Re: Tacky: The Worst That Pop Culture Has to Offer

[rynling]

Meanwhile.

I've been trying to do better about being a part of my real-life community this semester, so I've been more engaged in attending talks and lectures on Zoom and in person. For whatever reason, the university mailing lists I'm subscribed to insist on using photographs of speakers for promotional purposes instead of, like, their most recent book covers. And this is a mistake, because nothing says "professional academic" more than a photo of someone with bad skin wearing a cheap sweater that doesn't fit.

Academics could stand to level up their selfie game, is all I'm saying.

Comments

[runicmagitek]

> And this is a mistake, because nothing says "professional academic" more than a photo of someone with bad skin wearing a cheap sweater that doesn't fit.

YIKES 😰

For most of last year and into this year, my "work photo" that appeared in the directory was an edit of the goose from Untitled Goose Game wearing sunglasses. So every email, Teams call, all of the things where I was included? Just that damn goose and some deal with it shades.

No one said anything until late-spring this year when I was asked to remove it. It was fun to cause problems on purpose while it lasted.

[rynling]

HOORAY FOR CREATING PROBLEMS ON PURPOSE.

I personally think the expectation that you have to use your actual face as your avatar is silly. I get why doctors and lawyers have professionally photographed headshots, but I think the rest of us should be exempt from this foolishness. Knowing that you were able to get away with resisting this for more than a year fills me with determination.