I came across a post on this site by a member asking/suggesting that people sending friend requests should provide more information in their profiles. Also, that it is a good idea to get to know someone a bit better (via messages, etc.) before requesting friendship. The post resonated with me because I have also received requests, although very new to the site, from members with threadbare profiles that provide only basic information. When I receive a friend request, the profile is the first place I go. Who is this person? What are their interests? Are they just very friendly by nature, or do we have something in common that has prompted this friend request.
But I’m also very interested to see if this would-be new friend has posted any blogs. Reading a blog opens a door on to someone’s views on life. At least on a small part of it. Photos of course also help. As the saying goes, a picture’s worth a thousand words. A friend on this site commented recently that the photos we post here are self-expressions, but they also project something to those that view them. Empty photo galleries neither express nor project. So where to next?
Well, of course I can send a private (or public) message to someone in order to start getting to know them better, and this is usually what I do. If I send a friend request, I accompany or precede it with some private messages. But these messages (and friend requests) are inspired by something that has caught my attention in someone’s profile or blog or photo gallery. Maybe something I feel we have in common. Or maybe I just liked a certain photo or comment. But something resonated enough with me to make me take the leap to communicate directly.
Everyone is on their own journey, and even in a community where baring all is the norm, people are entitled to their privacy. Some members (like myself) may be quite new to naturism, and are still just dipping their toes in the waters to test the temperature. But even veteran naturists don’t necessarily bare all online (metaphorically or physically), from what I have observed on this site. But I echo the sentiments of the post that started this blog. I feel a bit conflicted when I receive a friend request from someone whose profile tells me very little, and does not send any message to introduce themselves. I don’t want to dismiss it out of hand. But I’m also hesitant to accept it, knowing so little about who has sent it. As Paul McCartney sang:
And, in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make.
