kff, I've had a quick skim through, and I still don't understand why you think verification makes your life any easier? Bring verification in, and you'll have, just off the top of my head, at least the following categories of users:
Verified
Those who are exactly what they say they are, genuine.
Those who have somehow managed to abuse the system, aren't what they say they are, not genuine.
Those whose status has changed since they were verified, but retain their verification, dubious.
Non-verified
Those who are exactly what they say they are, but choose not to use it, genuine.
Those who are exactly what they say they are, but can't yet get verified, genuine.
Those who cannot get verified, because they are not genuine.
In what sense has the verification system eliminated doubt? If you were to choose to approach only those members with verified profiles, you would be eliminating a large proportion of perfectly genuine users from consideration, but you would still have the problem of trying to work out whether the verified users you do approach are genuine, or abusers of the system.
At the moment, everyone is in the same boat, and we all have to work out our own strategies for choosing and approaching potential playmates. Bring in verification, you remove that level playing field and yet doubt still remains. How has it helped? Genuine question.
Neil x x x ;)
The only way to make a verification system "work" is for it to work in a similar system to googles page rank system.
A "verification" from a "well verified" user adds more weight to your verification.
The more verifications you have, the more you count when you verify somebody else.
Nobody except the user should be able to see who verified them, all others simply see your verification "rank".
Obviously this still far from perfect.
I've come to the conclusion though that no amount of discussing it will change anything. Admin will almost definitely bring it in sometime soon and hopefully we'll have a choice as to whether to use it or not. I personally don't want it, but it's not my voice shouting the loudest. If the majority want it, then let them have it. Two tier system or not, it does seem that *in general* the current members of the site might want the option. According to the Poll so far that's not the case, but I suspect that a site-wide poll might give a very different result.
Another thing is, a lot of time has passed since the infamous 52 page thread. The membership has changed drastically, Mark no longer owns the site and we have a commercial company running things instead of one swinger who understood our needs at the time.
Times have changed, membership numbers and needs have changed, and as long as I have the option not to use the system then it probably won't make any difference to me. My reason for being so angry about it last time was that I was verified without prior discussion or consent, telling everyone in the chatroom that I was "A verified user is one who is active on the swing scene and who actually meets others on the scene for consensual, recreational sex" Funnily enough, I wasn't actually meeting for sex at the time and I never did find out who'd verified me as being an active single bi fem ;)
Well there you have it. Strong opinions on both sides.
Where is the problem with having a verification system that SOME want to use? It is not a compulsary thing, you are not forced to say anything...be it positive or negative.
What is it that some do not understand about that?
We are on another site where there is a verification system, wh have two comments on there saying " nice couple, turned up as arranged ". It does not say we were shit shags, or total tossers. It gives others an indication that we ARE as couple and that we turn up, that's it.
It is a bit like people moaning about certain topics on the forum, and going in there to say something negative. The whole point is if you do not like something, then walk away from it. The verification system can be used by those who WANT to use it.
It is like your profile and pictures on here, a lot enter nothing, but you are not forced to enter anything, people who do, do it of their own free will. A verification system could easily run along the same lines.
We are lucky we do our homework on people, and we make double checks they are who they say they are, before we agree a meet. It has most of the time worked for us.
For those who do NOT want a verification system here, why are you so against it, if it is something you are not forced to enter into? Can someone explain that to me?
If you was being forced to by SH then fair enough, but you can leave it blank and nothing will change for you, as to how it is now but...if people want to enter things like " turned up for meet ", why do you have a problem with that?
here's an idea being rolled out by another site... photo verification... sounds a good idea still open to abuse, but its much less open to abuse.
the site verifies you against your pics. with a picture that only admin of the site see, it must be a recent pic with your username clearly seen on a piece of card/paper that you are actually holding in the pic.
yes, people could then ask a fem to pose with them to make a couple profile, then carry on as a single. also just because you look like your pics doesn't mean your going to turn up, and yes the more gifted photoshop users may be able to generate a decent enough convincing image, but at least its one "body" doing the verification not your mates or yourself on a second profile.
its probably the best verification idea we've seen so far... here's what the site have said will happen:-
About Photo Verification
For single females and couples it is a great way proving you are a genuine female, or a couple, and it makes the site better for everyone who is genuine and harder for fakers and idiots pretending to be something they're not. For single guys it proves your pics are genuine and it helps you stand out from the crowd. Verification photos are 100% private and only seen by the site owners or trusted admin.
It's quick and easy to get photo-verified:
1. Hand write the sitename deleted and your username clearly on a piece of paper
a photograph of yourselves holding the piece of paper (we need to either see your faces OR the photo needs to be nude and full length if you're concerned about privacy; your choice).
3. Upload using the special photo verification link.
We'll review the photo, check that it matches the photos on your account and your account type (so if you're a couple we need to see both of you) and your account type and approve it. If you're not holding the piece of paper with your username and sitename on, we won't accept the verification pic because it proves nothing.
Your profile page will show the "photo-verified" icon
Benefits
For females and couples, proves you are who you say you are and that you're not single guys pretending.
Proves your photos are genuine because we check they match your verification pic.
Highlights your profile with a special photo verified flag:
Makes the site better for everyone who is genuine and harder for fakers and timewasters.
We'll be giving extra benefits to those who are photo-verified shortly so stay tuned and get verified.
OK, in a nutshell;
Some people like the idea and some don't (as always). While if it used properly it'll be a bonus to some, there's still a"human" element to it and that may lead to mistakes and manipulation of the system on some level, which concerns others.
My 2p's worth:
As long as I can choose to opt out and my profile/verification area states that I have opted out of the system then I'm happy.
If there is an option there to do that, then I can see those that get bad "feedback" simply switching the system off and carrying on.
Utterly pointless unless you're only going to shag those with positive verification, which will narrow the field for some.
I agree that time wasters never cease to amaze me and the fact that couples are let down is appaling however verification is not a good idea - perhaps there is another way
may be there could be a points system like on ebay
The nore I read this thread the more saddened I am that something we were told was never going to be introduced now looks like it will be....
And how long would it have been before we knew if this thread hadn't been started ??
