www.BoundAnna.com

In this time of soul-searching, we here are curious about how we are doing as individual members, moderators, and as a site as a whole.
There is nothing wrong about reading our posts, without contributing your own, I am not suggesting anything of the kind. But since participation makes our community stronger, I thought I might ask if there is anything we could be doing to encourage you.
Please vote on this poll. Voting is anonymous and your name is not recorded by voting, nor is your choice. Only written responses will be visible.
Past lurkers may also tell us how they broke the ice and how they felt making their 1st post to Bound Anna. As an initially timid user myself, I would like to hear how you all overcame this.

I started to reply to this yesterday, but had to get some work done so left the site. Then there were 30 "views" and no replies, now there are 49 and still no replies. Does this prove anything? Perhaps I can start the ball rolling?

I lurked on several kink sites, but this was the first on which I registered. Why this one? - because it is the best factual self-bondage site, and one of very few kink sites that is not over-run with porn. Kink does NOT equal porn. I have no problem with porn, well, not strictly true, well-produced porn is fine, but there's not much of that. Why self-bondage? - because it was my only way to express/enjoy my kink. I've moved on from that now, via an active real-life kink life including Munch organising and private/public play-parties with my wife. to save you the bother of digging, here's my first post

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well, I've taken the plunge, been "lurking" for quite a while, learnt a lot, discovered some interesting people who seem to share some of my "kinks"

I've been fascinated by bondage since I was around 8, had a friendship with a school friend "killed" by parents who didn't approve of me tying up his younger sister (we took it in turns between the three of us!) so a solo career from then on

also interested in CD, no desire to look like a woman, just enjoy the feel of stockings, tights and recently a corset

have a long and happy marriage but entirely "vanilla" so my SB hobby is my business alone - and yours now

being an Engineer has given me a few opportunties to develop some helpful kit-I'll tell you about the spanking machine later

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that was 12 years ago

This site's "management" take a strong line on "no flaming" - ask a dumb question and nobody will make fun of you, because there is no such thing as a dumb question - if they try, we call in BoundJenny with the whip

We try to point out dangers, but not censor your posts. Ask questions and people will answer.

As a new member, you'll need to have two posts approved by a Moderator before they actually appear on the forum. This is part of our anti-spam policy. We aren't worried about the content of posts unless they break our site rules, if you go over the line we will PM you with an explanation and a polite warning.

You can register with any email address - if you are concerned about identification get a gmail or hotmail account, a user name that doesn't identify you, even use VPN account, then make sure you don't give personal details in posts. You will see few photos on this site, and we give guidance on how to remove EXIF information from digital photos.

so, to the 49 (and counting) people who looked at this thread, please post, here or elsewhere on the site, and if you are a "lurker", please join us by registering - it's free and we don't want to know who you are in real life unless you want us to.

My first post was a question to Anna About why I couldn't get an avatar to load! April 11, 2006. It was another 14 days until I posted on a different subject!
I suppose i had lurked without registering for a while, until I decided this was a place that seemed friendly, welcoming, and informative about something that was not easy to discuss in real life. I had also been devouring the info on the "main" site, and probably found my way here from that, looking for more. I do remember that it took me a while to get up the courage to register and post. Little did I know how it would affect my life. More on that later.

Ij touched on the point that there were already a bunch of views but no replies, and asked if this proves anything. It may. It kind of addresses my first reaction to seeing this thread, which was that lurkers probably aren't going to reply to it, as they are lurkers. Who knows why some won't ever join in? I know I was nervous the first times I posted, even though I knew no one could identify me, but I overcame that after a few posts. I don't have to check to know there are a very large number of people who have registered as members, but never posted. Some even posted intros, never to be heard from again. Most probably don't even visit anymore. It is sad, to think they had enough interest to sign up, but didn't follow through. BUT, this is also true of many real life organizations and clubs. There are often way more members that who are not active, don't attend meetings, or participate in any meaningful way, while a handful of people do all the work, or have all the fun.

My own experience here is unique. (Yes I know everyone's experience is unique, but I feel sure mine is UNIQUE in the truest sense of the word.) That is one reason I am still here, although not as active as in the past. Just over a year after my first post, a young lady posted a request for a scenario to do since her workday had been cancelled and she had time alone for some fun. A couple people replied but offered no suggestions, just a wish that she have fun. I replied with something that encouraged her to respond. She had a little fun, and we continued our back and forth over a couple days, and finally took it to PM's, then to emails, Skype, and eventually to phone conversations. To make a long story short (shouted from the audience, "TOO LATE!"), I relocated to the other side of the country and we have been living together for almost 9 years now. We are both switches, so we enjoy our various roles as time rolls on. (She is in control right now.)

A bit later I became "pen pals" with a member of this site who subsequently dropped out active forum participation for reasons of her own.

All this probably means nothing in relation to the poll or to its intent, except to say that I will be very surprised (and delighted) if any actual lurkers respond. But having told this, maybe some will see it and be encouraged to join in.

I lurked about a week or two, reading the posts, getting the general feel of the place's atmosphere, then dropped in. The rest is history and 8000+ posts of pure (blabbermouth) fun. Once in a while, fortunately once in a long while, I need to wield my whip. I am ruthless with spammers and reprobates.

lj wrote: you'll need to have two posts approved by a Moderator before they actually appear on the forum

Make that three. One more little detail - editing a previously approved post while still "under probation" requires reapproval of that post, but that doesn't count toward reaching that three-post milestone.

Mind that anyone here needs to fulfill these requirements:

- Enduring inevitable hilarious thread hijacks (...usually by the moderators... ).
- Taking lightly any fun I make of any really funny typos.
- Having fun in here because that's what we do. Naughty fun!
- Caring for your fellow kinkster, because we do that too...
- Doing everything possible so that Bound Anna remains what it is - a caring, welcoming, inclusive community that respects everyone.

Not specifically required but much appreciated on my part is groveling at my feet (a Lady does need to feel appreciated, right?).

Jenny.

lj wrote:so, to the 49 (and counting) people who looked at this thread, please post

Or don't.

There is no pressure to post. No requirement to post. No need to register.

If you want to remain a lurker, please do so.

sweh wrote: There is no pressure to post. No requirement to post. No need to register.
If you want to remain a lurker, please do so.

Thank you, Sweh. I hope I did not suggest posting as a requirement. I was not sure if I was going against 1 of my principles of trying to not affect people's habits in writing this thread. But I am all about doing what I can to bring out the potential of others.
You see, all, we can disagree here and not be censored.

sweh wrote:There is no pressure to post. No requirement to post. No need to register.
If you want to remain a lurker, please do so.

Remain a lurker and enjoy our posts.
But when you think about registering, don't hesitate and join this nice group. The more the merrier.

Thanks to those who voted.

-Afraid of negative responses.
-Worried about saying something wrong.
-Not sure I really fit in here, reading more to find out for sure.

These are all things I can understand. It took me a while to figure out how best to participate. To help me get settled, I took on a few Posting Mentors, who are charged with proofreading some of my riskier posts before posting them, advising my writing habits and style, helping me understand and properly digest criticisms that come in the form of responses and private messages, and encourage my work. I am certain that you too, may be able to find help the same way if you ask. If you are interested, just find someone's writing style you like, and ask them if they can assist. Great way to make friends.

I do thank you for at least registering and taking an interest in our forum.

1 other observation I take away from the poll is that the staff here seem to be doing a good job. Their guidance, I have seen, provides the structure needed, without intruding on creativity. They do the job well without using their corrective tools.

I hope this poll has provided insight and awareness, and I have no other expectations.

sweh wrote:

lj wrote:so, to the 49 (and counting) people who looked at this thread, please post

Or don't.
There is no pressure to post. No requirement to post. No need to register.
If you want to remain a lurker, please do so.

It was never my intention to attempt to force participation. Only to find out if we are doing what we can to welcome them and offer options to those who might have been curious, if they had at all been thinking about sharing.

Lurking is my favorite.

I go in spurts. I'll be on everyday for 2 months and then won't comeback for 6-8.

Ok so I ll be completely honest. I ve been lurking on here for years. I joined recent cause I wanted to try a selfbondage scenerio I’m tired of the same ones I do. I’m probably on this site everyday but I don’t wanna say the wrong thing or suggest something and something bad happens to someone. I’m still shy and in my shell cause I don’t talk to anyone about what I like. I don’t like to post pics of myself. I’m always here if someone wants to maybe pm and come up with ideas with. My wife is vanilla and we tried some kinky stuff in the past and she isn’t into it. So I still enjoy selfbondage time to myself. I ll try to contribute more since I’m usually good coming up with self bondage scenarios, I’m a pretty good rigger to lol.

Good to see you again, Ry. Thought we'd lost you there. We need some good daregivers here, people who give a dare.

Shannon SteelSlave wrote:Good to see you again, Ry. Thought we'd lost you there. We need some good daregivers here, people who give a dare.

Yea work has been crazy, I ve been working 14 hours days, 6 days a week. I’m in a heavy duty truck dealer I run the shop parts counter and dispatch for 30 techs. Going back to my regular schedule Monday. Ordered a bunch of new selfbondage gear and heels. I’m gonna start contributing more and cant wait to share ideas with you and everyone else. I’m itching to have some play time for myself too

Got curious as to what my first post actually was, so I checked.
That was apparently over 10 years ago......So now I feel old.

Not even sure if I qualify as a lurker or not. I guess I technically am.
The thing is, I tend to drift in and out of the D/s world as and when my urges require. So there can easily go months between visits, and there's no guarantee I'll post anything during those visits. All depends on the circumstances.
Besides, BoundAnna covers such a vast scope that there'll be a lot of posting on subjects I have no real interest in, or knowledge of.

But it's certainly true that I was lurking for long before that first post.
What finally brought me out was that someone asked a question about something I actually knew a bit about. Which meant that I suddenly found someone with similar interests. Making the whole communication thing a little less freaky.
But even on 'vanilla' boards, I'm still more or less a lurker. I'll chip in if I have something relevant to say, but I never lead the conversation in any way.
Same goes for real-life social gatherings for that matter.

Mainly a matter of personality.

CheerfullyInsane wrote:So now I feel old.

The polite word is "seasoned".

Especially in the company of someone who has been here for 13 years.

And has whips.

From a beauty advert from many years ago, "I'm not getting older, I'm getting better".



Jenny.

bound_jenny wrote: The polite word is "seasoned".

Well, in all fairness I was referring to myself. I usually don't bother with politeness in that case.

From a beauty advert from many years ago, "I'm not getting older, I'm getting better".

I'm sure you are. Not that I'd dare to imply otherwise.
I, on the other hand, don't age like fine wine.
More like milk.
Much too rapidly, and with weird chemical changes going on.