To think how shallow is this?

[Mandy2003]

Don't flame me but in a bored moment I signed up with a well-known online dating thingummy. Yesterday & today been playing "viewed your profile" ping-pong with someone fairly local. I finally cracked and responded.

I explained I have a phobia of having my picture taken (basically to get in first and refuse before he asked!), the phobia bit is true.

Got a reply saying I was setting myself up for emotional hurt if I corresponded with someone (him), got on well then met up and they (he) did not like the look of me!!!!! 3 times in 2 emails he asked for a photo and when I still said "No" I heard no more.

Well excuse me Mr Hissy Bollocks so you're so great looking are you!?

Anyone with experience of these sites, is this common behaviour?

If a profile with no pic says something like "a little extra weight" and in the blurb it says something about not believing on "judging people based on physical attributes - it's what inside that counts" or "I believe people are beautiful on the inside" then most people will move on. People will come up will all sorts of excuses to avoid having a pic on their profile, but it's 2011 and there really is no excuse. Add a pic.

I agree with Fabby

I wouldn't date someone I'd never clapped eyes on

For all he know you could be butt-ugly

I presume he's looking for a girlfriend not just a friend?

Now this is shallow: www.beautifulpeople.com/

The dating site ONLY for beautiful people (as voted for by other people on the site).

OP, I'm sure you're absolutely gorgeous in real life. I completely have the same issue with photos of me- it's a bit of a running joke in the family. I'll always be the one with a squint or a double chin. Ho hum. Agree with what somebody else said. Get a group of friends round, some wine and then make it their mission to take some good photos of you. I utterley fail to believe that you can't be as gorgeous as you are in real life in at least one of those photos.

P.s. I'm going to PM you some info that I think you might be interested in.

I agree with Fabby. I wouldn't go on a date with someone I'd never clapped eyes on.

For all he knows you could be butt ugly.

I presume he's looking for a girlfriend and not just a friend. The majority of people want a girlfriend/boyfriend that they do actually fancy

double post sorry, network slow

Supplementary: When I was on dating sites I had several pics. Some flattering and some that were frighteningly warts and all. My thinking was that it was better for the other person to make their decision whether to make contact based on those pics plus my written profile rather than an exaggerated or inflated version of me. In the end I met a great person in real life... it's only been a few months but so far so good. The interesting thing is that she runs the local post office agency and delivers parcels, so she's seen me at my worst when she's made deliveries, but still took the chance on a fat ugly old bugger who could hold a conversation, in her words "was interesting" and could make her smile. In fact when we finally did go on a date she was pleasantly surprised at how nicely I'd scrubbed up!