facebook to protest some newly planned Internet…

]]> By: Mark Harai http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2250 Mark Harai Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:22:37 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2250 For newer folks to Twitter, having a blacked-out avatar may not be a productive method to build a presence on Twitter and it may even be a turn-off to some of those folks that have been here a while... But, for an individual, such as yourself, that has successfully established a creditable presence on Twitter by contributing value and insight to the community, I believe it is only responsible to leverage that influence to support worthy causes. Gaining influence and trust in the Twitter community is earned by transparent individuals whose motives and MO have been clearly established over time and you have definitely earned your influence. Not all may agree what is worthy or not worthy, but that's really not the point. The point is, if you have found a voice and people listen, then get busy and make a difference (Only a small number doing that on Twitter) - and that’s exactly what you are accomplishing – getting people engaged in thinking, participating, sharing and making a difference - GOOD! The real value of Twitter is developing new relationships. Real relationships go far beyond Twitter and that is where the value is in participating in the community anyway (just my opinion). I would rather have a handful of meaningful relationships that are a result of participating on Twitter than thousands of people following me because I have an avatar. There are a small number of individuals on Twitter that consistently serve up value and enhance the community and you certainly fit in this category - if people don't follow you, oh well, it’s absolutely their loss - and that certainly won't stop you from making the world a better place. Kudos Danny - I am a fan and supporter, and plan to continue following your ugly black avatar! For newer folks to Twitter, having a blacked-out avatar may not be a productive method to build a presence on Twitter and it may even be a turn-off to some of those folks that have been here a while…

But, for an individual, such as yourself, that has successfully established a creditable presence on Twitter by contributing value and insight to the community, I believe it is only responsible to leverage that influence to support worthy causes. Gaining influence and trust in the Twitter community is earned by transparent individuals whose motives and MO have been clearly established over time and you have definitely earned your influence.

Not all may agree what is worthy or not worthy, but that’s really not the point. The point is, if you have found a voice and people listen, then get busy and make a difference (Only a small number doing that on Twitter) – and that’s exactly what you are accomplishing – getting people engaged in thinking, participating, sharing and making a difference – GOOD!

The real value of Twitter is developing new relationships. Real relationships go far beyond Twitter and that is where the value is in participating in the community anyway (just my opinion). I would rather have a handful of meaningful relationships that are a result of participating on Twitter than thousands of people following me because I have an avatar.

There are a small number of individuals on Twitter that consistently serve up value and enhance the community and you certainly fit in this category – if people don’t follow you, oh well, it’s absolutely their loss – and that certainly won’t stop you from making the world a better place.

Kudos Danny – I am a fan and supporter, and plan to continue following your ugly black avatar!

]]> By: Hendry Lee http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2249 Hendry Lee Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:41:58 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2249 I can't say that an avatar says everything about transparency but first impression counts. Malcolm Gladwell says it very well with Blink. It may take a fraction of a second to decide if I want to read a tweet or not. And if a follower doesn't know the reason why your avatar is blacked out, she may just pass it. For me, it becomes a no-miss tweet, because it stands out from the rest. I can’t say that an avatar says everything about transparency but first impression counts.

Malcolm Gladwell says it very well with Blink.

It may take a fraction of a second to decide if I want to read a tweet or not. And if a follower doesn’t know the reason why your avatar is blacked out, she may just pass it.

For me, it becomes a no-miss tweet, because it stands out from the rest.

]]> By: Danny http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2240 Danny Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:05:13 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2240 - Kimberly. It's a valid question, Kimberly. The protest organizers do suggest that you use certain text on your social media profiles (which I have now updated on my Twitter page) to explain the blackout and where you can find more information. Hope that helps and thanks for taking the time to connect with me and find out more, appreciate it. :) - Kimberly. It’s a valid question, Kimberly. The protest organizers do suggest that you use certain text on your social media profiles (which I have now updated on my Twitter page) to explain the blackout and where you can find more information.

Hope that helps and thanks for taking the time to connect with me and find out more, appreciate it. :)

]]> By: Kimberly Beaven http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2239 Kimberly Beaven Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:02:11 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2239 Wow, you caught me with my proverbial pants down. I have to admit, being a visual person, the visual statement or comfort of putting a face to twitter conversations make me more comfortable. As soon as I saw the blacked out avatars - with no understanding of why, I skipped over the messages as there was not a visual "cue" who the messages were from. I do follow you on twitter and have enjoyed your tweets and the posts on your blogs — but I was caught by this one. I think that there is power in the avatar for sure, at least for me. How can we make the connection to the message and the action clearer? The reasoning is great and I applaud you for supporting, but it is not obvious by the avatar itself. Unfortunately, today was a busy day and I did not take the effort to ask you why your avatar was blacked out. Caught me. Wow, you caught me with my proverbial pants down. I have to admit, being a visual person, the visual statement or comfort of putting a face to twitter conversations make me more comfortable. As soon as I saw the blacked out avatars – with no understanding of why, I skipped over the messages as there was not a visual “cue” who the messages were from. I do follow you on twitter and have enjoyed your tweets and the posts on your blogs — but I was caught by this one. I think that there is power in the avatar for sure, at least for me. How can we make the connection to the message and the action clearer? The reasoning is great and I applaud you for supporting, but it is not obvious by the avatar itself. Unfortunately, today was a busy day and I did not take the effort to ask you why your avatar was blacked out. Caught me.

]]> By: Danny http://dannybrown.me/2009/02/17/picture-perfect-or-the-power-of-the-avatar/#comment-2238 Danny Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:49:29 +0000 http://dannybrown.me/?p=4251#comment-2238 - Kyle. Thanks Kyle, this was the point that I was trying to make. Yes, it's a black image, but if it gets people talking and asking what it's all about (which it has done) then that's half the battle already won. - Kyle. Thanks Kyle, this was the point that I was trying to make. Yes, it’s a black image, but if it gets people talking and asking what it’s all about (which it has done) then that’s half the battle already won.

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