@Skaggfacemutt
Yes, that’s what I was asking for, so good answer.
You know, here on Fluther I don’t use a picture of myself because I don’t really like any of my pictures. Or perhaps I’m afraid of someone judging me or misunderstanding me if I post one that I do like. I use one on Facebook, because miraculously I got one that I like, but it’s years old now.
I too am the one behind the camera, but the reality is I don’t truly want my picture taken. So all the issues of why one doesn’t have their picture as their avatar apply to me.
I have the pictures of my family around my desks, so I don’t need to use them as avatars to have them on my mind. I wouldn’t usurp my SO’s identity by using her picture. Especially without asking if SHE liked the picture. She’s much more than my other half; I guess I’d kind of feeling that I would be limiting us both to use her picture that way.
All this said, I don’t think that my inference is correct in all cases. I’m not really wedded to the idea at all. But it does occur to me when I see someone who uses another’s picture.