Hot take: Users without a profile pick are mildlyinfuriating
For real. I can never understand why some of ye don't have a cool pfp. You could even get some cool background art on your profile as well. Really jazz it up, ya know. But I swear 90% instead opt for the default lemmy logo. How uncreative and boring. I can't even tell most of you people apart.
I don't feel that much for a site like this, but it sure bugs the fuck outta me when some dude on Grindr asks me for pics when they don't even have a profile pic. I have pics in mine already. If that's not enough, show me yours first.
I wouldn't go so far as to say it's mildly infuriating, but it does sadden me how few people take advantage of the bio section to tell everyone about themselves. But I am doubtful there are many others who even look at other people's profile other than to maybe scan their comments for a history of fuckery. I'm here for the users; most users are here for the content.
Edit: Oh, and as for standing out... Well. I'm sure you can figure out my thoughts on that.
For me it's people who have a profile pic of their kids on a messaging platform. The point of the pic is to make it easy to tell people apart in my conversation list and I'm not talking to their toddler, I'm talking to them.
Some of those apps let you set your own for people. I like that method. It would be cool for a social media site, too. Every clown you encounter gets the clown avatar! π€‘
That was one of the things I miss most about Boost. The ability to tag users was so nice both as a way to keep track of and remember nice facts about users I routinely interacted with in private subs, and to stop myself from bothering to argue with someone I've previously titled "depressing incel" or "autism vaccines."
Made reading what they said easier to bear, even, with the constant reminder that it's being typed by someone who drinks piss or whatever