Food for thought.

[suzy1]

This really is the best and cleanest crossdresser sit in the world as far as I can see.
And yet only 29,500 members and 6,786 active in a world of over 7 billion!

Are we that rare or has the vast majority of CD girls still to find us?

And no, Suzy is not rare, She is unique.:battingeyelashes:

[Roberta Young]

Suzy, I think its a low count because we are the only girls that admit to dressing and not looking for the deviant sites! Luv Roberta

[Princess_Andria]

well taking into account there are alot of CDs brought up to believe anything considered "different" gay, wearing womens clothes etc is wrong, then you got CDs who are trying to deny & hate this side of them THEN there are all the god knows how many 100s of other crossdressing forums lol there are many many more of us out there and as with everything there will be mroe to come =P

[Karren H]

I volunteer Suzy to be in charge of advertising!

personally... I like it this way... cozy... ish....

[kimdl93]

Well if we exclude the desparately poor (6/7 of the world population), the non-english speaking, and 90% that are non CD, a - what does that leave? And of course, there are a lot of sites out there catering to all sorts of special interests among the CD population. This site isn't hard to find...just googling crossdressers will get a top 3 hit, but there are lots of others that come up as well. And maybe some people just like to look at pictures ;)

[suzy1]

I volunteer Suzy to be in charge of advertising!

personally... I like it this way... cozy... ish....

You have a point Karren.

[STACY B]

Suzy, I think its a low count because we are the only girls that admit to dressing and not looking for the deviant sites! Luv Roberta


You got that right ,,,,There are NO TELLING how many are out there ,,,I never got on the Internet until recently ,, Maybe off an on years ago,,, Just think of the ones out there to scared to even type the words into the computer ? Hey,,,,,,,,, Thats was me,,,, Ya know how kidds are with computers now days ,, Maybe single computer family an afraid of even looking for help ? Just living with all the pain alone ,,, I feel them an I sure hope they find this Haven one day,,, It will change them forever ,,, Thats a FACT !!!

[reb.femme]

Damn,

When I saw Food For Thought, I was expecting CD Culinary Delights. Girl was I disappointed. :)
I'm going for the cosy is best idea.
I didn't think to look online for a decent site for years, and I'm in IT.

I like the general demeanour of CD.com because it is a smaller, close knit kind of affair. The posts are varied and many posters manage to give succinct and well elucidated comment. If this is due to the site being a sensible one, rather than a "what I'd like done to me for Christmas" type site.......long may it continue.

Rebecca x

[franlee]

There is no telling were we would be in the scocial exceptance level now if the world had access to the info and open conversations and intercourse that this forum and todays medias have provided. I feel sure the percentages of men that have or occasionaly CDed would increase the percentage by being counted, if their knew for sure they would not be ID'ed. Not counting the men that just didn't get included in the old survay methods. We have been here since the beginning of civilization and will be untill the end unless CDing becomes so excepted that it is a non-issue and unisex is the norm. Just saying!

[Stephanie47]

Many times I look at the number of registered users and guests reading this site. There is a disproportionate number of guests to registered user. I think that is evidence the CD world is greater. Also means there are a lot of lurkers who should register. Once I was a lurker, too!

[Kaz]

Many times I look at the number of registered users and guests reading this site. There is a disproportionate number of guests to registered user. I think that is evidence the CD world is greater. Also means there are a lot of lurkers who should register. Once I was a lurker, too!

Good point! I lurked for.... must have been about a few days... never looked back... great community once you get in here!

We members are just serious about it... that's the difference! We have all been in that denial zone and we know how hard it is to be there... and how much better it is to be part of this community...

[Keely]

It's not easy to break out of the denial then the lurker stage.
It took me several months to join and way longer to post a picture.
Personally I think this is best site to be found.

[BRANDYJ]

There are currently 450 users online. 119 members and 331 guests. That's part of the answer. Our of 450 on-line now, only 119 are members. Of the 119 members on-line right now, I would guess that only 20 % or less will post anything while they are here.
I think most CD's remain lurkers and never join. Then look at the total membership, you will find that the vast majority never post a thing beyond an intro, if even that.
I agree with Karen. It's more cozy this way. I feel like I am a part of this great site since I post often as many of the respondents to this thread participate by posting often. In fact, I recognize every one posted above me from various other threads.
Numbers of members will never matter. What matters are those that contribute something other then just lurking.

[Allisa]

I did'nt get a computer until a few years ago,then figured I'd look for info about CDing and found this site,once I visited 2 or 3 times I joined because I found it to be very friendly,and informative and not about the pornographic crap on other sites.

[Jilmac]

First Suzy, let me say I love your new avatar. I believe that because we all admit to being open about crossdressing, we are the elite, and this site was made for us. All the other crossdressers in the world can't compete with our straight forward attitude about ourselves so they seek out the sleazy sites looking for on line hookups.

[GaleWarning]

I wonder if one of the reasons is that this forum is "clean"?
If you look at the vast majority of other CD sites, the level of ... well ... porn is extremely high.

[Beverley Sims]

And maybe some people just like to look at pictures ;)

My camera is broken and you can't read pictures.
My mum sed "If you write things on the wall I will wash your mouth out with soap".
I don't like the taste of soap either.:)

[docrobbysherry]

Nearly 30,000 members? How come I keep reading posts from the SAME 25 FOLKS all the time? Hmmm?

[krissy]

:battingeyelashes:I love this site i get to share with others who know what i feel its a great site .and im glad its not all porn or lurkers just us talking

[Michelle (Oz)]

We talk about a spectrum of CDing. I suspect that there is a common thread (pun intended) to those who contribute most to the forum, i.e. being generally accepting or wanting to be accepting of our TGism and buidling our knowledge and mutual support from the experiences of others. I sure fit into this category.

As Rebecca observed, I never cease to be amazed at the insights and writing skills of some on the thread ... or the quick one liners.

BTW Karen, my GER005 Corset and Padded rear and hip shaping girdle arrived from Glamour Boutique today. Absolutely fit for purpose but thanks for the torture chamber. You should be on a commission!

Michelle

[StacyPump]

I think there are probably a lot of CD-ers who are hesitant to even type the word "cross-dresser" into a search box, even if they are doing so as part of their journey to learn more about it and about themselves. They may be concerned about who may or may not find out that they have been performing such a search, or visiting such a site. Some of us who work in IT may have some idea about how the interent works, and know there are certain things you can do to increase your privacy (and also that there are some things that you cannot control at all). But it really is a complete mystery to many. I think that might be one of the reasons that the "lurker" count may seem so high, and also why I don't automatically have negative thoughts toward those who are simply viewing our site, as opposed to posting and interacting. Certainly there are some visitors poking about with less than honorable intentions, but those aside, I don't blame the earnest and curious visitor wanting to get a little better understanding of what they are getting themselves into here, before posting or leaving any breadcrumbs behind. After reading a bit, we hope they can see how many thoughtful and honest members we have, and we hope that they gain enough trust and confidence to choose to become a member, to help themselves on their journey, and to help make our community all the more interesting and valuable.

[Sara Jessica]

I apply the same theory to the support/social group I attend in San Diego. Why is it that with the millions of people in the megalopolis that is LA/OC/SD/IE we only see anywhere from 15 to 40 (tops) attending the group?

There may be a lot of us out there but I'm guessing not quite as many as is often speculated. Either that or some of us take it much more seriously than most when it comes to participation in forums such as this or getting out in this wonderful world of ours.

[Amy Fakley]

this is about the only "serious" CD site I've ever seen. Reddit's /r/crossdressing comes close, but there are no controls there, like there are here. I abandoned that place after some very young members started posting ... well ... almost porn of themselves, and I'm like ... "damn, that's just not good and I don't want to touch that through 7 proxies".

Hard to say this without sounding like a suck up ... but what makes this place so special is the aggressive mods. I've had my posts corrected for using the wrong term for "poo", and at first I was like "WTF", and then I was like ... "right ... this is what keeps it a place I actually want to be a part of". Keep it up mods ... there are so many of us out here who need a place like this to exist.

Also ... no ads ... what keeps this site afloat? You guys do pledge drives like NPR or something? LOL :)

[giuseppina]

I suspect the lurkers (as I was for quite a few years) make the membership a lot higher than the 29k or so. The other two sites I lurk on are very good at keeping out the p*rn.

[Jaymees22]

Suzy, I agree that this a good site for us, we have to admit we are a small minority. I don't think either political party is going after our vote. I think I lurked for one day, I was so happy to not be alone in this...Hugs Jaymee

[minalost]

This is a great site, even for those that don't want to add anything. As someone who lurks more than posts, I find that just reading other opinions helps me through some of the tough spots in CDing (most of the things that have happened to me, have happened to someone else here, and they have already posted about it!). Plus, by the time I'm ready to respond to a thread someone else has already said what I wanted to say, only worded it better than I could have! So, lurk away, and take something positive from what you read.

Oops! I also wanted to voice my approval of the Mods as well. Great Job!

[kimberly25]

I agree with the post although this site does have some censorship. I posted a comment and got edited. Saying the comment there was no need for, I thought we were able to. Speak our mind here, I used no profanity or anything I simply commented that a member pic looked better then another one they had posted and said too bad it got deleted. I don't know I guess I crossed some line

[May(be)]

it makes me wonder how many of the inactive users are out there living life the way they want to live and no longer need to go to this site for support. I am not suggesting that is the end goal for everyone, and I include myself in that category, but some people may have gotten what they needed and moved on to bigger and better things. Good for them, if that's the case.

I really appreciate the people who are comfortable with themselves and still participate in this community. it is your wisdom and grace that makes this place what it is. I know that without your guidance I would be totally lost, because I am so new at all of this.
so thanks!

[Babeba]

I agree with the post although this site does have some censorship. I posted a comment and got edited. Saying the comment there was no need for, I thought we were able to. Speak our mind here, I used no profanity or anything I simply commented that a member pic looked better then another one they had posted and said too bad it got deleted. I don't know I guess I crossed some line

One of the rules of this site is there is no bashing of the mods, site, admin and decisions made by staff. Your comment would have been taken by the mod who saw it as questioning why that other picture was removed and therefore against forum rules. Yes, you can see this as censorship - but the rules are the rules, and they are very clear about what is and is not allowed here in order to keep the peace, and keep this place sensible. You will not get mods or admins on power trips who persecute members, or delete posts unnecessarily (and if you feel like someone has been overboard, like some people sometimes do, we do talk amongst ourselves to make sure decisions made were the right ones.)

I'll leave this post be, because I think you were posting from a position of confusion rather than being angry about your post being deleted and it fits with this thread topic. But, this is a private forum and we are not shy about the fact that posts breaking the rules and causing disruption will be edited. :)

[Tracii G]

I'm all for the mods doing their duty,I have had a few posts removed and they were right in their judgment.
It is by far the best CD site going IMO.
I looked at a lot of different sites and felt they were to porn like for me.

[Helen_Highwater]

I think this ties in with a post made a little while ago regarding a search on YouTube for "crossdresser" and the disappointing standard of the hits.
For some, and I'm not decrying them, dressing is a fetish often focused around a single item of female clothing, shoes, stockings, underwear and so there’s no attraction in participating in a site where, as I see it, folks take a more holistic approach. Here it’s far more about being the full package, the pleasure or enjoyment being derived from dressing well and creating a look.
Oh and on the subject of YouTube; search for crossdresser public. Some of the hits you will get are the pinnacle of passing, certainly inspiring me to work on my look.

[RebeccaLynne]

Are we that rare or has the vast majority of CD girls still to find us?

Suzy, I believe there are many who are reluctant to exhibit an interest on the internet... as noted in the following quote:


I think there are probably a lot of CD-ers who are hesitant to even type the word "cross-dresser" into a search box, even if they are doing so as part of their journey to learn more about it and about themselves. They may be concerned about who may or may not find out that they have been performing such a search, or visiting such a site. Some of us who work in IT may have some idea about how the interent works, and know there are certain things you can do to increase your privacy (and also that there are some things that you cannot control at all). But it really is a complete mystery to many.

Prior to 2005, I didn't have a computer, or any interest in them. That changed when I hired out with a company that mandated computer access essential in order to track your status and options within the system.

As a lifelong CD'er, my curiosity got the best of me with my new computer, and I found this site. Guys wearing women's clothing... kindred spirits, not afraid to share their love of dressing en femme...

However, we must be careful. The last thing I need is to be "discovered" on the internet. Nobody I work with would be accepting, and I wouldn't ask them to be... what I do away from work is none of their business.

I'm cautious in my threads and postings, 'cause we all have an IP address, and can be traced if someone really wants to. However, after more than seven years here as a member, no one's ever "outed" me, so I feel reasonably secure that my "alter ego" is flying below the radar.

And since my employer prohibits discrimination based on sexual identity and orientation, I suppose I'm protected... but I'm more comfortable knowing my coworkers don't have a clue. :straightface:

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Suzy, Maybe we are too calm for a lot of CDs'