Things ratherastory worries about in her spare time

[ratherastory]

So a few people use only one icon in spite of all the icon space that comes even with a free account, and while I am an icon junkie, I've begun to wonder if they're not onto something. After all, they all have an icon that is recognizably them, and that's it. In my case, it would mean that I wouldn't spend those few extra seconds wondering which icon to pick (first world problems, I has them), especially since I'm letting my paid account lapse in light of LJ's latest fuckery antics.

The thing is, my default icon is this:



I do love it, but I don't know if that's the one I should keep to represent me, or if I should go hunt down some poor, unsuspecting icon maker and see if I can't cajole them into making one with my own name on it.

I don't know, am I the only one with strong feelings about icons? Flist? Anyone? Bueller?

(I thought about making a poll while I still could, but I honestly don't know what I'd put in a poll about icons)

Comments

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

My two cents? I like when someone uses his/her default icon often enough (and it has some element that I associate with that individual) that I always recognize it when I see it. Especially, of course, when it's an icon no-one else is using.

Yours totally fits that criteria for recognizability, and I'd rather see something like that than an icon with your name on it.

(That being said, I do like when authors or artists pick icons that suit their fic when they post their creations. But not everyone has multiple icons, so seeing the default is fine there, too. But I confess, I'm tempted to not even read an SPN fic if the poster used an icon from another fandom. Yours is perfect in this regard, too! It's multi-fandom-friendly!)

FYI - one of the things I personally like about using my default icon 99% of the time is for times when I re-read a fic and want to see if I commented already. I can scroll thru pages of comments - it's much easier to eyeball for my default icon than to look more closely.

Long story short - I love your default icon!

[honeylocusttree.livejournal.com]

am I the only one with strong feelings about icons?

*cough*

I was saying recently elsewhere that I tend to picture people with identifiable icons as sort of versions of that icon. Like roque_clasique to me is basically Dean with long hair. I actually started thinking about yours shortly after and to me it was sort of a toss-up between that Shakespeare one there and I think that Chuck one. So I kinda picture you that way, but not to the extent that those with really recognizable ones use.

On that same note, personally I'm not a fan of icons with author's names on them. Not sure why. It's just a weird personal peeve. *shrugs*

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[hillz-85.livejournal.com]

I only use the one icon because I'm still finding my way around LJ, I would consider using different icons if I could find ones unique to my interests (like the one I have just now), and also ones that not everyone is using.

I also kinda prefer it when people use a default icon in posts (such as in comments on in communities) as it makes it easier to recognise the person posting, but for posting fics I don't think it'd matter too much cause I'm gonna be visiting their page to read it, so I should know who they are...

[greeneyes-fan.livejournal.com]

I generally use this icon unless I have a reason to use another one. (For example, when posting my bigbang, I used the icons provided by my artist for that purpose!)

[greeneyes-fan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! davincis_girl drew it for me.

[jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com]

I am pretty annoyed with LJ bullshit so I too am going to be going back to basic icon storage. I am not paying for the privilege of pissing me off. :|

I spend way too much time on icons personally. I am looking forward to going back to the requisite 12 I will still hoard icons I am sure but the hoarding will be done on my hard-drive rather than on site icon storage.

I swap icons around a bit but mostly stick with one and change it up for seasonal things and use specific icons for fic.

[jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the data about the number of icons, although it will make very little difference to the hundreds of icons i have stashed. It is going to be tough to narrow it down. One for each fandonm and a couple to indulge my need for sarcasm. Not much different than what I do for DW i guess

[rayvlin.livejournal.com]

I've always been a bit of a forum junkie. People identify the poster by the icon used and i've seen fights over people using similar icons. Which is really funny looking back. The icon becomes the face persay and gives a new viewer an impression of the poster.

However a change of icon can indicate an artists touch and a general change of mood. It comes down to what the poster wants. that being said I would love to see someone going through and post using Hex from reboot as their main icon in that style. I'm sure a default account would work

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

I am my icon. While I occasionally come across icons that make me look twice at them, frankly they are so small that any kind of complex image is barely discernable.

Maybe I have just enough marketing saavy (taint)to think of my icon as my brand.

And what Harrigan said about being able to quickly tell if I've already commented on a fic? Totally...and I thought that was my own clever idea!

[cherry916.livejournal.com]

Oh honey you are definitely not alone in your icon love. I call myself an icon whore I change icons like I change men if you get what I mean ;) (Being an icon whore and all) I love searching for new icons, I get bored frequently and change them any number of times. I have about 80 something now but want MORE. I'm always vying for my icons space, I very nit picky about them but I LOVE icons and generally love the feelings of uploading a new one to use. I also change my default frequently, something I won't get annoyed with seeing how I change my icons so much.

(I love having multi-fandom icons too ^^)

[bellatemple]

Once upon a time (by which I mean from when I got this account through about two years ago or so), I used to change up my default icon ALL THE TIME, in part BECAUSE I know that after awhile people start associating you with your default icon. I don't know why, but back then that bothered me.

I also used to be the sort of person who rearranged her room every few weeks and couldn't sleep unless she faced a different direction in bed.

My thing is more that I like using the icon to express something particular about my post/comment. It ads a dimension to it all, like the icon and the written word are part of a larger whole. I kinda dig that.

And how the heck does one pick an icon that will represent them for, like, as ever as fandom ever gets? I mean, I'm not sure I want to always be thought of as a hamster with a badminton birdie, or the flying lower half of a scantily clad woman or the Ankorwat temple or Mia Maestro reflected in a mirror (those being former default icons of mine). On DW, I have everything under an image of Peter Cook dressed as a nun, just 'cause I don't use the journal primarily and . . . it's Peter Cook dressed as a nun. But what does Peter Cook dressed as a nun say about me? What do people assume when they see a hamster with a birdie? What if I want to be Bill Murray in a red cap, or a VW bus, or an underpants ninja sometimes?

Which is to say that I, personally, like to use different icons. And like to see others change things up, too. But it's not like I'll get righteously angry when someone doesn't.

That'd just be silly.

[bellatemple]

And there's nothing wrong with that, I'm just the sort of person who then tries to apply meaning to my choice of default icon, and then second guess myself a lot.

[bellatemple]

. . . So I totally just made that connection.

I do the same thing with my username sometimes. (Which would be why in my run as a writer of fanfiction, I've used five different names.) "What does bellatemple say about me? What assumptions might my audience be making based on my name? DON'T JUDGE ME! DON'T JUDGE ME!"

Welcome to my personal weird neuroses.

[starwatcher]

.
I'm a one-icon gal. For me, that windmill IS 'StarWatcher'. But mostly, it's sheer laziness; I never have to decide which icon to use, or worry about it being appropriate.

But a lot of folks like expressing their creativity and/or moods with icons and if that's what floats your boat, I don't see any need to fight it. Whatever works for you is the way to go.
.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I don't swap icons often, maybe seasonally? For the very reasons mentioned above: branding, to see if I've already posted to someone, that sort of thing. I prefer it when people keep to a fairly consistent one or two icons, again to be able to recognize their posts readily. My two cents!

[frost.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have an icon people associate with me... My default usually stays the same for several weeks at a time, but when I comment I tend to select a post-related icon if I have one, otherwise I choose randomly because I want them all to get some use, haha! ^^;
(I like too many to just use one all the time.)

I like it when other people use a single icon regularly, though, lol! It's easy for me to recognize them... ;)
I also use my own icons to find myself (if I need to see if I've already commented on something, I scroll through looking for one of my own icons).

[azziria.livejournal.com]

I have one (abstract) icon that I use as my default. Here on LJ I use several icons (although I tend to have just one per fandom that I use consistently), but I've exported my default icon to Twitter, Tumblr, AO3 and various forums because it's recognisably *me* to anyone from here who turns up there, if you get my drift. Same name, same icon. (Although people still ask if I'm the same Azziria - seriously, how many more clues do you need??)

[la-mariane.livejournal.com]

I'm commenting with my default icon so you cansee it : it has my name on it ;) I think something like that could be a good choice if you want only one icon.

[gypsydancergirl.livejournal.com]

I only use the default icon, and it took me a couple months on lj to get that far. That is predominently because tech-savvy is the antithesis of who I am.

That being said, I have seen beautiful and clever icons which amuse me greatly as mini visual responses to fic. Some fanfiction (yours included of course) inspire that extra little something for the comments.

For posting, however, I do adore your default icon. It makes me smile, because it is always true.

[juppschmitz.livejournal.com]

I always enjoy recognizing people through their icons. I think the world as we know it would probably end if people like roque_clasique, honeylocusttree, nwspaprtaxis or borgmama1of5 were to use a different icon. When I first snuck around this fandom I'd recognize you by your Shakespeare icon. Then again somebody like maypoles uses tons of different icons and is still indistinguishable.

And I don't really think it's necessary to go for one with your name on it. Your name's always there right beside it anyway (at least when you're commenting...) and if you go for just the one icon that's what you'll be associated with.

So, yeah, I'd rather see one icon for one person.

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

When I see that icon I always think "ratherastory", but sometimes it's not. Not often, but sometimes.

I don't really think about what icon I use. I always used to use the rainbow Dean one that locknkey made, and I was the only one using it for a long time, but then someone else started using it, as their default icon and I felt like it wasn't really mine anymore, so I stopped using it.. *entitled much?*

Anyhoo, since I got the icons with my username on them, I switch them around all the time.

I think it would be cool if you got your own username icons. Just my two cents.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I know the person you're talking about, and EVERY time they post in deancastiel I do a double-take because I think it's you and it's really, really not. ;)

[primrose-1.livejournal.com]

I use one icon because I'm too lazy to change it. That's about it. :)

[dopeyangel101.livejournal.com]

Personally I'm just too lazy to change my icon all that often, but I do for the occasional journal post or comment if it expresses my views better.

People always comment on my icon so thats another reason why I never change it :)

It is nice to see different icons for people,m but on the flip side, an instantly recognisable icon is good too.

[roque-clasique.livejournal.com]

I have tried to use different icons, but really in my time on LJ I've only used two with any regularity *g*. This one, and the one I had before it. It's too complicated for me! But I love seeing other people's various icons. However, I also really like being able to recognize people just from their icons. I associate this one with you strongly and I like it!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

It's a good thing your icon has your name, because I was so used to your smoking!Dean icon before that I kept having to blink a little at it at first.

I think I shall stick with this icon after all. Eventually people will get used to it, even though it's not exactly modest...

[bymagajones.livejournal.com]

I'd like to say something cool like I only have one icon, because that's just how I roll, but I'll be more honest than that. First, I found this one, and it just felt right to me. My name is Katreniah (Kat), and a part of me is african american (hence, black cat). Plus, while I really enjoy looking at others', I don't have the technical knowledge to make my own icons. I do have someone who offered to make one for me, but it's like the reason I don't have a tattoo: I just can't get with the idea that it's like putting myself in a box, saying this is all that I am. Right now, I'm totally into Glee, Leverage, and Hawaii 5-0 fanfic, and I could get icons of each of those I suppose, but I'm all of those things, not just one. That probably sounds strange (and it probably sounds like I've thought about it waaay too much), but there it is.

Oh, and I only have one icon, because that's just how I roll.