Not really. An amusing or ironic avatar are fun to see but may simply obscure the person's true character.

I don’t think so, not for me, anyway. I try to treat people with respect regardless if there’s a pic or not. Recognition is a different story.

I think the key word in my post is "nicer." I'm not saying I'm mean to those without avatars, just that I have more empathy towards someone with a profile picture. I find anonymity doesn't build much trust.

In your case, the name is enough, I am a big firefly fan.

Not for me, I am almost always civil, even polite. Underneath it all I am seething mass of raw emotion! haha

Nope. There is a person behind the account, pic or no pic.

I don't think that it does. An avatar is still a mask and masks allow peeps to feel anonymous.

I've been vacillating on whether to post an avatar pic. Thank you for helping me decide not to.

Yes, it does. Now bugger off! (I really don't know. I suspect it makes a difference for some people, as the perception of anonymity can make people behave poorly according to some studies I've read, but I don't think I'm discourteous to people who don't have a profile pic — at least no more so than to those with a profile pic.)

It doesn't make any difference to me. I hope I am always kind and sympathetic.

It does humanize them/ us (I hope).. Actually, some of them I find intoxicatingly distracting

No.

Probably.
You're pretty cute, so my guess is that seeing your avatar inspires plenty of goodwill among straight women.