# Misinterpreted avatars **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578 "2024-05-14T22:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/81 "2024-06-22T12:33:57Z")
I did a double take when I saw him at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge: > **[Virgin and Child between Saint John the Baptist and Saint Onuphrius | Art UK](https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/virgin-and-child-between-saint-john-the-baptist-and-saint-onuphrius-4359)** > > Virgin and Child between Saint John the Baptist and Saint Onuphrius by Italian (Neapolitan) School, 1507, from The Fitzwilliam Museum ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/82 "2024-06-24T13:16:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I actually looked like Hemingway back when I posted it. Then I let myself go, and nowadays I look more like this: > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Could be worse: Yeah, at least you got the opportunity to go from a Hemingway resemblance to an older Da Vinci. Better than Hemingway himself did! I used to think that @silenus’ avatar looked like a dark blobby monster thing wearing an Easter bonnet. I know now that it’s an umbrella throwing a dark shadow underneath, with some light colored shape within the shadow that I originally interpreted as the ‘eye’. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/83 "2024-06-24T13:18:02Z")
Well, I’m not dead yet. I don’t even own a shotgun! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/84 "2024-06-24T13:27:27Z")
The colored shape is an eye (or at least, is presumed to be such). It’s [The Monster in the Darkness](https://oots.fandom.com/wiki/Monster_in_the_Darkness), from Order of the Stick. It’s a lackey of the Big Bad of the comic, who is only to be revealed when the dramatic moment is right, and until then, is always kept shrouded in darkness to keep up the mystery. Whenever it’s in an area where naturally-occurring shadows wouldn’t be present, it’s kept in either a large crate, or underneath a magical umbrella that creates darkness underneath it. The exact nature of the Monster is subject to much fan speculation, but it’s known to be immensely powerful, and lately its conscience has developed enough to be actively working against Team Evil’s goals. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/85 "2024-06-24T13:31:16Z")
Thanks! I was hoping silenus or someone else would come along and explain its meaning-- I figured there was some story behind it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/86 "2024-06-24T13:58:30Z")
I would strongly recommend going back to the beginning of the strip ([Dope thread link](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/2040) with links to the strip), because it really is an engrossing story, even if its creator has some medical issues preventing him from doing more than 2 strips per month (one is likely due this week note). ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/87 "2024-06-26T11:05:34Z")
FTG’s avatar is one of those 3d image things. It shows a 3d letter F. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/88 "2024-06-26T14:50:50Z")
Looks pretty scary all big like that! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/89 "2024-06-26T22:10:44Z")
It’s actually 4d but puny humans can only perceive it in 3 dimensions. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/90 "2024-06-28T00:05:48Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I used to think that @silenus’ avatar looked like a dark blobby monster thing wearing an Easter bonnet. It’s clearly a piece of sushi, slight lopsided. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/91 "2024-06-28T00:08:15Z")
With Hello Kitty on it? Good to know I can still confuse people. Of course, if you’ve read anything else I’ve posted over the years you already know that. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/92 "2024-06-28T00:27:43Z")
I thought it was some weird take on a Guinness with a purple head. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/93 "2024-06-28T00:48:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > With Hello Kitty on it? All seven pixels of the not-actually-Hello-Kitty: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/F1SrRbF.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/F1SrRbF) I don’t think anyone would have guessed that unless they already knew what it was… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/94 "2024-06-28T16:09:02Z")
Well, of course not. You forgot to click “enhance”. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/95 "2024-06-29T07:12:40Z")
That sounds dirty. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/96 "2024-07-03T18:15:01Z")
My title for that photo is ‘_skeptical albatross is skeptical_.’ I’ve used it for ages; just updated it to with a better picture. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/97 "2024-07-03T18:30:10Z")
OK, now it looks like Sam the Eagle, from The Muppets. Which is, I suppose, pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/98 "2024-07-03T19:23:47Z")
Have no idea what mine means. If any resident dopers have a clue, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/99 "2024-07-03T21:13:15Z")
A beholder in formal wear? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578/100 "2024-07-03T21:22:59Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > If any **resident** dopers have a clue, let me know. I got my eye on you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misinterpreted-avatars/1001578.md?page=6)