Unless you are close with the provider, it is an unnecessary exposure of personal info.
For those who are relatively quiet and hardly post, giving out TER handle obviously does not matter much... because there isn't anything to be scrutinized about. However, for active participants on the boards, I now feel that giving out TER handle can do more harm than good because it exposes unnecessary information that the provider does not need to know at least not before establishing a mutual trust between you and her.
** Note that this is NOT about 'having something to hide'. I don't. Rather, it's about dealing with the fact that you can't please everyone.
A long time senior mod on TER has said that if there's one thing he learned from all the years he has been a mod, it is that the easiest way to get attacked/scrutinized is to be an active participant on the boards and post frequently under the same or identifiable handle. Fact is, certain people get sensitive over something as trivial as a spelling error, your choice of handle, choice of words, the TER friends you associate with, or something you wrote on the boards or in your reviews.... even if you only had the best intentions.
You simply can't please everyone. Everyone has a pet peeve and a personal preference.
I almost never reveal my TER handle during screening because of these reasons. The ladies who know my real contact info + real handle are close friends who are close enough that it doesn't matter what I say on these boards since they already know before it even gets posted.
The providers who happen to know my handle (without being a close friend) were due to special circumstances, and indeed some of these led to problems. I'm starting to think that senior mod was right. One lady appeared to be offended by something I said about her friend, a complete misunderstanding, and we're no longer communicating. She wasn't my type anyway but still enjoyed communicating with her. Another lady was apparently upset that I didn't take her side (my best guess) during a discussion. Another lady expressed disappointment because I saw someone else while she was in town, apparently she found out from one of my posts and caught my white lie.
Most annoying was when a lady has gone so far as to contact almost all the ladies I've seen from my whitelist & reviews, contacted everyone trying to dig up more info such as my occupation, income, and other personal stuff.
Depending on your perspective, it could be flattering.... but it's also a bit freaky, annoying, and an unnecessary exposure of info.
What do you guys think?
"Unless you are close with the provider, it is an unnecessary exposure of personal info."
I disagree. It would make me think you have something to hide. And from the tone of your post, you must be a little concerned with some of your posts here.
"For those who are relatively quiet and hardly post, giving out TER handle obviously does not matter much... because there isn't anything to be scrutinized about. However, for active participants on the boards, I now feel that giving out TER handle can do more harm than good because it exposes unnecessary information that the provider does not need to know at least not before establishing a mutual trust between you and her."
Why are you so concerned about being scrutinized? I see lots of gents who are active on the boards. I don't come on here looking for all their posts anyway. Who has the time?! Once again, you must be worried about some of your posts. So I say if you cannot stand behind what you post here, maybe you need to reel it in a bit.
"** Note that this is NOT about 'having something to hide'. I don't. Rather, it's about dealing with the fact that you can't please everyone."
This is not what it looks like to me. You obviously are concerned with the ladies seeing your posts here. So as much as you say this is not about having something to hide, it is exactly about that. I think we are all intelligent to realize that no one can please everyone all the time. You not sharing your handle is due to negative posts or an expression of your opinion you would rather not completely share with everyone. If you are worried about ladies seeing your expressed opinions here, all that tells me is that you are not willing to stand behind your own opinions.
"A long time senior mod on TER has said that if there's one thing he learned from all the years he has been a mod, it is that the easiest way to get attacked/scrutinized is to be an active participant on the boards and post frequently under the same or identifiable handle. Fact is, certain people get sensitive over something as trivial as a spelling error, your choice of handle, choice of words, the TER friends you associate with, or something you wrote on the boards or in your reviews.... even if you only had the best intentions."
I have been posting for over 3 years. I don't worry about being scrutinized or attacked because I stand behind my posts here. I also try not to be rude/impolite to people. I am not saying I have never been rude or impolite. But I try to post here as if I am face to face with someone. So please forgive me, because I am not buying it.
"You simply can't please everyone. Everyone has a pet peeve and a personal preference."
That's true. But you are going to spend an hour, maybe two or maybe a dinner date with the lady p4p. Honestly, even if you did have some less than desireable posts here, I would still see you. Most ladies would. Why? Because it is business. I am not concerned about your personal expression here unless you are a complete ass.
"I almost never reveal my TER handle during screening because of these reasons. The ladies who know my real contact info + real handle are close friends who are close enough that it doesn't matter what I say on these boards since they already know before it even gets posted.
The providers who happen to know my handle (without being a close friend) were due to special circumstances, and indeed some of these led to problems. I'm starting to think that senior mod was right. One lady appeared to be offended by something I said about her friend, a complete misunderstanding, and we're no longer communicating. She wasn't my type anyway but still enjoyed communicating with her. Another lady was apparently upset that I didn't take her side (my best guess) during a discussion. Another lady expressed disappointment because I saw someone else while she was in town, apparently she found out from one of my posts and caught my white lie."
So basically you just don't want new ladies to know your handle? :/ I guess once a lady gets to know you it's okay? Nope. By your own statement it appears to be worse once they know you better. There are going to be misunderstandings in life. Deal with them head on like a man. If a provider confronts you about seeing someone else, let her know this is what you do! Tell her flat out that you hobby so you can see lots of different ladies. If she doesn't like it, don't see her anymore. Who the heck needs that kind of drama?! Also if a provider has something to say about your posts here, for crying out loud, just stand behind them!
"Most annoying was when a lady has gone so far as to contact almost all the ladies I've seen from my whitelist & reviews, contacted everyone trying to dig up more info such as my occupation, income, and other personal stuff.
Depending on your perspective, it could be flattering.... but it's also a bit freaky, annoying, and an unnecessary exposure of info."
I do not know any ladies who do that. I know that one or two might be contacted. But I cannot see anyone having the time nor the desire to contact all of the ladies on your whitelist. Well unless there are only 2 or 3. I would assume the lady is trying to screen you with the limited information you provided her. Maybe she feels a bit nervous about you for some reason. I don't know. I can only speak for myself and say that I never go through the whitelists and contact every single lady you have seen. I only contact a few. Enough to make me feel comfortable and safe enough to see you.
"What do you guys think?"
I am not a guy. But here's what I think: The ladies reviews are a tool we all use to see if the person (client or provider) is someone we are going to click with. We also use them to confirm you are a legitimate hobbyist who is seeing legitimate ladies. So you might be atadbitshy. But I think if you are not sharing your handle, you must have a reason you need to hide it. I say stand up. Be a man. Stand behind your written word. And if you cannot, then maybe you should rethink what you post here.
Because some of guys are pretty kinky, especially if you ready one of my reviews posted in Sept 2011 and another one posted in October 2011.
I think it is important for the lady to feel comfortable. One lady told me "I don't think we are compatible giving the type of women you see".
I was glad she was honest about it, plenty of fish in the sea.
-- Modified on 11/21/2011 7:27:51 AM
for both parties! I do read reviews when I screen to make sure we are a good match.
By the way, when I do contact ladies, about references or they contact me, we all disclose what the gentlemans handle is. You don't have to tell us, we will more than likely tell each other. ![]()
Thank you, Dave, for your post. ![]()
It's your assumption that by not divulging my TER handle, I have something to hide and that I'm not being a man.
LOL
Of course a provider would want to know everything there is. You are biased as ever.
Fact is, you completely misunderstood the point of my post.
The point was that no matter what I do, I can't satisfy everyone. A senior mod who was around longer than you have has stated this so I think I'll believe his words rather than biased provider who is obvioulsy looking for more information about a guy.
Maybe you haven't experienced much drama to notice it because you're on the providing side, who knows.
I always give my TER handle as a quick reference for myself in this community. When I contact a new provider I also encourage that she look at the reviews if interested. Thanks.
Thank you, on our websites it usually asks for your handle. It saves us time and we can go straight to the whitelist and ask who listed you any questions. It also stops the email tag. Quick and simple.
I see your point as to not everyone can be made happy these days. I'm not easily swayed by opinions so discussion boards are relative.
...I know verification is a necessary so if a lady can read the stuff associated with TER handle to get a sense of who this hunk of man is then by all means do it..... Saves time with that verification thing.
I've never posted with an alias until about 3 years ago, when I realized that being a prominent member of a community involved in an supposedly illegal activity is not a good idea. Before then, I had never gotten in disagreement with anyone, including providers, because I never said anything controversial. Posting with aliases, I feel that I am a better contributor as I can speak my mind.
While not by design, I have seldom seen any providers who are active on the board, mainly because most of them happen to be not my type. Through the grapevine, I gather that getting involved with them tend to get oneself sucked into controversies. Currently, none of my regulars post on the board and they only occasionally post an ad. They don't care whom I see, perhaps they're too busy to worry about that.
I never disclose that I read TER or even bring up the subject of internet discussion boards or reviews when I am with a provider. That way she has no preconceived notions about my knowledge or expectations and she can be herself and perform her act without prejudice.
I don't think it's a good idea to boast about your internet presence because people can research your history and use that against you or make judgments about you.
As far as using an alias, don't forget the mod knows the alias identity. Do you trust the mod? I heard of at least one mod who got kicked off because he abused his power.
I find that disclosing your TER handle only helps with sessions (with me anyway). I had a client in nyc who was one of the top posters on this site book some time with me...he never told me who he was until he had one foot out the door (sort of "BTW I am soandso" hand on the keys) . I was so upset (jumped up and gave him a hug) because in reality, what he thought would be used against him would have made for a much hotter session, since I wanted to meet him for the longest time! To this day he remains a friend who I respect.
The answer is...you just never know ![]()
I also post frequently, and can definitely understand what you mean. Sometimes, when I post, and the replies I get makes me cringe. Spelling error, small shit that doesn't even relate to the fucking post, they just assume and make too many conclusions that you didn't even state in the OP. Its a fucking nightmare sometimes in those boards. But, every1 has got their own opinions. Just like the celebrities got their rumors, hell, u can believe it or not believe it. Its simple, the ones that causes disruption doesn't have too much going on and need to do more hobbying than wasting their time on shit replies.
I somewhat disagree and not disagree with giving out your TER handle. It depends if you frequently hobby or not. But, if you want to protect your identify, and that makes you feel comfortable, then that works for you. Hell, if I got some1 stalking me for my address, occupation, I'll be keeping my handle a secret too. There r some crazy fuckers out there, and you gotta do what is necessary for your benefit, not the benefit of other people. Its u, u have to worry about. Cause, at the end of the day, who the fuck is gonna pay for your mortgage?
Anyways, as for me, I do give out my handle. If they make judgements on my previous post. Well, fuck them, I'd find another one. If they want to play that BS, they are saving me a favor of not seeing them. Hell, they don't even know me and want to judge me on previous shit, fuck them, I'll skip on her and find another. There are always plenty of ladies that don't deal with drama.
In your case, you want to protect your identify and welfare, and that's a whole different level of privacy, so, you have to do whats best for you. In my case, its different in terms of some of my controversial post. Every1 is different, you have to do you before you can worry about what other think of you.