Why I Don't Have A Photo.

toutmonpossible
toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
in Introduce Yourself
I just received a message from someone who came off as unbalanced. Among other things, the person criticized me for not posting a photo. That message confirmed the wisdom of my decision to use the My Fitness Pal generic avatar, as well as my decision not to post too much identifying information about myself.

I've never been overweight and use MFP to monitor my weight maintenance. I have nothing to prove to anyone and, as I always suggest to everyone, I use my own judgment when it comes to diet and fitness.

My posts are always meant to be helpful, but it's abundantly clear that some people here are only interested in having their own opinions confirmed, even if they are on their 100th weight loss "journey."
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Replies

  • Yliy
    Yliy Posts: 10 Member
    Someone messaged a friend of mine asking if they were single! I didn't realize this was a dating site! lol
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Good for you!
  • BenchPressingCats
    BenchPressingCats Posts: 1,826 Member
    Someone messaged me and asked if I really bench press cats. Of course I do, my name doesn't lie!
  • MrAllia
    MrAllia Posts: 60 Member
    I can confirm that she does indeed bench-press cats, as I can confirm that I am a Mr.
  • 5ftnFun
    5ftnFun Posts: 948 Member
    <----I just think this kitty pic I found is way cuter than me. :happy: I don't know, I sometimes think about posting a real pic of myself. Maybe some day. As for you and everyone else, to each his own I say.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • 5ftnFun
    5ftnFun Posts: 948 Member
    Someone messaged a friend of mine asking if they were single! I didn't realize this was a dating site! lol

    I don't think it was intended to be, but I read a real sweet post recently about a couple who met here and married. :heart:
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    I didn't realize it was a big deal to some people *shrugs*
  • stacetherainbow
    stacetherainbow Posts: 131
    Hmmm. I should post more about things that irritate me
  • sznnn
    sznnn Posts: 46 Member
    I want everyone to know how Sirius I am about my weight loss journey.
  • cycleholic
    cycleholic Posts: 98 Member
    We disburse way too much information over the Internet. I don't fault you for not wanting to post a picture and wanting to keep a low profile.

    This. I removed my picture when I googled my MFP name and saw my smiling face. My page was locked tho...
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    My husband asked me not to post pics and I promised I wouldn't.

    I recently posted asking for advice and had a shirtless torso dude repeatedly ask me for a pic, even though there was no rational reason a pic was needed to answer my question. When I made it clear I was not posting one he started insulting me. It was rather creepy and made me glad I've never posted pics.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    I didn't realize it was a big deal to some people *shrugs*
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    Maybe they were asking out of a true concern for your health. If I see someone on my friend's list only netting 800 calories, I WILL ask them about it. If they get offended, oh well. Maybe you get offended because you know you either have an eating disorder, or are borderline in developing one...?
  • Ascolti_la_musica
    Ascolti_la_musica Posts: 676 Member
    I wouldn't trust posting much of anything on a website with a community as volatile as this one. People are quick to get personal with you, and will attack anything they can to make themselves feel superior.
  • Garlicmash
    Garlicmash Posts: 208
    No one has to put anything up about themselves if they don't want to and why some ppl think they have the right to see everything about you is very strange.
    I've seen posts from ppl saying they have had rude comments because their diaries aren't open and others telling them what they should and should not eat.

    Just remember there is a block setting on here to stop a person from trying to interact with you.
    It's plain nosiness really.
  • prdavies1949
    prdavies1949 Posts: 326 Member
    We disburse way too much information over the Internet. I don't fault you for not wanting to post a picture and wanting to keep a low profile.

    This. I removed my picture when I googled my MFP name and saw my smiling face. My page was locked tho...

    I just did the same and google not only came up with my MFP home page but the last 20 posts I have made on here. Make that 21 now. But then as an old man I'm not that bothered.
  • Jerrypeoples
    Jerrypeoples Posts: 1,541 Member
    i would have went with, I'm a vampire, we do not photograph!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Maybe they were asking out of a true concern for your health. If I see someone on my friend's list only netting 800 calories, I WILL ask them about it. If they get offended, oh well. Maybe you get offended because you know you either have an eating disorder, or are borderline in developing one...?

    How would a photo cofirm an eating disorder??
  • staceypunk
    staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
    I get why you wouldn't want to post a photo of yourself, but choose a picture of something that says a little bit about who you are, like a cat, or an equality sign, or a happy face , what ever. I am very visual and just enjoy the experience more that way. But of course, if you really just want the generic MFP dude, then so be it.
  • genofreek
    genofreek Posts: 75
    More power to the people who put up their own pics, but I'd rather be judged for having a comic character as my avatar than for my face or body. :P
  • BOOMaggedon
    BOOMaggedon Posts: 244 Member
    I guess I never really sat back and worried much about it. Maybe I will gain a stalker out of the deal and I will be on the ID channel and MFP will get some free pub. Who knows? One can dream right?
  • bokodasu
    bokodasu Posts: 629 Member
    I totally judge you for not posting a photo.

    Oh wait, no. I'm actually a little surprised that so many people here do, since it's not the norm pretty much anywhere else other than maybe Facebook. But I do use the visual as a cue for who's posting, so all the generic no-avatar ones are the same person in my world.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    Maybe they were asking out of a true concern for your health. If I see someone on my friend's list only netting 800 calories, I WILL ask them about it. If they get offended, oh well. Maybe you get offended because you know you either have an eating disorder, or are borderline in developing one...?

    How would a photo cofirm an eating disorder??

    I honestly don't think this started from some random person asking for a photo. If it did, she could have easily shrugged it off. My guess is she's defending the fact that she weighs 98 pounds and wants to lose "a few vanity pounds", plus she fasts and is on a low-cal diet. Is it any of our business? Not really. She can do what she wants with her body. Is it wrong of someone to express concern and ask about it? I don't think so either... She obviously posts on the social forums and puts herself out there.

    I'm not saying it is wrong to not have a picture. Several on my FL do not. I've never asked to see one. A few have their diaries closed- I HAVE asked them if they WANTED to open them. If not, oh well. I have had too many people on my FL go through 6 days of fasting, or only netting 200-800 calories per day. I am not going to say, "Oh, good job for being under your calorie goal" if I don't know HOW they stayed under. I don't think it's good to fast. I won't say anything unless it's longer than 2 or 3 days though... but I offend someone for asking them about their choices, oh well. I guess we shouldn't be friends, because that is just how I am.
  • nave002
    nave002 Posts: 211 Member
    Nice!!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    We disburse way too much information over the Internet. I don't fault you for not wanting to post a picture and wanting to keep a low profile.

    This. I removed my picture when I googled my MFP name and saw my smiling face. My page was locked tho...

    I just did the same and google not only came up with my MFP home page but the last 20 posts I have made on here. Make that 21 now. But then as an old man I'm not that bothered.

    After reading this, I had to Google my name to see if my posts came up, but since my username and real name are not the same it did not. A lot of pics of other women with my name came up though, and oddly enough they were all blonde. Most of them sounded much more interesting than me.
  • InnerConflict
    InnerConflict Posts: 1,592 Member
    Maybe they were asking out of a true concern for your health. If I see someone on my friend's list only netting 800 calories, I WILL ask them about it. If they get offended, oh well. Maybe you get offended because you know you either have an eating disorder, or are borderline in developing one...?

    Glad you choose to have a photo. Looking great in that bikini!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I honestly don't think this started from some random person asking for a photo. If it did, she could have easily shrugged it off. My guess is she's defending the fact that she weighs 98 pounds and wants to lose "a few vanity pounds", plus she fasts and is on a low-cal diet. Is it any of our business? Not really. She can do what she wants with her body. Is it wrong of someone to express concern and ask about it? I don't think so either... She obviously posts on the social forums and puts herself out there.

    I'm not saying it is wrong to not have a picture. Several on my FL do not. I've never asked to see one. A few have their diaries closed- I HAVE asked them if they WANTED to open them. If not, oh well. I have had too many people on my FL go through 6 days of fasting, or only netting 200-800 calories per day. I am not going to say, "Oh, good job for being under your calorie goal" if I don't know HOW they stayed under. I don't think it's good to fast. I won't say anything unless it's longer than 2 or 3 days though... but I offend someone for asking them about their choices, oh well. I guess we shouldn't be friends, because that is just how I am.

    You forgot to mention how she slammed people who use measurements besides scale weight to judge their progress.
  • AJinBirmingham
    AJinBirmingham Posts: 497
    I like the people I'm chatting to, even in passing on a weight loss web site, to have faces - it makes them seem more real.

    In line with that thought, my profile is open, all of my information on here is real and it's easy to find similarly open profiles of me on Facebook and Linked In. You can't have my bank details or SSN, but otherwise, I'm an open book, (available at the public library, read it or leave it.)

    However, I realize that people are different and the not everyone is as open about everything as I am. I'll certainly stop short of having a go at someone who isn't as comfortable wearing her whole life on her sleeve.
  • kimmie185
    kimmie185 Posts: 550 Member
    I can understand why someone wouldn't want to post their picture. Completely a personal preference and should be respected.

    I'm the opposite though and love pictures... can't help it. :wink:

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