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Recession or single male overload
Sex God
I'm sure everyone has their own reasons for leaving just as everyone has their own reasons for staying. I suppose you won't know unless you ask them.
We've all seen lots of people come and go. It could be financial as there are free sites out there, it could be that this site isn't providing what they're looking for anymore. I suppose it depends what they're looking want from a site.
I can't say that the site is anymore overloaded with single guys than it was 3 years ago when we joined. In my opinion anyway.
Who knows??
We've all seen lots of people come and go. It could be financial as there are free sites out there, it could be that this site isn't providing what they're looking for anymore. I suppose it depends what they're looking want from a site.
I can't say that the site is anymore overloaded with single guys than it was 3 years ago when we joined. In my opinion anyway.
Who knows??
Sex God
Quote by Paul80
Over the last couple of months 2 good swinging friends have not continued there SH accounts. Is this a sign of whats to come on SH as a result of the recession or is it becoming overloaded with men?
2people have left a site with over 1.4 Million registered users we have to start looking for someone to blame?
Quote by Trevaunance
Over the last couple of months 2 good swinging friends have not continued there SH accounts. Is this a sign of whats to come on SH as a result of the recession or is it becoming overloaded with men?
2people have left a site with over 1.4 Million registered users we have to start looking for someone to blame?
I take it you don't know anybody then Trevaunance.
Sex God
How on earth do you come to that conclusion?
Quote by Funlovers2009
I'm sure everyone has their own reasons for leaving just as everyone has their own reasons for staying. I suppose you won't know unless you ask them.
We've all seen lots of people come and go. It could be financial as there are free sites out there, it could be that this site isn't providing what they're looking for anymore. I suppose it depends what they're looking want from a site.
I can't say that the site is anymore overloaded with single guys than it was 3 years ago when we joined. In my opinion anyway.
Who knows??
Elaine/Lee
we've being members for pushing 10 years now and its the 1st time we have had friends not renew their membership, yes would agree with you, lots of people have come and gone in that time but we are talking about friends whom we have met, in one of the cases i'm referring to; I'm sure it is someone you also know from socials or chatrooms (can't name, it may be seen as shaming)
Your point of there being free sites is a very valid one, thats expected I guess, this site was free for all at one time.
It is becoming more noticeable however that it's mostly the male part of the couple that hangs around in the chatrooms now.
Sex God
Quote by Paul80
I'm sure everyone has their own reasons for leaving just as everyone has their own reasons for staying. I suppose you won't know unless you ask them.
We've all seen lots of people come and go. It could be financial as there are free sites out there, it could be that this site isn't providing what they're looking for anymore. I suppose it depends what they're looking want from a site.
I can't say that the site is anymore overloaded with single guys than it was 3 years ago when we joined. In my opinion anyway.
Who knows??
Elaine/Lee
we've being members for pushing 10 years now and its the 1st time we have had friends not renew their membership, yes would agree with you, lots of people have come and gone in that time but we are talking about friends whom we have met, in one of the cases i'm referring to; I'm sure it is someone you also know from socials or chatrooms (can't name, it may be seen as shaming)
Your point of there being free sites is a very valid one, thats expected I guess, this site was free for all at one time.
It is becoming more noticeable however that it's mostly the male part of the couple that hangs around in the chatrooms now.
I think I know who you're talking about but who it isn't doesn't really matter who it is I suppose for the purposes of this discussion. Anyone leaving could have many reasons why. The site has changed a lot in the short time we've been here (not all good, not all bad) so I'm sure you have seen many changes over the last 10 years. Those changes may suit some people and not others.
We didn't renew for a good few months last year, we weren't using the site at the time as we took a bit of time out from swinging. We didn't leave for good, just didn't see the point in paying for something we weren't using. Like I said, we all have our reasons for not renewing.
I've seen lots of people leave, I've also seen many return.
I haven't really been in chat much over the last few months so I suppose I can't really comment on who is using it.
Elaine xx
Sex God
Quote by tricky-dicky
a site with over 1.4 Million registered users
Do you actually believe there are registered users, if you do can I show you my latest guaranteed money making scheme all you need do is send me your life savings
Yes I do believe that in the last ten years 1.4 million accounts have been registered on this site.
I never said I believe them all to be active today or genuine.
Quote by tricky-dicky
a site with over 1.4 Million registered users
Do you actually believe there are registered users, if you do can I show you my latest guaranteed money making scheme all you need do is send me your life savings
Tricky Dicky you have more than a point
1.4 million accounts or members?!?! mmm whats the take up on that, less than % at any one time maybe on a good day. Our friends account is still showing but not active, is that in the 1.4 million count now or not. oh minus the gallery of flies on the wall and what have we got left mmmm… not that hard to work out.
Which ever the case; Me thinks our real friends are worth more that your 1.4 M debatable accounts or is that members?
Quote by Trevaunance
a site with over 1.4 Million registered users
Do you actually believe there are registered users, if you do can I show you my latest guaranteed money making scheme all you need do is send me your life savings
Yes I do believe that in the last ten years 1.4 million accounts have been registered on this site.
I never said I believe them all to be active today or genuine.
In your post you said users not accounts when that isn't correct, yes it is true over it's lifetime + accounts have been created but many of those accounts have long since been abandoned some never used, people are lazy and in a lot of cases just can't be bothered to delete profiles which has lead to this over inflated figure of A more realistic figure would be a quarter of that and then I'm being generous, only about 15% of the site is active within a 90 day period and by active I mean logged in.
Sex God
Quote by tricky-dicky
In your post you said users not accounts when that isn't correct, yes it is true over it's lifetime + accounts have been created but many of those accounts have long since been abandoned some never used, people are lazy and in a lot of cases just can't be bothered to delete profiles which has lead to this over inflated figure of A more realistic figure would be a quarter of that and then I'm being generous, only about 15% of the site is active within a 90 day period and by active I mean logged in.
Quote by Trevaunance
a site with over 1.4 Million registered users
I said registered users.
To have an account a user must register themselves, and a registered user has an account. therefore the two terms seem interchangeable as they cannot be seperated.
Sex God
Quote by Paul80
Me thinks our real friends are worth more that your 1.4 M debatable accounts or is that members?
Then I'm sure they will have no problem telling you why they left the site. Assuming that they have actually left? Have they actually deleted their account? Or is it one of the debatable dormant accounts?
I personally don't think that just because two people have chosen not to use the site for a while it is a reasonable hypothesis that the recession is biting or single males are ruining it for everyone. I'm sorry that you don't agree, but they are a very small percentage of the people that use this site now or have used it at any time in the past
Quote by Trevaunance
Me thinks our real friends are worth more that your 1.4 M debatable accounts or is that members?
Then I'm sure they will have no problem telling you why they left the site. Assuming that they have actually left? Have they actually deleted their account? Or is it one of the debatable dormant accounts?
I personally don't think that just because two people have chosen not to use the site for a while it is a reasonable hypothesis that the recession is biting or single males are ruining it for everyone. I'm sorry that you don't agree, but they are a very small percentage of the people that use this site now or have used it at any time in the past
We have asked them, one said it was cost and a lack of meets, that account is still showing, just not useable, after all whats the point of deleting it. The other couple say its cost and all you get are men, so my question is valid as first posted. Just wish this site had more people like Elaine who contribute to what I considered to be a question poignant to the times.
Sex God
Quote by Paul80
We have asked them, one said it was cost and a lack of meets, that account is still showing, just not useable, after all whats the point of deleting it. The other couple say its cost and all you get are men, so my question is valid as first posted.
The three reasons given are cost, lack of meets and men. I'm afraid there probably is very little that can be done about any of them.
There has always been a higher percentage of single male accounts, and I suppose there always will be. But I haven't noticed that there are proportionally more men to women or couples on this site than when we first joined. Of course we may see things from a different perspective as we only meet single males, as opposed to the views of people that do not want to meet single males.
Lack of meets can be down to any number of reasons. No one nearby, not wanting to meet smokers, not being able to find a date when both parties are free, the ubiquitous time wasters and of course not logging in yourself, are all possible reasons why people don't get meets. The list in endless, but there is very little that can be done about it, unfortunately that's life.
The cost. I suppose the cost is something that only the individual concerned can balance for themselves. When times are hard something has to go by the wayside, it is completely understandable that this site may be the thing chosen to go. However that may not be the only reason why cost is behind the decision not to renew. Cost/value ratio is also worth considering, for example a person that can only find the time to log in once every three months is unlikely to find any value for money. The same could be said that if you only got one meet every three years. Maybe it's not the direct cost that prevents some people from renewing, just the perceived lack of value for money.
Quote by Paul80
Just wish this site had more people like Elaine who contribute to what I considered to be a question poignant to the times.
I agree that Elaine and many other people give such thought and effort into posting our replies, even injecting a bit of humour from time to time. Like you I wish the forums were better used, unfortunately snide remarks often break down the fabric of discussions and are cited as a barrier to encouraging people to join in.
Now, returning to your question.
Quote by Paul80
Is this a sign of whats to come on SH as a result of the recession or is it becoming overloaded with men?
You have been a member of this site for nine years and you said that this is the first time you have known people not renew their membership in all that time. In which case I really don't see that there is reasonable evidence to suggest that it is anything more than personal preference for the people involved. You say an account is 'not usable'? but all accounts are usable when someone logs in, although I grant you that the tiered membership structure allows far more activities within the site at the higher levels. Even with basic membership they would be able to log in, view profiles, receive and send messages. So it is their personal preference not to log in.
If someone feels so strongly that they have to stop logging in because single men are an issue then there are methods of preventing some of the attention. Firstly block single men from sending you messages, secondly filter chatrooms so that single men don't appear in the room member list. If you do this and set your whispers to authorised only you only need to check the name of a person whispering you against the members list (substantially reduced due to not listing single men) and approve if they are listed, block if they are not. The system isn't great but it is better than it was in the past.
Some people would suggest making photo's private, but I personally don't advocate that because then the people you want to attract can't see them readily.
As I mentioned earlier stating cost is a bit ambiguous because it could be the direct cost or the value for money perspective. It is worth remembering that the recession began five years ago, so if it is the direct cost and people feel they cannot pay the money then I understand wholeheartedly that there are more important things to spend your money on, like food and water. However if it is the value for money thing then they could resort to a basic membership. You can't get better value for money than in a circumstance whereby you don't pay!
Can I also make the final point that we never really know what goes on behind closed doors and there are many more factors that can influence a persons decision to stay or go. Relationships break down or have rocky patches, new ones start, kids come along, older kids may move back home, bereavement, sickness, stress are all reasons why someone may choose not to log in for a while. There are just so many reasons it's not worth listing any more, but if someone is having a forced or chosen break it may not be a clear cut as one factor alone. Maybe in time they will simply log back in and carry on where they left off.
I hope that helps you see that from my perspective I don't think that it's a sign of things to come, and that people aren't about to leave in droves because of the recession or single men. I think it's a very small minority of accounts/users/members (You choose!) and there is not enough evidence to hypothesise strongly one way or the other, and certainly not enough to begin pointing the finger of blame.
Quote by Trevaunance
In your post you said users not accounts when that isn't correct, yes it is true over it's lifetime + accounts have been created but many of those accounts have long since been abandoned some never used, people are lazy and in a lot of cases just can't be bothered to delete profiles which has lead to this over inflated figure of A more realistic figure would be a quarter of that and then I'm being generous, only about 15% of the site is active within a 90 day period and by active I mean logged in.
Quote by Trevaunance
a site with over 1.4 Million registered users
I said registered users.
To have an account a user must register themselves, and a registered user has an account. therefore the two terms seem interchangeable as they cannot be seperated.
Before the site was taken over you signed up for the forums and also for the adverts. Therefore many of the pre-takeover accounts were doubled up. When the takeover happened all these accounts were kept, and most, even then were unused. Many of the 1.4 million will be double and probably still unused accounts.
Before this became a pay site it was possible to see the whole forum member list and the number of their posts. I was always about the 100th top poster despite posting rarely. Probably over 90% (educated guess) had signed up and never made a single post - hardly evidence of using. I can't comment on the adverts users because I never signed up or used them but I suspect very similar figures
It is beyond the realms of credibility, with a total population of about 62 million in the UK, with 13 million of those under 18, that 1.4 million are users of this site. If they aren't active then whether they are registered users or not is academic. Most will have had no contact with this site after registering and not instantly getting a shag and cannot be considered to be 'users', although their registered account remains. The headline figure of x million users appears to be a means of parting unwary, desperate people from their money, for a month at least, and letting the punters see the true activity of the site is, rightly, a business secret.
As to why people leave, they always have and they always will. They did when it was free and they continue to do so when it is pay-for. Each person will have their own reasons for leaving or staying and the reasons stated by the op will be valid for some but not others.
Quote by Trevaunance
Even with basic membership they would be able to log in, view profiles, receive and send messages. So it is their personal preference not to log in.
Not so, as basic members they cannot initiate contact with others via PM, they can reply. So what good is it being on a site where you cannot contact someone unless they contact you first? Some maybe happy to sit and wait hopping that sexy couple/female they saw will message them.
Sex God
Quote by tricky-dicky
Even with basic membership they would be able to log in, view profiles, receive and send messages. So it is their personal preference not to log in.
Not so, as basic members they cannot initiate contact with others via PM, they can reply. So what good is it being on a site where you cannot contact someone unless they contact you first? Some maybe happy to sit and wait hopping that sexy couple/female they saw will message them.
When you quoted me did you notice it says receive and send messages, and not send and receive? Which is exactly what you have described.
I'm glad to see you agree with me.
Is it, tat for tit or tit for tat 
Ok maybe i need to take another approach here, or maybe get more to the point. I don’t know really, maybe some people are not so good reading between the lines. anyway a different approach; We have been talking to a number of people over the last week about christmas and new year's eve; about turn out at pubs etc and in general spending, the out come is bar staff being sent home early because a lack of trade. We have a son working in the pub trade, its seems to be across the board, turn out is down. You guys can throw all the figures you like but right here and now its down on the tills, simples’. So we are talking as it would be from now, no sales figures, account figures membership numbers will change that. We are seeing the recession hitting people, and for the 1st time we (Rachel & Paul) are seeing people turning away from SH. For whatever reason you want to see it as, makes no difference to whats to happen in the coming year. Maybe they feel they don’t want to waste anymore time trying to talk to people on SH, maybe they are the wise ones! and maybe we should join the exile, after all the alternative options are growing on the web. I don’t disagree with what has being said on this thread because to be honest you are working with the knowledge you have, but I had hopped for a more forward thinking response, but then this is SH after all :lol:
Ok maybe i need to take another approach here, or maybe get more to the point. I don’t know really, maybe some people are not so good reading between the lines. anyway a different approach; We have been talking to a number of people over the last week about christmas and new year's eve; about turn out at pubs etc and in general spending, the out come is bar staff being sent home early because a lack of trade. We have a son working in the pub trade, its seems to be across the board, turn out is down. You guys can throw all the figures you like but right here and now its down on the tills, simples’. So we are talking as it would be from now, no sales figures, account figures membership numbers will change that. We are seeing the recession hitting people, and for the 1st time we (Rachel & Paul) are seeing people turning away from SH. For whatever reason you want to see it as, makes no difference to whats to happen in the coming year. Maybe they feel they don’t want to waste anymore time trying to talk to people on SH, maybe they are the wise ones! and maybe we should join the exile, after all the alternative options are growing on the web. I don’t disagree with what has being said on this thread because to be honest you are working with the knowledge you have, but I had hopped for a more forward thinking response, but then this is SH after all :lol:
Sex God
Paul the trouble is your opening message and you last message are two different things.
We all now that the recession is biting, would you care to show where I or anyone else has said different?
But that isn't the fault of single males. I can read between the lines many times over, but single males are not the cause of recessions, or vice versa, they are just a group to blame.
I understand your sentiment that friends of yours have suspended their accounts, but when things pick up they can resurrect them if they choose to. your right, it makes no difference to the coming year.
Lets play with some figures here. Imagine the site accommodates 50,000 registered users this month. What sort of percentage are your friends? %?
So they are not likely to be seen as the start of a mass exit given that the site membership has grown from the start of the recession 5 years ago to now.
I would also argue, once again that your friends refusing to log in has not actually changed things for symbios who continue to broadcast registrations, not active users.
Like you said it 'makes no difference to whats to happen in the coming year'. The site membership will still grow.
Out of interest why do you believe that I, or any other member, should have a more 'forward thinking response'? Were you somehow convinced that someone with the same membership as you could change things? If that is the case then maybe you should try posting in the 'suggestions and feedback' forum if you really feel you have an answer to the problem or want a debate you feel you have the answer to.
Finally can I just pick up on this point ' I don’t disagree with what has being said on this thread because to be honest you are working with the knowledge you have' Wow, That is amazing. Your recognising the fact that we don't have all the facts because you as the OP chose not to post them, then by the same token arguing with me because I questioned your first post.
Oh and for the record, if you want to have a dig at me do so, don't hide behind generalised comments that are beneath you.
We all now that the recession is biting, would you care to show where I or anyone else has said different?
But that isn't the fault of single males. I can read between the lines many times over, but single males are not the cause of recessions, or vice versa, they are just a group to blame.
I understand your sentiment that friends of yours have suspended their accounts, but when things pick up they can resurrect them if they choose to. your right, it makes no difference to the coming year.
Lets play with some figures here. Imagine the site accommodates 50,000 registered users this month. What sort of percentage are your friends? %?
So they are not likely to be seen as the start of a mass exit given that the site membership has grown from the start of the recession 5 years ago to now.
I would also argue, once again that your friends refusing to log in has not actually changed things for symbios who continue to broadcast registrations, not active users.
Like you said it 'makes no difference to whats to happen in the coming year'. The site membership will still grow.
Out of interest why do you believe that I, or any other member, should have a more 'forward thinking response'? Were you somehow convinced that someone with the same membership as you could change things? If that is the case then maybe you should try posting in the 'suggestions and feedback' forum if you really feel you have an answer to the problem or want a debate you feel you have the answer to.
Finally can I just pick up on this point ' I don’t disagree with what has being said on this thread because to be honest you are working with the knowledge you have' Wow, That is amazing. Your recognising the fact that we don't have all the facts because you as the OP chose not to post them, then by the same token arguing with me because I questioned your first post.
Oh and for the record, if you want to have a dig at me do so, don't hide behind generalised comments that are beneath you.
Quote by Trevaunance
Paul the trouble is your opening message and you last message are two different things.
We all now that the recession is biting, would you care to show where I or anyone else has said different?
But that isn't the fault of single males. I can read between the lines many times over, but single males are not the cause of recessions, or vice versa, they are just a group to blame.
I understand your sentiment that friends of yours have suspended their accounts, but when things pick up they can resurrect them if they choose to. your right, it makes no difference to the coming year.
Lets play with some figures here. Imagine the site accommodates 50,000 registered users this month. What sort of percentage are your friends? %?
So they are not likely to be seen as the start of a mass exit given that the site membership has grown from the start of the recession 5 years ago to now.
I would also argue, once again that your friends refusing to log in has not actually changed things for symbios who continue to broadcast registrations, not active users.
Like you said it 'makes no difference to whats to happen in the coming year'. The site membership will still grow.
Out of interest why do you believe that I, or any other member, should have a more 'forward thinking response'? Were you somehow convinced that someone with the same membership as you could change things? If that is the case then maybe you should try posting in the 'suggestions and feedback' forum if you really feel you have an answer to the problem or want a debate you feel you have the answer to.
Finally can I just pick up on this point ' I don’t disagree with what has being said on this thread because to be honest you are working with the knowledge you have' Wow, That is amazing. Your recognising the fact that we don't have all the facts because you as the OP chose not to post them, then by the same token arguing with me because I questioned your first post.
Oh and for the record, if you want to have a dig at me do so, don't hide behind generalised comments that are beneath you.
I wasn't having a dig, just putting my point, using past figures and all that stuff don't really add up as other people have pointed out. But let me thank you for your posts to this thread. you are % of the site and should have your % of the say...
Sex God
Actually I'm half of that percentage, because thats based on two accounts not one
Quote by Trevaunance
Even with basic membership they would be able to log in, view profiles, receive and send messages. So it is their personal preference not to log in.
Not so, as basic members they cannot initiate contact with others via PM, they can reply. So what good is it being on a site where you cannot contact someone unless they contact you first? Some maybe happy to sit and wait hopping that sexy couple/female they saw will message them.
When you quoted me did you notice it says receive and send messages, and not send and receive? Which is exactly what you have described.
I'm glad to see you agree with me.
Wouldn't say I agree with you, if you had said reply I would. Sorry if I'm being pedantic but regardless of how the words are arranged, 'send and receive' or 'receive and send' most people reading the words send messages implies just that, that they can send messages with no restrictions.
I think you know full well how restrictive the site is to basic members, maybe not so much to single females and couples who are likely to receive messages. It's okay if you just want to sit back and expect everyone to come to you, but if you want to be a bit more proactive on the site and make the first move your stuffed.
Sex God
Quote by tricky-dicky
I think you know full well how restrictive the site is to basic members, maybe not so much to single females and couples who are likely to receive messages. It's okay if you just want to sit back and expect everyone to come to you, but if you want to be a bit more proactive on the site and make the first move your stuffed.
I see your point entirely, but if someone wanted to be a 'bit more proactive on the site and make the first move' they have the option to upgrade their membership. It's all down to personal choice.
Quote by Trevaunance
I think you know full well how restrictive the site is to basic members, maybe not so much to single females and couples who are likely to receive messages. It's okay if you just want to sit back and expect everyone to come to you, but if you want to be a bit more proactive on the site and make the first move your stuffed.
I see your point entirely, but if someone wanted to be a 'bit more proactive on the site and make the first move' they have the option to upgrade their membership. It's all down to personal choice.
If in this economic climate they can spare the upgrade fee, which kind of brings us back round to where this thread started.
As the thread seems to be going round in circles I have nothing more to add.
Happy New Year.
Forum Virgin
Sorry, another one of those dreaded single males here..
Sex God
Quote by sam_przy
Sorry, another one of those dreaded single males here..
Dreaded?? I suppose that depends on who is looking! Each to their own
Sex God
Quote by sam_przy
Sorry, another one of those dreaded single males here..
:welcome: To the site and forums
Quote by Paul80
Over the last couple of months 2 good swinging friends have not continued there SH accounts. Is this a sign of whats to come on SH as a result of the recession or is it becoming overloaded with men?
Did they make a thread and go 'woo hoo over here, we're leaving' - if that was the case, they'll be back any day now.
If they just did a runner, then it's more likely to be a long term issue.
