I Need to Say Something

@sarabee1995 I will, Sara 🤗 Thank you.

@sarabee1995 🤪

@sarabee1995 I second this notion!

Scary ???@sarabee1995

@SW-User Yes, very.

Really ?? Would anyone come on this site expecting anything else ?

@SW-User People do come on this site expecting to hook up in real life. And some do use information posted here to try to find people.

Old guys flirting with young girls and reacting the way this guy in her story did are scary.

But if you were the nervy sort would you come herein the first place ? That’s my point. If you come on here then you have to expect weirdos 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

I came here for decent convos and potential friendships. EP was shut down, and it had reminded me of my old, favorite social network.

The creeps can pry but I don't engage with them very much. "Expecting" weirdos to be present is totally different than "allowing" weirdos to take advantage of you. Totally.

Yeah, but if you expect normal people on here then you are living a fantasy. You only have to look at the usernames to know what to expect.

@SW-User I've never considered myself "normal" yet I'm not some creep. I expect there are a good deal of others here who feel the same. I met someone here whom I love. "Normal" doesn't describe this person. Kind, generous and loving do. Go figure! Still there's a huge difference, again, between enjoying conversations with people who are not always considered "normal" on a website that's not "normal", and being taken advantage of by absolute creeps on a website that's not "normal".

If Alex hasn't run into that kind of person yet (and I'm pretty dang sure she has) she will. She's a smart, lovely young lady but she's still a -young- lady who is open and that draws a lot of sick people in. I think the point is, if you're any kind of a beacon (great or small) for unsavory folks, you've got to protect yourself accordingly and not feel you're in the wrong for doing so.

I myself will never be talked out of protecting myself.

Yes, it's scary to be taken advantage of, at any age. If you've never been wronged so, I pray your streak continues. Truly. For those of us who are older or experienced, there's no wrong in wanting to prepare young, sweet, and/or innocent people to protect themselves from what's likely to come.

To me it kind of feels like the right thing to do.

Weird, huh?

I think that the best way to protect young,sweet,innocent people is to advise them to stay away from this site ! They will not be sweet and innocent for long if they spend any time in here Far better and more productive things to doing with their lives.

This site is full of weirdos. Some of them probably very sick. Just stay away if easily offended or frightened. Its easy. I wouldn’t want any daughter/ granddaughter of mine to be spending time on here.

@SW-User I think you are too easily throwing in the towel. I don't know if you were back on EP or if this is your first experience with this type of site, but EP did a great job of stating it's purpose (it did a lousy job at many other things and that's why it closed.) My point is that a community where people are organized by experience group rather than by real-world relationships allows us to meet people anonymously who've had similar experiences and therefore relate on deeper level.

Are there pervs here trying to distort the intended purpose of this site? Yes.

Do they pose a threat to young people? Yes

Should we cave to them and hand over the site to them? Hell no.

I think most of the pervs here have me blocked because I expect, no, I demand that the same rules of courtesy that govern our real world interactions apply here. The user names that you talk about I don't even see anymore.

After this post Alex and I had a great chat about internet safety. It was very similar to one that a great friend of mine had with me when I was Alex's age (17) and first joined EP. Right now I'm hoping that I didn't drive her away from here (she's gone this morning).

But please...
Don't throw in the towel. If the pervs on here bother you, then you are the type of man we need more of here. Instead, join me in calling out their bullshit. Flag them when they flirt with minors. Confront them when they break ToS. Call them out publicly when you see them acting inappropriate in public threads. In other words, be a man. We need you.

Well she did the sensible thing. If this place offends or frightens, don’t come here. Every city has a neighbourhood that is best avoided. It’s is full if drug addicts, sex workers etc etc.If you go there just be aware of the risks

@SW-User I guess this is where we would have to agree to disagree. If I knew of such a place in my city, I would work to clean it up. But then, I'm also in the Navy and we run "Freedom of Navigation" missions around the world all the time in tough neighborhoods.

I don't want to cede a neighborhood in my town to degenerates and miscreants nor do I want to cede SW to them. If the good people of SW (like you and me and our friends) insist on good behavior around us, this place doesn't need to be the dangerous neighborhood you describe. They are always a minority.

I’m sure there are far safer places to interact with people than on here.... This site attracts all sorts of deviants as you well know. Anything from fantasists about rape to paedophilia to bestiality etc etc etc. Why would you want someone young and innocent to risk coming into contact with these people. Far safer just to stay away. Stay away from the rough neighbourhoods it’s far safer. @sarabee1995

@SW-User Asked and answered. As I said, I guess we need to agree to disagree.

Rather than cede this place to them, I'd prefer to stay and fight for a safe place for Alex and others like her to come and discuss life's complexities.

The problem with your argument is that you are assuming that everyone has the same capabilities that you do. You can fight your corner. Not everyone can. Why look for danger if your not equipped to deal with it. This site is not the place for an innocent young girl. Far safer places to be.@sarabee1995

@SW-User @sarabee1995
Sorry, for interrupting...

But both of you make excellent points that should be promoted, even if I don't wholly agree. People should play to their strengths. That means there is no "one size fits all" solution

I'm not sure innocent, etc is a strength but I understand feeling protective of others.

If someone is capable and willing to stand their ground and hold their corner, then they should do so.

If someone is unwilling or unable to stand their ground...then they should seek out alternative solutions that fit thier abilities and personality best. I suppose that could mean staying away. Nothing wrong with that-it is very beneficial at times...and sometimes it is best to just strategically retreat if you don't like what's going on or not even go somewhere if you know you won't be comfortable...as long as it is their choice to make. I sometimes worry that people keeping other people in a bubble of innocence and "safety" prompts a certain degree of ignorance which doesn't help train them to be knowledgeable, or be strong in dealing with conflict and idiots and sickos in real life or online. Telling them the facts and teaching them to be good people and helping them find the best solution to what they want, give them opportunities to practice and try and be available to be their backup is great.

In the end... shouldn't we want women to be strong in whatever solution they pick?

@Scribbles Agreed 🙂

I'm a sweet girl. I think. I'm someone who believes Jesus Christ is Lord, and I try to follow His ways, although I know I've failed, so completely, often. I'm a virgin saving myself for marriage, even if it doesn't happen for me. So in that way, if not others lol, one could argue I am "innocent". 🤭 (But not one of us is completely innocent.) I'm -certainly- not blind to reality, and I'm not dumb. I hope others will be aware while maintaining their own morals as they're able. I know the kind of rubbish people post here. I'm aware of many dangers. And I will be here for the same reasons I stated earlier. I'm also aware the young and innocent WILL find their way here, and I'm in agreement with @sarabee1995 that there should be decent people here who see that and are ready to share any wisdom afforded to us by those who once shared with us, and by life experience. People should keep their eyes open even, no, -especially- if they intend on keeping their integrity.

I have a block button and I use it. I have filters and I engage them. So what I see here may just be a bit different than what you see. I've witnessed the garbage and I chose to enjoy my filtered version of this place. Am I aware of the sickness? Of course! But I don't support it, and won't indulge in what I consider unsavory when I could instead enjoy genuine conversation, shared understandings, important issues debated and actual friendships.

Perhaps if you engaged your filters your experience here might be different, as well. @SW-User

There are lots of people in the world who would be horrified by what goes on here. It’s not for the vast majority of people. We are by far the minority here. How many members does SW have ? Not that many. If someone stumbles across this site and could be in danger from a predator - then please stay away. That’s my point. This place is for the street wise. Not the innocents of this world.@Scribbles

Do you know how many people I've advised away from here? You mentioned that. It's something I've done. I've even had a conversation with Alex about the messages we put out and the consequences we may find ourselves dealing with. I agree that this isn't the place for everyone. I wouldn't want my child here. I would want my sisters here. My best friend. My father. Because they have the ability to make this place brighter and better.@SW-User

People can be both innocent and aware.

We agree then.You advise certain people to stay away. You wouldn’t want your child here. I see a lot of people in the world who are childlike. I would advise them to stay away. That’s all I am saying. @KayraJordyn

Yes.

Innocents.

@SW-User