Pictures on Profiles

[Tony Karrer]

I find that I really like to see a face alongside a profile. It gives me a little feel for the person. And, by not putting one up, it somewhat indicates less participation. For quite a while, I used to not add my own picture - and a big part was that I didn't have one.

I fixed that five years ago ... but I still use the same picture. Partly just because it makes me happy (I'm on vacation in the picture).

If you are lagging on having a picture available - take the time to find one, crop it to your head, save as a .jpg, and be ready to add it to any system that offers you the opportunity.

Just a suggestion ...

Oh, and I've always liked how Nancy White uses different pictures including one that must be her college graduation picture.

[Harold Jarche]

Make sure you look at Dave Ferguson's picture (he's kinda cute).

[Mark Frank]

I agree that pictures are a good idea. I always find it hard to decide which one to use. My picture makes a statement about me. And like any statement at best it can only capture certain aspects of my personality and at worst it can be misleading. When I worked for IBM I really wanted to counter the formal corporate image that used to go with IBM - so I used informal photographs that were taken when I was not aware I was being photographed. I guess I still stick to this principle.

[Dave Ferguson]

I used to have very mixed feelings about a picture... if you went through my photo albums, you'd figure I either didn't belong to the family, or else never let go of the camera.

I have two head shots that I like -- meaning, I wish I looked all the time like I think I do in them -- but one is from 2000. So, as a kind of conversation starter, I tend to use... my parents.

[Rheinard Korf]

I include "headshot" pictures into courses that I design - even if it is just a face next to a screen cast or above or next to a little flash audio player. Not all teachers that I design instructional layouts for appreciate this approach, but once they see themselves next to useful content they get more at ease.

[David Miller]

I also did not have a headshot and often use a snapshot of my beaver avatar from Second Life (in my head it makes sense; being French Canadian and the whole lumberjack and beaver trade history part). Now that I have "a" headshot, I look all grumpy and serious, certainly not the way I am in real life (jovial and loud come to mind).

[Aisha Jill Morgan]

I agree with you that even a little face makes an important connection with the audience. I've come to a point that if 'they' don't want to do business with me because I wear a scarf, then posting my picture was a good thing. You might imagine I was reluctant to use a picture for a long time. Now I hope it's part of my niche marketing.

Rheinard Korf said:

...once they see themselves next to useful content they get more at ease.

[David Miller]

I agree completely with Aisha. It is hard for me to believe that people judge each other on such trivial matters as what you wear or your name. But then, I tend to be naive in these matters and am also continually appalled at gender biases in education and the workplace. Perhaps one day we will become as "modern" and "civilized" as we claim to be (gets off soapbox and returns to being a beaver in Second Life).

[Dave Ferguson]

Aisha, of course people will make judgments. You can't stop it if you tried -- we've got hundreds of thousands of years invested in getting the brain to form patterns, which are a kind of decision or judgment about the stimuli that impinge on us.

You're right about the scarf, though -- you wouldn't be especially comfortable working with people who are put off by it, and I'm guessing you wouldn't go chasing after them to change their minds.

I remember a print ad for Winston cigarettes: a burly biker, arms folded, glaring out at you. "Judge me all you want," said the headline. "Just keep the verdict to yourself."

In this forum, I'm using my mother's picture -- and from a time when she was far younger than I am now. Partly it's playfulness, partly it's an invitation, partly it's an excuse for starting a conversation. And if someone can't cope with a guy named Dave using the photo of a female nurse in the Royal Canadian Navy... I'm way too last to help them overcome that.

[Aisha Jill Morgan]

I can see the human form morphing into beaver and waddling off the soap box
David Miller said:

(gets off soapbox and returns to being a beaver in Second Life).

[Aisha Jill Morgan]

Dave Ferguson said:

In this forum, I'm using my mother's picture -- and from a time when she was far younger than I am now. .

I don't get the problem I see occasionally in letters to the editor in the local paper that someone thinks the pictures in the obits or wedding anniversaries should not be from the peoples' youth. Who cares? It's still the person...or in your case the person's mother...close enough!

[Rudy]

Aisha,

How are you citing other posts? i have been using Ning for ever, and have seen anyone do that.

Aisha Jill Morgan said:

Dave Ferguson said:

In this forum, I'm using my mother's picture -- and from a time when she was far younger than I am now. .

I don't get the problem I see occasionally in letters to the editor in the local paper that someone thinks the pictures in the obits or wedding anniversaries should not be from the peoples' youth. Who cares? It's still the person...or in your case the person's mother...close enough!

[David Miller]

You are quite correct, I am more comfortable being a beaver in Second Life. As such I have no gender, am often overlooked (which is fine since I love to get lost in building), and I generally don't pay much attention to the appearance of others. I guess that adage "don't judge a beaver by it's pelt" holds water (a French Canadian interpretation?).

I have glanced at gender studies regarding virtual worlds but am not versed enough to say anything definitive (perhaps definitions are not as important in-world). Appearance should have little, if anything, to do with our journeys in life and that is why we see such wonderful collaborations occurring from web 2.0 networking. The content, ideas, and passion have a chance to outshine prejudices and biases.

Aisha Jill Morgan said:

I can see the human form morphing into beaver and waddling off the soap box
David Miller said:

(gets off soapbox and returns to being a beaver in Second Life).