First, pardon the length. (That’s not the first time I’ve used that line… <sigh>).
Second, full disclosure. This is Armagettin who was banned several weeks ago. The message stated “banned b4”. Apparently I was banned because one of the Mods mistakenly thought I was already under a banning and so banned me for two years.
For the record, I have never been banned nor have I ever been warned. I believe it has been over ten years being on TERB from the first board. I can’t remember how long ago, actually or if it was three or four iterations ago of TERB. I have had three handles in those years, none concurrently until I signed up Lash to correspond. I have provided more than a few reviews over the years..
I sent Fred a note regarding the banning but I suspect he is busy and doesn’t have time to deal with it. I pm’d Super Mod and he was kind enough to post my note in the admin section (thanks again). A number of weeks have since passed with no response. I was going to mail Fred again but have had a change of heart, hence this post. No slight against Fred.
In the last several weeks, while waiting, I have been quietly watching the board. Although I have not posted, I admit to reading reviews and some lounge threads. I have had ample time to observe and ruminate.
When I was checking reviews I noted that, of the new girls reviewed, I had already seen more than 80% of them (I like to explore). The other 20% were not women that I would wish to see for various reasons. Consequently, only a couple of reviews held any interest for me.
This is not a comment on how much I hobby (there are far more serious hobbyists) but rather, the lack of activity for such a large community as TERB. There are over 100,000 members on this board and yet one guy can see most of the new girls than are reviewed. There are lots I have not seen but they have also not been reviewed here.
I thought that this can’t be right. I could never keep up with even one of the vets on TERB in the past. So I did some research. Admittedly the data is from a smallish sampling but the results are quite telling nonetheless. The essential difference is that there were more reviews and less fluff. The style of reviews were somewhat different as well or at least the balance of style.
My main focus while on the board was in the Massage section, Incall section and, more recently, Craigslist section. I did a quick comparison of now vs several years ago.
CURRENT (top page of section)
Craigslist Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Posts asking questions-17
Posts offering review-2 new, 2 rehash (maybe I picked a bad day)
Incall Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Questions-15
Reviews – 6 including 2 rehash
Massage Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Questions-14
Review – 4 including two one-liners
SEVERAL YEARS AGO
Craigslist Section
NA
Incall Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Reviews-12
Massage Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Reviews-14
So… 50% to 55% of the posts used to be reviews. Now it is 4% to 25% depending on the section. This is a small sample set but it is reasonably indicative of the trend. The point is that the difference is significant.
It is important to note that many more of the reviews today are repeat reviews of the same girl. The difference in newly reviewed girls is even greater. As the well-reviewed girls retire, the overall review count may continue to drop.
As to culture…
There have been some interesting recent debates regarding shills, review styles, promotions etc. and I wish to provide a perspective on the subject.
The culture of the board has changed significantly over the years. I care not for the changes and have been vocal at times. I realize that the board no longer suits my interests (or vice versa). C’est la vie. However, I think it is important to list some of the differences as this might give an idea of where the board is going, good or bad, and why some of the older members take issue.
Some of the differences in postings are as follows…
-Many reviews are of providers who are already well reviewed with the poster claiming the same experience as the previous reviews of that person. Not bad in itself but an indication of fewer original reviews.
-Posters often review their own performance more than the SP’s. Considered showboating by some.
-Posters aggressively promote girls and/or agencies.
-Posters shilling (not new I suppose but there seems to be more of it)
-Oddly, posters are criticized for TOFTT. Comments such as, “You should never see a girl unless she has been reviewed.” are not uncommon and are completely baffling to me. This is a significant indication of how the reviewer profile has changed. It used to be the norm to see a challenge to be the first to review a new provider.
-Posters with zero reviews giving opinions in the review forums. I know it’s a free country. I just don’t like it.
-Posters get on a roll of one upping the previous poster with stupid, inane comments. Way past funny.
-The most prolific posters on TERB are non-hobbyists and/or non-reviewing hobbyists. Value is questioned.
-The lounge threads used to have more sexually oriented topics. Makes sense since there were more hobbyists posting then.
-There are many active SPs that post now (not sure if this is for better or worse but there is certainly an impact).
-The board has a much stronger social component now. Less focus on hobbying.
-The lounge is the busiest section. Perhaps it always has been but I don’t think so. It outstrips the other forums.
Another very large review board in the US eventually became so socially focused that they moved all the periphery, social forums to get the board back to being a review board. It had morphed and wasn’t working well. As the reviews dwindle here, the value of ads will also dwindle, making the board less effective for all concerned.
100,000+ members and TERB appears to be moving towards a social site with a sideline of SP reviewing. This is not meant as criticism. It is an illustrated observation made so that the membership can effect change, if desired.
The members of TERB need to be challenged to start posting reviews. Reviews of new providers as well as established ones or you will find TERB continue to change. If you wait until a rival, competent board operator comes on the scene, it will be that much more difficult. Relevant content is what will keep TERB healthy.
I will leave TERB after posting this as I have clearly become a dinosaur. I hope the thread does not get deleted and I hope the information is taken to heart. Fred can only do so much. It is up to the members to keep the board growing.
Adios Amoebas
Armagettin
Second, full disclosure. This is Armagettin who was banned several weeks ago. The message stated “banned b4”. Apparently I was banned because one of the Mods mistakenly thought I was already under a banning and so banned me for two years.
For the record, I have never been banned nor have I ever been warned. I believe it has been over ten years being on TERB from the first board. I can’t remember how long ago, actually or if it was three or four iterations ago of TERB. I have had three handles in those years, none concurrently until I signed up Lash to correspond. I have provided more than a few reviews over the years..
I sent Fred a note regarding the banning but I suspect he is busy and doesn’t have time to deal with it. I pm’d Super Mod and he was kind enough to post my note in the admin section (thanks again). A number of weeks have since passed with no response. I was going to mail Fred again but have had a change of heart, hence this post. No slight against Fred.
In the last several weeks, while waiting, I have been quietly watching the board. Although I have not posted, I admit to reading reviews and some lounge threads. I have had ample time to observe and ruminate.
When I was checking reviews I noted that, of the new girls reviewed, I had already seen more than 80% of them (I like to explore). The other 20% were not women that I would wish to see for various reasons. Consequently, only a couple of reviews held any interest for me.
This is not a comment on how much I hobby (there are far more serious hobbyists) but rather, the lack of activity for such a large community as TERB. There are over 100,000 members on this board and yet one guy can see most of the new girls than are reviewed. There are lots I have not seen but they have also not been reviewed here.
I thought that this can’t be right. I could never keep up with even one of the vets on TERB in the past. So I did some research. Admittedly the data is from a smallish sampling but the results are quite telling nonetheless. The essential difference is that there were more reviews and less fluff. The style of reviews were somewhat different as well or at least the balance of style.
My main focus while on the board was in the Massage section, Incall section and, more recently, Craigslist section. I did a quick comparison of now vs several years ago.
CURRENT (top page of section)
Craigslist Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Posts asking questions-17
Posts offering review-2 new, 2 rehash (maybe I picked a bad day)
Incall Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Questions-15
Reviews – 6 including 2 rehash
Massage Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Questions-14
Review – 4 including two one-liners
SEVERAL YEARS AGO
Craigslist Section
NA
Incall Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Reviews-12
Massage Section
Total consecutive posts - 25
Reviews-14
So… 50% to 55% of the posts used to be reviews. Now it is 4% to 25% depending on the section. This is a small sample set but it is reasonably indicative of the trend. The point is that the difference is significant.
It is important to note that many more of the reviews today are repeat reviews of the same girl. The difference in newly reviewed girls is even greater. As the well-reviewed girls retire, the overall review count may continue to drop.
As to culture…
There have been some interesting recent debates regarding shills, review styles, promotions etc. and I wish to provide a perspective on the subject.
The culture of the board has changed significantly over the years. I care not for the changes and have been vocal at times. I realize that the board no longer suits my interests (or vice versa). C’est la vie. However, I think it is important to list some of the differences as this might give an idea of where the board is going, good or bad, and why some of the older members take issue.
Some of the differences in postings are as follows…
-Many reviews are of providers who are already well reviewed with the poster claiming the same experience as the previous reviews of that person. Not bad in itself but an indication of fewer original reviews.
-Posters often review their own performance more than the SP’s. Considered showboating by some.
-Posters aggressively promote girls and/or agencies.
-Posters shilling (not new I suppose but there seems to be more of it)
-Oddly, posters are criticized for TOFTT. Comments such as, “You should never see a girl unless she has been reviewed.” are not uncommon and are completely baffling to me. This is a significant indication of how the reviewer profile has changed. It used to be the norm to see a challenge to be the first to review a new provider.
-Posters with zero reviews giving opinions in the review forums. I know it’s a free country. I just don’t like it.
-Posters get on a roll of one upping the previous poster with stupid, inane comments. Way past funny.
-The most prolific posters on TERB are non-hobbyists and/or non-reviewing hobbyists. Value is questioned.
-The lounge threads used to have more sexually oriented topics. Makes sense since there were more hobbyists posting then.
-There are many active SPs that post now (not sure if this is for better or worse but there is certainly an impact).
-The board has a much stronger social component now. Less focus on hobbying.
-The lounge is the busiest section. Perhaps it always has been but I don’t think so. It outstrips the other forums.
Another very large review board in the US eventually became so socially focused that they moved all the periphery, social forums to get the board back to being a review board. It had morphed and wasn’t working well. As the reviews dwindle here, the value of ads will also dwindle, making the board less effective for all concerned.
100,000+ members and TERB appears to be moving towards a social site with a sideline of SP reviewing. This is not meant as criticism. It is an illustrated observation made so that the membership can effect change, if desired.
The members of TERB need to be challenged to start posting reviews. Reviews of new providers as well as established ones or you will find TERB continue to change. If you wait until a rival, competent board operator comes on the scene, it will be that much more difficult. Relevant content is what will keep TERB healthy.
I will leave TERB after posting this as I have clearly become a dinosaur. I hope the thread does not get deleted and I hope the information is taken to heart. Fred can only do so much. It is up to the members to keep the board growing.
Adios Amoebas
Armagettin