Your picture on this site

[JessHaust]

Hi everybody,
This is a simple question to ask, but I expect some complex answers!
We all have supplied a picture to represent ourselves. A lot use real photos of ourselves, and most are I think like mine, one that you feel presents yourself in the best possible light.
But there are still lots with a cartoon avatar, graphics symbol, or a stock photo of some beautiful girl.
The question is for those without a real picture of yourselves, why? Is it simple embarassment of the way you feel you look? Or are trying to express some ideal image that you have assigned to yourself? Or another reason that I have just not thought of?

[AllieSF]

My avatar is a picture of my shadow on a green tennis court. I never had a pic of myself and this was the next step from a pic of something other than me. When I started here I had no pics to post and didn't want to post any for fear of being identified by someone who knows me. Over time as my confidence built and my paranoias diminished, I got braver. So, I posted some of my pics in my friend's threads here. Over time I found my shadow pic looked interesting and different and I decided that it was now to be my avatar. I haven't posted a facial pic yet, probably because I am still worried that a casual visitor who knows me in male mode might see me en femme and for whatever reason be able to identify me. So, I will continue to refrain from posting a pic of me for my avatar. Maybe one day. An avatar is not important to me and maybe not for others too for a variety of reasons. I do not define a person by their pics, but by their posts here.

[2B Natasha]

My avatar is a cartoon cha rector. Daphne Blake to more exact. I have that as mine in a bit of a protest to some censoring that I thought was over zealous and uncalled for of another's avatar photo. That's why. the many layers of subliminal meaning you can figure out by yourself.

Cheers!

[docrobbysherry]

R u saying I look like a cartoon character, Jess?

Whew! Thank goodness! Anything's better than looking like the skinny old man-in-a-dress that I am!

[Badtranny]

I haven't posted a facial pic yet, probably because I am still worried that a casual visitor who knows me in male mode might see me en femme and for whatever reason be able to identify me.

Allie I've seen you both ways and I can guarantee that no one would be able to recognize you. I certainly wouldn't have.

[Debglam]

I think it is a matter of comfort. I think everyone is pretty nervous when they first start posting here. As I became more comfortable in my own skin, first came the photo, then the photo without sunglasses, etc.

I personally like seeing avatar photos but I fully understand why someone wouldn't want to use one. Again, whatever you are comfortable with.

I'd add one more thing, everyone I have met so far looks prettier in person!

My avatar is a picture of my shadow on a green tennis court.

Allie, I had NO idea! That is just wild!

Deb

[Kate T]

Relatively simple answer. I don't trust people on the internet. Avatars come up on visitor access areas.

[prettieboy]

i dont have a camera or i would put up pic. my avatar on the other hand mabie thats what a girl should look like

[Alice B]

I use a real photo of myself because I think it's only fair to show what I really look like. Of course I use one that I feel is flattering and of course I want to look as female as possible. A difficult task at best.

[JenniferRose]

It was originally a picture I drew of myself that the first of my friends I told my dressing about when I came out took and redid in a lot more detail

[linda allen]

i dont have a camera or i would put up pic. my avatar on the other hand mabie thats what a girl should look like

Digital cameras are very inexpensive. I've seen them for $20. Reall good ones can be had for $100.00.

[Launa]

I had a pic uploaded for a while but only my friends were able to see it not anybody else. The reason for this is that my wife is not comfortable with me posting a pic. She says that once its out there in cyber space that you can't take it back. I would love to post some here and also have a 2nd facebook account but I can't do it.
I have a pretty darn good relationship with the wife when it comes to dressing up and this might have to be one of those things that I just can't do right now. So for now it has to be that crappy graphic symbol.

[Cally]

I use real pictures of Cally because I am not concerned about someone recognizing me mainly because unless they have some facial recognition software running they most likely will not pick me.

I base this on an incident that happened a while back. I went to dinner in drab with a group of gurls and spent the evening talking to a GG across the table. When Cally rocked up the next week she did not recognize me at all. Her reactions were genuine enough and wasn't just making me feel good. I actually had to describe my drab self to her. I have come to the conclusion that whilst most will see I am not a real girl, they will not see who it really is.

So armed with that confidence, and a belief that the sort of people who I do not want to know about Cally most likely do not frequent sites like this anyway, I am happy to show Cally in as cool a picture as I can manage. And like Alice says, that is an ongoing challenge.

At the end of the day, if someone does join the dots, good luck to them.

[noeleena]

Hi,

What you see is what you get & im seen every day so if you saw me down the street some where. youd soon reconise me . so its real & Jos took a number of pics in our back yard, i do have one of Jos & i together taken about 10 years ago in the pics section & you wont see much difference from then to now, not at 64, there is another one on the net just i was wearing a wig then use my name for that,

...noeleena...

[Samantha_Smile]

...The question is for those without a real picture of yourselves, why? Is it simple embarassment of the way you feel you look? Or are trying to express some ideal image that you have assigned to yourself? Or another reason that I have just not thought of?

Ive often wondered this.
I dont accept friend requests from cartoons and stock photo users. Some may say this is unfair, but let me explain.
Ive taken time and patience to get my game up to a level as such that Im confident enough to share an image of myself including my face. If you havent done this, then in my head, were clearly not on the same page.
It's not to say I have to support for these individuals, but I feel theres a lack of honesty that comes through when posters dont include an image of themselves.
Ive also noticed that a lot of these particulare users are the ones who start threads of wild, unbelievable adventures and have dozens of you commending them on their efforts...
This annoys me, not to see people doing well, but theres ZERO photographic evidence to prove they actually did what they claimed.
This is the internet, this is a forum and to quote my forum fore-fathers/mothers...
http://straightrazorplace.com/attach...-images-1-.jpg

Im not calling everyone a liar, but did you know Im actually a billionaire?
Ive got a Veyron too.

If you havent got pictures, in my opinion, youre not even trying.

[Jonianne]

If you havent got pictures, in my opinion, youre not even trying

"...if someone has an issue, they have every right to tell me how they feel, they do not have the right to tell me how I should be...." Quote from psychologist Dr. Joy Browne, on truly accepting yourself.

I used to have a pic of myself as my avatar, but I chose my current image because it depicts how I feel inside. Others may not understand, but I do. If you want to see a pic of me, look on my profile page.

[Crysten]

Ive often wondered this.
I dont accept friend requests from cartoons and stock photo users. Some may say this is unfair, but let me explain.
Ive taken time and patience to get my game up to a level as such that Im confident enough to share an image of myself including my face. If you havent done this, then in my head, were clearly not on the same page.
It's not to say I have to support for these individuals, but I feel theres a lack of honesty that comes through when posters dont include an image of themselves.
Ive also noticed that a lot of these particulare users are the ones who start threads of wild, unbelievable adventures and have dozens of you commending them on their efforts...
This annoys me, not to see people doing well, but theres ZERO photographic evidence to prove they actually did what they claimed.
This is the internet, this is a forum and to quote my forum fore-fathers/mothers...
http://straightrazorplace.com/attach...-images-1-.jpg

Im not calling everyone a liar, but did you know Im actually a billionaire?
Ive got a Veyron too.

If you havent got pictures, in my opinion, youre not even trying.

Seriously? Ever consider some of us spent a lifetime in the military and having pics of ourselves turn up on the internet would have meant our career was over? Yes many of us are not on the same page as you are. Some of us have pages much deeper and broader than you ever had or will ever have. Way to judge and immediately dismiss entire groups of people out of hand without any real consideration. Your arguement is invalid, you fail.

[JessHaust]

Seriously? Ever consider some of us spent a lifetime in the military ...

one of my new good friends is ex-Marine. Shes really pretty.

[JessHaust]

Please don't stop the replys, but I just want to say thanks.
I really have a much better understanding of all of you.
Your comments have been insightful, well thought-out explainations for what is a very personal decision and i appreciate you sharing with me.

[Badtranny]

Seriously? Ever consider some of us spent a lifetime in the military and having pics of ourselves turn up on the internet would have meant our career was over? Yes many of us are not on the same page as you are. Some of us have pages much deeper and broader than you ever had or will ever have. Way to judge and immediately dismiss entire groups of people out of hand without any real consideration. Your arguement is invalid, you fail.

Whoa whoa whoa Sarge, at ease and whatnot. Is she not allowed to have an opinion? The fact is most of what you read on the internet is mostly BS even on this forum. Many people come here and invent an entire persona because they are so unhappy with who they are. A pic can be faked sure, but as the months go by and face pics get updated you can almost get a sense for who the person is. Your reason for not posting one is as valid as any other, but if she wants to cultivate relationships with people SHE would consider real then what's it to you?

In closing, can somebody tell me why military service is relevant to THIS thread? ;-)

[April_Ligeia]

The fact is most of what you read on the internet is mostly BS even on this forum. Many people come here and invent an entire persona because they are so unhappy with who they are. A pic can be faked sure, but as the months go by and face pics get updated you can almost get a sense for who the person is.


This is a great point. I joined this forum because I love to crossdress and wanted to be part of a larger community. I run my photos through filters and tweak them to the point that I am happy with them, and incidentally I am sure I am not identifiable in "male mode" from my photos. I work for a very big international corporation, so I understand the concerns the military folk have, but I feel that there are ways around it. I do also go out into the world in various stages of crossdress, but the internet is very big and images, once posted, can potentially pop up anywhere at any time. Therefore, even if some want evidence, I will not post compromising photos of an evening out because those photos may circulate FOREVER.

[Katie83]

Ive often wondered this.
I dont accept friend requests from cartoons and stock photo users. Some may say this is unfair, but let me explain.
Ive taken time and patience to get my game up to a level as such that Im confident enough to share an image of myself including my face. If you havent done this, then in my head, were clearly not on the same page.
It's not to say I have to support for these individuals, but I feel theres a lack of honesty that comes through when posters dont include an image of themselves.
Ive also noticed that a lot of these particulare users are the ones who start threads of wild, unbelievable adventures and have dozens of you commending them on their efforts...
This annoys me, not to see people doing well, but theres ZERO photographic evidence to prove they actually did what they claimed.
This is the internet, this is a forum and to quote my forum fore-fathers/mothers...
http://straightrazorplace.com/attach...-images-1-.jpg

Im not calling everyone a liar, but did you know Im actually a billionaire?
Ive got a Veyron too.

If you havent got pictures, in my opinion, youre not even trying.

I couldn't agree more with what you've said. It's so true, i spend alot of time and effort not to mention money trying to make myself look feminine and i am always keen to show any pictures i've taken of myself.
I understand some peoples fears if being recognised, but how likely is that? I look quite different as a woman. And if by any chance i was recognised, why was that person looking for crossdressers on the internet?
Although not many people know i dress, and i don't go out as much as i'd like to i'm proud of who i am and i'm not afraid to show photos of myself.
Katie

[Foxglove]

I couldn't agree more with what you've said. It's so true, i spend alot of time and effort not to mention money trying to make myself look feminine and i am always keen to show any pictures i've taken of myself.
I understand some peoples fears if being recognised, but how likely is that? I look quite different as a woman. And if by any chance i was recognised, why was that person looking for crossdressers on the internet?
Although not many people know i dress, and i don't go out as much as i'd like to i'm proud of who i am and i'm not afraid to show photos of myself.
Katie

Hello, Katie! You look great in your avatar, and I can certainly understand why you're proud of who you are. But I think a lot of girls on this thread have given very valid reasons as to why they don't post pictures of themselves. I really don't think you should judge other people's circumstances by your own. Perhaps we should let each judge what is best for herself, and where there are good reasons not to post pictures, perhaps everyone else should try to understand that.

Best wishes, Annabelle

[gungho]

It's a large part lack of self-confidence and another large part of just not having pictures to share. I'd like to change it but I'm young and I'm poor and I'm barely a part-time lurker at this point. I spend more time reading the text than caring about the picture in the avatar.

[paulaprimo]

hi jess, i do have a pic on my homepage. i just joined the forum a few days ago so i want to get a more representative face pic and then i will happily post it!! i would love to post more than one pic on my homepage also, but i guess that i can't!