[LOCKED]Bring back the mail

@mayhem8 , true, lifetime members are just that, lifetime, nothing we can do short of closing account, but I know some members have accounts on multiple lifestyle sites and will naturally gravitate to those that are easier to use and give them the features they are looking for. From a money point of view, the lifetime membership for SLS is relatively minor compared to other household expenses, so while another membership (or two?) at other sites may seem frivolous, it is likely a significant number may opt for that if they feel they will get a better bang for their buck, pun intended.

If my understanding is correct, Wayne has no decision-making role and simply provides support. Presumably he tells site owners some of the feedback he gets, but he can't control what they do with it.

Wayne has reported strange beliefs that the site owners have in the past. For instance, when the site was disrupted on a saturday evening due to maintenance, the justification was that nobody is using the site on the weekend; they've already made their plans. We were going to a party and were unable to get the address because the site was inaccessible.

So we can bellyache to Wayne, but in the end nothing will matter. The site's owners seem to think we want this place to be Snapchat or something. The greatest indicator of how potentially interesting a couple might be to us was their ability and willingness to put together an interesting email. The ability to make that distinction is now lost, and we will be limited to interactions such as "Nice ass" or "Want to see my cock?".

The only place users have to voice their opinions about the site is here in the forum and it is nearly unanimous that we prefer to use email. My question is, how did SLS come to the conclusion that this was a good idea?

The answer of course is, they simply don't care. They did it for the same reason they make all of their changes, it saves the site a few sheckles.

Not one single change that has been made to this site in the 15 plus years I've been a member was brought about by management asking what we wanted and implementing it. Quite the opposite in fact as evidenced by this disaster.

I understand that as a lifetime member you have absolutely zero motivation to care what I think, I just don't feel you need to be so blatant in your contempt for your members.

~Scamp

And I formatted all that nicely, so that it was easy to read, and this silly site just stripped it all. Enjoy the wall of text, dude!

Read the thread, Wayne, and stop being so obtuse. Plenty of people have gone into explicit detail about what they dislike about the terrible new IM system! Some highlights:

• Can't disable it.
• Closing messages counts as a profile view of the sender.
• Messaging interface is too small to type in depth messages.
• Messaging interface is too small on mobile devices.
• Messaging interface does not format properly on large resolution monitors (4K).
• Sent messages are not always delivered.
• No off-site notification of a new message, you must log in to the site to check for new messages.
• Video messaging that no one wants and other apps handle better.
• No way to easily reject messages with a preset message - like you could in mail.
• No way for free members to contact you unless you put contact info in your profile.
• New message count indicator not updating.
• Can't save messages in an unread state for you to later review with your partner - a sent message now means it is a read message, and then the sender expects an immediate response.
• Can't hover over IM senders to preview their profile, like you could in email.

Wayne, you seem really attached to this upgrade. Otherwise you'd be clamoring to understand why your users are so bent out of shape over a feature they didn't want being poorly implemented without any meaningful notice, instead of being dismissive about complaints.

If nothing else, I hope the staff here learns the importance of surveying your users to see if they even want what you're thinking of, and to put it in a test and feedback environment BEFORE you roll it out into production. You guys look like amateurs doing the way that you have.

While there is no positive comment about the email going away, the forum is just a tiny fraction of the SLS population.

I'm not saying you shouldn't voice your concerns, but the reality is that if there is no real difference in the ovetall # of SLS users from this change, it will still be deemed a win because it eliminated a source of potential site maintenance.

If I were a monthly paying user my opinion would mean more because I could vote with my wallet.

As someone else mentioned, SLS has one of the largest nerworks of swingers. So while I don't like the change, they know it's unlikely that lifetime nembers will leave. I'll not cut my nose off to spite my face, as the saying goes.

As for the video option, there are a community of users that like to cam so they will likely see that as a plus, even if we see no comments in the forum about it.

Please bring back the mail. I never!!!!!!!use messaging. This is totally mad and had been done without any sense of what people want. I will certainly never use video chat. You constantly warn people about giving traceable info like phone numbers or addresses and yet you think video chat is a good idea. Either it is pure stupidity or someone is making a pile of money on these changes.

Please bring back the mail. I never!!!!!!!use messaging. This is totally mad and had been done without any sense of what people want. I will certainly never use video chat. You constantly warn people about giving traceable info like phone numbers or addresses and yet you think video chat is a good idea. Either it is pure stupidity or someone is making a pile of money on these changes.

Why take away one of the better features on sls.. it worked. Was able to write a cohesive message to someone rather than some short message, that people don't want on here. The email option made sense to have, now forcing something that nobody uses or works correctly.. doesn't seem right to do to members that pay. Should of asked before forced it.. Now it should be switched back so we can have our regular email options back because trying to use this only IM as a mail feature isn't good to hold conversations with people, Email message worked way better. Not all of us use the app!

We never comment on the changes that SLS makes, because it seems obvious to us that the complaints and suggestions are ignored by those in control, so we will just say this:
This is by far the dumbest thing SLS, or any website, has done yet.

Every single time I have to interact with SLS folks, I have a moment where I wonder if I'm arguing with the Red Queen. It's like there's no common language, plus I've clearly fallen down the fucking rabbit hole.

Fine, you're going to replace email with messaging. I don't know why, because it's not like all of us, even my 86 year old father and my six year old nephew, don't know how to use email, but let's pretend this clearly stuck in the 90s website is trying to join the 21st century by way of messaging. I'm currently on my laptop, but I mostly use my phone for everything that is two paragraphs or less. When I use my phone for messages, and only for messages, because it works fine for email and forum posts, my trusty autocorrect and autofill functions don't work. That means I have to laboriously type out every single damn word, including the punctuation for contractions, and I have to spell most of it correctly, because the internal spell check is, at best, rudimentary.

My phone is from last year, but it's a common Android model. Plus, like I said, its functions work elsewhere on the site.

Oh, and, yeah, it's really awesome to read a short message that is split into six different segments, with the split often coming in the middle of the word.

So, basically, it's not so much the format change that is the problem. It's that the replacement is badly designed shit.

Does that make more sense, Wayne? And, no, I won't be using the stupid app either, pretty much for va's reasons.

Wayne— as others asked, have you read the commentary? We had another member here send us an im. It was broken, disjointed and partially nonsensical , and they are not illiterates.

We no longer have subject lines or instant replies.

It encourages one line bullshit pickups. We have never received an intelligent im. The main reason our profile states not to im us

Do you care? No. I’m sure you don’t. Personally I would like a refund of our lifetime membership as your perceived “improvements” over the last few years have actually reduced the benefits we signed up and paid for.

~rabbit ~

We have not used the Messages feature yet. We have noticed it does not say IM just Messages. That to us denotes you send a message to someone be they online of offline and wait for a reply. On the surface it seems like it would work for both offline and instant communication equally. We have gotten several IMs and been offline since we joined but none of them were worth replying to like e-mails have been. That said call us old school and we really prefer the format of an e-mail system especially if you can easily scroll for replies in the same thread to refer back to things. This is especially helpful as the male half is online more and on the site more but waits until the female half can work on a reply. Of course not having used the "new" system we have no clue if you can do this but we know you could not in the old e-mail system. Who knows it could actually be better than the older systems once folks get used to it.

That said based on what we are reading of other's experiences with the new system it makes us glad we only paid for 3 months then added 6 more before we planned on seeing how things went and going lifetime. If the communication system is as bad as folks say it severely cuts the functionality of this site for us. We will not use other forms of outside communication (at least until we really get to know you). We also are not app users but access the site from a desktop. We do see how the new system is likely more app friendly but unless you use the app you want a website that functions like a website not an app. For now we will wait and see.

Oh and many people point out that the IM doesn't work properly on their phone (which I've not really had a problem with but mind you I never ever initiate an IM) and I have a feeling the intention is to push people to use the app.

I will not install the SLS app (or any lifestyle app) on my phone - end of story. People snoop at other people's phones, or maybe I hand someone my phone to look up something. I'm not doing it. I am sure I am not alone.

Wayne

This is absolutely awful. This isn't fucking Twitter. Some- nay, most people actually compose a message of paragraphs, spacing etc. Like an email.

I haven't posted much on the foray lately, but if anyone at SLS cares (and all indications over the last few years are that nobody does) the membership hates this crap.

And yes, it's crap.

Every "improvement" the site has rolled out over the last few years - with the exception of Hot Date - has been a loss of functionality or some other encumbrance which makes this site a growing pain in the ass. Most people don't even bother telling the site the changes suck because it's obvious that nobody cares or listens. But this is the worst - hands down - the worst change sls has ever made.

I'm holding back a lot because if I go all out you'll just delete my post. I mean it, Wayne. This blows donkey balls.

I took your car and swapped out your engine for one with more horse power... ????

But ...

We took a tire. ??

I’ll say it. I’m sure others are thinking it.... The other feature that made your customers comfortable was the chat logs and the ability not to delete. It kept everything above the board.
I think kept your customers warm and fuzzy. I know everyone here has the best communication skills with their partner/ partners .. lol

I understand server space but a time limited log would be nice. Especially for new to the LS couples. It’s just like the certification option... I like to see certs. some don’t. Personal choice is a wonderful thing.

If IM was so great. Why do 1/4 of cpls profiles start by saying don’t IM us please.

We like thought provoking well thought out communication. ??????? With spaces. ??

If there is really "no difference" between the systems, bring the old system back. For a long time the IM's have been a pain. Now that's all we are left with??

@Wayne - This is a blob of text. When the blob of text has any amount of content to it, it becomes annoying to read without page breaks. The new message system does not allow for page breaks, If I wanted to send a message that would normally be broken up into 2 or 3 paragraphs I can't do that. I suppose that I could type in a couple sentences, then hit the Enter arrow, but being able to enter the whole message in at once allows you to re-order and/or collect your thoughts better. It is simply a superior communication tool. If I want to scroll through and re-read my message before sending it, that is difficult because it only displays 2 lines at a time. When I did try to enter something of length in, the message was arbitrarily broken into two pieces and it broke in the middle of a word. Not sure if that's by design or what. I will agree that the gist of the purpose of each is basically the same, but email is more like a tool and Message is more like a toy.

This is basically the same blob of text. When the blob of text has any amount of content to it, it becomes annoying to read without page breaks.

The new message system does not allow for page breaks, If I wanted to send a message that would normally be broken up into 2 or 3 paragraphs I can't do that.

I suppose that I could type in a couple sentences, then hit the Enter arrow, but being able to enter the whole message in at once allows you to re-order and/or collect your thoughts better. It is simply a superior communication tool.

If I want to scroll through and re-read my message before sending it, that is difficult because it only displays 2 lines at a time. When I did try to enter something of length in, the message was arbitrarily broken into two pieces and it broke in the middle of a word. Not sure if that's by design or what.

I will agree that the gist of the purpose of each is basically the same, but email is more like a tool and Message is more like a toy.

So, based on the same above content with the only real difference being the format, which did you find easier to read?

There is a bug.

We composed a message.
We added photo AND THEN COMPOSED MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND HAD TO BE RE-ENTERED

I mean have you read any of the replies? Tons of people have literally spelled out what they dont like about it......

<p>What is it that you do not like about the new system? There is really no difference between the old and the new.</p>

<p>In both systems you:</p>

<p>1) Type a message.</p>

<p>2) Send a message.</p>

<p>3) The other party receives the message.</p>

I HATE the IM feature, and prefer the MAIL.....as it stands, I am done with SLS and will no-longer use the service, really wish I hadn't become a "lifetime member"

GOING BACK TO AFF

There is no excuse for removing the primary core feature of the site. Really?

Put the email back front and center.

we do not im at all so looks like we are done

I completely agree that having messaging only is ridiculous. The biggest issue is that the site shows members still online long after they are gone. The mentality with using this or any instant messaging system is that it be instant. So you get responses a message of hi. You reply back but guess what they are already gone and this goes on and on. It’s very hard to get a conversation going that way. No one is going to use an IM system to send messages like they would mail. I too am done with this site the ownership at least needs to acknowledge that they hear us and explain why this had occurred. The video chat is also a pain because now men constantly keep opening calls therefore making me further avoid the use of the IM feature.