does anyone use this site

[denverbronco007 (deleted)]

Hey everybody.. Just wanted to say hi. I just joined yesterday. I'm hoping to meet new people on here. I was very upset when I found out 5 months ago that i had this problem, but I'm not going to let it beat me. This is my first time trying one of these sites (or online in general), so i'm kind of optimistic about things. Finding another person with this condition just seems like a "no brainer."
Anyhow, again just wanted to introduce myself to everyone on here. I'm looking to meet new people, so if anyone t wants to chat, hit me up...

[alikakadri (deleted)]

I've met plenty of nice people here and, if anything some that were a little too friendly right off the bat ~LOL~ but this site is definitely what you make of it. Takes time to figure out anything new, and although the forums aren't used often, the chat is, at least the lobby and a few of the topic rooms.

[chefken40]

7kellison wrote: `it may have 140+ sites but i have no idea how i get to the groups i joined. _


Exactly. I'm trying to find my way around as well. Keep finding people 1500 miles away

[blazzineyes]

It's colder in this place than a morgue I was starting to think I was back in school playing the cooties game it's good to see signs of life welcome!

Blazzineyes

[belgianguy (deleted)]

`The "Niches concept" is actually killing the site as a whole....
Instead of having ONE single open source of profiles, in which you can search by means of matching passions , it's fragmented so that we users already feel TIRED before we start looking...
The outcome is clear : over 90% of all profiles (95% ? 96% ? 97% ... ????) have this indication on their profile page :
"Last time online: More than three months"
which often will mean : never-ever anymore.

I don't understand why the webmasters still don't see this as a "FATAL PROBLEM" to their site. Intentions to build something good and reliable (like with "real people in here") are actually torn down by the unbearable weight of complicated fragmentation, and lead-heavy navigation within this virtual nation with nothing than barriers.

Like in the real world : cutting down the barriers, is what brings people closer !
Hope at least ONE webmaster will read and consider this, if he or she at least is returning to this site within "More than three months" from now ... = Never ???

[feedback]

We have to admit to being a little confused by your comments.

You state that you want 'ONE single open source of profiles, in which you can search by means of matching passions'.

Well, that is pretty much how the Search system works, if you choose.

While the network is VERY diverse (with over 240+ niche sites), each member chooses the sites that match their personal passions in life...so each member has their own personal 'open source of profiles' to search through (and those profiles are specifically matched to that member based on the sites in their account).

When you are on the Search page, you can:
1) Search the single site you are on at that time
2) Search all the sites in your account (to cover anyone who shares any of your passions in life)
3) Search the entire network, regardless of whether or not you share similar passions in life

Basically, the entire network IS one open source of profiles, and you can choose how you want to use the system.

We admit that our approach is VERY different from every other online network 'out there', but if you look back through this thread, you will see an interesting mix of comments.

Some people complain about the lack of activity, while others say that the network works for them, and you get what you put into it.

The reason we chose this distributed niche approach is that it allows members to participate in sites that are HIGHLY targeted. The Passions Network site itself is the most generic, and not the best example of the how the network really works.

For example, if you are on Native American Passions, you will find a site designed to speak to the interests of Native Americans, with groups for individual Tribal affiliations.

If you are Trucker Passions, you will find a site designed for the trucking industry, with groups related to trucking.

If you are not Native American, or in the Trucking industry, those 'fragmented niche sites' are irrelevant to you...but for members who are focused on those themes (either separately, or simultaneously), those sites work for them.

And while there are a lot of members who have not been as active as we would like, the network is actually pretty busy. Yesterday we had the highest amount of traffic and logins since the network was launched over 8 years ago.

We do admit that most of our members are in the U.S. and Canada, so if you were searching in Belgium, we would not be surprised by a somewhat negative perspective on the network...but we are working to change things so that the network will work for International members as well as it is working for members in the States.

To that end, we began collecting more detailed location data for International members last year, and we will be adding 'distance searching' for all Countries at some point in the (hopefully) not-to-distant future.

We also launched specific sites focused on Geographic regions, so that members who want to focus on the Country they are in (more than any particular 'passion in life') could easily do so.

Related to the Geographic sites, we are also in the early stages of a complete network translation into multiple languages...so that each site can be read in Spanish (our first language translation), French, German, etc.

Independent of the work to increase the reach (and usability) of the network to Countries worldwide, we have begun a number of new projects to encourage inactive members to log back in again...and we are seeing some fairly dramatic results (despite how it may appear to you at the moment).

Logins by members who have not logged in within 3 months has increased by 30-50% since we began sending out reminder emails.

So...hopefully this doesn't sound too defensive, but we wanted to let you know that we are actively working on the network on a daily basis, and we are very aware of what is and is not working.

While we cannot promise that your personal experience in the network will live up to your expectations, we can promise that we are doing everything we can to fix the areas that seem to cause problems...and we are constantly experimenting with new features and design changes.

We are passionate about Passions Network, and hopefully the fact that we are actively working on it daily will help offset (at least some of) your negative perceptions.

Thanks for your patience as we work to make the network better for all our members,


.

[awesomov]

I will admit, after having browsed this site for quite a while, activity is unfortunately not up to par in my perspective (from what I've been seeing, most women in my area have not logged in for a very long time, and several I've messaged and had plenty in common with otherwise barely do as well). However, I will admit I do get a higher response rate than other sites I've been to, which is a huge positive considering the high number of people who've not even really acknowledged me (which I'll admit has happened here as well, but it can happen anywhere).

The important thing is to keep positive, and I've also learned not to worry about location too terribly much (I feel bad for the international members, though; I realize that can be difficult). I also know I'm capable of keeping up long-distance, since I've done so before despite still being screwed in the long run (long story, but feel free to ask).

And most importantly, I'm glad no one has to pay. I get tired of hearing about these greedy websites that seek to reap in rewards based on the misery of the members desperate enough to join. Whatever happened to free love?

[super4518]

Just joined the site and it is not bad. Unless you are lookinng for it is not easy to find though and that may be some of the problem.

[lisaviva]

I have met a few from this site.