Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

TheJoker · 18th Feb 2011, 10:24 AM

Just wondering,I only saw some of guys or girls using their photo.(actually couple of them straight mothers) so i wondered.I'm sure many people have their photo in their facebook,myspace,whatever.Of course its a personal choice,some people aren't out of closet,some are just shy and some just like using their favorite actors,actress,animals..Still to me and maybe for some others too,it seems brave move to put your real photo on EC.

Anyway, whats your reason for choose your avatar?

MyDecember · 18th Feb 2011, 10:37 AM

Witness protection

Black Cat · 18th Feb 2011, 11:20 AM

Why do I use a different avatar? Simple: I like black cats. It isn't because I am trying to stay closeted (because I'm not) or anything like that. Every avatar I've ever used on EC has been a black cat. Now I use the same one on all the websites I'm a part of, so my friends from EC can recognize me.

Plus I just don't like any of my pictures - especially not enough to have them represent me to the entire online community.

Miss Bubbles · 18th Feb 2011, 11:21 AM

My pic is my avatar

and i wanted people to see i can be beautiful

maverick · 18th Feb 2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Bubbles

My pic is my avatar

and i wanted people to see i can be beautiful

My pic is my avatar and I wanted people to see that I can be handsome.

**Meropspusillus** · 18th Feb 2011, 11:58 AM

Birds rock.

kwyjibo · 18th Feb 2011, 12:01 PM

Anonymity and security

Kso1995 · 18th Feb 2011, 12:03 PM

not sure why i have my avatar but you could always have a pic of yourself on your profile wall which i have so its pretty much all up to you.

flymetothemoon · 18th Feb 2011, 12:04 PM

When I first joined EC, I used my avatar because I wanted something that meant something to me, but I didn't want my face out there for all to see. I was confused and kind of lost, and I didn't want people to know exactly who I was just in case there was someone on here I knew. Now, I leave my avatar because I feel like people come to know you by that, but its not about anonymity anymore. I have a photo of me up in my EC album, and I don't have any problem with people knowing about me anymore.

Ghostly · 18th Feb 2011, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misunderstood

Just wondering,I only saw some of guys or girls using their photo.(actually couple of them straight mothers) so i wondered.I'm sure many people have their photo in their facebook,myspace,whatever.Of course its a personal choice,some people aren't out of closet,some are just shy and some just like using their favorite actors,actress,animals..Still to me and maybe for some others too,it seems brave move to put your real photo on EC.

Anyway, whats your reason for choose your avatar?

Just in case someone recognized me 0_0 and I also don't want stalkers and I really like the movie "Where the wild things are"

Crypt · 18th Feb 2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Bubbles

My pic is my avatar

and i wanted people to see i can be beautiful

My pic is my avatar and I wanted people to see that I can be handsome.

^^ This.

aidan · 18th Feb 2011, 01:32 PM

the pic in my avatar is me and a friend. we're both fingers.

problem?

Shevanel · 18th Feb 2011, 01:34 PM

My avatar changes monthly pretty much. I have plenty of pictures up in my albums anyway. Always had. Even had my own pictures as my avatar. It's more fun to put random things as your avatar, especially when I make all of my avatars. xD

Aya McCabre · 18th Feb 2011, 01:38 PM

My avatar is me, but I think this is the only site where it is. I've had so
done recognise me from my deviantart avatar before..... That was kinda creepy. I usually use something I've made.

TheJoker · 18th Feb 2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Bubbles

My pic is my avatar

and i wanted people to see i can be beautiful

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Bubbles

My pic is my avatar

and i wanted people to see i can be beautiful

My pic is my avatar and I wanted people to see that I can be handsome.

And you are beautiful and handsome

18th Feb 2011, 02:49 PM

My picture isn't me. I don't like me.

So, I have the thing my name is based off instead~

**Owen** · 18th Feb 2011, 02:56 PM

My reason for not putting my face as my avatar has nothing to do with fear of the consequences of putting my face out there; I have pictures of myself in my profile, after all. The reason my face isn't my avatar is that I just don't see the point of putting my face as my avatar. You may say the face is more personal, but faces themselves don't tell us much about a person. We associate a person's face with what we know about that person's identity and personality because it's the most easily recognizable thing about someone. Things work similarly on a forum, but we have user-names to differentiate us from each other; the avatar just makes that association and differentiation easier.

So because there's no practical benefit to making my avatar a picture of my face (aside from--possibly--the illusion of me being more personable and open), whether or not I choose something else to put as my avatar is really of little consequence. What difference does it make whether people associate the things I say with a picture of my own face or a picture of a raptor in the middle of philosophical pondering? If anything, choosing an avatar that I think represents a part of who I am (my philosophical and internet-surfing sides) gives people an idea of who I am which I can be sure to tailor so that it is as likely to be correct as possible, whereas if I show my face, people could make all sorts of assumptions about me, not all of which would be accurate

And I'm not photogenic.

Kerze · 18th Feb 2011, 03:02 PM

My pic is something I made, I can't take good pictures because I suffer from various nervous tics and whenever someone aims a camera at me I uncontrollably being making weird faces; my eyes are particularly prone to twitching. As a consiquence there are no pitures of me that I would wish to use as a first impression, I'd much rather have a picture I've taken of something or something I've photoshoped in my free time.

**Maddy** · 18th Feb 2011, 03:08 PM

I've used photos of myself as avatars before, and I've also used plenty of silly ones like the one I have now. It really just depends on what I feel like, and what's available when I start thinking "hmm, I should change my avatar".

Elven · 18th Feb 2011, 03:08 PM

Hmmm I don't really know, for one I've always been made opposed to putting my photo on the internet full stop, of the 250 odd pictures of me on facebook, only about 5 were actually posted by me

Just my mind set I suppose. As for my current avatar, they are usually just some anime character that I feel either reflects my mood or one which I just like in general or that I admire in some way. Not too Unhealthy...

18th Feb 2011, 10:24 AM	#1
TheJoker Clown Prince of EC Full Member Gender: clown Orientation: bats Out Status: Not out at all Location: Circus Posts: 416 Join Date: Feb 2011	Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? Just wondering,I only saw some of guys or girls using their photo.(actually couple of them straight mothers) so i wondered.I'm sure many people have their photo in their facebook,myspace,whatever.Of course its a personal choice,some people aren't out of closet,some are just shy and some just like using their favorite actors,actress,animals..Still to me and maybe for some others too,it seems brave move to put your real photo on EC. Anyway, whats your reason for choose your avatar?

18th Feb 2011, 10:37 AM	#2
MyDecember I pause your thread! Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: All but family Location: Florida Age: 23 Posts: 365 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? Witness protection __________________ This is my simple religion: There is no need for temples, there is no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is the temple;the philosophy is loving kindness and compassion --The XIVth Dalai Lama

18th Feb 2011, 11:20 AM	#3
Black Cat As Seen On Hoarders... Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: This cat is out of the bag - I mean closet Location: Pennsylvania, with the cows Age: 21 Posts: 2,391 Join Date: Jun 2009	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? Why do I use a different avatar? Simple: I like black cats. It isn't because I am trying to stay closeted (because I'm not) or anything like that. Every avatar I've ever used on EC has been a black cat. Now I use the same one on all the websites I'm a part of, so my friends from EC can recognize me. Plus I just don't like any of my pictures - especially not enough to have them represent me to the entire online community. __________________ "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it." - Mr. Magorium

18th Feb 2011, 11:21 AM	#4
Miss Bubbles EC Addict Full Member Gender: confused on some levels Orientation: of the homosexual persuation. Out Status: So out im in Location: Indiana Age: 19 Posts: 1,037 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? My pic is my avatar and i wanted people to see i can be beautiful __________________ A Dialogue my besty made up in first period: Oh this reminds me of the time joan rivers made that fatal mistake: Oh apples how I hunger for youuuuu. "Joan Don't Touch those!" -bite- -hiss- 'Joan you and adam are cast out of heaven!!!!'-- Ashley D.

18th Feb 2011, 11:58 AM	#6
Meropspusillus RAWR DINOSAURS EC Chat Mod Gender: I make the small motile sex cells. Orientation: I like people who make small motile sex cells. Out Status: CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP Location: Indiana or New Mexico. Who knows? Age: 22 Posts: 895 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? Birds rock. __________________ (Insert witty signature here)

18th Feb 2011, 12:01 PM	#7
kwyjibo Well Known Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Not a clue. Out Status: N/A (See Above) Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 206 Join Date: Dec 2010	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? Anonymity and security

18th Feb 2011, 12:03 PM	#8
Kso1995 Member Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Venice, California Age: 16 Posts: 83 Join Date: Mar 2010	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? not sure why i have my avatar but you could always have a pic of yourself on your profile wall which i have so its pretty much all up to you. __________________ Let's get one thing straight, I'm not.

18th Feb 2011, 12:04 PM	#9
flymetothemoon EC Addict Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: It's not about gender, I just like people... Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Albany, NY Age: 25 Posts: 467 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? When I first joined EC, I used my avatar because I wanted something that meant something to me, but I didn't want my face out there for all to see. I was confused and kind of lost, and I didn't want people to know exactly who I was just in case there was someone on here I knew. Now, I leave my avatar because I feel like people come to know you by that, but its not about anonymity anymore. I have a photo of me up in my EC album, and I don't have any problem with people knowing about me anymore. __________________ Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true...curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy. ~ Walt Disney

18th Feb 2011, 01:32 PM	#12
aidan EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Walsall, United Kingdom Age: 18 Posts: 260 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? the pic in my avatar is me and a friend. we're both fingers. problem?

18th Feb 2011, 01:34 PM	#13
Shevanel One Is Light. One Is Dark. Full Member Gender: The Dude Orientation: Bi-Winning Out Status: Everybody and Your Mom. Location: Bolivar, Ohio (From NY though) Age: 21 Posts: 7,672 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? My avatar changes monthly pretty much. I have plenty of pictures up in my albums anyway. Always had. Even had my own pictures as my avatar. It's more fun to put random things as your avatar, especially when I make all of my avatars. xD __________________ If there were no rewards to reap, No loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I've chosen here, I certainly would've walked away by now. Gonna wait it out... Be patient.

18th Feb 2011, 01:38 PM	#14
Aya McCabre Beware of the Metaphor Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Lesbian Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Dunedin, New Zealand Age: 21 Posts: 613 Join Date: Feb 2011	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? My avatar is me, but I think this is the only site where it is. I've had so done recognise me from my deviantart avatar before..... That was kinda creepy. I usually use something I've made. __________________ Time is on my side she said. He may be on your side I said, but it makes no difference in the end, He's coming after you my friend........

18th Feb 2011, 02:49 PM	#16
Gothitil Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? My picture isn't me. I don't like me. So, I have the thing my name is based off instead~

18th Feb 2011, 02:56 PM	#17
Owen Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult EC Admin Gender: Agendered dude Orientation: Panromantic androsexual Out Status: Everyone and their mother Location: Massachusetts, USA Age: 21 Posts: 2,872 Join Date: Jul 2007	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? My reason for not putting my face as my avatar has nothing to do with fear of the consequences of putting my face out there; I have pictures of myself in my profile, after all. The reason my face isn't my avatar is that I just don't see the point of putting my face as my avatar. You may say the face is more personal, but faces themselves don't tell us much about a person. We associate a person's face with what we know about that person's identity and personality because it's the most easily recognizable thing about someone. Things work similarly on a forum, but we have user-names to differentiate us from each other; the avatar just makes that association and differentiation easier. So because there's no practical benefit to making my avatar a picture of my face (aside from--possibly--the illusion of me being more personable and open), whether or not I choose something else to put as my avatar is really of little consequence. What difference does it make whether people associate the things I say with a picture of my own face or a picture of a raptor in the middle of philosophical pondering? If anything, choosing an avatar that I think represents a part of who I am (my philosophical and internet-surfing sides) gives people an idea of who I am which I can be sure to tailor so that it is as likely to be correct as possible, whereas if I show my face, people could make all sorts of assumptions about me, not all of which would be accurate And I'm not photogenic. __________________ "Stand firm for what you believe in, until and unless logic and experience prove you wrong. Remember, when the emperor looks naked, the emperor is naked. The truth and a lie are not sort of the same thing. And there is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can't be improved with pizza." -Daria Morgendorffer

18th Feb 2011, 03:02 PM	#18
Kerze Formerly Concretehands Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: two Location: London Town Age: 17 Posts: 1,297 Join Date: Aug 2010	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? My pic is something I made, I can't take good pictures because I suffer from various nervous tics and whenever someone aims a camera at me I uncontrollably being making weird faces; my eyes are particularly prone to twitching. As a consiquence there are no pitures of me that I would wish to use as a first impression, I'd much rather have a picture I've taken of something or something I've photoshoped in my free time. __________________ Please Understand. We don't want no trouble, we just want the right to be different. That's all. - Pulp/Different Class

18th Feb 2011, 03:08 PM	#19
Maddy Free Hugs EC Admin Gender: - Orientation: Into girls Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 21 Posts: 7,704 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? I've used photos of myself as avatars before, and I've also used plenty of silly ones like the one I have now. It really just depends on what I feel like, and what's available when I start thinking "hmm, I should change my avatar". __________________ how strange it is to be anything at all [Victor] 2:09 pm: and then halloween happened and I was outside in a skirt.

18th Feb 2011, 03:08 PM	#20
Elven Life is a Jigsaw ☯ Full Member Gender: ♂ Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to (pretty much) everyone. Location: Shropshire, England Age: 17 Posts: 536 Join Date: Apr 2009	Re: Why avatar's,instead of actual photo? Hmmm I don't really know, for one I've always been made opposed to putting my photo on the internet full stop, of the 250 odd pictures of me on facebook, only about 5 were actually posted by me Just my mind set I suppose. As for my current avatar, they are usually just some anime character that I feel either reflects my mood or one which I just like in general or that I admire in some way. Not too Unhealthy... __________________ Birds of a Feather Flock Together~

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