Hey Everyone,
I was just curious about this, because I've seen it happen time and time again: what do you think of using pictures in avatars, profiles, and albums... that are of someone who isn't really you (but is extremely good-looking), and quietly allowing people to believe that picture is actually of you?
I have to be honest. I'm certainly no online expert, but I've been on and off the online dating site/chat circuit for maybe 8 years, and in all that time, I've never once heard of a user who represented themselves with a photo that looked like a model... and was actually that person in the picture.
While I've never been a mod, and I'm usually the last to know what's going on, people do often talk to me about their lives. And what I'd find happening is that (unsurprisingly), the most popular people were the ones with the most beautiful photos. Everyone was trying to talk to them, whether the person in the picture claimed to be taken or not.
Eventually, someone would try to meet one of these beautiful people in real life... and word would get out that these beautiful pictures... were just that--a flat picture with a mystery person behind it... who was in love not with the people they met, but with all the attention these pictures were getting.
What do you think?
* If people use beautiful photos of beautiful people who could very easily be mistaken for them, should they put some kind of notice in their profile that says, "This is not actually me"?
* Does everyone have a right to choose whatever photos they wish, allowing others to believe that picture is really them?
* What about using pictures that really ARE you... but, let's say, from 10 years (and 50 pounds) ago? What should the guidelines be regarding honest online representation of oneself?
* If you're in a relationship (or claim to be in a relationship), is it ok to use someone else's picture then, because you're technically "not looking" anyway?
Now I know there are some exceptions. One user here in Singles used a photo of an actor for his avatar, but this actor is known for a specific genre of work. Someone who obviously didn't know who this actor was mistakenly thought it was an actual picture of this member, and I doubt this member meant to deceive anyone with that picture.
However, I made a post in another thread that I've gotten to a point where I don't trust pictures in which the person looks like a model. In my experience, they'll usually say something to the effect that they have a friend/relative/cousin's uncle's stepfather who is a photographer... and can make anyone look like model. Sure... and I have an oil well in Texas I'd love to have you invest in.
Maybe I'm just turning into a hardcore cynic.
Or maybe I'm just more than a little sad to hear about yet another deceit via a beautiful online picture--that represented someone else.
I would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences!
P.S. Once again, I'm sorry for the typos in the title. I actually changed it three times and obviously didn't delete everything from the last edit.
It just wouldn't be an SS post without an entire list of errors.
I was just curious about this, because I've seen it happen time and time again: what do you think of using pictures in avatars, profiles, and albums... that are of someone who isn't really you (but is extremely good-looking), and quietly allowing people to believe that picture is actually of you?
I have to be honest. I'm certainly no online expert, but I've been on and off the online dating site/chat circuit for maybe 8 years, and in all that time, I've never once heard of a user who represented themselves with a photo that looked like a model... and was actually that person in the picture.
While I've never been a mod, and I'm usually the last to know what's going on, people do often talk to me about their lives. And what I'd find happening is that (unsurprisingly), the most popular people were the ones with the most beautiful photos. Everyone was trying to talk to them, whether the person in the picture claimed to be taken or not.
Eventually, someone would try to meet one of these beautiful people in real life... and word would get out that these beautiful pictures... were just that--a flat picture with a mystery person behind it... who was in love not with the people they met, but with all the attention these pictures were getting.
What do you think?
* If people use beautiful photos of beautiful people who could very easily be mistaken for them, should they put some kind of notice in their profile that says, "This is not actually me"?
* Does everyone have a right to choose whatever photos they wish, allowing others to believe that picture is really them?
* What about using pictures that really ARE you... but, let's say, from 10 years (and 50 pounds) ago? What should the guidelines be regarding honest online representation of oneself?
* If you're in a relationship (or claim to be in a relationship), is it ok to use someone else's picture then, because you're technically "not looking" anyway?
Now I know there are some exceptions. One user here in Singles used a photo of an actor for his avatar, but this actor is known for a specific genre of work. Someone who obviously didn't know who this actor was mistakenly thought it was an actual picture of this member, and I doubt this member meant to deceive anyone with that picture.
However, I made a post in another thread that I've gotten to a point where I don't trust pictures in which the person looks like a model. In my experience, they'll usually say something to the effect that they have a friend/relative/cousin's uncle's stepfather who is a photographer... and can make anyone look like model. Sure... and I have an oil well in Texas I'd love to have you invest in.
Maybe I'm just turning into a hardcore cynic.
Or maybe I'm just more than a little sad to hear about yet another deceit via a beautiful online picture--that represented someone else.
I would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences!
P.S. Once again, I'm sorry for the typos in the title. I actually changed it three times and obviously didn't delete everything from the last edit.
It just wouldn't be an SS post without an entire list of errors.
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