No Picture?!?

conkle23

I have a question for you all.

I know you have added or seen that one or two or three people that might have like 4 or 5 pictures but none of them is of themselves, and if this is you please let me know.

This is a site where we do not judge people, and where we can come here for advice and support and new validation if we cannot get it through our family or friends.

Is there a certain reason you do not have a picture of yourself, are you ashamed of yourself or is it cause you just do not want people to see who you are, or you just do not care. I am really interested in knowing. This post is not to offend anyone, it is just my curiosity has gotten the best of me

yopeeps025

IDK man. I would say insecurity, low self esteem, and low self confidence. Of course that is not every user without a pic.

T

malibu927

If someone wishes to be completely anonymous online, including not showing a picture, that's their decision. Many may have a history of something going wrong with revealing too much information. Just a name and location can do damage.

conkle23

I understand and that is why you can keep your profile private even after accepting a friend request. But I would think that if you diary is open, and everything on your profile is open. I guess I am more open minded person, and I have learned at young age that no matter what someone says to me, it only matters what I think about myself.

Hornsby

As with anything, I am sure there are a variety of reasons. Luckily, the majority of the members on here who actually know what they are talking about have legit pictures.

rhyolite_

I want to remain anonymous on this site since I talk about personal information relating to an eating disorder. I've recommended this site and these boards to family and friends and I've seen them on here, and I don't want them to stumble across something I've posted and know that much about me. If it was something I wanted everyone in my life to know about, I'd post my thoughts on Facebook. That's just me, though.

conkle23

I guess thats true! and it might sound intrusive but I guess I am just different as some others

rhyolite_

conkle23 wrote: »

I guess thats true! and it might sound intrusive but I guess I am just different as some others

It's not intrusive, I don't think. When I first created this account, my profile picture was a progress pic that I was very proud of (from a healthy calorie deficit, not the ED). Once some family members and a couple of friends started using the app and I saw some of their posts, I decided to make it completely anonymous. I can't get use out of this site if I can't be completely open about my issues, and I can't do that if I'm afraid that my coworker down the hall is going to start talking about how I used to withhold insulin to lose weight.

Furbuster

I too have no picture for anonymity. Likewise my Facebook profile is not my real name but my friends know it's me. I am quite insular, like solitude and prefer it that way. I value my privacy greatly in all ways of life.

If someone asked me yes I would show them a pic if it was necessary but I'd be curious to know why they wanted to see it

conkle23

And I guess for me I love to see a true picture of someone cause it nice to see people struggling and surpassing what they thought they could never do. But I understand what you guys are saying that does makes sense. I never really thought it like that @rhyolite_

rhyolite_

conkle23 wrote: »

And I guess for me I love to see a true picture of someone cause it nice to see people struggling and surpassing what they thought they could never do. But I understand what you guys are saying that does makes sense. I never really thought it like that @rhyolite_

I agree with that! Seeing real pictures and real progress is very inspiring and motivational. I'm just glad not everyone here feels the need to remain anonymous as I do.

jaga13

I don't have a picture up because it's a public forum, even if profiles can be private. If I post something in the forum, I don't necessarily want someone I know at work to realize it's me. It's not low confidence. I'm protecting my privacy.

conkle23

HAHA Privacy ... I wish I had some of that!

WellingTX

Curious as to how your statement of "This is a site where we do not judge people, and where we can come here for advice and support and new validation if we cannot get it through our family or friends" fits in.

By conjecturing their reasons as not caring or being ashamed, that in itself could be interpreted as judgmental.

A member's reasons for not posting a picture, sharing their diary, not participating in message boards or any other option are just that, their reasons.

If we do not judge people on this site we should accept their choices and as you say, provide support, advice and validation.

conkle23

Yes but as you can see in my original post this was for my curiosity and I just wanted to know. If no one wanted to answer that is fair enough and would have been satisfied with that answer. And I know that is their reasons and if they want to keep those reasons to themselves then I respect and thats awesome! but for those who are open and do no mind I am happy they could share that with me. I am not telling anyone how to use MFP nor would I ever. And any negativity that people want to post on behalf of this post I could careless to honestly hear. As I stated this was not to offend anyone.

zyxst

My avatar is sexier than I am.

CurlyCockney

Probably the same reason you're not using your real name.

ETA: That was my response to the OP, not other comments - bad timing LOL!

conkle23

I am using my real name

CurlyCockney

Your real name is concle23? I sit corrected ;-)

conkle23

Lol First of all it's Conkle! and yes that is my real last name

wolfsbayne

Sometimes, the pic is me and sometimes it's of a pic that strikes my fancy, like this current smiley barbell face.

conkle23

Thats actually a pretty awesome picture haha. Which thats the other things, I have seen some pretty cool pictures that arent of people! which is totally cool! but in all reality nobody cares about my opinion, they will do as they want! and GO THEM!

jaga13

conkle23 wrote: »

And I guess for me I love to see a true picture of someone cause it nice to see people struggling and surpassing what they thought they could never do. But I understand what you guys are saying that does makes sense. I never really thought it like that @rhyolite_

I understand that, but I'm not here for you, I'm here for me Also, you may need to remind yourself that a good number of pictures online are completely fake any way!

sabrinacrandall

I purposely picked a picture that didn't really show my size...(but did show my awesome shark helmet cover ) I guess I just didn't want to be judged for being skinny-fat . And yet, having been here a little while now, I would be comfortable with a different picture more indicative of my current weight-loss state.

hlnebel

<< But, this is what I look like!

MostlyWater

I prefer a succession of fitness memes. it's more interesting that way.

sabrinacrandall

conkle23 wrote: »

Thats actually a pretty awesome picture haha. Which thats the other things, I have seen some pretty cool pictures that arent of people! which is totally cool! but in all reality nobody cares about my opinion, they will do as they want! and GO THEM!

Agreed! I love the one that says In Soviet Russia, the dead lift you. Hahaha. Kudos to that person. c:

ejb06070

I had an image up, but my husband asked me to take it down for more anonymity. I respect his wishes and so I removed it. I take online classes and have no picture there, despite having been sort of a "poster child" for the school as a student leader, a first gen college student, a future pediatrician, transferring to a sister school in the spring, graduating with more than the minimal credit requirements, and utilizing an opportunity I had to go to NASA for NCAS (NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program). If someone is curious as to what I look like, when they turn to me to be the doctor for their children, they'll find out.

gizmom19

I just really don't care that much. But people bring up a lot of valid reasons. I also don't have a lot of pictures of myself easily accessible to use. That is probably a self esteem issue as I hate pictures of myself generally.

Furbuster

@conkle23 You didn't offend me - it's a valid question and didn't come across as assuming or judgemental at all (unlike the other posters).

conkle23

I am here to hopefully further along people and amke them feel more comfortable! but hey! not everyone is going to like me! I mean look at me, I look like scoundrel a face a mother could never love