Safe Date Site and Referrals
Actually have been wondering about this very issue of late. Techies: If the ladies were to set up a site for their own use ("Safe Date" Site) that they could confidentially use it to guage whether or not to take a new client on, what would be the best way to set this up that would allow for "bad date" postings and still provide client and SP confidentiality (security), ease of use, reliability, etc.
Already, a number of logistical issues come up. For starters, how can the ladies be assured that the men won't access it (am sure that some boyfriends will get access; how far of a leap is it that some of the nutjobs out there will find a way to access it too).
At the top of my head, I can think of two ways to track a date: Perb handle and their telephone number. Of course, some men will have a big issue of their numbers being shared anywhere (even confidentially) I imagine. But if they don't have a Perb handle, then how else can they be identified in a "bad date" file?
Has there been anything like this developed anywhere else in the world? Seems like a good idea to use today's technology to develop our own self-regulation mechanisms in this unregulated field.
How much would it cost to develop and maintain such a site?
As for referrals, well I am mixed on this. Frankly, I feel a bit awkward asking any of my dates for a reference. No need to explain this, it's just how I feel.
In fact, last year I PMed a well known SP about seeing her and she asked for a reference; I never replied back. My thought then was "read my posts, that should give you an idea of who I am."
And IMOHO, I am a fairly safe date. So, you may end up losing some decent dates with the "reference" approach.
One approach that I liked was Honey's. I think she read your posts, before she replied back to you. And then she created a dialogue before she decided to see you. She asked me for a phone number and email right up front. I gave her those including my business email address (which makes me very easy to track down btw).
My point is that I don't mind sharing enough with you so that you can be assured that I am trackable. And if anyone read my past posts and PMed one of my past reviews, no probs with me. But to "make me" come up with a name. No thanks, I am probably moving on.
Finally, reading past posts, and getting tel and email info is still no guarantee that you will be protected from some nutjobs. Some of them do write well. And lots of people use hotmail etc. that would be difficult to trace.
Anyway, this topic intrigues me, worth some discussion I think.