Forum Settings
Forums
New
May 30, 2021 4:21 PM
#1

Offline
Aug 2018
2417
Many boys and men use a female figure as their profile picture on various forums, and also tend to select female characters in MMORPGs and other games. Very rarely does the reverse happen where a girl or woman will choose a male figure. From observation over the years, this is especially pervasive among the anime community.

So MALers, if you (currently) identify as male, why do you use an anime girl avatar for your profile picture? Not here to judge, just genuinely curious.

The poll is meant for males only but if you're female and you use a male avatar, you're welcome to add your reason in the comments.
Pages (2) [1] 2 »
May 30, 2021 4:30 PM
#2

Offline
Jan 2017
1863
Because I like the character. I also try to represent as many of my favorite characters a possible.
May 30, 2021 4:32 PM
#3

Offline
Feb 2020
7290
Just simply because their my favourite characters. But at times I deeply regret using them because I still currently use Junko Enoshima & Rin Tokikaze as my PSN Avatars and got mistaken for female so many times. Some were really creepy also. I'm also currently using Junko as my Goodreads & MyWaifuList avatar also.
May 30, 2021 4:53 PM
#4

Offline
Jan 2019
572
Frankly, I think anime girls are cute so the more I can look at them the better right? So I simply pick one that’s cute and make it my profile pic so I’ll get to see her more often. Basic logic.

Ironically my profile pic is a dude currently (Rimuru)! :)
May 30, 2021 4:54 PM
#5

Offline
Jun 2011
7031
I'm more confused as to why a guy would use an anime boy as their profile pic. That's pretty gay tbh.
May 30, 2021 4:56 PM
#6
Offline
Dec 2018
1467
I sometimes do it because anime girls, for the most part, are cute.
I like dub more than sub because I am not a weeb.
May 30, 2021 5:04 PM
#7

Offline
Mar 2008
50145
Because most likable characters are girls so both guys and girls will use them more. I have seen girls use males before though and plenty of guys use males too. I have had both male and female forum sets over the years. In the past I used males then switched to females. Often it's just an expression of a character they like and want to look at whenever they post or sometimes it's from relating to the character or just liking their design alone.

Better question why do you use the Reddit mascot character as your avatar on MAL?
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣸⠋⠀⠀⠀⡄⠀⠀⡔⠀⢀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⡘⡰⠁⠘⡀⠀⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⣀⠀⠀⡇⠀⡜⠈⠁⠀⢸⡈⢇⠀⠀⢣⠑⠢⢄⣇⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢰⡟⡀⠀⡇⡜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡇⠈⢆⢰⠁⠀⠀⠀⠘⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠤⢄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡼⠀⣧⠀⢿⢠⣤⣤⣬⣥⠀⠁⠀⠀⠛⢀⡒⠀⠀⠀⠘⡆⡆⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢵⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡰⠀⢠⠃⠱⣼⡀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠳⠶⠶⠆⡸⢀⡀⣀⢰⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣀⣀⣀⠄⠀⠉⠁⠀⠀⢠⠃⢀⠎⠀⠀⣼⠋⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠴⠢⢄⡔⣕⡍⠣⣱⢸⠀⠀⢷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⡰⠃⢀⠎⠀⠀⡜⡨⢢⡀⠀⠀⠀⠐⣄⠀⠀⣠⠀⠀⠀⠐⢛⠽⠗⠁⠀⠁⠊⠀⡜⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⢀⠔⣁⡴⠃⠀⡠⡪⠊⣠⣾⣟⣷⡦⠤⣀⡈⠁⠉⢀⣀⡠⢔⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡤⡗⢀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⢀⣠⠴⢑⡨⠊⡀⠤⠚⢉⣴⣾⣿⡿⣾⣿⡇⠀⠹⣻⠛⠉⠉⢀⠠⠺⠀⠀⡀⢄⣴⣾⣧⣞⠀⡜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠐⠒⣉⠠⠄⡂⠅⠊⠁⠀⠀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⢠⣷⣮⡍⡠⠔⢉⡇⡠⠋⠁⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀
May 30, 2021 5:13 PM
#8

Offline
Jul 2017
901
>Because anime girls are cute.

I think it is pretty well understood in the anime community that we don't use profile pictures to represent ourselves. We use them to put in pictures that we like to look at. So, in a sense, the pfp still does represent us. It's just that it represents what we like, rather than what we are.
May 30, 2021 5:21 PM
#9
ああああああああ

Offline
Apr 2013
5723
We can't all have soulless corporate mascots as our avatars.

But to actually answer the question, I choose my avatars based on whatever strikes my interest at the time. Usually, an image of a character that I like.

This ground is soiled by those before me and their lies. I dare not look up for on me I feel their eyes
May 30, 2021 5:28 PM
Offline
Jul 2018
562456
I choose my profile pictures based on if i like the character or not, gender is irrelevant. Also limiting yourself to only using profile pictures that happen to be the same gender as you is pretty dumb
May 30, 2021 5:50 PM

Offline
May 2021
1046
I use a guy, 'cause he is hot and I'm into guys. Guess the same goes for those, who use girls. I don't think this topic was meant for me, despite being male lol
May 30, 2021 5:55 PM

Offline
Nov 2020
1489
I like power. I think power is a great character. Power is my favourite character from Chainsaw Man. I want to show that I like power so I put power as my Pfp. Also Power is cute.
I hope this pretty much explains it.
If there's a hole there's a goal-Master Oogway
May 30, 2021 5:59 PM

Offline
Jul 2016
1469
anime girls are cute, many men wanna hit let them be
May 30, 2021 5:59 PM

Offline
Dec 2016
2747
They want to be women but they are too afraid to commit
한 번만 살지만 제대로 하면 한 번이면 충분해요
May 30, 2021 6:00 PM

Offline
Sep 2018
11704
If I had to be honest
1. Anime girls are cute
2. 2d>3d
3. Represents the hobby you like so people know what to expect from you.
4. Attention (getting more responses is preferable) You also stick out more among non weebs.
I think being born female is life on easy mode, but you have to play the cards your dealt irl.
In life irl and online people are treated according to their appearance.
May 30, 2021 6:01 PM
🦆👑

Offline
Jan 2020
66666
They like the character, catfishing, it looks cool, it represents them well, etc.



May 30, 2021 6:02 PM

Offline
Dec 2020
64
why do men watch porn with women? same answer
May 30, 2021 6:05 PM

Offline
Nov 2016
2007
I just put characters I like, sometimes I'll put guys too but I tend to prefer female characters more in general.
May 30, 2021 6:58 PM

Offline
Jan 2009
102042
times change they treat profile pictures and forum avatars as their wall posters instead of self-insert representation of their ideal self

but personally a lot of times since im old boomer i still self-insert my idealize self but ye not always
May 30, 2021 7:02 PM

Offline
Feb 2021
1339
maybe because they just want comfort from women, or maybe they reject reality and society while liking "waifus" and stuff making it their own Profile Picture / Forum Picture (just my opinion though)
May 30, 2021 7:11 PM

Offline
Nov 2007
959
i tend to relate to female characters in anime more because i don't identify with many of the common male character tropes (macho/chuuni/edgelord/immature aloof knucklehead/etc). i am a sensitive emotional guy so i like a sensitive emotional character who is permitted to be vulnerable without being treated like they're a failure and/or they just need to sack up.
May 30, 2021 7:22 PM
Kii_Ibarra

Offline
Dec 2020
2445
I assume the reason is usually either
1. They like the character
2. They think the picture looks nice
3. Both of the above

But what do I know since I'm neither male nor female and my profile picture isn't a preexisting character, lol
My greatest contribution to this website:
May 30, 2021 8:55 PM

Offline
Nov 2020
345
i only recently started using them. im not even attracted 2 them. i just like the character. i usually use hot anime guys as my profile pics.
May 30, 2021 9:15 PM
May 30, 2021 9:34 PM

Offline
Jan 2021
5855
Why not?
Just like females have anime boys as their profile.
May 30, 2021 9:39 PM

Offline
Jun 2008
11427
my understanding is they like to look at it and since they're the one visiting their own profile the most, i guess its understandable.

i only have guys as my profile pic since i like it to be someone that can represent a part of me. but i havent changed it in years and i no longer care what it is
May 30, 2021 9:41 PM

Offline
Apr 2020
1205
Yes - Because I want to be a girl (your vote)

btw guys please don't take this as a sign of gender dysphoria please please please-


beep boop bop pow
May 30, 2021 9:43 PM

Offline
Nov 2019
752
snooze- said:
Yes - Because I want to be a girl (your vote)

btw guys please don't take this as a sign of gender dysphoria please please please-
gender dysphoria huh. I'll be sure to spread the word
May 30, 2021 9:45 PM

Offline
Apr 2020
1205
ExcaliburAO said:
snooze- said:
Yes - Because I want to be a girl (your vote)

btw guys please don't take this as a sign of gender dysphoria please please please-
gender dysphoria huh. I'll be sure to spread the word

NOOOO PLEASE DONT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH


beep boop bop pow
May 30, 2021 9:47 PM

Online
May 2021
3585
anime girls are cute, if you use an anime guy as a pfp you are saying "Im gay or i see myself on this character", so if you are hetero and use an anime guy as pfp you are cringe



May 30, 2021 9:47 PM

Offline
Nov 2019
752
snooze- said:
ExcaliburAO said:
gender dysphoria huh. I'll be sure to spread the word

NOOOO PLEASE DONT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH
Too late. Already tagged everyone on discord
May 30, 2021 9:51 PM

Offline
Dec 2020
501
Gween_Gween said:
anime girls are cute, if you use an anime guy as a pfp you are saying "Im gay or i see myself on this character", so if you are hetero and use an anime guy as pfp you are cringe

Ooooh my pfp is my favorite character therefore I must be gay
"no one really laughs on the internet, they just go 'hM' and type '𝕃𝕄𝔸𝕆𝔸𝕆𝕄𝔸𝕆𝔸'."

I'm Level 69 on Mal Badges. View My Badges.


May 30, 2021 10:11 PM

Online
May 2021
3585
MilkShakeT said:
Gween_Gween said:
anime girls are cute, if you use an anime guy as a pfp you are saying "Im gay or i see myself on this character", so if you are hetero and use an anime guy as pfp you are cringe

Ooooh my pfp is my favorite character therefore I must be gay

Nope, you are cringe, didnt you read my whole comment



May 30, 2021 10:31 PM

Offline
Feb 2016
557
I'm a simple person so its either I like the character or the art.
May 30, 2021 10:33 PM
Offline
Dec 2017
27751
They can do whatever i don't really care at all.

May 30, 2021 10:39 PM
Offline
Jul 2018
562456
Gween_Gween said:
anime girls are cute, if you use an anime guy as a pfp you are saying "Im gay or i see myself on this character", so if you are hetero and use an anime guy as pfp you are cringe


Can confirm. I'm cringe, and so is the character in my pfp.
May 30, 2021 10:41 PM

Offline
Mar 2021
797
JoyBoy_316 said:
I just put characters I like.


Same. One day I will change when / if I get bored of it, and it may be another female character, but its just as likely that it will be a male character too.

Opticflash said:
Many boys and men use a female figure as their profile picture on various forums, and also tend to select female characters in MMORPGs and other games.


I find it funny that you mention this way really, because it goes against the narrative in western media that men hate women. Gaming journalists especially think we hate playing as women in video games. MMO's clearly prove this argument to be 100% false.

I prefer games that allow us to create our own character, I usually end up playing the game as a male and female character if the option is available.
May 30, 2021 10:41 PM
No.1 Rias Lover

Offline
Feb 2021
353
Be yourself and don't care what others think
May 30, 2021 11:12 PM
Offline
Jan 2020
283
Isn't it because they like anime, like girls, but hate themselves?
May 31, 2021 12:01 AM

Offline
May 2013
13269
You ever heard of a Fujoshi? Women use are fucking so in love with yaoi boys.
I CELEBRATE myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
May 31, 2021 2:44 AM

Offline
Mar 2020
1053
Probably for the same reason some girls use anime boys as theirs, they find the character cute

May 31, 2021 4:42 AM
Offline
Aug 2020
140
To follow the most valuable tradition
May 31, 2021 7:55 AM

Offline
Sep 2019
3425
They’re just identifying as who they truly feel like on the inside...a big titty cute anime girl.
May 31, 2021 7:59 AM

Offline
Dec 2020
3855
girls are great, why wouldn't they?
May 31, 2021 8:03 AM

Offline
Sep 2015
253
It's a fictional character so it doesn't matter.

I could have an anime animal as my pic and that would be fine as well.
May 31, 2021 8:32 AM

Offline
Jan 2019
2448
Both liking the character and the aesthetic of the image, but also, I generally choose pictures which makes me feel represented, at least partially, in terms of personality, interests, worldview or simply mood, regardless of gender or nature. When it's a character, they're most likely among my favorites for the same reasons.

As for games, I just pick females to look at a pretty 2D girls, no big mystery.
May 31, 2021 9:41 AM

Offline
Mar 2016
3677
Maybe it's since the waifu is cute or a fine women/girl.


just wanna feel wanted by someone other than the police 😫
May 31, 2021 9:49 AM
Offline
Jul 2020
2841
They love to display fictional women that offers them frequent arousals. What's wrong with them sharing de wimmen??

May 31, 2021 10:05 AM
Offline
Jul 2018
562456
It is somewhat creepy but whatever. I hate anime females they're written like shit.
May 31, 2021 10:28 AM

Offline
Dec 2012
16152
Sheklon said:
Both liking the character and the aesthetic of the image, but also, I generally choose pictures which makes me feel represented, at least partially, in terms of personality, interests, worldview or simply mood, regardless of gender or nature. When it's a character, they're most likely among my favorites for the same reasons.

As for games, I just pick females to look at a pretty 2D girls, no big mystery.
Yeah, I relate a great deal to Hinata Kuraue (my profile pic) and just wanted to pick something comfy for her. I don't need to be a teenage girl or think of her as my "waifu" to connect to her character. I just mix & match and it's not my fault if someone gets the wrong idea without ever interacting with me.
Pages (2) [1] 2 »

More topics from this board

» Do you work out at the gym?

DesuMaiden - 1 hour ago

9 by LenRea »»
4 minutes ago

» Do you have enemies/friends here?

thewiru - 1 hour ago

6 by MissHeed »»
5 minutes ago

» casual discussion brain drain

Commit_Crime - 6 hours ago

14 by traed »»
36 minutes ago

» Would you date twins?

VelvetThorns - 3 hours ago

14 by LoveYourSmile »»
36 minutes ago

» How often do you platonically cuddle and kiss?

vasipi4946 - Yesterday

18 by Kisaragi_Toka »»
44 minutes ago
It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login