it's more entertaining and personal. my image is carved into many minds now. there must be some benefit.
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it's more entertaining and personal. my image is carved into many minds now. there must be some benefit.
An Avitar is like a Drivers Lics, every crossdresser should have one. I like the way I look and feel enfemme, and am proud to show it to others. So, to answer your question, for me I could hardly wait to post my first face pic advitar here.
Hugs.
SandyR
For me, Sapphire, it is simply another public declaration of who I believe myself to be. Speaking only for myself, as I have progressed in my TG journey, I find myself doing more and more things leaving less and less to the imagination. I wear women's jeans to work exclusively, wear earrings in both ears everyday, and have my longish nails always polished (color of course). Or maybe it's just that I'm so old that I just don't care anymore. :tongueout
I've been a member for just about a year. I've had an avatar in the past that didn't include my face. After reading this thread, I figured it was time to take the next step. My new avatar shows all of me, but between that fact that it is so small, and I am wearing sunglasses, I don't think I'd be recognized even by my closest friends.
BTW: This pic was taken on one of my favorite days EVER. It was on halloween of last year (2006) and I was out all day in this short dress, tights and plenty of cleavage. I'd even just gotten finished having my hair styled, and was enjoying lunch at a resturant, where I asked the waitress to take my photo.
I understand your concerns totally. Im very cautious about having my picture online, no matter where it is (unless i can control who has access to it), which is why my avatar is just a stylized picture of my chest
Well, speaking for myself, I present as "Matt" all day, every day. Getting old, lost most of my hair (except of course where I DON'T want it!), plain, boring, Matt. Here, or On-line at all, I get to present as Kim. On the internet, I appear as Kim, I am treated as Kim, and I think most think of me as Kim.
This is why I post my Kim avatar - HERE I AM Kim. :-)
Being "fifty-something," most of my half century of life as a crossdresser (since age 3-4) has been shrouded in secrecy with subtending guilt, conflicted feelings, and even, at times, outright shame. So, it is more than reasonable to ask why I now show my face . . .
In part, it is as Sharon says:
I absolutely agree!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharon
In considering placing an avatar photo, several things came to my mind:
First, I don't think there is much chance of being outed by posting my picture on this site -- I truly believe that "if" you ran into me on the street AND "if" you were really familiar with my avatar photo, you wouldn't know it was me. I live in a small city -- and understand small-town mentality -- but even with that knowledge, I feel pretty safe and secure in posting the photo. That said, I do feel that posting the picture is part of my rite of passage -- from that guilt-ridden child into an adult acknowledging who and what I am. "If" I am ever recognized, so be it -- it will be part of my journey.
Second, along a similar line of thought, it is EXACTLY as Roberta says:
That is a succinct way of what I consider very pragmatic reasoning for showing my photo. No, I haven't received any feedback (appreciation and/or measurement) one way or the other. Hopefully that will come at some point, but maybe not. In the main, I do feel more real and alive when I show myself and likewise hope I am more real to those who see me.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertaFermina
When I first signed on this forum, I just put my femme name. Shortly afterwards, I added one of the "ready-made" avatars of a girly girl. It was a HUGE step for me to post the picture! To me it is a sign of growth and a part of the history of my personal journey.
Heck -- it was a HUGE step to stand on "The Las Vegas Strip" in broad daylight, with thousands pasing by and me in a wedding gown, having photograph after photograph taken. That, too, was part of my journey. It was also part of my wife's journey -- and, it was part of our corporate journey. (When we get the final photos in, we plan on putting a few on here -- another step of the journey.)
As an aside, this may be a good time to say that I wish more people on the forum would put where they are from -- even if just generally stated. I like knowing the diversity of the group -- and it sometimes helps to understand differing perspectives if we know "in general," where someone is from.
At any rate, back to the avatar photos, Roberta used a great phrase with which I agree and identify: my avatar is (one part of the) chronicle of my journey.
:D
For me it took a long time to put a pic of me on here. But when i first started this site i didn't have a wig and i wasn't sure of who i was at the time. It was pretty easy for me to put a pic of myself on here, i wanted so bad to show ppl what i looked like. I have no fear of ppl finding out all my friends and family already know of Kirra. I'm not the same person i was when i first started on here.
I’ve been lurking in this site for about a year before I joined because of fear of being outed. I still have that fear. One problem I have is when in fem mode my SO tells me I look like a twin to my sister. I do have a avatar of me but my face is blurred. I don’t know maybe it’s a comfort thing.
A rite of passage for me. My first photoshoot therefore the first opportunity I had to see myself as others see me - and I liked what I saw!!! Got better pics now but like this one because it reminds me of how I've grown up. A kind of personal statement - this is who I am. Don't worry too much about being outed - my son thinks I'm dad's girlfriend and my brother in law walked past me in the street. If folks are looking at this site then they're prolly CD or sympathetic anyway
Mitch
If you're shy or worried start slow. Use a partial body pic, or a blurred pic, make sure there is nothing in the background from home (I use a sheet as a backdrop sometimes). It is a small thing but it does help people identify you and feel a little closer. I am very much into images and photos as the regulars here can testify so I immediately used my pic as my avatar.
I posted my avatar as a reminder of a makeover session I had last year, (I'm not good enough at the make up to show my face normally) and I am sure that the chances of me being recognised are virtually nil!
I see little chance of someone from the outside recognizing me. I mean, if they are on this site to begin with, they are obviously here for a reason, probably the same reason I am. Thus if they are here, I doubt they'd out me.
Also, the name Angelfire is common enough. Its the name of a web host, and even on some other forums I'm on, people thought I was a girl because it sounds feminine I guess.
So overall,I think my chances would be pretty small of being outed. My main reason right now for not posting is I don't feel that I look femme enough.
I'm waaayyyy to shy to post an avatar here....(haha)...I like to think I look a little different as a guy. I AM to afraid to post a photo of me as a man though...but then is anyone really interested in looking at me, the guy!!!
In my idea they do it primarily:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire
- to feel more real (good enough I often read) at a point of their life when they're ready to be themselves
- to release to do their final step(s) to come clean and live their freedom
- to let their friends in this forum have a picture of them (that's quite connective and lovely)
- to let other members in association with their stories see that it's possible somehow to find a way as a TG
- to show the world that they do not longer give a damn about and that they're awesome and brave
- to figth against the desires and efforts of intolerant people because a picture in our times beats everything
- to get feedback and acceptance
There is no picture (only my eye with make-up) of the real Valery in my avarta yet, but I think the day will come, when I will be strong enough.
However there's more behind all this and that's the reason for my response.
For me the picture is only one single step of a towering staircase I decided to clamber. Pictures are supervalued in our presence.
In Media: If you sell the right line you might be o.k. to survive...if you sell the right picture (with it) you'll be fine to wine and dine.
Will I need a picture badly to keep on going my alley here to find my freedom? I don't know, but as we live in this downright visual world I think in the end it'll be very important for me one day, as I already have the big desire to load it up right now.
The thing is that, if I keep on hiding Valery (or a part of her) and give others (and me too) a false color of the truth, I'm not able to live! To specify: I do not even exist! So I joined this forum and for me this was, after many delays, a desired moment of thruth (with myself) and freedom and it's only the beginning of a long journey, I think. The day when Valery will be emancipated will be the day when she will be ready to go out in public and then there'll be no more reason not to give my avartar and my friends here a nice authentic pic of val.
that's my personal feeling and idea, I will have to find out hoping that I'm not off the track
take care
I showed a couple of friends and my therapist. They thought that Jenna looked nothing like my male self. I figured the chances were low, so I went for it. For many, the feel of the clothing is enough, for me, the illusion is the reality. I recently had the experience of dressing with a friend while another GG friend watched ala webcam. The next day she said "last night, I wan't talking to you, I was talking to Jenna"
my avtar is of me and I'm proud to have it there so people can see what I look like and put a face with who they are talking to. I'm out to every one I know and am not ashamed of any thing at all. I hope that if you are out to the ones you love and admire it will be easy for you to be yourself as well. Any one that wants to know any thing aboout me or my life just has to ask I have nothing to hide from anyone.
Love to all the gurls and girls here Billie Renee
I don't know about the old part you really don't look that old to me, but the i just don't care anymore part i have to agree, personally i'm tried of living a lye, if anybody reconigizie me so be it. i'm tried of hiding who i am on the insideQuote:
Originally Posted by Holly