Why did some of you originally choose an Anime avatar?

[kathy bottoms]

Why use an anime avatar..?

The question is, why not use one? To show one's face to strangers on the Internet feels quite weird to me. And even weirder if I don't like my face. I see no reason whatsoever to do that. Not only would it have a chance of outing me to anyone at any time, but it would feel awful. I don't like to show my face to people in everyday life, but I have to. Why would I do that on the Internet if I can do otherwise? Do you make your game characters to be like you or how you would like to look?

I think that rather than needing a reason for not putting one's face up, someone should need a really special one to do put it up. Defaulting to posting a picture sounds backwards to me.

Well A, I understand completely, and I'm sure a whole lot of the other girls agree.   

But deep down it seems like part of me wants to be outed to everyone I haven't told.  So many years have gone by in this loneliness that it would be a whole lot easier that way.  Anyway, trying to explain myself to all those cousins and their kids would be a nightmare.  I'm free in my family now, and lacking that freedom with my extended family is killing me.  The fear and hurt has gone on way too long, and I can't hide anymore.  I'm tired of it.   

What I do in life from now on isn't going to be self destructive.  But a way to grow.

Kathy

[A]

Yeah, well, age might be a factor in that. At my age (and considering my rather limited social interactions) I don't have so many people I have to come out to. And once I'm out and full-time, I wouldn't want any more people knowing I'm trans. I admire activists and openly trans people in a sense, but to me, being just a girl is a more attractive idea.

Now, more complicated situations bring more complicated issues...

[Michelle G]

You would think that with me being an artist I would have an original sketch or so of myself,  but even though I don't like showing my face, I actually like and don't mind showing the rest of me in assorted avatar pics

[AusBelle]

I use an abstract picture, because basically, other then this very website, I'm stealth.  I transitioned years ago and feel no need to show myself or leave a trail on the internet outing myself.  Maybe I lose some credibility by doing that, but so be it.  Some here have seen photos of me but what they see is under my control and I'm comfortable with that.

But really, people in most forums, that I frequent anyway, do not use photos of themselves for their avatar. 

[kathy bottoms]

I use an abstract picture, because basically, other then this very website, I'm stealth.  I transitioned years ago and feel no need to show myself or leave a trail on the internet outing myself.  Maybe I lose some credibility by doing that, but so be it.  Some here have seen photos of me but what they see is under my control and I'm comfortable with that.

But really, people in most forums, that I frequent anyway, do not use photos of themselves for their avatar.

Protection under the Eye of Horus (Ra).  I like the symbolism.

If it wasn't for age and a large, religious, conservative, but fairly activist family I probably would have liked to go stealth in the future.  But that'll never work out sine I'd have to sever the ties to my loved ones.

Stay happy out there AusBelle.

K

[Paige H]

I fight with the avatar issue everytime I join an online community :S

I had an anime one once even though I don't watch anime myself. A one of an unarguable gorgeous blonde character, too, even though IRL I'm the opposite of that, except for the blonde part. I love Japanese culture, though, and she looks like what I want to look like, toned down to real life limitations of course.

I don't use my face because I have a legitimate(confirmed by every orthodontist and orthognatic surgeon I've seen) deformity, also I believe what one's face looks like has a lot to do with what people perceive them as, and sociological studies have always backed that up. I have to deal with that IRL, I don't want that to be a factor online. Not even in a forum as welcoming and friendly as this one, I don't want to risk it.

[Natkat]

Yeah, well, age might be a factor in that. At my age (and considering my rather limited social interactions) I don't have so many people I have to come out to. And once I'm out and full-time, I wouldn't want any more people knowing I'm trans. I admire activists and openly trans people in a sense, but to me, being just a girl is a more attractive idea.

Now, more complicated situations bring more complicated issues...

I dont think it's got anything to do with that,

I am pretty young and would say im an activist, yet I dont really show my face on susan unless its privat talk or something like that. I just dont find it nessesarry, I see the point in dating sites, or if your to meet up with people, I also see the point to show your face in ex the passing thread, but for regular talking I dont feel it nessesarry for people to see me or show them a pic of me, my look shouldnt matter.

[Jeepgirl90]

my first avatar I used was Melfina from Outlaw Star. It seemed to work for me as Melfina's back story was one I could related to in some ways as in her know knowing her purpose in the scheme of things.

[A]

I dont think it's got anything to do with that,

I am pretty young and would say im an activist, yet I dont really show my face on susan unless its privat talk or something like that. I just dont find it nessesarry, I see the point in dating sites, or if your to meet up with people, I also see the point to show your face in ex the passing thread, but for regular talking I dont feel it nessesarry for people to see me or show them a pic of me, my look shouldnt matter.

Uhm, maybe I didn't express myself properly, because from what I understand, you're pretty much saying the same as me..?

[Hikari]

My first avatar was Hikari from Strawberry Panic. I suppose i picked it because i related to the character but also there was something somewhat nondescript about an anime avatar that appealed to me.

I then moved onto pictures of myself first with my face shown to prove to myself i am not ashamed of myself then with face unseen just because i do prefer being a bit anonymous.