Who Is Going to make the Next Challenge?

[Lucky]

Participation in the forums seems to be dwindling again. I'll post something and then hours later no one has responded. It's disheartening. And we were doing so well. I know that these things go in cycles, and the other site isn't doing so great itself on new, interesting stuff. But, hopefully the members of this site see it as a special place that they want to keep going and will devote themselves to it. Remember, it is responses to threads that keep conversations going more than new threads. Yes, I am like you, I want to bring something new here and don't often try to respond. But I am better at it than I used to be.

But, come'on. we like this place and let's show it! Hoo-rah!

[Guest zipperzone]

Lucky, I too find it very disheartening that there is such little interest in these forums. I used to frequently post pics in the porn forum but am seriously wondering if I am wasting my time as the response/interest is almost non-existent.

There are other boards where the action is far more enthusiastic than here and I may well decide to move on.

You know the old saying - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. If the interest in this board is not there, I don't see how pleading is going to improve it. I particularly enjoy your posts because they often highlight an event or news story that I would otherwise not be aware of. I truly hope we don't end up by dying on the vine, so to speak.

[lookin]

I was getting a tad discouraged too when my posts languished without comment, like a fart in a wetsuit.

'Was my material boring?', I asked myself. 'Could I be more interesting?' 'More relevant?' 'Funnier?' 'Smarter?' 'Less self-absorbed?'

'Nah!', I finally decided. The members here are just more worldly, active, and involved than those on other sites. They have things to do, people to meet, and places to be. They read my posts and are moved, enlightened, titillated, and amused by them. But they just don't have time in their busy schedules to let me know how much they enjoyed my latest effort. It will have to be up to me to punch the 'Add Reply' button, and then close my eyes and listen carefully for the respectful and enthusiastic applause sure to follow from the far reaches of the MER empire.

At least that's how I've got it worked out, and I'll thank you all not to burst my bubble.

[TampaYankee]

I often try to respond but sometimes, often times, I feel my screen name as the responder inhibits others to respond. So I am torn between responding and letting it go for others.

[Lucky]

TY, I suggest that you just post as often as you want. And lookin, your pics are so good, they often leave me speechless! Now go over to the Thai forum and help me plan my trip!

[lookin]

. . . often times, I feel my screen name as the responder inhibits others to respond.

Well someone certainly thinks well of herself!

[lookin]

. . . And lookin, your pics are so good, they often leave me speechless!

Thank you. The silence has indeed been awesome.

Now go over to the Thai forum and help me plan my trip!

Better yet, why not run a contest? Best Thai Trip Under $3500!

The winner gets to go along for free.

I'm sure you can convince TY and OZ to help sponsor it, as new members will be flocking here to help you design the perfect trip. Who knows, maybe even Daddy will enter!

Once you've picked the winner, get a travel consultant to feature Lucky's Special Package on his website, and offer special discounts to MER members and a kickback an earmark to you.

Money in the bank, my friend, as who here could resist Giant Member Savings in Thailand?

[Lucky]

The airfare is free, the hotels will be about $700, then how much for the local guides?

[Guest Matrix]

I often try to respond but sometimes, often times, I feel my screen name as the responder inhibits others to respond. So I am torn between responding and letting it go for others.

Oh please, that's just about the most disingenuous, pathetic and passive/aggressive response you could have ever made here in response to a members continuous frustration that there really is no audience here - except for the few who may have been banished else-where, or those who choose not to post there for reasons of personal ethics - OR - for those who really want to make this place, a better place.

It will never be your screen name which inhibits, or encourages, others to respond here. You're not that important, one way or another. For the good or for the bad. That pertains to every-one of us.

It will be however, what you action and sanction under your screen name which will determine and define participation by others here and the growth of community as a whole.

Portraying yourself, and your participation here, as a reason which members may (the few which support these forums daily) find inhibiting to participate here is another way of simply stating - I have no idea as to what I should really be doing here to make this website one of which distinguishes itself from others.

And you don't.

In 2006, when MER premiered, it was offered as an alternative destination and community to the one and only destination which originally captured this niche audience and client/escort relationship. But there really was no difference when MER premiered, except of course, for the two who were driving this new alternative destination.

Tampa Yankee and Totally Oz, were then (after Hooboy), and still are, in my opinion, more decent and more respectful people than the other site owners could ever imagine to be, or could care to become. But that will never be enough, because we're talking about a niche audience which is self-centered and self-serving for themselves and people who don't really care at the end of the day who is providing their niche, as long as their interests are well served, informed and satisfied. And their participation, in that niche, becomes a huge component in the activity, success and development of any site providing that environment.

When older men, run niche style websites, which attract both young (escort) and older (client) visitors exclusively, somebody better be aware of the fact that it doesn't matter how young, or how old your visitors are, that speaks to your success, but to the knowledge and the manner in which you are participating and positioning yourselves on the web, which will speak to and attract the audience which you wish to develop and maintain.

It's very possible that Tampa Yankee and Oz just wanted to stick it to Daddy and deej and create a place which pissed them [ Daddy and deej ] off back in 2006. I can understand that, I suppose. But to have created nothing other than a place, which was, just a few months ago on the brink of extinction, I'd have to hope otherwise.

People who continue to feel less than their contributions were meant to be for an audience which doesn't exist will quickly find themselves posting elsewhere.

If you're going to build a community - then let's fucking build it. But don't ever expect that this place will ever become anything other than which it was months ago without an injection of intelligence, savvy and a fore-sight and fore-thought of what you want it to become - absent your self - indulging pity which started my remarks and this post all together.

There are sooo many ways to accomplish this.

I was once one of those people who cared and tried to contribute to it.

[lookin]

Matrix, I can't figure out if I agree with everything in your post, or disagree with everything in your post. What say we go fire up a bowl and get our heads clear?

PS: Lucky, who says your posts don't get a response?

[MsGuy]

The airfare is free, the hotels will be about $700, then how much for the local guides?

If it's been a while since you've been to Thailand (and assuming his latest motorcycle hasn't gone missing yet), maybe Oz's BF could ferry you around Bankok, at least until you get your feet on the ground. I understand his English is much improved and he would certainly know the current local scene.

[MsGuy]

I was getting a tad discouraged too when my posts languished without comment, like a fart in a wetsuit.

Buck up, lookin. I for one still giggle every time I read this post.

It will have to be up to me to punch the 'Add Reply' button...

And why not, there's precedent you know. TY has been replying to his own posts too.

[Guest Matrix]

Lucky, I too find it very disheartening that there is such little interest in these forums. I used to frequently post pics in the porn forum but am seriously wondering if I am wasting my time as the response/interest is almost non-existent.

There are other boards where the action is far more enthusiastic than here and I may well decide to move on.

You know the old saying - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. If the interest in this board is not there, I don't see how pleading is going to improve it. I particularly enjoy your posts because they often highlight an event or news story that I would otherwise not be aware of. I truly hope we don't end up by dying on the vine, so to speak.

Here's some raw numbers I have been tracking for this forum since its inception which might put your frustration into perspective Zipperzone.

Yesterday, of the total number of viewers who hit your attachments in the 3 new threads in the pornification forum, only 12 % were able to view them. The additional 88% moved on without viewing your contribution. That due of course because those individuals were not logged in and denied access to your work. So you're posting here for a very small audience. And one who may or may not choose to leave comment of appreciation..

[TotallyOz]

Participation in the forums seems to be dwindling again. I'll post something and then hours later no one has responded. It's disheartening. And we were doing so well. I know that these things go in cycles, and the other site isn't doing so great itself on new, interesting stuff. But, hopefully the members of this site see it as a special place that they want to keep going and will devote themselves to it. Remember, it is responses to threads that keep conversations going more than new threads. Yes, I am like you, I want to bring something new here and don't often try to respond. But I am better at it than I used to be.

But, come'on. we like this place and let's show it! Hoo-rah!

Thanks Lucky! I hope that the pace keeps moving forward.

Lucky, I too find it very disheartening that there is such little interest in these forums. I used to frequently post pics in the porn forum but am seriously wondering if I am wasting my time as the response/interest is almost non-existent.

No, you are not wasting your time. I love them and greatly appreciate the effort.

TY, I suggest that you just post as often as you want. And lookin, your pics are so good, they often leave me speechless! Now go over to the Thai forum and help me plan my trip!

I agree!

Yesterday, of the total number of viewers who hit your attachments in the 3 new threads in the pornification forum, only 12 % were able to view them. The additional 88% moved on without viewing your contribution. That due of course because those individuals were not logged in and denied access to your work. So you're posting here for a very small audience. And one who may or may not choose to leave comment of appreciation..

LOL Broken record. Ain't going to change ever. The way around it is to link to the photo on another site. That way all see it. If it is hosted on this site, I will never allow non registered members to view. Period.

[Lucky]

Lucky, I too find it very disheartening that there is such little interest in these forums. I used to frequently post pics in the porn forum but am seriously wondering if I am wasting my time as the response/interest is almost non-existent.

There are other boards where the action is far more enthusiastic than here and I may well decide to move on.

You know the old saying - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. If the interest in this board is not there, I don't see how pleading is going to improve it. I particularly enjoy your posts because they often highlight an event or news story that I would otherwise not be aware of. I truly hope we don't end up by dying on the vine, so to speak.

As much as I like your pictures, I do admit that when there are seven or so thumbnails posted, I won't check them all out. The first one determines whether I keep going...hint.

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

I can definitely relate to the sentiments expressed here over frustrations. I try to post as often oas possible.. Unfortunately, some personal issues over the last couple of months have distracted me from posting as frequently as some people. I too get discouraged when my posts sit there silently collecting dust..As most of you have seen, I am a "visual" person and try to post some "pretty pictures' for others to enjoy..When I try to come up with some non-visual posts to get conversation flowing, they flounder with one or two responses, then die like a fish out of water. Not sure what it takes to keep a topic going over here. One of my last posts on Daddys site was "Name three things a day to be thankful for". I created that post back in May.. It has not dropped off the front page yet, and it currently has over 10,000 views and 500 responses.

Unfortunately for all of us, it seems like the most active threads here are the ones where one person or another is having a hissy fit. Do we have to get down and dirty and call each other names to keep the interest??? I thought this was supposed to be "nice place for like minded individuals to hang out and share thoughts and have civil conversations". The main reason why I stopped posting at Daddy's and started posting exclusively over here is because of the cyber bashing that my May journal of Montreal got from two or three individuals who tried to tell me and everyone else that I had a bad time. Those individuals were adamant that no matter what I said, I was had a miserable time and they were damned if they were going to let anyone else think that Montreal wasn't in a body bag..I emailed Daddy when it resorted to name calling (I was called a pollyanna) and got no response. Even though I mistakenly thought that since I had actually met Daddy at a Palm Springs get away, it might make a differce. I then emailed a moderator who I had also met on two occasions, and tried to get the point across that by letting the offenders continue to bash my experience as they were would make any newer and more thin-skinned posters hesitate to post, I did get a response which basicly was "you post what you post, they post what they want"...

I decided that in my opinion, that type of environment was not really the friendly place it claimed to be. Then, shortly there after, Daddy had his latest melt down and I make the switch..

wait a minute.. i seem to have lost track of what I started....I want this place to flourish.. I will post as often as possible.. but it takes more than a handful of people to make a community. I have seen some "ads" for MER on backpage in the last few months... Are there other avenues out there where we can get the word out about our small community? How about the cybersockets magazine??

What ever happened to "If you build it, they will cum?" It is built, now we just need to solidify the foundation and attact all the cummers.

[Guest Matrix]

Matrix, I can't figure out if I agree with everything in your post, or disagree with everything in your post. What say we go fire up a bowl and get our heads clear?

I'm actually going to be in your beautiful city in Mid-February. I can't think of anyone else from this board that I would enjoy grabbing a coffee or other stimulant with.

[Guest Matrix]

LOL Broken record. Ain't going to change ever. The way around it is to link to the photo on another site. That way all see it. If it is hosted on this site, I will never allow non registered members to view. Period.

Last weekend for Halloween I was invited to a party that I really wanted to attended. The one problem I had in attending this party was already knowing who many of the other guests were going to be and many of them I wanted nothing to do with, or to have had to have endured being hit on by a few of them.

So for my costume, I went as an attachment and it worked beautifully too! No matter how many times they tried to find out who I was or what I was about - all they got was unspoken rejection, and after awhile, they all just left me alone!

It was genius! I was able to attend the party, yet still avoid the majority of people there I didn't want to be exposed to.

[Guest Matrix]

What ever happened to "If you build it, they will cum?" It is built, now we just need to solidify the foundation and attract all the cummers.

That may have been somewhat true 20 years ago on the web when there were far fewer destinations to be aware of, no social networking platforms and no smart-phone devices which define how people connect and communicate.

But not today. Simply building something and expecting people to show up because it is there in today's reality is a recipe for failure.

The first step in driving new traffic (or any traffic) to your website is determining if that's what you really want to do. Perhaps that is not the case here, and if so, that's ok too. But as I have mentioned a few times, to get new traffic here and an audience which just might stick around to build a better and more interesting community, will require creativity, utilization of all commonly used technology, social medias and simplifying content and how one navigates to it.

Unless you're willing to do all those things with a clear vision in mind - all you will really have is a place on the web. And anyone can have that for just $9.95 a month.

[RA1]

Last weekend for Halloween I was invited to a party that I really wanted to attended. The one problem I had in attending this party was already knowing who many of the other guests were going to be and many of them I wanted nothing to do with, or to have had to have endured being hit on by a few of them.

So for my costume, I went as an attachment and it worked beautifully too! No matter how many times they tried to find out who I was or what I was about - all they got was unspoken rejection, and after awhile, they all just left me alone!

It was genius! I was able to attend the party, yet still avoid the majority of people there I didn't want to be exposed to.

So, you went as the back end of a horse?

Best regards,

RA1

[Guest zipperzone]

As much as I like your pictures, I do admit that when there are seven or so thumbnails posted, I won't check them all out. The first one determines whether I keep going...hint.

Lucky: If the 1st pic doesn't catch your interest I certainly understand your reluctance to look further. I sometimes feel the same way as I search certain sites looking for pictures. But I have found, time & time again, that after flipping through a bunch of so-so pictures, all of a sudden a real gem pops up. I call it perseverance.

I'm assuming your computer works in the same manner as mine in that once you have enlarged the first pic, on the upper right corner of the pic is a "next" symbol which enables you to flip through them all very quickly.

However, if you don't look at all of them, please know that my feelings are not hurt. It's your call as to how you want to spend your time.

[Lucky]

Thanks. I will keep looking for the Mr. Right (thumbprint version!)