Monday 15 June 2009

Face up to it!

This was just a random thing I thought of while pondering what else to write and it triggered a memory of something that's bugged me for a while.

I don't get alot of online attention (thankfully ... though slightly disappointingly at the same time) but I do get the odd one or two who simply don't have a picture or it's something completely obscure.

Here's the deal: there is absolutely no chance at all for me to take anyone really seriously if they don't have the courage to have a real picture. I don't believe I'm particularly brave but now I at least and being honest enough to show me as me.

It bugs me when I get friends requests or other messages from anonymous users on Facebook with no real picture. Showing myself as me takes an awful lot of effort, the least anyone else could do is be equally honest when trying to contact me.

Rant over.

[ Update: Having re-read this I don't think it's entirely clear that I'm talking about Facebook here and specifically Facebook users who solicit attention yet don't provide an honest picture of themselves ]

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I take your opinion on board, Fee, but there could be good reasons why someone doesn't put their image on Facebook, etc. After all, that's what I do, so that I remain as discreet as possible on line. D

Fiona Bianchi said...

Yes, I agree, there can be good reasons to remain photographically anonymous but it's when the users concerned have anything but discreet motives that it becomes a little hypocritical.

Calie said...

I don't post my picture on my blog. Perhaps I have deep psychological reasons for that. Perhaps it is fear that someone might recognize my male side through that picture, since I have a somewhat visible career. Fewer than 5 people have ever seen me en femme.

I am the real deal. I know what I am. Anyone who reads what I write should know that. I guess that is what counts to me.

Is a picture required to validate my existence to you, Fiona? If so, I will email one.

Please do not consider this a harsh comment. I try never to let myself get fired up. I'm just trying to explain my side.

Fiona Bianchi said...

Calie, sorry for that this blog entry was not entirely clear (added an update to hopefully make it so). My ire was directed at Facebook users specifically and in particular the ones asking for attention.

How people present themselves on completely public blogs is up to them and I can certainly understand anonymity and do not require anyone's existence to be validated by a picture.

Comments made here stand on their own merits, there is no requirement of gender, sexuality, race, religion, or any other criteria.

Facebook is different though and I think approaching someone on there is like meeting them in real life and similar rules apply - people don't general hide their faces.