Masks
Here’s an appropriate topic for Halloween…
I’ve been cruising through a few bodyspace profiles while resting this afternoon, and noticed that there seem to be a lot more guys who are choosing to cover their faces in their profile pics with either a mask or a "blur." Now I’m not criticizing - in fact I’m friends with a couple of these folks - but I’m wondering about the motivation of doing this. It seems to me that if you want to remain anonymous you just don’t post a profile picture. I presume part of this is because they do want some legitimate feedback on their physiques - but how can anyone be sure it’s them without a face? Is the concern about not showing their face because they are afraid of what people they know will say when and if they find them on Bodyspace? It’s obvious to me that in most of these cases it’s already obvious that these guys (and some gals) workout.
Oddly enough, it’s actually some of the folks with the best bodies who hide their faces. Apparently those of us in the, er, heavier weight classes, have already come to grips with our body images. Though I’ll admit it took quite a bit before I posted my first picture too!
So, I don’t really know what I’m saying here except maybe to urge our hidden brethren to come out of the bodybuilding closet (so to speak) and proudly show your face with those biceps! There’s nothing to be ashamed of…though I’m not going so far as to say you should post your last names or addresses. It’s still the internet you know (darn identity theives)!
October 31, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I can think of reasons not to. Posting pictures of yourself online sort of seems like an ego thing to me. It’s trying to show people how hot you are. Or it’s glorifying your body. All things that I can see some people looking at the wrong way. Or not liking. Personally, although I have pictures posted on here, I don’t want a potential boss to have seen these pictures of me, and have them in their head, while I’m being interviewed. Could be as well that some of the guys with awesome physiques have concerns about putting their pictures online (conflict of interest if they model?) and so just want to avoid any possible hassle. I don’t know
October 31, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I’ve debated back and forth on this actually.
I hide my face because I don’t want anyone I work with, or go to church with, or whatever, to come across them and feel uncomfortable or make me feel uncomfortable because they’ve seen pictures of me in my skivvies…
November 1, 2009 at 6:25 am
When I first started out on the site as a 270 pound fat guy, I was too embarrassed to show my face. In addition to that I was also working as a scientist in homeland security and it was strongly suggested to me not to show my face and even to delete my account on the site. That was not going to happen. As I lost the weight, I got more confidence. I even got a better job! with no restrictions on posting pics of my face!
The funny thing is that I have a few bb.com friends on the site who live in my area and they never post their face in their pics. It is an odd situation that they know what I look like but I dont know what they look like. I always wonder if Id run onto any of them when Im at a store or something because they know who I am but I dont know who they are.
I guess people have their own reasons for not posting their face pics, but it is a strange paradox.
Great post dave!