frustrated at viewing profiles with only an avatar?

I completely respect that some don't want to put up pics, and would never dream of saying some of the critical remarks I have heard from other members (usually in a mail) for not having one of myself up. At the end of the day, not many of us want neighbors, customers, or friends--even if they are here too!--to know we are here.

True, some question how authentic we without faces are, but people generally respond with as much trust as they are trustworthy. The most critical ones, in my experience, tend to be those who don't show or won't tell anything about themselves.

I can live without a picture of the person who's details I'm looking at but I really hate the one's who just show "I'll tell you later" in most of the columns of the personal details. If I'm looking at your profile I want to know about you and what you like as there is not much point in messaging someone who doesn't have the same interests as me.

I agree with William. I get sick of looking at profiles to be told ' I'll tell you later'. No. I want to read it now or I lose interest and can't be bothered to contact you x

I think there is a big difference between profile descriptions and pictures. Both matter, but I can understand why people don't want to put their picture on the front of their profile for all and sundry to see.

I took my profile picture down because there are a lot of members online and quite a few are not not genuine people. My avatar is pretty close to what I look like in real life and I have some private media for people who I have spoken to so once I feel comfortable i share those with friends or people who have messaged me. There are unfortunately too many fake idiots on sites like this who are only out to get pictures for their own use and the risk is not worth it in all honesty.

Like some people have already mentioned, I find it a bit silly as well when people write 'I'll tell you later' because later never comes.

Personally I do read people's profiles because it can tell you a bit already about the person. It gives a first indication of what they are like and what they are looking for. Actually reading profiles as opposed to just looking at a hot picture and getting in touch would avoid a lot of disappointment and frustration for a lot of people (especially single guys). People often complain that they have sent a message and didn't get a reply, but didn't read in the profile that maybe they weren't a right match. For example there is no point sending a message as a single guy to a female member if they clearly state: no single men, or looking for female or couples only.

Monsieut Bonaparte,or may I be so bold as to call you Napoleon. You may perhaps recall that during your ill-fated Russian campaign, that there were no photographers taking snaps of you,nor people pointing TV or video cameras in your general direction.
Nonetheless, the many works of art depicting your rather silly excursion to Moscow and subsequent defeats ( Artists, LeJeune, Raffet,Pryanishnikov ,to name but a few ) leave us in no doubt as to how utterly hacked off you were by the whole business.These,plus the various memoires tell us much more about you, than any photograph might. So may I respectfully suggest Mon Emperour, that you read more closely what people have to say about themselves and engage them in conversation. That way,you will discover much more.
Thank you and kind regards to Josephine ( Wellington asks to be remembered to you,also )

Freedom of choice! It is each and everones choice if they do or don't upload a face pic and place it for others to view, hell i think some are so brave in doing so, so more power to them for being brave!! I do have a pic but only share with people if or more so when we have built a certain amount of trust. But as others have said when this queston came up in past blogs that i read back on they feel that should anyone try to out them to their nearest & dearest, friends or in their working life then the person outing them would be in fact outing themselves as being on a site such as this, how else could they explain that they seen you on a sex site if they were not also a member, eh?

I agree with most of you especially it's a freedom of choice. Depends on your current personal circumstances. I have private pics but only share once trust is there. Its a catch 22 but I say do not judge a book by its cover "Avatar". Needless to say we are in a society whom are pinged with visual images be it magazines, online or advertising boards and unlikley to respond to an Avatar.

Doesn't bother me either way. I put a photo up of me having just woken up looking like a vagrant. I think it's always best to start from the bottom and work your way up. Others believe in putting their best foot forward at all times and that's understandable. I learn more about people from the blogs than I ever do from profiles. Show, don't tell... is the guideline I follow.