I've been looking so long at these pictures of you that I almost believe that they're real

[venta]

When I started this journal and was casting about for an icon, the obvious choice seemed a picture of myself. This was partly because, although I didn't particularly want my journal to be easily findable, I did like the idea that anyone who stumbled across it, and knew me, could work out who I was. I also couldn't think of any other image I particularly identified with.

I don't know whether other people who use non-photo pictures as primary icons chose images that were important to them, images they like, or just images that happened to be lying around at the time, but to me a photo seemed like the obvious first-choice.

Of course, I then ran into a problem: I don't photo well. For years I thought I just suffered from the same problems as everyone (notably, thinking that photos of oneself are awful). A while back I discovered that actually, I suffer much more exactly from the same problem as everyone else (notably, thinking that most photos of me are awful). Typically, just to be awkward, the ones which other people think are reasonable I usually don't like.

The photo I use as my icon was taken by grahamb in the Elsinore around five years ago, and I quite like it. However, a lot of people don't seem to think much of it, and I've been wondering whether I should change it. I stick to just one icon, because I find it slightly confusing when other people switch icons mid-thread, and I like the idea of one easily identifiable picture to represent "me" on Livejournal. On the other hand, I do quite like some people's icons to represent different facets of themselves.

I'm not fond of LJ's icon mechanism whereby, if I changed my default item now, all past posts/comment would
begin displaying with my new default icon. If you don't know me, and recognise me only by the icon, would this confuse you ?

I think I've more or less decided what I'm going to do, icon-wise, but in the tradition of governments everywhere I shall hold a Consultation to make sure that you, the people, can be demonstrated to be thinking the right things.

[Poll #446361]


Proper review of the MC5 when I have the time.

Comments

[mejoff.livejournal.com]

Let me take some pictures of you, I need to practice

[venta.livejournal.com]

Er, do I get any say in this ?

[davefish.livejournal.com]

She'll look at you funny you know.

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

It does look sort of like you, but not _very_.

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

Oh, and by the way, do i get *points* for identifying Pictures of You by the Cure?

[venta.livejournal.com]

I don't give out points, per se, but you may have one kudo for it :)

[wimble.livejournal.com]

It does make you look like you've got short hair, but that's kind of unavoidable, given that your hair is behind you. It does blend into the background somewhat.

If you want a long hair photo, see my recommendation (courtesy of narenek

[triskellian]

See, the thing is, on closely examining the picture, it doesn't look like you. But I don't closely examine the picture: I glance at it and mentally tag it as your picture. I don't know how recognisable-as-you I'd find it if I didn't already know it was you, IYSWIM.

As for future icon use, I think your reasons for only using one, and that one a photo, are good. The fact that using only one icon is alien and incomprehensible to me is sort of beside the point ;-)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I feel I've come across as terribly rude for mainly ticking the 'I don't give a toss' options. But I did that because they were the closest you'd offered to 'I don't mind - it's your journal'.

I actually like the current photo of you, but then again having a couple of other photos of you which you could choose from time to time instead of the default would certainly ring the changes a bit.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Ah, you see, there's the clever part - people tick "I don't give a toss", and thus I can cheerfully claim voter apathy and do exactly what I was planning in the first place :)

I actually like the current photo

Thanks ;)

Possibilities...

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Re: Possibilities...

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

Definitely the one on the left.

Further possibilities

[venta.livejournal.com]

[venta.livejournal.com]

"ewx -- Other than seeing the icon, I don't know what you look like"

Is that because you've got a poor memory, or just that the photo is so bad you haven't matched it up to someone you've met ;)

(Definitely met you at least once at parties of davefish's.)

[ewx.livejournal.com]

Poor memory. Apologies l-)

[mr-flay.livejournal.com]

It's a nice photo, but as soon as you listed the criticisms I started to see them all. I certainly don't see why you should change your icon unless you want to, and if you want to then no-one else's opinion should stop you. As to multiple icons, I suddenly find myself reduced to three on account of my paid account expiring. I'm going to see if I find this stifles my creativity (quick hand-forehead collision), or if I simply don't give a rat's bum...

Potatoshopped beards are always good, though!

[shrydar.livejournal.com]

I've always thought it was an attractive, interesting and recognisable photo, although I can see the eyes thing if I'm really looking for it. It is a bit flash glarey, but I think that's outweighed by the necklace, pose and location :)

Oh, and good call on the music - my brother Jeremy got me that album for Christmas.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

When I get a chance I'll hunt out the pictures I have of you and send you a link.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Scared now - I didn't know you *had* any pictures of me :)

[voratus.livejournal.com]

I had to use the "I don't know what you look like" one, because even though I've seen you once in person, that was a few years ago, and I have no idea if you still look that way or not.
But it does look like how I remember you for the most part.

The only thing that confuses me about multiple icons sometimes is when different people randomly nab the same random icon.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Looking at most photos of me I think "Argh what is that thing stuck to my face and what has it done with my nose? Argh" but I don't seem to mind the one of the back of my head. This would also have hair-related advantages.

[erming.livejournal.com]

Well to be honest both times that I've met you I didn't recognise you from your photo.

Clearly you need to cut your hair into a bob and apply enough white powder to simulate lens flare.

Actually scrub that, you have lovely hair.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Dammit, I don't need white face powder to get that much glare - I certainly wasn't wearing any when the photo was taken. I'm just naturally, er, glarey.

Otherwise, thanks :)

[wimble.livejournal.com]

I'm not fond of LJ's icon mechanism whereby, if I changed my default item now, all past posts/comment would
begin displaying with my new default icon. If you don't know me, and recognise me only by the icon, would this confuse you ?

I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of man, woman, or assorted geek to write something that changes your historic posts from "default" icon to a specific one.

(So all your old posts on "default" icons become posts on "elsinore" icons, for example)