Personals Anybody?

[catalina_francisco]

Miss Taken and I have been putting our heads together...yes, scary we know but so far you are all safe...and were wondering how everyone felt about introducing a permanent Personals section to BDSM Cafe. It has become obvious we are always going to have personals placed in threads or Personals threads of their own and thought this may be one way of eliminating that area of difficulty. It is understandable in a way as I know when I was searching, I was not interested in placing an ad amongst a general Personals section where it may never be discovered by the one I was looking for. It will mean there may be issues we have to deal with, and will maybe increase our moderator load, but if everyone is happy to trial it, we are prepared to oblige. Who knows it may also have the added benefit toattract new posters to our community. Feedback is most welcome.

Catalina

 

[bdsmToy]

I think it is a great idea, hope it does not get abused thou like in some forums where the personal section is a bunch of crap, and alot of the people are fake.





<- Needs Mistress

 

[Vixandra]

Catalina I think its a lovely idea. Tis quite understandable that someone would rather post a personall add in the area of thier interests rather then the random "hope someone finds" it area.
Got my vote.

 

[NemoAlia]

That would be totally fine with me. I figure the people who come into the actual BDSM forum to post personals are probably people whose personal ads are automatically more interesting to me than those folks who post "MDers: swing with us!" and the like. And if it's cordoned off a bit, the personals section probably won't affect those of us who prefer not to read ads during their BDSM discussion time.

Good idea!

 

[MissTaken]

Thanks everyone.

Catalina and I do foresee some challenges which is why we want to cover all the bases and come to you. It is likely that in terms of how to do this and what steps to take to prevent a mish mash of roleplaying etc are areas that everyone could be of assistance in sorting out.

However, it is not a done deal.
We only discussing it.

 

[WriterDom]

A section? You mean have Talk stand alone and divide the Cafe similar to the Playground/personals?

 

[redelicious]

How about a sticky that takes you directly to the BDSM personals thread in the personals section?

Oh wait, do we already have that?

 

[Desdemona]

I don't care. Do whatever works for the majority.

 

[catalina_francisco]

How about a sticky that takes you directly to the BDSM personals thread in the personals section?

Oh wait, do we already have that?

That could possibly be an option. The present sticky is just to a single thread which becomes a bit tedious to wade through.

Catalina

 

[catalina_francisco]

A section? You mean have Talk stand alone and divide the Cafe similar to the Playground/personals?

My original thought was more along the idea of what redelicious suggested, though I am unsure of how easy it is to arrange. Seems the simplist way as far as appearances and space go. The thought of placing the link/section in Cafe seems logical in that it is the place we extended the board with and have designated so far as being for anything goes outside serious discussion threads.

Catalina

 

[Etoile]

As a moderator elsewhere, I have a little bit different perspective, and I don't like the idea. If BDSM gets a subsection for personals, then GLBT could get one too, and I don't feel qualified to moderate personals - I barely even look in on that board, so I don't know what's involved in moderating it. I'd rather see a BDSM subsection in Personals, rather than a Personals subsection in BDSM. If Catalina and MissT feel comfortable moderating personals, they could moderate the BDSM subsection of Personals. Does that make sense?

As for need...I don't really see it, but then I don't mind moving threads when necessary. If Catalina and MissT see a need, that's fine.

 

[redelicious]

That could possibly be an option. The present sticky is just to a single thread which becomes a bit tedious to wade through.

Catalina

The only issue I think would be getting people to actually click the sticky. Isn't that the problem with the current sustem?

 

[catalina_francisco]

As a moderator elsewhere, I have a little bit different perspective, and I don't like the idea. If BDSM gets a subsection for personals, then GLBT could get one too, and I don't feel qualified to moderate personals - I barely even look in on that board, so I don't know what's involved in moderating it. I'd rather see a BDSM subsection in Personals, rather than a Personals subsection in BDSM. If Catalina and MissT feel comfortable moderating personals, they could moderate the BDSM subsection of Personals. Does that make sense?

As for need...I don't really see it, but then I don't mind moving threads when necessary. If Catalina and MissT see a need, that's fine.

Makes sense to me and is an option I am also happy with if the posters are. Of course it would also depend on Laurel and Manu too I expect. I also agree with you Etoile that GLBT should have their own peronsals in whatever context the posters feel appropriate. Just makes sense to me, but then that does not mean it will to all.

Catalina

 

[MissTaken]

OH yeah, red.

Clicking the sticky seems to be ineffective in that people either don't click or don't read them. The personals sticky is as simple as I can make it.

Thank you for chiming in Etoile. I was going to pm you for some input for exactly the reasons you gave.

Moving threads is no great task, but is highly ineffective as a deterrant from more personal's threads and doesn't seem to meet the needs of the posting culprits!



I guess that is why we are having this discussion.

On the other hand, my greatest concern about allowing personals here in any way, shape or form is that I, like so many others, do not want this forum to become a "pick up joint."

Hoiwever, providing solid personals service, no matter how it is done, is bound to encourage more posters to stop in and stay for the rest of what we offer.

*shrugs*

Keep ideas and input rolling.


Thanks all!

 

[catalina_francisco]

The only issue I think would be getting people to actually click the sticky. Isn't that the problem with the current sustem?

I'm not sure. I didn't notice the sticky until recent weeks but didn't feel a single thread was much more effective than sticking ads in the general community on Personals. Fair enough it is a thread for BDSM, but you then have to wade through an ever growing thread one ad at a time to find who you are searching for (female/male slave, Dom/me etc.). I think with a section for BDSM alone, even if we did not have the ideal where it was divided into groupings, posters could place first 'female sub seeking....' etc. Lots to sort out but not impossible obviously as others have done it repeatedly.

Catalina

 

[Etoile]

Thank you for chiming in Etoile. I was going to pm you for some input for exactly the reasons you gave.

I'm going to send my co-moderator, Queersetti, a link to this thread to get his input too, since this precedent could affect us.

 

[bunny bondage]

i say it's a good idea! the bdsm forum just keeps expanding! our kingdom shall be mightier than ALL our neighbors, and our forces unequalled by none! (been reading too many r.a. salvatore novels lately...)

 

[WriterDom]

As a moderator elsewhere, I have a little bit different perspective, and I don't like the idea. If BDSM gets a subsection for personals, then GLBT could get one too,

We could include gays and have alternative lifestyle personals for Gay, bi, kinky, and the one lonely fart sniffer.

 

[catalina_francisco]

We could include gays and have alternative lifestyle personals for Gay, bi, kinky, and the one lonely fart sniffer.

Wow, this is a new angle!! Why didn't I think of it? Thanks WD, it can go on the list as well. It's amazing what we can come up with when everyone puts their heads together to achieve some positive outcomes.

Catalina

 

[Etoile]

Would such a category - "Alternative Personals" still come under BDSM, or are we talking about something in the Personals section?

 

[MissTaken]

Would such a category - "Alternative Personals" still come under BDSM, or are we talking about something in the Personals section?

Hmmmmm

That would be up to the powers that be.

The idea is a good one though.

I am going to link the moderators of the personal forum so they can be privy as well.

BRB.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I personally think 'Alternative Personals' though addressing the problem to a degree is still going to be ineffective in giving people a place to go to where their needs will be met. I have not found a successful Personals board yet which throws gays, latex, fetish, and hardcore BDSM in together....to me it is like saying anyone outside the straight 'norm' realm need to be pushed out on an island so as not to get in the way of the vanilla essence.

Just my opinion, but I personally would never have posted to one like that just as I would not have posted to an anything and everything goes Personals. IMHO I see it as a sort of insult and judgement which once again goes back to labelling in a indirect way all groups outside the mainstream as deviots unfit for society.

Catalina

 

[Etoile]

I just remembered Q's out of town. So he won't be in to check on this for a while.

 

[TNRkitect2b]

Having started out with my first posts being in the personals section, I can understand the dilemma. People do not typically read the stickies before posting, and there is a lot of fluff to wade through as well.

It seems to me that the best option for seperating out a personals section would be to have GLBT and BDSM subsections (ala the Playground). with the moderators of each of the larger forums being dilligent about moving threads to the respective personals forum. Doing this however brings up a need for new moderators to be brought on board for these.

<shrug> If you need someone to do so, I'd be willing. (I spend enough time on Lit anyways might as well contribute back)

 

[catalina_francisco]

Having started out with my first posts being in the personals section, I can understand the dilemma. People do not typically read the stickies before posting, and there is a lot of fluff to wade through as well.

It seems to me that the best option for seperating out a personals section would be to have GLBT and BDSM subsections (ala the Playground). with the moderators of each of the larger forums being dilligent about moving threads to the respective personals forum. Doing this however brings up a need for new moderators to be brought on board for these.

<shrug> If you need someone to do so, I'd be willing. (I spend enough time on Lit anyways might as well contribute back)

Initially as far as the BDSM Personals section goes Miss Taken and I were happy to continue overseeing if it happened, but it seems the influx of offers to moderate will be valueable if we find an overload of postings beyond our capabilities. Thanks for those who have offered. It is appreciated and good to know others are willing to help take up the added load we hope for.

Catalina