I didn’t have an avatar for a long while, until one of the kids whose essay I was in the process of editing assumed that my username referred to Bard College rather than Willy Shakes (aka The Bard of Avon). Since I started using the avatar, some people seem to think I’m male.
I’m a big fan of diving guinea pigs.
honestly i dont read usernames on here unless it’s someone with an avatar i recognize, in which case ive seen their posts before and don’t really believe i assign any judgement to them… but it’s just with like a few people…and based on experience ill kind of see how i react. like someone who ive generally seen write condescending posts, ill kinda just scoff when i see their name. and someone who has always been helpful will just lead to a neutral reaction.
but as for other names i just never really notice them honestly
like just now i finished replying to a thread and answering a message to help someone on their college app and i honestly didn’t know what their username was until after i had responded to their message and thought “oh so that was their name”
Thumper does not refer to the rabbit in Bambi.
I have no idea if my user name affects responses. It’s not like I can try a different user name to see!
but obviously i think studies might rebuke my own thoughts on my behavior… we are the poorest judge of our own actions after all lol.
i definitely do notice that i change perceptions of ppl on other places but those usually have more avatars. the avatar is visual and instant and really helps in making you biased w/o much control. but on CC where most people have the same generic avatar it’s not as prominent.
@AboutTheSame: @skieurope is my adopted CC son from the Prep School Admissions forum. He is now a college student at one of those fancy acronym colleges. I don’t know how he has time for CC. You’d better be getting all your work done, ski. 
Yup. Male.
Yes mom. 
I won’t change my avatar until both girls are in college-then the dragons will change color. One is already ready to be crimson, waiting on the other :).
This thread is funny, and I’m fairly certain from some early comments that most folks assumed I was male at first - maybe because of the name? Only men fish?! Until perhaps I dropped a hint here or there that I’m a single mom or maybe when I uploaded a photograph of our recent trip to CA. Do women appreciate nature more?! I will say I did notice a change in the way a few posters talked to me when possibly it “clicked”! Gender bias is alive and well.
Perhaps we should all start changing our avatars on a regular basis just to mess with each other 
I live on the East coast, the college process was driving me crazy, I was in a hurry to create an account, and I didn’t pause to look closely at what I had written, so i left out the “T” in my name.
Betcha can’t guess I’m a mom… ;
And let me guess, your kiddo is named Steven?
When I was creating my account, my S2 had just been accepted at his ED school. We were all very happy in my house. But, truth be told, I am usually a happy person anyway, so the name works for me.
And I’m female.
More guinea pigs! Or are those hamsters?
No secret as to my gender and where I live. 
I realize from this thread that I unconsciously assign gender based on user name and picture. This thread has been enlightening! My user name has no meaning to me and was made up at the spur of the moment. But I do love cats.
My Tale is not made of Cotton, although it does get softer the older I get! :-q
I do make an assumption of that people with cat photos are female. Have I been wrong yet?
Not wrong here. I make the same assumption.
Ha ha. I’d change my avatar to a picture of Pippa & Poppet, but a picture of the kittens sleeping (how else am I going to get a picture?) would not do them justice.
Don’t change your photo, @AboutTheSame. I like to create stories in my head about it being the cover from your debut album , a mug shot, or a passport photo you took before your trip journeying to Patagonia on a motorcycle.