FREE MEMBERS - now completely restricted

I think the only way the new legislation affected the free membership was as a result of the fallout from the loss of craigslist personal and reddit subreds, etc. Suddenly tens of thousands of people who relied on those venues to find sex are scrambling to find new venues, the free account here being a draw.

As a lifetime member I have the ability to approve new profiles, and the numbers of new profiles have been staggering since craigslist shut down their personals. With a technical background I know first hand how the sudden influx of data will stress the server and the host providing us with SLS daily. I have seen some of the result of this technical stress, and can imagine that the admins of the site are scrambling to keep the site running. My IM logs are gone prior to early March, surely because they needed to make room for all the new IMs happening. My messages from last year are gone, again, an indication that they are scrambling to make room in the database for the influx of new messages daily. The profile approval system has been down for a few days, new profiles are stacking up waiting for approval.

I think this is why they suddenly put the restrictions on the free memberships, in an effort to keep the site up and running for us. I have actually seen the site crash once, briefly.

Having been a free member for a while before I could afford the luxury of the Lifetime membership, I appreciated the limited access I had. I actually met some nice friends during that time. As an SF naturally I receive many messages from free SMs. Most just get deleted but the boost to my ego is invigorating. Now I actually miss those. Now if I find an intriguing profile I know I can't send them a message if its not a paid profile. Free profiles can no longer attend parties and events because they can't receive the confirmation message. The new restrictions have put a dent in my fun as a paid member, actually detracting from my benefits as a lifetime member.

Just my two cents.

snort

Thanks PhoenixCougar.

Sorillo, I left off fall out shelter and bunker with you in mind ;-)

BT

Rustyrobin and BridgeTender........both excellently said!!!!!!!

I totally agree with each of your points, and have nothing more to add, except HURRAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"In the end, I hope that this will cut down on the picture collectors, trolls, basement masturbators, and riff raff, be they SMs, SFs, or Couples"

I feel compelled to respond to that contemptible slur.

I don't have a basement.

I have always been free member and single male friendly. THAT BEING SAID : If your a free member and are now bitching about it , Join the site like the rest of us. I mean my GOD its like a tad over $100.00 for a lifetime. Hell I paid it twice once for 10 years and then this profile when we came back ! People waste more than that in 2 months time on stupid stuff. If you are TRULY interested in being a part of the swinging community that would show you are. As a free member you really bring NOTHING to this website . It takes money to run a site , maintenance a site , patrol it update it etc . So you want all the benefits of the lifestyle and the site but want everyone else to pay for it all. Typical mentality of today's society . I believe the site should block ALL IP's after 30 days if they do not join. That would solve many issues . Any other site you join is the same way . Free members have NOTHING ! The way it should be ! Most people here block free members so those of you who are complaining that you have gotten nowhere here or the lifestyle. Just think most likely you are only seeing 1/2 the people actually here and in your area even .

I don't think it's a political spectrum issue. I'm actually pretty disturbed by the legislation, which I consider to be well meaning but poorly thought out and deeply flawed.

I already have free members blocked, which cut way down on the wtf emails. I don't think this site should be free, so I'm unbothered by more limitations placed on those without paid memberships.

For the record, I'm opposed to government intervention into our private lives. I'm also opposed to knee-jerk reactions. Thought I'd toss those thoughts out there from the get-go.

That said, I wish SLS had taken this step years ago. In my opinion, I think there should never have been anything called a "Free" membership. The word should have been, or should be, "Trial", and perhaps it should have come with a deadline to become a paid member or lose all access. So, yes. I'm wholly in favor of SLS restricting free member access, whether it's email or forum related.

This should be a paid site only (with the caveat being what I've mentioned above). The price of admission being the almighty buck. If you want access, access costs money. To me, it's as simple as that. If you can't afford the price of admission or if your significant other handles the family finances and you can't hide the monthly fees or lifetime fee, don't join the site.

I've always felt that being a paid member demonstrates a level of commitment and seriousness (Yeah, I can't believe that I just typed that too...) that many Free Members don't necessarily (can't and won't speak for, or label everyone) have.

In the end, I hope that this will cut down on the picture collectors, trolls, basement masturbators, and riff raff, be they SMs, SFs, or Couples.

Again, this is just my opinion. Since it's a semi-free country, you're semi-free to have your own, too.

BT

Makes it hard to believe that we are living any form of a free country..
However, what about making a spot on the free members profile and if they are interested then it will open a page so they can put in their contact info, We all know we check to see if we have mail, as well as any other form of social media, Especially if its from one of our sexy friends. This making it easy for the interested to make contact.
I don't see that would be breaking any laws, or regulations.. Of course, I am no lawyer so I don't even know if this is legal, but it sure did sound good!!

Thanks for listening
Kris ;0

Bad, especially since no-one can posts hot dates now, until they 'make changes'. Kinda BS (and fraudulent) to limit free users, then when you pay for a membership you do not get what you allegedly paid for as paid features.

I won't be surprised if the law gets overturned though.

free members now have NO ability to send or reply to emails, an cannot read or reply to the forums (can only see the topics and initial post, no replies)...

your opinion --- good or bad for the site????

this is all because of the new federal regulations, which in theory have good intentions, but like most things government does, it has negative consequenses... Im not sure how it will ultimately affect this site but in general it sucks to have government regulate how a private website and members who sign up willingly run their business....

im actually suprised the liberals let this slide.....