On all dating sites, there always seem to be some people without pictures or blurred pictures/pictures with just sunglasses (effectively no picture). This kind of defeats the purpose of internet dating... don't you think?!

Has anyone been contacted by a pictureless/blurred picture person? Do you rule them out immediately? (I do, of course!) I wonder whether they just communicate with other people with no pictures... I've always found it baffling...Anyway, what are your thoughts/experiences? If you are one of those people, why do you do it? I'd be interested in hearing your views.

I always try to respond to all the massages that are sent to me, then again I get maybe 1 or 2 a week if I get any, so it's not hard to keep up with them.

hmmmm...just got one tonight that had no profile pic but sent me one in a message..did not take time to fill out his profile either

Way way back, when I first started on the internet I couldn't post a public picture to any profile. It was against my contract.
I had that blurb in my profile and I was more than happy to provide one and did many times.

So to me I don't care if they have one up or not.
Before I do a meet and greet I will have a video session and he had better look like the person I chatted with or I am out of there.



There is still a lot of careers up in Alaska that won't let you....

The fact that he has a picture but won't display it on his profile demonstrates that he's probably already in a relationship, and doesn't want to be recognized on here by an acquaintance.

that was my assumption also

Ohh.. I never look at their pictures.. I just read there profile...yup...lol

Hmmmm..no pic you say.
That means he can't see me right?
I am good with that.

IMO not really.
IMO I think internet dating would actually be more "successful" if no one was allowed pictures.

I mean look at the current apps which are a natural progression of internet dating websites; "swipe left for yes, swipe right for no, then once you've judged their picture we'll tell you more and see if they'll talk to you."

On the preapp dating websites and their forums what were some of the most common whines? "Why don't people read profiles? Is it really only the pics that matter? Why don't people get to know me? Women only want brad pitt! Men only want Barbie! Men's/Women's standards are too high! People keep viewing but not contacting, what's that mean?! Why all the hats? Why all the sunglasses? Why the duck face? Why use old pics? Why use a picture that isn't you? Why no full body pic?"

IMO online dating would have been far more "successful" (for the actual users that wanted to date, wanted a connection, wanted relationships, but not the owners) if there were no pictures.
At least unless there was a meet scheduled, if profiles included more important information, and email exchanges were far more intense like a game of chess where your responses were timed, and you had to answer poignant questions, there would be more "success."

Pictures online offer a false sense of security.
Being able to respond whenever you want allows too much self editing.
IOW there is absolutely nothing that reinforces being honest online, but a lot that incentivizes dishonesty and hiding behind a facade.

If you don't know what someone looks like, you still see them as a stranger, your guard is still somewhat up, you don't take certain things for granted.
If they have to answer questions within a certain time frame taking away the ability to self edit or really think too deeply, they are forced into being honest, with what comes more immediately to mind.

IMO that would give you a better idea if 1. if you "really" have compatible personalities, 2. if you would actually want to sit across from them for 10 minutes to see if you want to date them.

And that's ultimately the purpose of online dating.

If you were buying a house would you rely on the realtor curb appeal pictures and their manipulative descriptions? or would you prefer to rely on the appraisal and home inspection reports?
Online dating sites have simply promoted over reliance upon realtors to taking more pictures with higher definition and more imaginative descriptions than providing meaningful information.
IOW a false sense of reality manipulating you emotionally.

So, no, people without pictures doesn't defeat the purpose of dating sites.
Dating sites and dating apps, the models they use to run their business, has defeated the purpose of dating sites.
From the perspective of the owner of a dating site, you finding a date is not really important.
Getting you titillated and excited at a pretty face so you keep coming back to look at them, generating traffic, is more in line with their interests.
Building a false sense of security and hope in the site, and then having it dashed by someone else so you never lose your sense of security and hope in the site is more in line with their interests.


Nothing warrants the need for me to post a picture.

You make some very valid points, but the general expectation these days is to post a recent, non-blurred picture which actually shows your face as it is now. Given that this is SO easy in this day and age, NOT doing this is going be a red flag to anyone with an iota of emotional intelligence/ self preservation!

I just hope that you are only approaching the women WITHOUT pictures... to approach women with pictures would be highly hypocritical.

When someone hasn't got a profile piccie, generally no. I have done few times, because the message he sent was really good and captivating.
Otherwise, nope.

I may, if they have provided something juicy in their profile.

To be honest I don't bother most of the times,unless I get captivated by what's written on their profile.Otherwise,nope.

Hummm since I'm not looking sure it does not matter to me.... if they have something to say beyond hi, then yea I will answer them...

Now will it be anything beyond just chit chat then no...

Even tho you can not guarantee the pic is them since I only date local I want to see a picture first if it is anything past chit chat... Plus I always hit them up to meet within a few weeks. My choice of place always public...

No, unless I know them from the forums.

Hardly get a message anyway and rarely send one, again only usually to people from the forums.

What, people respond to messages on here?

New one on me is that

Absolutely not - if they can't take the time to post a picture then i figure they're not really serious. Got a message from someone who didn't list any info about himself no height etc. that really caught my interest. ( not1)

i dont care if he dont have profile pics...it depends on how he express himself and how he writes a message..
sometimes they have a good picture..but at the end u will know they are fake.