Early Networking

[barbie]

When reaching 18, networking with other gay women had slower means.
Like online newsgroups and adult contact magazines, with mainly inconsistent letter replies.
The Golden Wheel; being this only popular contact magazine then.

[art]

Yes barbie and adult contact magazines or classified adverts in newspapers was used since 1960s.

[trinity]

Before Magazines: two cans with this single string piece, strung taught between us.

[romany]

Magazines was our only outlet before internet.

[blondie]

Newsgroup personals was another nightmare, rather like some blind date, you would be better off street patrolling.

[qtee]

How about morse code when this were all Captain Pugwash

[art]

There were drawbacks in those former contact days, especially using adult contact magazines. Mainly time wasting absence in replies until one owner sent me this honest letter.

This owner said:

Do not bother with the adult contact magazine scene.
The people who really do well out of them, like fruit gambling machines, are those who run them. These people are preying upon the gullible. Do wake up.
The scene is almost entirely made up of men with spare money and time to spend on sending letters. Such men are chronically insecure about what they want and frighten of exposure. They are not spending enough time on fun. Some of them will be married. All of them, by dint of reading or advertising are settling for second best.
The vast majority of women who place ads and pictures in these periodicals are in it for the money. They don't mention this because they can't - legally in this country - not because they want to deceive you into writing to them. If you do write you are confessing yourself to be sad and desperate, and prepared to enter into commercial transactions. Please don't.
If you advertise in the scene you simply find yourself poorer in the pocket. If you are male you will not get genuine answers. If you are female you will get lots of replies from people who think they are sexually skilful or professional; all of whom are readers of the scene, all of whom are sad. The scene is a poor way to make friends, but a great way to feel like a fool, unless you own and run them.

Had spent £3 on letter postage when this letter arrived and convinced me was speedier and cheaper acquiring my contacts from local bars. Least effort and didn't endure blind dates from any bar, which were socially realistic.
This letter though intrigued me showing some forum members who use that notorious web site and chat room run on similar lines. Where you frequently see those same Nom de Plumes using that chat room; with much idle time on their hands. Site owner(s) will always favour that same cliqué for any unemployed, drugged bum, drunken bum, rogue or vagabond; heard about through you. They will rarely approve genuine sociable members when this sad cliqué will jump on and in some cases get them banned.

[eowyn]

Consider this conspiracy
Was having coffee in starbucks café once overhearing this fascinating conversation from two young men who stumbled upon some conspiracy inside this lesbian IRC chat room. One young man tipping off his friend about what he had discovered in there, by accident.
He ventured into this lesbian chat room by mistake and was greeted by a lot of abuse, except one who was decent enough to point out he was out of place in this ladies only chat room. Those who gave him abuse kept hounding him for proof by telephone or some meeting venue, insinuated he was a man, phoney or another chat user.

One gave him this abuse then sent him an impromptu private message and confessed he was a 60 year old bisexual married male and inebriated. This old man then proposed either having sex with him or his wife he used to prey upon younger chat room women with some telephone call. Should he agree from his proposition, he could join this chat band with other chat room men, so long as he joined them with this same harassment.

In his private message this old man listed his band, all whom had abused him on arrival in similar manner.
Dare saying, only genuine female in this IRC chat room was this politest user.
Why take risks asking for someone telephoning you, when they first claimed you weren't genuine.

Answer very simple, they're dishonest and assume all else, being same like their self.
No genuine female in her sane mind, would harass some complete stranger for telephone calls; with risks involved online.
Under no circumstances, don't ever entertain trading phone calls with someone you haven't met and not yet decided they are trustworthy and compatible.
Only men who live in that fantasy world.

[tinkerbell]

No worries ... never did ... never shall.

[blondie]

You need not concern yourself too much art, that site you're refering too, isn't listed branded by most broadband suppliers!

[seven]

Before then, lighted beacons on hilltops!

[candy]

Knew about that site you're on about; thank goodness not being member myself. Horrible place heard.
When using their chat room, you can be accused for not being genuine or someone else until you phone them.
Weirdo kind using that blackmail!?! Not my kind for sure.

[mercedes]

Looks somewhat old hat for me.

[gaia]

Telegram Sam, ha.