I'm very grateful for some of the pictures you've shared, Nyx. You've warmed a few lonely nights, I don't mind admitting.
I suppose it boils down to this. Shitheads are out there. If you are not one of them, and not used to them, it can be hard to believe some of these things really happen. If you are used to them, it is like I said; "Goddammit, you fuckers, you *should* know better."
How to deal with them? They generally don't realize how shitty they're being, and they justify it. And let me be clear; some of the reasons aren't completely shitty ones. You're straight and you want to make sure you're actually dealing with a straight woman, and not a balding, middle-aged, basement dwelling creep? Okay, you know, I can understand that. And maybe they have a right to ask and aren't shitty to *ask* for a picture. But when that "ask" turns into "demand" things change. When they refuse to take no for an answer, they are being shitty. And when they start harassing you for it, they're being complete and total wastes of carbon.
And when they hold a double standard out - demanding but refusing to give back - they are scum. I don't post pictures, generally - I recently put one of my torso up, but I do not include my face because I have a job where it could come back to haunt me someday. And a woman is just as likely to have such a job. So if I'm going to RP but only want to RP with a "verified" woman - well, I'm gonna have to be very very very picky and only get ladies like Nyx, here, and that's just the price of doing business.
Honestly, my opinion/perspective on these matters is one that I consider fairly based on common sense. It's infuriating seeing so many people *not getting it* and it's like "you guys... you're fucking things up for the rest of us by being shitheads, stop it." Because then women have to be cautious about all guys, (see: #notallmen) because even if not all guys are that way, enough are that way and it has made many women feel concerned, cautious, hesitant, skeptical - however you think the appropriate terminology is for the situation.
Of course, there's a "notallwomen/yesallwomen" corollary to discuss if I'm being fair, but that's not what's at issue in this topic.
All of you, all of us, are right to be cautious. In general and online in particular, and on a board like this in specific. And the kind of shit you ladies have divulged here just proves/demonstrates it.