Avatars, why not our own pictures?

[Freeshadow]

well I don't use my real picture, since ther is no real picture of me posted anywhere on the net. period. yes I'm paranoid and kind of a loner.
It's not (at least as a primary reason) because of my appearance, but it's plainly a far to big chunk of personal data to be made freely accessible on the net IMHO
it's just the same as not posting my fingerprints or DNA sequences.
I would always take a personal request for a picture into consideration, depends on the reasons given and the level of trust I developed in the person asking. (it'isn't really worth it, believe me)

whenever personal recog matters I always use the same nick, so when you happen to stumble upon someone called Freeshadow it's actually worth checking if it's me. I also declare age (tough not birthdate) and sex.
It helps with minor nuissances, be only the propper adressing and no need to explain WHY I give a s* who the actual N° 1 freak in the $_charts is.

why I don't use an avatar is fairly simple too.
a) I've never seen something that 'd really fit.
b) my nick represents the way I see my presence on the net absolutely sufficient.

[chamekke]

Originally Posted by Mortis

hey now can't a guy offer a compliment to another forum user? Guess I keep that kind of flirting to a minimum :P

*blushes* Thank you, eh? It's always a pleasure to be complimented by one of our lads in red.

[SolRaven]

Originally Posted by dsvick

I'd bet some of the more common ones would be: to add another level of anonymity

There is something about having your face on a public forum that doesn't feel right for me. I am comfortable if the picture is vague, hence my avatar picture.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by SolRaven

There is something about having your face on a public forum that doesn't feel right for me.

I've always found it kind of weird the people who do use their photo in an avatar.

[SolRaven]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

I've always found it kind of weird the people who do use their photo in an avatar.

How come?

[Michael McLovin]

i don't see any problem with using my own picture as an avatar.
after all that's actually me on the left.

[Asawi]

I'm one of those "don't want my picture floating around Internet"-people.
I use the same alias (that is actually my name - Asa Wi*****) whenever possible since since mid 90's so somehow I still don't feel very "anonymous".
Besides, over here in Sweden I'm recognized by the pooch in my avatar. Always in my company and to many people I'm just "the one with the big friendly black and white dog". Suits me fine!

[GeoffC]

You mean you can't recognise me <<<<<<

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by SolRaven

How come?

I suppose partially because it is so rarely done it stands out. But also, I've always seen an avatar as a symbol, not something literal. I've in the past always never wanted to join Facebook, but just recently did because I found it the best way to keep in contact with some people, and I don't even use my own photo as my profile picture there when I'm talking to people that I know in real life.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

well I don't use my real picture, since ther is no real picture of me posted anywhere on the net. period. yes I'm paranoid and kind of a loner.
It's not (at least as a primary reason) because of my appearance, but it's plainly a far to big chunk of personal data to be made freely accessible on the net IMHO

There's noting wrong with anonymity, I don't think anyone should have to put their pictures anywhere they don't want to. As I said earlier, it's all a personal choice.

Originally Posted by chamekke

*blushes* Thank you, eh? It's always a pleasure to be complimented by one of our lads in red.

*Tip of the Hat* Been many years since I wore red, but thank ya kindly.

Originally Posted by SolRaven

There is something about having your face on a public forum that doesn't feel right for me. I am comfortable if the picture is vague, hence my avatar picture.

I think putting our faces out there removes some of the space we always have, in person its phisical space and on the Net it's the choice to not show our faces.

Originally Posted by ardeegee

I've always found it kind of weird the people who do use their photo in an avatar.

To each his/her own, just be glad they kept my clothes on :P

Originally Posted by Asawi

I'm one of those "don't want my picture floating around Internet"-people.
I use the same alias (that is actually my name - Asa Wi*****) whenever possible since since mid 90's so somehow I still don't feel very "anonymous".
Besides, over here in Sweden I'm recognized by the pooch in my avatar. Always in my company and to many people I'm just "the one with the big friendly black and white dog". Suits me fine!

I think its all bout personal space again, but lets face it our pictures are everywhere, every shopping mall we go to has CCTV cameras that records our every move, there are traffic cams, cameras in the parks, not to mention the fact that, unless I am mistaken, there is no law saying that I couldn't take your picture from across the street in any public place.

But again it's a personal choice.

Originally Posted by GeoffC

You mean you can't recognise me <<<<<<

I would know you anywhere Geoff, I think :P

[astra]

I never post pictures of myself on the Internet.

I don't want strangers to look at me when I am not present. When I see somebody is about to take a picture and I am in the range, I either turn my back, turn away my face or walk away.
I also prefer anonymity on the Internet. It is the main attraction of the Internet for me. I think that a character you create on the forum is the way you would like others to perceive you. In my mind it is like a role playing game.
Posting a real life picture of yourself seems kind of weird to me. I don't care or in no way condemn forums members who use their real life picture as avatar, it just seems odd. Sort of like exhibitionists. I guess to each its own.

[LCF]

Originally Posted by astra

I never post pictures of myself on the Internet.

I don't want strangers to look at me when I am not present. When I see somebody is about to take a picture and I am in the range, I either turn my back, turn away my face or walk away.
I also prefer anonymity on the Internet. It is the main attraction of the Internet for me. I think that a character you create on the forum is the way you would like others to perceive you. In my mind it is like a role playing game.
Posting a real life picture of yourself seems kind of weird to me. I don't care or in no way condemn forums members who use their real life picture as avatar, it just seems odd. Sort of like exhibitionists. I guess to each its own.

Oh, but if you happen to be near, we can always recognize you. First, it will be the "dang, dang, dang, dang, dang!" sound, and then the visual of a person which either has nothing better to do than bang his/her head on the keyboard or has taken the joke about Mozart and Haydn* all too seriously.

* It was a bet where Haydn told Mozart he couldn't compose a piece that he couldn't play. So Mozart quickly made one up, where the person would have to hit notes on both eds of the piano and simultaneously a single note in the middle. Haydn couldn't figure it out and accused Mozart of creating an impossible piece. Instead of answering, Mozart sat at the piano and at the right moment leaned down and played the note in the middle with his nose.

[JeremyR]

Because I'm ugly?

I used my real photo for a while on Last FM and I got tired of people leaving comments telling me I was ugly (Gee, I never noticed that, thanks Mr. Internet person...)

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Because I'm ugly?

I used my real photo for a while on Last FM and I got tired of people leaving comments telling me I was ugly (Gee, I never noticed that, thanks Mr. Internet person...)

Well you picked a great avatar, looks like a cat I had for years, he's a Russian Blue right?

Someone suggested I stop eating doughnuts and join Jenny Craig once, I didn't change my pictures then, figured they might be right and lost a pound or 60

[Freeshadow]

you should have answered: "dude that site's about music, actually you have managed to demonstrate that you are deaf, dumb and tactless.
DDT for the people - and this all via one single comment - congrats, Jeremy"