Avatar Question - Why Not You?

[BlestMama]

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This is kind of a silly question, but I'm genuinely curious about why almost no one uses their own picture for their avatar? On the triathlete forum that I frequent, it's common to use your own and then I come here and almost no one does. I was just wondering...

 

[NuttyEngDude]

people enjoy their anonymity, and maybe i will once i lose another 10 pounds...

btw, nice avatar 😀

 

[0919mmk]

Yup - you don't really want to be identified on SDN. The applications process is competitive enough as it is without an admissions person saying in your interview "Well on SDN you said that school Y is your top choice, but you just told me that you want to come here to school X. Explain." haha

 

[BlestMama]

If an interviewer recognizes me from my avatar that means I have made a poor choice in interview attire. I'm pretty sure tri suits and head bands are frowned upon.

 

[mauberley]

people enjoy their anonymity

This.

In my experience, tying anything of one's Internet persona to one's real-life is a recent trend. So, to me, anyone using their real name or picture is the weird one. 🙂

 

[n3xa]

Because nyan cat is way more awesome

 

[curt656]

I'm too fat and ugly to put my pic on here.

 

[QofQuimica]

This is kind of a silly question, but I'm genuinely curious about why almost no one uses their own picture for their avatar? On the triathlete forum that I frequent, it's common to use your own and then I come here and almost no one does. I was just wondering...

For the same reason that I don't post my name, address, and credit card information: this is a public forum, and while 99.9% of the people who register and post are above-board, there are a few who aren't quite as chummy as I might like, and there are also literally thousands of lurkers visiting this site every day whom we know nothing about.

I also would like to point out that if you're a regular poster, then you are *not* anonymous to those who know you (and/or read your app), and you should not assume that you are.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I assume that many people know my first name. That's about it... beyond that, they would have to meet me in person and try to remember where I've said I'm from... 😉