They do matter. Lets all be honest here, appearances matter. Men and women alike are drawn to whatever we define as attractive. That definition of attractive is different to all of us. What is true of everyone though is that in that first instance of seeing a new avatar we form an opinion. Right or wrong, we do it. Some keep an open mind until they get to know that new avatar, others have decided in that blink of an eye whether or not that new avatar will get the time of day.
Lets think about this for a minute. You see an avatar on your screen, they don’t speak, don’t move. They are just standing there and you are forming an opinion of them. Don’t say you don’t, we all do. What we do with that opinion is what’s important.
Ahuva commented on her blog yesterday about someone *suggesting* she needed an AO. Why does she? If she’s quite happy with how she walks or stands or sits far be it from me to tell her she *has* to have one. If she wants one I’ll point her in a few directions but that’s her choice. I had to have one, I hated watching myself walk around like I had a stick up my butt or that goofy hand on the hip stand. So, I bought one and used it for a good 2 years. I just bought a new one and I love it for it’s convenience. Ever try to sit somewhere and not be able to??? This AO fixes that. So YaY!
Ok, so what do you do with that opinion you’ve got? If it looks like a new resident you’ll have one opinion. Keep in mind though, that *new resident* could be someone that’s been in world for 2 + years and is just creating an alt. Can’t judge a book by it’s cover. 
While I can appreciate a well put together avatar, it’s what that person has to say that really matters to me. Intelligent, funny, passionate(about something other than sex 
), friendly, compassionate, tolerant. These are all things that matter to me. Make yourself an elf, a neko, a furry, robot, whatever. If you have the above in your personality, chances are I’m going to like you.
Our appearance is as important as you make it be. That noob you just met could be the most fascinating person to talk to you. If you don’t take the chance to talk to them though, how will you ever know. They could also be a jerk so you have to take the good with the bad.
In SL, our avatars appearance reflects how we want to be seen. It’s not *who* we are. Next time, don’t discount someone just because of how they look, what they are wearing, whether or not they have AO etc. Take a minute and talk to them. You might be very glad you did.
Hey Bailey! The av appearance question surfaces regularly every few weeks or so.
I think that I am finally crystalizing my thoughts.
*MY* appearance matters to *ME*. So whereas I agree nearly 100% with what you say about OTHER people’s appearances, I realize that I care very much if *I* stand or walk gracefully. My identification with my av is too strong for me to NOT go as “natural” as possible. Which is not to say that I am aiming for drop-dead gorgeous, fashion-plate, whatever. But I want to move in a natural fashion and I want to wear clothing that reflects my personality and I want to have an appearance that reflects, um, reflects, rats. I’m not sure what I’m reflecting.
Let me think on that and clarify it.
I differ from you only in keeping an open mind about some avs. I know that it is wrong of me, I accept that. But there are certain forms that immediately leave me cold. If you are wearing that av and that is how you “want to be seen”, it is saying something about you to me that leaves me with my guard up about you. Not to the point that we can’t be friendly, but enough so that I keep my distance.
In the meantime, Bailey – YES! point me in the right direction! I too want to sit on the ground.
I would hope everyone’s appearance matters to them. It is another one of those things that tells me about *you*. How you put yourself together will tell a lot about the person behind the av.
I know there are some avs that do very little for me but I try to keep an open mind. For all I know they could be going to a costume party.
lol
Ok Ahuva, go to a store called Vista. They are in search. Awesome AOs with *sit anywhere*.
You need to do another of your information/tutorial posts. I was at Vista last night. since both you and Chestnut recommended it. I have to confess that I simply don’t understand the best way to shop for this. I don’t like a lot of the poses in the multi-pose packages. I don’t understand some of the labelling.
I know, I am incredibly slow to grasp this stuff.
What I thought I might do was take Chadd’s advice and simply buy some poses and add them to my ZHAO II. I found a nice tutorial (http://blog.nci-sl.org/?p=238), I think, but I’m still unclear. So I think what I want are just some poses so I can try adding them per the tutorial.
Your mission, Bailey, should you choose to accept it: explain buying AOs and when/why one should build or buy.
See- when you do really well on something (like land tutorials) your reward is to be given MORE work!!
Agrees@Bailey
), i generally keep and open mind,
While i dont really judge people by the appearance so much (in spite of me being in fashion business
But at the same time believe that a business owner or someone who has to deal with a lot of avatars shd make an effort to look right. It surely doesn’t hurt to invest in some decent basics. lf u run a Sim/business – obviously u don’t lack the money….
I have had an experience some time back where a sim owner approached me to open a store in their mall- and for an year old AV he looked like a complete Noob (default skin/no AO/default clothing). I knew the owner from before so i attempted to look beyond the AV, but do you think other people would even consider his proposal?