How to misrepresent yourself online Part I
If you suffer from insecurity, it can be hard to present yourself online in a positive and attractive light. There are a number of ways to resolve self esteem issues but in the meantime, if you will be posting a profile online, perhaps on a social networking site or a dating site, avoid the following, lest you be accused of misrepresenting yourself online.
PROFILE PHOTOS
Posting headshots only
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Sure, some people can’t get away with posting a headshot that doesn’t reveal that they have a wide face with a number of chins but some know that if they tilt their head just so while snapping a picture, said chins disappear. So they take a bunch of photos in this classic pose and the result can be shocking to someone who sees you without the head tilt.
Posting artist headshots
What is worse than only providing headshots in your profile picture? So called “artistic” headshots, that’s what! These are the shots that have been photoshopped to remove all facial blemishes, from crows feet to moles to forehead lines, leaving a person that looks somewhat unreal. Or, every picture is given a sepia or black and white tone, blurred a bit, with colour added only to specific parts of the picture. There is no need for you to provide a picture of how you would like your potential beloved to see you; let them see the real you and they can picture the artistic rendering of you they prefer, on their own.
Using old pictures
Some post a full body picture, displaying a fairly attractive body…45lbs ago! Now tell me: what is the point of this? Unless you have a miracle diet that will whisk 45lbs off your body when needed, why not post a current picture? Don’t post pictures of a physical representation of you that even your mother would have a hard time identifyng! If you’ve lost most of your hair, don’t display a picture of the last time you had a full head of hair-12 years ago!
Dressing your formal best
It’s nice to post a picture or two of you looking your absolute best. Perhaps you were a groomsman or bridesmaid in a wedding and you cleaned up really well. Share that picture. But also be sure to post pictures of you in jeans and a t-shirt, a picture of you doing something you enjoy doing, looking very natural. This is likely how you will be seen most of the time anyway should the relationship move offline, so give potential love/lust interests a good idea of who they will be meeting.
Posting someone else’s photo
This last one is an obvious “don’t”. If you are trying to meet people online, you need to post pictures of you. It’s the right thing to do.
September 12th, 2007 at 4:42 am
omg lol, this is my favorite post i think
ive read here. YA! make sure the pics are of you sparky!
September 13th, 2007 at 3:58 am
Posting someone else’s photo:
Haha, reminds me of something in the news here (NZ) a while ago. It was found on some US dating site, that someone was using the photo of one of the All Blacks (NZ rugby player). Don’t know how people HERE found it, but they did