All can see...

[69billy]

(chris9005 @ Feb. 26 2008,07:49)

(statuesque @ Feb. 26 2008,09:27) Aawww, if this pushes through, I might have to, as they say, sing my last song.   Ive never really paid anything online before. There was only that one time but - ...    Besides, it seems to sound a bit silly for me to pay so I can discuss about girls! Hahaha! Maybe in another forum where girls talk about guys, that might change my mind!  

But anyway, I understand your concern 69billy. I hope stogiebear can provide solution for both sides. I do enjoy my time here as well.  


S

Maybe I have read it wrongly, but my understanding is that 69Billy's idea is not that it should become a pay-for-membership forum, but that you should have to register to see and post anything. Or am I wrong about that as well?

You are not wrong 9005...That is the idea,not  a pay-for-membership forum, but  you should have to register..
And for the pips. who want this form to be open to anyone...You are not going to get any more wanking material ..or score any points with LBs by showing them this form...

[stogie bear]

One of the problems with the message board is that we can't pick and choose who has access unless we make it a 'Membership Read Only' message board.

If we do that then of course nobody will click through the promo galleries and join any sites.

We can close down some forums to Registered Members Only, but why do we want to do that?

It's not gonna stop members showing the pics to their favourite ladyboys. It's not gonna stop anyone from finding the pics.

Some of the ladyboys are even starting their own picture post threads. They do this by registering their names. (Neung, MayBangkok, Christy...)

The problem from my perspective is that if we close up some forums then the non-paying members won't see the banners and promo galleries and the people who won't ever join any site will have slightly more privacy.

How does this benefit the forum? How does this benefit me? How does this benefit the contributors. We already know that it inconveniences the guests.

My other problem is that because of the nature of this forum there are some people who don't feel comfortable registering on a message board. But maybe some of those people WILL feel comfortable using their credit card to join a pay site.

By next year we will be promoting a lot of sites and the forums will all have custom banners in them. I don't really want to force people to register to see free stuff if they don't want to.

Also - by forcing everyone to register we end up with a false member count. Many people come here, have a look for a day and never come back. People who want to stick around will register. Many of them will start adding posts of their own. Some will prove to be long time contributers.

Nobody is going to find this site by accident and stumble on some pics. If there are disgruntled ladyboys out there who don't like their pics on the internet it's because a registered member has shown them to that ladyboy and NOT because we failed to secure our borders.

That, I'm afraid, is nothing we can do anything about!

[newwriter]

Billy, this always felt like a storm in a teacup to me. I'm not a super regular who is likely to suffer from it but if you're afraid of something you've said or posted being used against you - don't post it. I know that might mean we have a tamer forum but I seriously doubt that will be the case.

Sign in and go for your life. It'll never work as pay for play only - owners would be crazy - and so if somebody has the patience to sign up they're in.

[alan1chef]

If the ladyboys consent to having their photos taken with the knowledge that those photos may become public domain, then there should be no problem. Is that the issue, or is it that they don't like how they look in the photos?

[andre459]

If you have a restricted members site how can you guarantee that one of the members is not the offender in question?

[kahuna]

Good point...

Maybe I'm just stupid (Ok I am stupid) but I really fail to understand the significance of this thread...No matter how many fences you build, you can't guarantee that some dog still won't shit in your yard...

I understand your concern Billy but i don't believe restricted access will solve anything but to reduce membership...

[gart4571]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 26 2008,10:16) I tend to agree with Razman...

There isn't much point in making this forum harder for the people who may eventually subscribe to one of the pay sites that we promote.

You can only contribute to the threads and posts by joining this forum. But if all you want to do is read and check out the pics then that's fine... you can do so anonymously.

The forum is always free even if you want to join up.

Hi Stogie: If anyone can join and have access to post and view all of the different sections of this forum, then why did I pay $100.00 for an annual membership? I would not be in favor of different levels of membership such as having to post so many times to have access to certain areas. I don't really post that much but I do go to LOS annually for 2 to 3 months and I read the forum almost daily collecting info for my trips. That is why I gladly paid the $100.00.

I would be in favor of giving access to the first three sections to paying members only. Heck, I would pay the $100.00 fee just to see Billy's XXX pics. Also, if the section showing XXX pics of the ladyboys were open only to paying members, then how many PFP ladyboys are going to pay to have access to be able to check and see if their pics are on the forum?

[stogie bear]

then why did I pay $100.00...

You didn't pay it to me, mate...

[gart4571]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 26 2008,20:08)

then why did I pay $100.00...

You didn't pay it to me, mate...  

I sent to you by Western Union.

[stogie bear]

That was for AsianTS.com, not this message board.

[gart4571]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 26 2008,20:35) That was for AsianTS.com, not this message board.

OOPS!! Sorry.

Then, I would also be willing to pay another $100.00 for the message board. Thanks for all that you do for us, Stogie.

[thaibound]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 26 2008,06:08)

then why did I pay $100.00...

You didn't pay it to me, mate...

but i did


though i've saved a back twice over with the valuable advice garnered on this free forum (not to mention the fun to be had).
no question which is the better value.

as for restricting viewing, it's easy for us to say guys like billy shouldn't post anything they are concerned might be seen by unwanted eyes, but stop and think how much less entertaining this forum will be for *all* of us if that is the result of continued unrestricted viewing.

i'm no techno wiz, but how hard would it be to have just a small portion of the forum be 'members only'. a *relatively* more secure location for our bolder posters to continue to entertain and amuse. accessible only from within the forum, i don't think it would limit the thru traffic which will be exposed to the links and ads before ever seeing the 'members only' section, and it might at least demonstrate an effort is being made to take care of our most valued posters.

just my two cents.
and you can keep the change.

[alan1chef]

I don't think this issue is a problem for ATS to resolve by restricting it's own business operations. For example, any LB who sells her photos to ATS consents to allow ATS to use those photos for any purpose they see fit. After reading all the posts again, I still see the issue as a matter of consent between the LB and her customer.

[stogie bear]

but how hard would it be to have just a small portion of the forum be 'members only'

Good post...

It wouldn't be difficult and that option is still under consideration.

Maybe when there are a few more 'Promotional' galleries then we'll require registration to read the Picture Post and The Trip Reports...

Maybe that would solve the doubts of some of the long term members.

[rossco]

When one looks at the actual real contributer posters (not just asking questions) it is a minority. Perhaps 50+ people. Lots of viewers but ow many really post/contribute anything?

OPEN forums should be legally acceptable. Forums are monitored by authorities SO OPEN forums should comply with the law.

Open forums are great for info. Perhaps a separate forum for more "personal" posts would assist in assuring that legit info is only visible to the "vetted" subscriber.

We all have a passion which we like to share - it is a shame that the open forums abuse that passion.

I have a great deal of respect for posters who actually have the decency to ask if posting a LB's photo is OK. You guys do a great job.

The real risk is that if someone posts porn then the authorities are going to spotlight the web site to everyones detriment.

Let common sense prevail.

More work for the moderators unless we all follow some code of principle/ethics etc. I thoroughly enjoy the forums/posts and hope it can all continue BUT it needs some sort of self governance/discipline.