It makes it so much better.

Why don't more people put up a photo of themselves? It makes it so much easier to recognise people who you have played.  I play with so many people on this site but it is the ones that display a photo of themselves who I remember and have the best games with.

I estimated that only 6% of you have photos. 

Please consider this and put your photos up.

JACQUELINE

Well, I guess it's an anonymity thing. It seems that so much of your personal information is in a public domain these days, it can feel more comfortable hiding personal details, including photos. That being said, I know what you mean, it is nice to see pictures of people, and some of my friends on chess.com have photo albums. I guess there isn’t really a risk, it might be something I consider.

P.S: I notice you’re a Londoner. Do you play at a chess club? I’m trying to find a nice one around where I live, which there doesn’t seem to be.

I dont play in any chess clubs but would like to.  If you find one let me know as i get fed up playing on the computer sometimes.

I agree to a certain extent. I like to see some sort of image but it doesn't have to be a photo (no, that's not me in my profile picture!).

Here is me.

I have friends on here who use avatars of all sorts.

One uses Alfred E Neuman from MAD magazine (does that still exist?). If he changes to a photo I wont recognise him : )

Little known fact: I am the ghost of T.S. Eliot.

well, my pic is real Jacqueline, an' the most recent - 'bout 5 months back - I doesn't got the beard an 'tache any more, but the mane is still intact it not a very flatterin' photo, but me is never very impressed when me catches sight of meself in mirror anyways

also took me bloody ages to work out how to load the bloody thing in the first place!

Yes Mr Surrey England, images are better than nothing.  It makes it feel more real.

My chess partner went to India then my other mate got a girlfriend and is with his girl all the time. My boyfriend has only played me 4 times in 4 years and i had to beg and plead 4 them games. I have not played face to face with anyone for 3 months.

A photo and a little banter helps.

Smilative it is not important what you look like i would like to play with you.  If you fancy a 10 min game in live add me.

Coincidence! So did mine. That's why I joined chess.com - so we could keep playing.

Same as why i joined.

If I posted my picture you would turn to stone.

some are just self-concious about their looks,plain and simple!

was partner a Goa ?

I also agree to a certain extent. I have a pic of me and my family in my profile... and a simple sailing vessel for my avatar.

:)

I would, but my image is pasted in too many public urinals to make it feasible.

Cerebral If it is because people are self-conscious about their looks, what do they do in when they go out in the real world?  You could be right about a small percent of the members. I don not think it is  as plain and simple as you suggest. 

Sigmoid i have already turned to stone. 

Is  your photo from Star Trek The Next Generation? Forget the guy's name - I think he was an android.