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What does your avatar mean & why did you choose it?
- Thread starter SFG75
- Start date
SFG75
Well-Known Member
ChaosTheory
Active Member
At the moment I've got Scoutmaster Ward (played by Edward Norton) from the movie Moonrise Kingdom. Because like me, he's passionate but constantly befuddled - and because Norton is one of my favorite actors. 
direstraits
Well-Known Member
Ponyo was one seriously weird movie. I love Ghibli, but that was weird. I think I need to rewatch it.
Gita V.Reddy
Active Member
With so much talk about avatars, I'm making this post which is not about my avatar but about the word 'avatar' and how appropriate it is.
I wish there were internet forums and computer games with avatars a couple of decades ago.
I had struggled to explain the concept of avatar in Hinduism to someone who found the pantheon of gods bewildering.
The conversations went something like this:
She: “How can you have so many gods?”
I: “We don’t actually. They’re mainly avatars.”
She: “What does that mean?”
I: “Well, they are the forms taken by God for a specific purpose.”
She: “So many forms?”
I: “Yes. Human beings have a multitude of needs and…fears.”
She: “You have some avatars in animal forms too.”
I: “Yes. Such avatars go to show that all life form is sacred.
… … … … …
We had four or five such conversations. I kept repeating that the ‘gods’ were worshiped in their own right but were ‘avatars.’ A hindu would worship scores of gods but he would also affirm in the trinity of Bramha-Vishnu-Mahesh.
Anyway, this post is not about Hinduism but about avatars.
Today, even a child will understand that he and his avatar are the same, yet he is not his avatar but he may be recognized by his avatar and, he can have any number of avatars.
I wish there were internet forums and computer games with avatars a couple of decades ago.
I had struggled to explain the concept of avatar in Hinduism to someone who found the pantheon of gods bewildering.
The conversations went something like this:
She: “How can you have so many gods?”
I: “We don’t actually. They’re mainly avatars.”
She: “What does that mean?”
I: “Well, they are the forms taken by God for a specific purpose.”
She: “So many forms?”
I: “Yes. Human beings have a multitude of needs and…fears.”
She: “You have some avatars in animal forms too.”
I: “Yes. Such avatars go to show that all life form is sacred.
… … … … …
We had four or five such conversations. I kept repeating that the ‘gods’ were worshiped in their own right but were ‘avatars.’ A hindu would worship scores of gods but he would also affirm in the trinity of Bramha-Vishnu-Mahesh.
Anyway, this post is not about Hinduism but about avatars.
Today, even a child will understand that he and his avatar are the same, yet he is not his avatar but he may be recognized by his avatar and, he can have any number of avatars.
Occlith
Well-Known Member
It's a cool film worth revisiting.
I love the scene when she's running on top of the ocean.
direstraits
Well-Known Member
Occlith, I surely will. Along with the bewildering Howl's Moving Castle.
Gita, which part of India are you from?
Gita, which part of India are you from?
SFG75
Well-Known Member
LOL-Gwen Stefani and our forum.....amazing connections.
To my kids a few years ago, the song "sweet escape" was the "wee-hooo" song.O.K., back from the rabbit trail......carry on........
readsalot
Member
No problem. Should be an interesting mini-glance into people's psyches
My current avatar is the cover of my most recent writing project to be put before the public eye. I used to go with a little thumbnail thing somebody had made for me as part of writing/ participating in a fantasy forum. The avatar was a picture of the goddess of wisdom in that realm - Terees...a character I wrote a sketch for.
The current avatar pic features various characters that have occupied my thoughts for quite a while.
BTW, every time I see direstraits avatar (banana) I'm reminded of the latest Spellman book by Lisa Lutz. The main characters niece picked up the nickname Princess Banana.
@abacedarian I wish my bangs were that straight!
Gita V.Reddy
Active Member
Truly sorry to have missed this post.
Your fairly simple question does not have a simple answer (most questions pertaining to india /indians seldom do).
By birth and heritage, I am a north indian. But, for most of my life I've lived in South India (Hyderabad) and have married a south indian.
This translates into two lifestyles differing very much in language, food, music, arts, dress code and even avatars.
But the slogan 'Unity in diversity' that is used to describe India is very true. In spite of huge cultural differences on the surface, the underlying culture is the same and my life has been made richer by my dual lifestyle.
But it has not equipped me with the answer to your question. Which part of India am I from? I don't know.
abecedarian
Well-Known Member
I saw this picture on facebook this morning, and knew I'd found my next avatar. This cat reminds me a lot of my dear sweet Goliath, minus the glasses and newspaper, of course.
direstraits
Well-Known Member
That's very interesting! I was recently in Bangalore (no prizes for guessing which line of work I'm in), and was told endlessly to go to Mysore, and if I have time, just glide along the highway to Hyderabad. As it turns out I didn't have time, reaching back after work with time only to wash up and plonk straight to bed, and before you know it it's time to go home. Shame, would have loved to go to Bangalore town even.
Meadow337
Former Moderator
Meadow337
Former Moderator
A cat reclining on a couch and reading, how very catlike and appropriate to the forum
And a very cute cat!
Meadow337
Former Moderator
The Phoenix in my avatar is a Chinese Phoenix so that should help with some of the symbolism of the image. And like all things Chinese, there are multiple layers of meaning. The Phoenix is also a major character in a book I'm writing which draws on some elements of Chinese mythology for it's characters.
The Phoenix is also a major character in a book I'm writing which draws on some elements of Chinese mythology for it's characters.
Gita V.Reddy
Active Member
