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Nineteenth Virtual Symposium: App Brings Silicon Valley Swinging Into The Digital Age
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Nineteenth Virtual Symposium: App Brings Silicon Valley Swinging Into The Digital Age This blog entry is part of the nineteenth virtual symposium, an informal collection of bloggers who – purely for the hell of it – voted for a single topic (“Science”) and agreed, on or about May 8, to post their interpretations of that topic. A continually updated list of participants can be found here: Participants List For the Nineteenth Virtual Symposium Science The smartphone has insinuated itself into yet another pastime. Those of a certain age may remember key parties, a hallmark of 1970s suburban swinging in which, after a social gathering, men would put their keys in a bowl, women would draw them out, and the resulting matchups would provide the evening’s carnal entertainment. How quaintly analog that is! As CNN Money reporter Laurie Segall stated in Inside a high-tech San Francisco swinger's party, “For certain communities, the mobile device is the new key, and tech is connecting modern-day high-tech swingers.” The report covers the Bronze Party, a series of events based in San Francisco's Potrero Hill which draw heavily from the region’s Silicon Valley workforce. Bronze Party events hosted by entrepreneur Ben Fuller, and as befits their Silicon Valley surroundings, they have a strong technology component. As CNN’s Segall writes, “In preparation for events, many Bronze Club members use a feature called, ‘Auto Date,’ Fuller says. ‘The mobile phone is a great tool. We have a thing called Auto Date which allows you in the party itself to choose the people that you're interested in, and if you choose and they choose, you get a notification. You can meet these people. Their information pops up. It’s a modern-day key.’” Guests are not just swingers: In some cases, they’re technical consultants. Writes Segall: “’They often have great ideas about technology ... that I can apply here at Bronze Party,’ [Fuller] says, citing an iPhone developer who helped manage contact information, email experts who've helped get around Gmail filters, and a user experience designer who helped redesign the website and mobile app.” Does tech design really matter to people who show up at Fuller’s parties? Yes, says Stella, an attendee who, like her husband Greg, is an engineer. “We are in Silicon Valley," Stella told CNN Money. "People here don't have a very high tolerance for bad websites.” For all the high-tech gadgetry, the ultimate goal is a fairly low-tech activity. The Bronze Party is an on-premises event, meaning that couples who mingle and meet in a downstairs area have the option of going upstairs to a playroom, as opposed to heading to a hotel or host’s home. Does the technology offer something new to swinging, or is it just putting an unnecessary bell or whistle (or, perhaps, beep or ping) on something which was chugging along just fine without it? Fuller seems to think the former. "In the old days, you never knew where you were going," he told CNN Money. "Now you get a really good sense. The event details ...even the pictures of the people that are going to be attending the party." *Sigh* And people wonder why there’s no mystery left… Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic |
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There's a reason why I'm something of a Luddite, sometimes. I'll see your *Sigh* and raise you a "Well, fuck it all." I guess this shouldn't be that off-putting, but then again, Silicon Valley. There was a reason why geeks were geeks, once upon a time. We're seeing "Revenge of the Nerds" part fifty six here. A hell of a lot of technology today is breathtaking...and then, there's the stuff that's just bells and whistles. My step-daughter impressed me recently with a gadget in her new car that will allow her to turn on the lights in her home from the comfort of said car, while I, technically impaired that I am, have to tediously enter my home and with great effort, laboriously flip a switch with my finger before the interior of my dwelling can be illuminated. How the fuck did I ever survive without a remote device to light up my shack? She spared me the observation that I also heat the hovel by burning....wood. I recently graduated to Medicare, and thought that I was now officially old, but I can see now that I was old long before that. O brave new world that has such people in it.  Become a member now and get a free tote bag.
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The tech community need an app for everything. "To Be Consumed" Blog : I want to be your drug of painful withdrawals.
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There's a reason why I'm something of a Luddite, sometimes. I'll see your *Sigh* and raise you a "Well, fuck it all." I guess this shouldn't be that off-putting, but then again, Silicon Valley. There was a reason why geeks were geeks, once upon a time. We're seeing "Revenge of the Nerds" part fifty six here. A hell of a lot of technology today is breathtaking...and then, there's the stuff that's just bells and whistles. My step-daughter impressed me recently with a gadget in her new car that will allow her to turn on the lights in her home from the comfort of said car, while I, technically impaired that I am, have to tediously enter my home and with great effort, laboriously flip a switch with my finger before the interior of my dwelling can be illuminated. How the fuck did I ever survive without a remote device to light up my shack? She spared me the observation that I also heat the hovel by burning....wood. I recently graduated to Medicare, and thought that I was now officially old, but I can see now that I was old long before that. O brave new world that has such people in it. This strikes me as a decided bell-and-whistle... but then, I had the rather disturbing experience of being on a car trip a few years ago with a bunch of 30-somethings, all of whom were hunched over their laptops. I can recall similar car trips with peers -- 40- and 50-somethings -- in which we were playing tapes (cassette tapes), making obnoxious comments, and generally, y'know, interacting. As for a wood stove: Anyone who has ever been in a kitchen with a wood stove, and smelled the scent of good dry burning wood, felt the real non-forced heat from its iron interior, and dreamed of roasted treats will never sing the praises of central heating. Nah, you ain't old... you're just discerning. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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You might say that. I'd be more concerned with any roaming charges. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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The tech community need an app for everything. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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Yes, it's nice to have all of the information at your fingertips, but many are just seeking instant gratification instead of putting some effort into anything, including getting laid.
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Yes, it's nice to have all of the information at your fingertips, but many are just seeking instant gratification instead of putting some effort into anything, including getting laid. Like pretty much anything -- dare I draw comparisons between how people reach out electronically on, oh, this site? -- you'll get out of it what you put in! Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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Bonjour Humorlife Une application du net , est ce vraiment de la science ? Ou simplement un gadget ? Au moins avec le tirage au sort de clef il y avait comme un parfum de mystère , un jeu de hasard ♥ Bisou ♥ Poton ♥ Annie ♥ Hello Humorlife An application of the net, is this really science? Or just a gimmick? At least with the random key to fate, there was a mystery scent, a game of chance ♥ Kiss ♥ Annie ♥
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Sometimes things can be be just too organised. I like a bit of unexpected, disorganised chaos sometimes!  
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Admittedly I have very limited experience at a swinger's club, but I kind of like the idea. The club that I have been to is "on premise" and provides a list of the usernames and corresponding web sites of the attendees the day of the party. At my first event I was intrigued by the licensed massage therapist in attendance. Because of the info provided via email I was able to look up his profile later and learn more about him. This gave me a way to contact him and begin conversations. Without those conversations I don't imagine that I would have felt comfortable enough to engage in a MFM with him. Again, I understand that some engage in sexual activity upon a first meet, but that is not within my comfort level. So for me the ability to "see" info about someone is a positive thing. Thanks for the blog.
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Nice post. In the case your describe, I would say that technology does not change what is done (swinging) but facilitates the preparation. Smartphones have certainly an advantage on the bowl: you can refine better your preferences and your expectations (accepting or not oral sex, sodomy ...) in order to avoid totally inappropriate draw.
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There's a reason why I'm something of a Luddite, sometimes. I'll see your *Sigh* and raise you a "Well, fuck it all." I guess this shouldn't be that off-putting, but then again, Silicon Valley. There was a reason why geeks were geeks, once upon a time. We're seeing "Revenge of the Nerds" part fifty six here. A hell of a lot of technology today is breathtaking...and then, there's the stuff that's just bells and whistles. My step-daughter impressed me recently with a gadget in her new car that will allow her to turn on the lights in her home from the comfort of said car, while I, technically impaired that I am, have to tediously enter my home and with great effort, laboriously flip a switch with my finger before the interior of my dwelling can be illuminated. How the fuck did I ever survive without a remote device to light up my shack? She spared me the observation that I also heat the hovel by burning....wood. I recently graduated to Medicare, and thought that I was now officially old, but I can see now that I was old long before that. O brave new world that has such people in it. In my mind, becoming older just means that we are less excited by an invention just because it is new, but we try to step back and see what could be the key advantages for it.
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I know from experience that more elegant solutions and sometimes lead to problems, with people standing around asking "Why didn't you just use what had worked before?" I have seen poly and swinger groups that didn't hold much attraction to me, so I can see the draw in the respect of picking who you're interested in, instead of a random key draw ... But I would still prefer the rather analog approach. Even as a nerd, sometimes there is too much tech in our daily lives. Satyr in Sheep's Skin Peruse my many stories at Satyr39s Storybook Corner or my Renaissance Era BDSM fantasy story at Serial Story Reinport39s Crowning Index. 
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Bonjour Humorlife Une application du net , est ce vraiment de la science ? Ou simplement un gadget ? Au moins avec le tirage au sort de clef il y avait comme un parfum de mystère , un jeu de hasard ♥ Bisou ♥ Poton ♥ Annie ♥ Hello Humorlife An application of the net, is this really science? Or just a gimmick? At least with the random key to fate, there was a mystery scent, a game of chance ♥ Kiss ♥ Annie ♥ It's technology, and by my reckoning that's science. But you have a good point: For all the life-saving medicine science has given us, for all the advances in comfort it has provided, there are corresponding paths of exploration which are little more than indulgences. Perhaps it would be helpful if every scientist were required to take -- and really be engaged in -- at least one poetry or art class during his or her education... Il est de la technologie, et pour mon compte qui est la science. Mais vous avez un bon point: Pour toute la médecine scientifique de sauver la vie nous a donné, pour toutes les avancées dans le confort qu'elle a fournis, il y a des pistes d'exploration correspondants qui sont peu plus que les indulgences. Il serait peut-être utile si tous les scientifiques ont été tenus de prendre - et vraiment être engagé dans - au moins une poésie ou l'art de classe au cours de son éducation... Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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Sometimes things can be be just too organised. I like a bit of unexpected, disorganised chaos sometimes! And then there are us, the deviate dreamers and liberal arts majors, who come along and scatter those carefully gathered rosebuds where we may. And we really, REALLY get up their noses. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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seems they are trying to take the guess work out of it all , and relying on the app so they don't have to work to get to know someone ...just another reason not to get a cell phone excellent post as always *Laughing* Why do I have a sense that these parties don't exactly cater to those of us "of a certain age"? Thank you for your kind words! Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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I started carrying one three years ago, when family events necessitated it... but I hate it, and I've more or less castrated it: It's a smartphone, but I don't have internet access on it. It makes voice calls, it receives voice calls, and I can send and receive texts. I get that there are life emergencies... but living life through the small screen isn't living at all*! *Except for certain types of video naughtiness. That can be pretty lively. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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I'll say amen to your amen. I've started wondering about the gewgaws that are being built into today's cars... and let me promise you that if I am ever made king, texting while driving will be a capital offense. I'll double down on the amens regarding your point about this site offering exposure to folks one would not have otherwise met: I suspect this has been more through the blogs, which allow considered discourse, rather than the chat rooms, which -- while fun -- tend to be a little less substantive in their conversations. That last point is not universal: Every once in a while you can get hold of a truly fun, chewy conversation in a chat room here. Treasure those moments, and don't forget to perv the instigators. I can almost see the app during the swing party being a starting point... but it would be nice if, in addition to the tech, the hosts focused on the softer side of interaction, perhaps by providing icebreakers for, y'know conversation. Then again, one may well run into the "whaddaya wanna talk for? This is a sex party!" mentality, which, um, I've heard is also found on this site... Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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I'm not seeing where this is much different from the swinger websites out there... other than that it's an app. Technology is only bringing the swinger community down in my opinion. Probably only in my opinion... but knowing TOO much about potential partners via e-format (or i-format) is actually a turn-off for me. I've been randomly saying "SCIENCE" in Thomas Dolby's voice all weekend for some reason. 
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Admittedly I have very limited experience at a swinger's club, but I kind of like the idea. The club that I have been to is "on premise" and provides a list of the usernames and corresponding web sites of the attendees the day of the party. At my first event I was intrigued by the licensed massage therapist in attendance. Because of the info provided via email I was able to look up his profile later and learn more about him. This gave me a way to contact him and begin conversations. Without those conversations I don't imagine that I would have felt comfortable enough to engage in a MFM with him. Again, I understand that some engage in sexual activity upon a first meet, but that is not within my comfort level. So for me the ability to "see" info about someone is a positive thing. Thanks for the blog. Imagine being at a networking event where you have a dossier on folks before you engage with them. You'd miss out on the whole discovery aspect of conversation, as well as experiencing the parts of them that weren't captured in a few lines of profile. The web site you describe is an intermediate step from this app: Yes, it gives you contact information, but it also requires and facilitates a certain amount of "real" interaction. Not a bad way of bridging the gap... My quarrel with this -- and it's a small quarrel -- is that the Millennials are overly reliant on their mobile devices for stimulation and information to the exclusion of interaction and interpersonal exploration. I also think they need to get off my front lawn. Those darn kids! Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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Nice post. In the case your describe, I would say that technology does not change what is done (swinging) but facilitates the preparation. Smartphones have certainly an advantage on the bowl: you can refine better your preferences and your expectations (accepting or not oral sex, sodomy ...) in order to avoid totally inappropriate draw. I think that pre-screening profiles is a way, when one is sitting at home, to refine the folks one might want to interact with... but for me, at least, the rules change at live events. If you're going to be there, be there... don't look at apps and use them as a crutch -- or even worse, a substitute -- for the subtle, often nonverbal, forms of interaction. Of course, I could be all wet on this! Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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Nice comment that I like. In my mind, becoming older just means that we are less excited by an invention just because it is new, but we try to step back and see what could be the key advantages for it. There are, legitimately, innovations which accomplish this. But then there are also innovations which exist for the sake of being new. Hell, the late 1990s internet boom and subsequent bust was chockablock with these. Grain of salt, yes, but your point about not dismissing this stuff out of hand is well taken. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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I know from experience that more elegant solutions and sometimes lead to problems, with people standing around asking "Why didn't you just use what had worked before?" I have seen poly and swinger groups that didn't hold much attraction to me, so I can see the draw in the respect of picking who you're interested in, instead of a random key draw ... But I would still prefer the rather analog approach. Even as a nerd, sometimes there is too much tech in our daily lives. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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Thank you... getting to know someone (or someones) face to face can reveal subtleties in personalities that a profile doesn't. Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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We lived without this stuff, and got along fine for thousands of years. My new pet peeve is people, and their love of their cell phones. People are so tuned into that little screen, and barely notice the wonderful world around them. Thoughts from the Garden...
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