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Profile pics - 1/12/2010 1:57:25 PM

VaguelyCurious

Posts: 5264
Joined: 12/2/2009
From: United Kingdom
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Following discussion in another thread:

I was asked what my reasons were for not having a picture on my profile.

I did used to have a picture on an old account here, until a Dom I had never spoken to wrote to me to tell me that he had made it his screensaver. I found this unbearably creepy, so I removed it quick-sharp.

Does a profile without a picture put other people off? What might other people's reasons be for not having a pic?

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RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 2:09:22 PM

CarrieO

Posts: 2432
Joined: 1/27/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious

Following discussion in another thread:

I was asked what my reasons were for not having a picture on my profile.

I did used to have a picture on an old account here, until a Dom I had never spoken to wrote to me to tell me that he had made it his screensaver. I found this unbearably creepy, so I removed it quick-sharp.

I've had that happen twice, both times with male subs who told me after we had met. I always hear from one of them each time I post a new photo. It just makes me be a bit more creative and more adept at photoshp/lightroom

Does a profile without a picture put other people off?

I don't mind as long as they can provide me with a current one via email. In fact, I make a point of saying so in my profile.

What might other people's reasons be for not having a pic?

I didn't have one up for quite a while because I wasn't really looking for anything but to post here. I know some people are uncomfortable due to concerns with regards to their jobs or family...that makes complete sense to me. I do think there are creative was of taking a photo that can hide as much as identify.

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Post #: 2

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 2:42:35 PM

trealeon

Posts: 180
Joined: 4/7/2007
Status: offline

I've never minded a profile without a picture. I have one but it's not really all that useful. I always provide mine through CM email and as long as those I contact do the same, I'm fine with it.

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Post #: 3

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 2:50:25 PM

AquaticSub

Posts: 14867
Joined: 12/27/2005
Status: offline

quote:

Does a profile without a picture put other people off?

It does. I'm not nearly as likely to write to someone who doesn't have a picture up. That said, if their profile was really what I'm looking for, they are nearby and mention that they have pics in their profile, they just don't want to put them up... I might still write.

But I'd rather see *any* pic up, even it's just a body shot with the head chopped off, than nothing. Hell, for some reason I'd rather see a picture of their pet than nothing. Anything that shows something about who they are.

quote:

What might other people's reasons be for not having a pic?

There are tons of reasons people might not want to have pic up. I went through a period where I didn't have a picture up because of a website that went through and catologued all the pics on CM. That freaked me out.

Others might have jobs or positions in their community where they don't think it's wise to just have the picture up for any ol' person to see. Some people might have had issues with stalkers. Or they might not have a good picture that reflects their current body type. As I lost weight, I had trouble getting current photos.

There are plenty of reasons really.

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Post #: 4

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 2:50:40 PM

heartcream

Posts: 3044
Joined: 5/9/2007
From: Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop
Status: offline

Not a problem over here. There are many reasons someone may not want to post a pic. No biggie. The proof is in the pudding anyway so whether the pudding initially shows up with a picture or not is a small thang.

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Post #: 5

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 2:59:31 PM

peppermint

Posts: 5170
Joined: 10/18/2005
From: Montana
Status: offline

A profile with no picture does turn some people off. When I was actively seeking there was a picture on the profile and for a couple years after finding Gary.

I removed my picture a year or so ago. I noticed a certain man was checking out my profile every other day for a couple months. After I removed the picture he no longer looked at the profile. Apparently he was looking at the profile to see the picture. I found it all too creepy and so have never put another picture back.

(in reply to VaguelyCurious)

Post #: 6

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:07:56 PM

wisdomtogive

Posts: 636
Joined: 11/13/2009
Status: offline

I have a pic up, but it depends on my mood if i use it or use an avatar..so many neat avatars. As far as not having one up, for a lot of people it might bother them, but for me I prefer zero that this continuance displays of cocks on profiles that make me shrug.

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Post #: 7

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:08:42 PM

VaguelyCurious

Posts: 5264
Joined: 12/2/2009
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: peppermint

I removed my picture a year or so ago. I noticed a certain man was checking out my profile every other day for a couple months. After I removed the picture he no longer looked at the profile. Apparently he was looking at the profile to see the picture. I found it all too creepy and so have never put another picture back.

I've got one of those blokes too, but I don't have a picture up at all...

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Post #: 8

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:19:00 PM

NihilusZero

Posts: 4036
Joined: 9/10/2008
From: Nashville, TN
Status: offline

Guys have celebrity women as their screensavers all over the place. It would seem more a compliment, to me...unless you sincerely thought they would turn their voyeurism into something actually potentially dangerous, which seems a bit of a leap in logic.

I certainly prefer some type of image (that's not clipart!). If you want to somehow cleverly disguise parts of you, so be it, but otherwise it does not speak to me as someone realistically and sensibly entering into this medium of socializing.

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Post #: 9

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:24:53 PM

DomImus

Posts: 2004
Joined: 3/17/2009
Status: offline

I don't know that it necessarily puts people off but anecdotal data seems to indicate that you will get more interest in your profile if it includes a pic. Some people mandate that only those with profile pics contact them. I'm only here to enjoy the forums so my profile is sparse and has no photo. No need for it. When people drop me the occasional cmail and they have a photo on their profile I attach one of myself to my reply. I agree - the screensaver thing is kinda creepy.

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Post #: 10

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:35:42 PM

VaguelyCurious

Posts: 5264
Joined: 12/2/2009
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: NihilusZero

Guys have celebrity women as their screensavers all over the place. It would seem more a compliment, to me...unless you sincerely thought they would turn their voyeurism into something actually potentially dangerous, which seems a bit of a leap in logic.

Celebrity women pose for professional pictures in exchange for a fee and on the understanding that the pictures are going to be reproduced; there is an element of consent there-something I felt I had been denied.

I didn't think he was going to come banging on my door with a hatchet or anything, but it did make me feel exceedingly uncomfortable.

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Post #: 11

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:44:55 PM

NihilusZero

Posts: 4036
Joined: 9/10/2008
From: Nashville, TN
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious

Celebrity women pose for professional pictures in exchange for a fee and on the understanding that the pictures are going to be reproduced; there is an element of consent there-something I felt I had been denied.

Legally, the moment you place a picture up on the internet for public perusal, you are 'publishing' it.

I realize that many people still play on the net under the impression that they should have some way to keep what they put up selectively private, but it doesn't work that way (unless you've taken a mess-load of steps that don't completely guarantee safety anyway).

It's a double-edged sword, yes...but there's no more reason to be paranoid about it because of the fear that some unlikely whacko will come to your house with a chainsaw than there is to be that you will be in a 13-vehicle fatal accident when you enter your car.

quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious

I didn't think he was going to come banging on my door with a hatchet or anything, but it did make me feel exceedingly uncomfortable.

It's just the way most people treat imagery of themselves before they are familiar with how it works and what the implications are for being able to have it online.

< Message edited by NihilusZero -- 1/12/2010 3:45:51 PM >

_____________________________

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I know they're all insane
I know it's all in vain
I know that I'm to blame."
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Post #: 12

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 3:58:14 PM

VaguelyCurious

Posts: 5264
Joined: 12/2/2009
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: NihilusZero

Legally, the moment you place a picture up on the internet for public perusal, you are 'publishing' it.

quote:

It's just the way most people treat imagery of themselves before they are familiar with how it works and what the implications are for being able to have it online.

I realised that, and I came to a decision that I was unhappy with the consequences of having the photo online, so I removed it.

I'm not suffering from any hysterical paranoia-I decided that the advantages (more people viewing my profile) were outweighed by the disadvantages (more creepy people viewing my profile).

The overall number of responses to my profile declined, but I don't think there was a noticeable decline in the number of responses from people I actually wanted to reply to, so I never got round to finding/taking another photo that I felt more comfortable putting in the public domain.

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Post #: 13

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 4:29:39 PM

weaselwelder

Posts: 72
Joined: 6/22/2009
Status: offline

Ripped from my journal:

quote:

there are people on here that know people I have/will work for and don't know how to keep their mouths shut. I'm not willing to lose a job because I'm kinky in this economy. Therefore, a head shot is out. Crotch shots are out for purely aesthetic reasons, mainly my lack of desire to look at my own crotch every time I log in. So here are my options:

A shot with my face blurred out. I kind of feel that this sends a "date me for my body" message though.

A picture of some semi-intricate knot work. I'd do this one on a neutral backdrop, with no well, body parts in the shot.

An old comic sketch of someone that looks somewhat like me.

A Futurama still. You know, giving it a "hit from the spice weasel."

I ended up with the pic I did because it really says the most about me.

(in reply to VaguelyCurious)

Post #: 14

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 4:30:15 PM

lizi

Posts: 4673
Joined: 2/1/2009
Status: offline

Generally people look at pictures. If searching for a partner is a goal of yours then you are limiting the people who will find you by not posting a picture. If this doesn't bother you then do what you like. I've never posted a picture, I can't really afford to do that and I never got around to taking one that was an artfully imprecise representation of myself. I could afford to be somewhat lax on the not posting because I'm in a group (sub women) that is a smaller population percentage here on CM and I was satisfiied with the amount of traffic/mail I received without having the picture up.
When I was looking I'd send a picture when it was requested if I was interested in the email sender or if I made first contact I included it in my own email.

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Post #: 15

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 6:11:43 PM

littlewonder

Posts: 15659
Status: offline

I had a pic when I was searching for someone. I no longer do unless you count a generic commercial graphic. I'm not here to search for anyone or anything so I don't have a pic. I don't see a need to have one.

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Post #: 16

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 6:14:36 PM

Jeffff

Posts: 12600
Joined: 7/7/2007
Status: offline

I like to think my pic separates the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. If you can look at this pic and not at least smile, chances are, you aren't my type.

Jeff

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Post #: 17

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 6:26:54 PM

WinsomeDefiance

Posts: 6719
Joined: 8/7/2007
Status: offline

It never turned me off, it simply didn't do anything for me. Nothing to catch my attention.
If you are going to use a profile, to its best marketing advantage, utilize all the tools available to you.
The only time I've paid attention to a profile with no picture, was when the person caught my attention here on this side, by their posts.

More isn't always better either.
I saw one profile, where there was a casual picture of a guy, and all he had in his profile was how he was new to the area and looking to make friends.
I wrote him, invited him over for coffee. He came over a couple days later, and we've been friends since. Great guy, fun top and good sex.
PS - I'm moving away, and he's still looking so if anyone in the Detroit area wants to meet a great guy, I can hook you up!

(in reply to littlewonder)

Post #: 18

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 6:36:25 PM

RedMagic1

Posts: 6470
Joined: 5/10/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious
I did used to have a picture on an old account here, until a Dom I had never spoken to wrote to me to tell me that he had made it his screensaver.

Does it make me unbearably perverted if I admit that I, for the first time, have a burning desire to know what you look like?

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Post #: 19

RE: Profile pics - 1/12/2010 6:54:58 PM

sweetsub1957

Posts: 2201
Joined: 4/28/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious
Does a profile without a picture put other people off? What might other people's reasons be for not having a pic?

Profiles without pictures don't bother me at all as, to me, personality and compatibility are more important. Eventually, though, I would like to know what the person looks like. I briefly thought about not having a picture, but I decided I'd rather Someone know in the beginning what I look like. That way they, and I, will know right off whether or not they like my appearance.

quote:

ORIGINAL: peppermint
I removed my picture a year or so ago. I noticed a certain man was checking out my profile every other day for a couple months.

Yeah, that's happened to me before too. I left my pics up though. I don't have any pictures there that could possibly be that fantastically titillating, though, so if someone thinks so.....well, more power to them. lol

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Post #: 20

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