Hmmm. What does it say about, um, anything that I appear to be the only one here who uses pictures of herself (or her body parts, heh) as personal LJ icons? - especially when you consider that I don't use any of my RL identities ANYWHERE on the net? :-)
That's quite interesting! Actually I was reading something the other day about LJ icons and what they say about their owners. It reckoned that some people use pictures of body parts because they won't identify them as such, but they don't feel that they're misrepresenting themselves by having a picture of someone else stand for them. Is that why you picked yours, or just because it looks cool? :P A few people on my f-list actually do have icons with pictures of themselves, but just not as their default icon.
I'm aware, though I've not yet stressed unduly over it, that someone out there might recognise an "official me" from one of my photo icons, but you may have noticed that when I post public entries, I don't use any of those ones. The only reason I started using any at all was because I screwed my courage to the sticking-place and took some self-portrait phonepics, and then discovered that I am a swan, hee...so for the first time in my life, I'm not horrified at the thought of other people seeing what I look like (of course, several million people once were able to see what I looked like, but dude - when you're releasing on and touring for major labels and doing TotP and other telly, there's smeg-all that can be done about it).
The DANGER icons are from phonepics I took at the Melb Zoo, where they're building a massive new Great Apes enclosure. I think they look lovely, and the idea of "DANGER! LASER BEAMS!" in someplace as pastoral as a zoo does tickle me.
I have a deep distaste for almost all text-defacedenhanced icons, and an absolute hatred for almost all animated icons, but I don't mind using pics from films and telly series I love...still, I don't grok the whole "what reminds you of me?/which ones do you want me to use more often?" thing. I define people in terms of who they are and what they have to say, not in terms of their fandoms! OTOH those do serve a purpose: any time I come across someone I don't know** who's using HP-slash icons, I know I need look no further - I can simply consign whoever it is to the Do Not Engage pile :P :P :P
** Sadly, one of my dear local friends devotes an upsettingly huge part of her life to writing HP slash. I love her to bits otherwise, so we just don't discuss the subject, like, ever. Hee.
Heehee, I do like that laser beams one. And your self-portrait icons are lovely! I do enjoy icons, sometimes even *gasp* animated ones, but you're right, they're no substitute for actually getting to know someone.
p.s. Whoever made your page did it in some way that doesn't work properly when viewed under Linux. Any comments on your posts come out hidden behind the icon collection. Arrggh!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-30 11:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 08:49 am (UTC)Actually I was reading something the other day about LJ icons and what they say about their owners. It reckoned that some people use pictures of body parts because they won't identify them as such, but they don't feel that they're misrepresenting themselves by having a picture of someone else stand for them. Is that why you picked yours, or just because it looks cool? :P
A few people on my f-list actually do have icons with pictures of themselves, but just not as their default icon.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 09:06 am (UTC)I'm aware, though I've not yet stressed unduly over it, that someone out there might recognise an "official me" from one of my photo icons, but you may have noticed that when I post public entries, I don't use any of those ones. The only reason I started using any at all was because I screwed my courage to the sticking-place and took some self-portrait phonepics, and then discovered that I am a swan, hee...so for the first time in my life, I'm not horrified at the thought of other people seeing what I look like (of course, several million people once were able to see what I looked like, but dude - when you're releasing on and touring for major labels and doing TotP and other telly, there's smeg-all that can be done about it).
The DANGER icons are from phonepics I took at the Melb Zoo, where they're building a massive new Great Apes enclosure. I think they look lovely, and the idea of "DANGER! LASER BEAMS!" in someplace as pastoral as a zoo does tickle me.
I have a deep distaste for almost all text-
defacedenhanced icons, and an absolute hatred for almost all animated icons, but I don't mind using pics from films and telly series I love...still, I don't grok the whole "what reminds you of me?/which ones do you want me to use more often?" thing. I define people in terms of who they are and what they have to say, not in terms of their fandoms! OTOH those do serve a purpose: any time I come across someone I don't know** who's using HP-slash icons, I know I need look no further - I can simply consign whoever it is to the Do Not Engage pile :P :P :P** Sadly, one of my dear local friends devotes an upsettingly huge part of her life to writing HP slash. I love her to bits otherwise, so we just don't discuss the subject, like, ever. Hee.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 09:31 am (UTC)I do enjoy icons, sometimes even *gasp* animated ones, but you're right, they're no substitute for actually getting to know someone.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 09:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 09:26 am (UTC)Is it only on this particular post? Because the rest are fine for me.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 10:10 am (UTC)