After replacing your Avatar with a picture of yourself?

Question

Do you ever feel exposed? I'm pretty sure I'll be able to handle it, but initially, it's a little different seeing my face. Do you think anonymity is important to Yahoo Answers? Should I change back to my Avatar? In honesty though, regardless of your answers I'll probably ultimately do as I please, but I was wondering whether anyone else (who has their REAL picture instead of an Avatar) feels a bit...exposed

Note: I think I posted this in the wrong section earlier, and I didn't get the answers I wanted about how others felt, I got answers about how my picture looks, which quite frankly, I don't care about.

Tell me how you felt? Did you change back to your Avatar?

Answer 1

This is a really good question.



It's funny because I have only just stopped using my avatar, and I swear many others have done this at the same time. I got sick of  seeing myself as this  haunted-looking avatar, though I thought it was really cute at first. I go along with what Cliffy says, you feel more genuine in using a photo.



Although having said that, I have gone from using my full face showing a smile like your picture, to this rather faded cut image of myself. Although I am happy to be completely open within the Yahoo world, I feel nervous about being recognized by people in the outside world. I won't say real world, because this is a real world as well where we can learn from each other and be more open then with many people we know, and I kinda like keeping this Yahoo world private.



Even if you experiment with different photo images of yourself, you will never go back to your avatar! Go girl with that smile! ~

EDIT: Hey Cliffy, I recognise you. Saw you buying all that beer the other day. lol

Answer 2

I had a few different avatars, including various photos which I thought represented different aspects of myself.  Sometimes I would just rotate through them for fun.  I'm not sure why I decided to use an actual photo, but I find that it somehow keeps me more "honest" in my answers.  With my own picture going out there over my words, I try to be a little more careful with what I say.  I've never had anyone contact me and say, "hey, I know you" from my photo.  But, you never know...

Edit: Your photo seems pretty "revealing."  I purposely chose a photo that is a bit obscure.  If you really know me, you'll know it's me.  I don't think a casual acquaintance would necessarily recognize me.