I don't get it. Why is there never (or hardly ever) any members on the site? Almost every time that I log on I am member on. Usually there are a couple of visitors, most of the time it says that there are one or two new members that day, but there is no other member logged on.
The chat feature is no good to anyone if there isn't anyone to chat to. I like this site overall, I want to use it more, but it is frustrating when there is no communication. All of the sections, Bear With Me, Bear Naked Art, Recipes, Jokes, etc., are great, but where are the members.
Maybe a personals section would be helpful.
Or is it just not sexy enough for the average bear. Is it that we can't get into a site that doesn't have hot sexy pictures and fantasy men. I personaly find it refreshing to just have a community site for stuff other than sex. If you want that you can find it elsewhere but you can come here and just enjoy the company of fellow bears and friends.
Well that is enough ranting and raving. Just start using this site for more than you do.

here here!

Its so refreshing to find a site like this, one that isent sex orientated. itsa shame that so few people go on the forums, but hopefuly that will so change

i hope so as well

there are over 3,400 members on this site - and about 10 or so actually use it ...

Unfortunatly I think that many sign up just to get another hookup site, then find that it isn't sex based. They are so concerned about wher there next notch in the bedpost is that they don't think from a community point of view.
I have to admit that was my way of thinking and I guess it still is somewhat.
I go to other sites for stuff like that. This place is a respit from the, got to be a super stud hung like a horse and versitale, garbage. Don't get me wrong, I have played that game elsewhere.
The most of us have done this at one time or another. It can be fun and entertaining. This is like a calm in the storm so to speak.

there are so many sites for that and so, so few like this...i find it strange that a site like this where you can meet and connect with people from all around the world, in an inviroment free of the inpersonal and sexal objectification that so many other bear orientated website (or fore that matter many gay site)woud get more attention.

Maybe I am just conforming but I think that part of the problem is that we, as gay men, identify with sex before any other emotional or physical trait.
Being gay is being sexual. That is what defines us as different from the breeders.
Think about it. What makes you seek out a gay site in the first place? For me it was to talk and chat and cyber about sex. I must admit that sex is always on my mind. I have been accused of, and rightly so, of thinking with my small head more than my brain.
I go to bear sites because that is the type of man I am attracted to. I am sure that that is the reason that you are here to.
This is an oasis in the storm. We can still look at some and meet some awsome looking men on this site. You just can't do the sex thing. Again as men we look for that first.
Thanks for listening to my rambling. I will stop for now.
Hugs to all.

It could help if members actually put something in their profile. I'm sorry but if all there is in a profile is a name and nothing else then I'm simply not gonna talk to you. I'm not sure what people are afraid of by remaining anon but to me, that says a lot about a person's character.

Thats a bit harsh doyourowndamndishes. though it would be nice to know a bit more about the good people here at Inside Bear

Call it harsh if you like. When you meet a new person, say at a coffee shop or a bar, you spark up casual conversation. You find out what they like and go from there. With the privacy/protection of our homes we can not ask these questions; it would be nice to have some starting point. ANd honestly, if you are that afriad of being "noticed" that you feel you have to hide it does make chatting more difficult.

sounds like i ought to 1. advertise more - and 2. make some profile fields mandatory - i did that with the location field - because many members at first wouldn't put where they are from - and that got to me.. lol

all this advice and suggestions are great - please keep them coming - hopefully we can make this site more worthwhile

I'm going to check my profile and see what I left blank...

same...:?

Yeah... it's good.

I agree with Baltobear. Sex is what men think about all the time. This is a given, of course. I find it to be sad that so many people joined this site, but hardly any post on the forums.

Overall, I think we need to learn to not focus on sex so much...

And enjoy being a community. Call me crazy, but I do enjoy chatting and talking with people.