Quoting Swifthawk: I honestly cannot believe some of the response I've seen here! People are balking at a minimal fee and (from what I can see) the ONLY limitation people who don't pay for the site is limited picture views. WTF is wrong with you people??? The free users have WAY more access to this site than other websites out there that charge a helluva lot more than TN charges to use their site. This site was started by a private individual who was sick and tired of nudist sites turning into porn factories and he wanted to keep this site free. Unfortuantely, with growth of the site comes extra costs that he can't cover. Is it really wrong for him to want to keep this site running at a minimal cost to himself and the users? Certainly not. All you people threatenting to leave in anger over this change, please LEAVE, don't need your negativity here. I dare you to find a more smutfree nudist site out there. Chances are you won't find it.
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Well, well, take it easy here, the views differ and the discussion must be free and open regarding the big changes launched!
At the homepage of TN there's still the text "Signup today, 100% Free, No Payments Ever" (still at 11.45 PM Wester European time, July 15th). And then today this changes radically, without any warning or any appeal to the members to give an extra support voluntarily. 45 USD might be a"minimal" fee for Swifthawk, but not for me and many others. And even if I'm prepared to pay something I can't since the payment system accepts only Visa and Amex. I have neither. Like many others I use MasterCard. The two world leading cards are Visa and MasterCard. But for paying true nudists MasterCard is no option!?
I agree with those arguing for removing the limitations regarding each members photo collection. I want to choose myself what photos to be availabe for all, or for True Nudists and/or for Friends. I don't want my friends to pay for checking my photo collection. As others have stated - the changes made is a way to make people pay for my photos, but not to me!
Reduce or delete the Gallery instead, that's a low priority part of the site.
Same goes for "Locations", which is of no use for all outside US. I've sent proposals several times, in many ways, regarding adding places in Europe and elsewhere, but have so far not got any reaction or answer. My first proposals regarding "Locations" was added in the Forum some six months ago, in addition to sending messages.
The chat function could be an option to pay separate for.
Seems like the changes have been made in panic, causing a lot of protests and disappointment. "Nude and free" is now "Nude - if you pay".
And all this because the previous payment distributor "suddenly" discovered that this nudists site had nude people on display. OMG!
Hehe...Forgive me for being so harsh Andy, but I'm sick and tired of people coming here bitching about this site (if you take a look at the people really complaining about it, they've been here for a month or so). If you don't like it, leave. There are PLENTY of other options out there and quite frankly I'll be happy to see them go. There is enough negativity out there in the world and I don't need tocome here to see it when I'm wanting to have a good time.
As far as the money is concerned, that's $45USD/yr, not a month, not a day, a year. All things considered, that's not a whole whack of money, but you're right, that could be a lot of money to some (hell even me lol). However, if you can't afford it, what are you loosing out on? Really? You can only see 5 profile pic's on a profile? I'm sorry, but all things considered that's pretty damn minor and if people are going to get their panties in a twist over it...again, go somewhere else. There's a lot of other free sites out there that you can view loads of nude people on them, if that's what you really want. Besides, would you people who are so upset about this prefer that TN go the normal route for pay sites? Not allow people to message people, chat, view profiles unless you pay for it? Is that what you would prefer? From the sounds of it, that would be the only other alternative and quite frankly, as I don't have a credit card I sure as hell wouldn't want that.
I've also seen several people saying I should be able to let whoever I want to view my pics and not charge them a premium for it. While I can understand where you are coming from to a degree, but really is it THATbad? If it's that important to you, e-mail the pics to your friends. I'm sorry, but I just don't get where you guys are coming from there.
The bottom line is this. The way I see it TN has 3 options. 1. Do as they are doing now. 2. Charge a fee to use the site, but not allow users to use the chat, forums, or messaging system, just like other pay sites out there. or 3. Shut the site down, as it's obviously too much for him to deal with. Which would you guys/gals rather have?
*edit* I would like to add though, I do agree with people who don't like how this has been done, I don't either. A little notification would've been nice, I do think that we deserve that much. Maybe a week? I don't know, but the way he's done it wasn't very good at all. That said though, it is what it is, either accept it or don't. lol...I know the banners haven't been done yet and it still says 100% free, but I think some people are being a bit nitpicky there. lol...Shit, it just happend for crying out loud.
If the limit to five photos will be permanent - why have more than five photos posted??
All those great collections of photos that many have on display has been one of the best parts of the sites, apart from the Forum. When others have many photos, it has been a challenge and inspiration to post more yourself, in order to make TN more and more valuable for the members. A site where we share the joy of activites of all kinds nude.
Sunbathing of course, but also sports, driving, gardening, kitchen work and gatherings. My friend "Andybr" is for me the best example, with all his photos from the nudist club activities in Brazil.
Sad to see these advantages of the site disappearing just like that - poff!
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The comments made shows, not surprisingly, that we use the site in different ways and make different priorities. But so far few, if anyone, have come to rescue the Gallery. Reduce or delete it. It's a lot of pics there that can be found somewhere else at Internet. But the photos we post here at our own profile pages, at least the certified ones, they are personal and real.
Thanks Rudie and Andy for your viewpoints on limiting the pics. Gives me a completely different perspective. Phew, I am sooo glad I'm not TT1. And yes, Rudie, would have been nice for some notification. Might have lit the fire under us to donate like we've been saying we would for months now, but just never got around to doing it. (and probably many others as well). I agree, Andy (and a few others) get rid of the gallery, It's not necessary and at least half the pics on there were lifted from other sites anyway. Get rid of the profiles of people who haven't logged in in say 6 months. Will save lots of bandwidth. Okay, everyone, insteading of complaining, how about some viable solutions for TT1? Before he throws his hands in the air and says "forget it" and shuts down the site altogether. Or. lol, just ignores us all and does what he damn well pleases with the site. Big world out there on the internet, for each person who leaves, there are plenty of others willing to join for free with the limited restrictions TT1 has put in place or pay the nominal fee. Jen p.s. Thank you MagicHandsJohn or whoever fixed the thread.
I agree with you there, Cuddle. If you are going to complain, offer a solution, not just complain. That drives me absolutely nuts. lol
Yeah, Swifthawk, solutions offered:
# 1: Delete the Gallery
# 2: Ask all members here (for the moment 15 344 true nudists registered) to give a supporting fee in this financially heavy moment for the person running the site. Let's say at least 10 000 of the members give at least 5 USD, that sums up to a substantial development fund. But then a different payment service is needed, making it possible to pay by phone, by several different cards and in other ways possible.
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If these actions don't give sufficient effect, let's talk again. Challenge the members to come up with more proposals.
For this reason, I am VERY glad that I never posted nude pics of myself!The decision of TN to go 'paysite' (something of a misnomer) is not the issue for me, money is an irrelevance - what did for me was to log in and find my own material, which had been posted on the understanding it would be free for others to view, behind a commercial screen without any warning notification. Whilst I have no problem with anyone turning an honest coin nor seeking renumeration for their labour - if their stratagy is going to involve me (or my image) I would consider it good manners to, at the very least, ask first even if only by way of a general notice before the event.Now - if I have got this right - the chatroom, forum, profiles etc will all stay free to view, the only limit on the site is the number of gallery and user pictures one can view (top 5). So, for all the trumpeting of high ideals, disparaging remarks about 'porn' and 'sex' etc., True Nudists will now be, to all intents and purposes, selling nude pictures of it's members in order to support itself? Forgive me - I'm having a tiny bit of trouble squaring that one in my head because no matter which way I turn it it still looks the same. The irony is palpable.Rudie x
Methinks we all agree it was done badly. Certainly not the way I'd have done it, but.....
KEEP the gallery, but charge for that. I'm sure that would be the biggest moneymaker due to the pervs and pic collectors.
I've no problem with the five pic limit for non-paid, but it kinda eliminates all use for the "friends only" and "certified only" flags.
Disllowing forum posts would disappoint me greatly. Not sure what I'd do.
Disallowing private messaging would make this just another dating site. Pretty sure I'd leave.
What I'd have done, is the common practice of a shadow corporation. One that merely collects money, as is done by most of the porn sites now. "Will show on your statement as MaryJane's secure pay" or whatever. PayPal doesn't have any problem with that.
But, that's me.
For the number of registered members, I'd have done something like $1/mo. Yep. ONE dollar per month. That's around 15 grand if everyone paid, which everyone won't, but hosting and bandwidth is cheap today. The three servers at my house attest to that !!
I'd probably disallow posting more than TWO pics for non-paid, so for that ONE dollar, you'd get a lot.
Not viewing, posting. Maybe 4 dollars to view ? I dunno. Have to have a hard think, as Rudie said.
Maybe two dollars, depending on how it goes.
Maybe no viewing if you didn't post OR pay. Many possibilities, depending on whether one is trying to defray costs, or make a profit.
Hell, I can donate hosting ! Probably not high bandwidth. Not sure.
As I posted elsewhere, probably the logic is that limiting pics will produce the most revenue.
Not the way I'd have gone necessarily, but *partially* understandable.
I'm reserving judgement, until we see the results of the fall-out.
I at least, understand the resentment expressed by those who freely share, in finding that someone else
is seeking to profit from what was freely given.
As I say, not the way I'd have done it.
Agree with Andy too, seems to me that someone should be mounting a big campaign to get pay pal to differentiate between naturists and porn. So right now, might be some good come out of it, but still feeling rather disappointed.
AsI posted elsewhere, a simple shadow corporation to collect the money, such as showing "MaryJane's secure pay" as the billing party would have completely nullified the Pay-Pal argument.
Alas, he didn't ask me.
I would like to thank you again for your quick response to our concerns. You have again shown that you care about this site and wanting to keep it the best nudist social networking site. While I feel there are better things to limit besides number of pics someone can view, I understand your reason and accept your decision. As I posted in a bulliten to my friends, I will be staying here and hope they do the same.