Why do chess players hide behind avatars and false profiles?

Men act like women on the internet for 2 main reasons(mostly).  one is because they wanna be women, and that kinda stuff.

But, many men do it(competitively)because it 'lowers' other men's defenses(the opponent), and is more likely to distract them and throw them off their game.  Men don't just do this in chess, this technique is used in mostly all competitive activities, where an avatar is required.

I don't see much potential in the OP. So, yes, not only possible, but probable.

Well then good luck to Ellie in her quest to find a chess boyfriend.

There is a pickle, though. Some hypothetical if you don't mind. I see her Rating in correspondence is 1070, so...that would suggest to everyone that she is a begginner. What in the case, that she finds someone to her liking, and her ideal match is a 2200 rated? And what in the case he was one of those types that wouldn't play anyone 1900 or below?

How will that work out between them?

Tracking off

I have a wonderful relation thank you so not looking!  I wonder what a psychologist would make of the avatars, maybe they could give some insight into what is behind the choice of any particular avatar.  Now that's an interesting thought.  Any psychologists handy to add their wisdon to this subject?

I know I hide behind my avatar... I'm really not a guy named karl who used manic panic in his hair on Halloween to make it blue and match a character off of an anime I watch in my profile pick. Wait a minute.. I am in the wrong here. My name is karl and my alias is radmcbad ...I have hobbies, and my education, well, I have that too! I use an alias sometimes in first person shooters.. I ranked number 1 in the world for a little bit for quake like games as ima_brick until I couldn't afford the internet. The only reason to use an alias is.. ITS FUN. Did you know that my alias radmcbad takes up exactly 8 spaces.. so when you place first in arcade games.. they only have 8 characters ....and you type radmcbad and it works perfect :) only eight.. otherwise they have three.. and then when you are in first place you type in rad.. I love video games and I love aliases and I love chess .. my alias is rad :)

Well, let's start with me. Girl with hair. I already stated that I like pink. So it is in the realm of possibility that any given individual will choose their avatar based on what they like. There is no rule that you MUST use your real name and MUST use a real photo of yourself. You just so happened to do that, because you chose to. And Kleeof is a lion that chews on animal bones, so he uses an avatar that he likes. Is there anything you would like to add to this that I missed?

I think he might be more interested in why someone would keep starting threads that appear to serve no real purpose other than to get attention from ones peers.

You're talking about A_L_I_E, aren't you?

Yeah. I think avatars probably tell you more about many users than any image and text in their profile could.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q52Wfgor2sg here is my ima_brick alias in action. I am not fake.. I play as me everytime.. sometimes I suck and other times.. I am better :)

First I play with Judd, then mommy came, and I play with mommy. We play daddy, we had a awful good time! Now, I want to play with you...

What would Freud make of avatars, that's the real question.  By substituting a real photo with an avatar are you actually avoiding recognition?  That's a cheeky question to ask,  I realize that, but is anyone game to front up to this suggested reason for hiding your true identity?

I really don't see the point in concerning myself with what somebody (who isn't directly affecting my life, or persuit of happiness) chooses, or their reasoning for it.  To be honest, I don't concern myself with anything about people I don't know.  Everybody has an opinion when it comes to other peoples' actions and intentions, and more often than not, the opinions provided are testamount to a persons lack of acceptance that they have zero control over the actions of others.

Why of course. This thread is A.K.A. troll bait. Just take a look at this example:

This is NOT facebook, just so you know...

You're absurd.

You may be right. She clearly mentioned that she's not looking for a chess boyfriend,

and then Prudentia brought along a very good point,

So with this evidence, I conclude that she has created troll bait. Otherwise, who cares?

It seems to be the current thing to attack me through my rating, which is small minded and below the belt?  Also I am starting a forum because I am genuinely interested in a subject, not to attract attention to myself, why would I need to.  You could say the same about anyone who starts a forum. Stick to the question asked and don't attack the forum writer, you show a marked lack of emotional maturity if you attack me as a person, sorry but it's a fact, that's the way it is.  

I think that may be an inaccurate assumption.

It is quite possible she is just looking for recognition.