Theres me. Not much to look at but honest

I don't have to see someone's real face in order to interact on a message board with them

Obviously I am one without a picture. I come onto this site to read stimulating comments about atheism. I do not want to date anyone and my appearance is no one elses business. I don't see why this should be a concern to anyone.

No one is forcing you to interact with anybody, last I checked......

People may have valid reasons for not posting their own picture. You are free to interact with people here on your own terms.

I have no problem with it...I do wish people would use some sort of picture or pet, though...seeing just the silhouettte or A box is confusing when so many use it...

I see the picture, I don't care what it is, and I recognize the person without seeing the name..

I do tend to respond more to those I recognize by these symbols...

Well that's simple, if you don't wish to interact with a defined group - don't !

Besides, there's absolutely no way for you to know if a photo of a person is the person who posted the photo ... unless you meet face-to-face.

Posting a pic really means nothing. I have encountered several people on here recently (or maybe one person with several accounts) using the model Jhovana Kelly's picture, and including several other pictures of her they downloaded from her website. Over the years I have learned not to put too much faith in anything I see on the interweb.

I wouldn't mind being able to shut the pics off entirely. I don't want to judge or be judged on apperances.

As for avatars, you can learn a lot more about someone by what they choose as a visual representation of themselves than you can from a headshot of them.

A headshot or such, is useless when navigating the site or having conversations in the forums. I prefer pix with an easy to identify graphic and bright colors. If I want to know more about the person I'll look at their profile. There's room for multiple pix, personal info, real name if desired. Something for everyone.

I also think its better when you don't assume anything about people , and just go with the idea that the picture, age, and sex is possibly fake..
This way everyone is equal, and less chance of getting catfished..
Then, after you decided you like their personality, and you find out they are good looking (to you) and have a nice voice,
Life is even sweeter!

If they are here for dating, i totally get your point, but if its community only .. then i don't think it matters much..

Demand a real pic and those who mask themselves for sinister purposes () will just use pics they find online.

I have mentioned this in the past....I do find it a bit strange and ever so slightly sinister. I suppose it’s your prerogative not to respond to their posts just as much as it’s theirs to stay anonymous.

I am here for the community so I don't care if people put their photos or icons, I recognize them by their face or symbol just the same and that's enough for me. I know some people put photos that are not them, probably someone nicer. The choice of icon or famous face also tells you about the person.
Some people are afraid to be recognized by friends or coworkers, but if anybody does it will be another agnostic, so there's no reason. I use my photo and I don't care...

With no picture, what are they hiding?

Using a mask or avatar can convey a certain spirit or ideology and its fine when postings are respectful. But in some cases the person is plain nasty. Hiding behind a mask provides them with an outlet to post negative comments & cheap shots that they would never dare if their actual face were behind the post. That's where showing your real face is important. It forces you to think about what you post; shows you have integrity; that you stand behind your words; it helps you to grow. Those that can't or won't are fearful vs fearless; they're cowards. So if you would hesitate to post something with your real face then don't post it. NoPlanetB. [consciouscompanymedia.com]

There are lots of reasons why people don’t like to use a photo. You don’t have to interact with anyone you don’t want to.

I guess there might be legitimate reasons why some folks, especially women, might prefer to keep their identity hidden -- fear of stalkers, embarrassment about being on a dating site, straying from their partners, and so on. Even so, my assumption is that they probably believe they're unattractive, at least with respect to potential dating possibilities. I'd just say, at this point you may as well put it out there and take your chances.

I’ve interacted with people who choose not to post a photo here and on other sites, and had some dates and made friends in the process. How they present in their bios, posts and comments says far more about them than 2-D images. To imply that people who don’t post photos are afraid ignores the many reasons why they may choose not to. Let them be themselves and don’t engage them if it bothers you. My 2 cents worth...

I only have a problem with those who are also here to meet someone for dating. That makes absolutely no sense on any level.

Can understand people who must keep their identity secret because of possible reprisals from evangelical Christians

Unless they're here to date, I don't have a problem with it. But for people who are here for community, some feel they need to be discreet because they live with or among people where they need to keep their agnosticism/atheism under wraps and they don't want anyone they know to find them on this site. And I'd assume those who are here to date who still do that would disclose more as they knew someone better.

I agree.

Im not sure how agnostic would enforce that?