This post is on the Other BDSM web board.
| 27 Jun 09, 8:53 AM TheFalconer UK(S), 6 yrs   |
As others have said, IC does a lot of different things all at once. It is very much a dating site as one of those things though - and three years ago when I was looking it was very much the best kinky dating site in the UK. Things may have moved on since then but I doubt it. I'd say keep at it and don't worry about what others think - people who don't think this is a dating site generally aren't single anyway and so are not in your target pool. "Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace." - Oscar Wilde |
| 27 Jun 09, 9:38 AM littlenic UK(KT), 5 yrs |
When I joined IC, it was specifically for dating. I'd read around for a little while, spotted the profile of someone I liked the look of, and took the plunge.
I've done okay since then I've been out and about - I'm not fond of munches, I've found, but do enjoy clubs - but pretty much all of my play partners/relationship thingies/dates have been generated by memos on here, not by meeting someone in real life first and taking a shine to them. What can I say? I've had a look at your profile and you're looking for something very precise, and making no bones about it. That's entirely your choice, and good luck to you, but when you're looking for a specific, exact type of partner, of course it's going to take longer and be a bit more disappointing than if you have broader desires or are bit more open to different options. Like I say, entirely your choice - but IC *does* work as a dating site, as well as all the other brilliant functions it serves - but like any dating site, it can only offer up its members. And a reasonably smaller number than at, say, Match.com at that, I'd have guessed. Looking for a needle in a haystack is never easy.
edited to add: Suppose I should add all the stock stuff here about posting more on the boards to give people much more of an idea what you're like, as well as giving you a broader audience than those who just stalk the ads. Think of it as marketing, if you like. Would you like some milk from the paw of life? Edited 27 Jun 09, 9:40 AM by littlenic |
| 27 Jun 09, 9:43 AM rabbot 12 yrs |
I have given up any thoughts of meeting someone on here and just stick to chatting on the boards. Geography is always a problem unless you live in London or Manchester etc. I've never had any success on vanilla sites either. Happiness is a warm bum! |
| 27 Jun 09, 9:44 AM crystaltips 4 yrs |
I didn't meet either of my partners directly through IC but one of them was introduced to me by a mutual friend who I had met on here so networking is a good thing in itself! |
| 27 Jun 09, 9:54 AM DaddysTouch UK(RG), 3 yrs |
Seems to me IC does have several purposes, but it is built specifically to be a dating site too: it has a personals section with f4M, m4F etc search functionality and you have one 'ad title' that applies to your profile. Reminds me of people who snap "He's not a psychiatrist, he's a guidance counsellor!" What men in all the world have shown such daring? |
| 27 Jun 09, 9:56 AM Rapunzel  UK(WC), 9 yrs |
I think it functions as both. I use IC as a dating site - i.e to meet play partners and have met some really nice people. Equally, I use it to meet friends, read the threads and comment on them, write weblogs, find out about events and munches, ooo lots of things. I have to say, given that IC is free, I think it's an amazing site - there's such a lot on it and some really lovely people. True it has it's fair share of trolls and rude and unpleasant people, but so does your local pub. On IC, I've made deep and long-lasting friendships. It's a real community! Rapunzel - all round bad girl.... Fawcett Hall A Kinky Girl's Guide to Life Edited 27 Jun 09, 10:26 AM by Rapunzel |
| 27 Jun 09, 10:05 AM Tartful_dodger UK, 2 yrs |
I.C does have a dating element to it, but I think that lots of people find it annoying when people use the boards as a means of trying to pull. That's generally what profile searching etc are about, but not what the boards themselves are used for. Dodger |
| 27 Jun 09, 11:16 AM Sirs_Froglet UK(S), 3 yrs |
I think if you see IC as only a place to meet a partner, you might be disappointed. I met mine here, but I think it's just a matter of luck and good timing, like it is in every day life. |
| 27 Jun 09, 11:21 AM Butterscotch UK(RM), 3 yrs |
I think IC is multi functional, I don't use it as a dating site, although it can be nice to perve every now and again  For me it's a way of keeping in touch with people I meet out and about on the scene and for learning about new things and most importantly finding out what's on locally to me which was the original reason I joined. Is waiting for the boy who will do anything to be her everything |
| 27 Jun 09, 11:35 AM SirBstard UK(DL), 6 yrs |
Hello my name is General Consenus I used to be Private Fantasy and upward to Major Psychopathic-Disorder. As I see it,the dispositions are divided thusly: IC is for people who TALK about sexual relationships and CM is for people who THINK about sexual relationships. There are some people who DO sexual relationships but they all live in one street in Bristol and are far too busy to get online |
- dates, play partners, longer-term partners, and of course, lots of lovely friends to boot. 
