Selfies as avatars, revealing personal details

Is everyone good here now, lol.

Thankyou !

I get the message i changed it

''Sorry, me too.'' I am a bit stressed with all these assessments coming up. (Capability to Work/ESA - PiP - plus HFA Aspergers assessment as well.) I was a little surprised at the amount of anonymity displayed here on this site. (Bear in mind, I had just rebooted my twitter account, I have 3 Facebook accounts- one of them with nearly 1,400 'friends'- A few are Dead, A few are famous, the rest are something in-between.)                                                                                                                                           I was really lost when I first came here, just because of the pending Aspergers diagnosis. I decided to be very open with everyone, as I thought that might endear me to others. I shared my writing with you all, I even gave a handful of people both my mobile number and email address. I love to talk on the phone, mobile,Skype, fb messenger - You get the message. I have tried to engage where possible, as much as one man can. I have a couple of personal email addresses from members here. All in all it has been a nice experience for me.                                                                                                                                           Maybe you guys that have been here a long time, can take all newbies under your wing's. I don't know, I think it is so difficult because we all have differing needs and wants. So what I see as a pane, is to some other person a pain. We are trying to cater for a wide spectrum of needs, I don't think one size fits all, will work here. You guys will sort it all out soon, I am sure.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              PS. Hendrow is a very unusual name, if I was to hide it, I would have to edit my writing, I would lose too much. For me it would not be worth the investment of time required to hide. As it is, I like you guy's and I like it here.

ANYONE want to talk about writing, just let me know,

Thanks Guy's,

Hendrow.

Sorry, Hendrow my comment wasn't aimed at you but at two recent posters who have just signed up and used selfies as avatars.

I have changed mine too, and issued an apology, what more is needed? I haven't seen Sarah since either.  :C

Can the website warn people against using selfies and real names when they create their accounts? This is becoming more and more common.

Surely some words can be shown at the point when a new user has to make a username and select a picture?

Nice one Martian Tom, much appreciated.

Being that there are sociopaths who see their purpose in life as being to harm others, and their trigger for doing so is seeing firstly an individually identifying image, and secondly then anybody that appears to fit that image ~ it is rather risky for individuals and potentially dangerous for others not to use an Avatar image.

In terms of being risky or dangerous for others - this involves as already mentioned people who are alike in appearance, and also vulnerable people who prone to following the example of others.

There is the further risk, that when sociopaths find someone who has not used an Avatar image, or resembles someone who has not - that serious harm or death results, and representatives of the law, or seriously aggrieved family or friends become involved with the person who set the sociopath off ~ with hospital, courtroom, prison and funeral services being involved.

Please therefore use an Avatar image - for your own safety 'and' the safety of others.

Former Member

Hendrow

Sarah

I've changed it because I'd prefer not to confuse people.

Perhaps it is the size of the image but it really looks like a photo to me! I suspect that a newby might be just as confused as me.

Mine isn't a photo of me, but a cartoon.  I'm wary about giving too much personal information. I've been caught out before with that - getting unwanted emails, etc.  Not on here, but other sites I use.  I'd never want to use a place like this for dating or anything (not that I 'date' anyway).  There are other sites that cater for that - but I wouldn't use them, either, as people are too easily groomed and exploited.  This is a public forum.  It's not exactly Facebook - but there are still people out there who like to prey on the vulnerable.