Do avatars make you look at someone different?

What I mean is when someone changes an avatar, I usually recognize them until I see their name.Or depending on the avatar, makes me feel like their a different person.

Example, l0lsmilyface.

When he had his smiley face avatar he seemed like a fun guy who jokes allot, not. meh.With the avatars he's using(the Lol with guys faces as "O", akes me think of him as more serious.
IDK why. O_O

Is it just me being weird?