Wednesday 17 March 2010

Promoting FOCT

Help improve FOCT by spreading the word and swelling our ranks!

Tell your friends. You can also use the FOCT banner:



To insert the banner above onto your gaydar profile, website, blog, etc. copy and paste the code from the white box below:


<a class="TextLinkNoninterfering" href="http://co-tops.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
<img src="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/43596817/sn/1819123449/name/foct.banner.364.jpg">
</a>

Please DO NOT post the web address of FOCT in gaydar chat rooms, this constitutes spamming!

Sturdy

How To Use FOCT

1. Finding Guys

You can find guys that interest you by reading through Messages, looking through the Photos or searching the Database. They should have their profile name attached to their photos, so you can look them up on a contact site.

The Database can be sorted geographically (click on 'location' in the top row), as well as by other criteria.

2. Promote Yourself

The best way to contact guys on the group is to have a visible presence. The more that other guys know about you, the easier it will be for them to decide if they are interested. For best results:

(a) Post an introductory message.

Tell us where you are and a few details about yourself and what you are looking for. Include a link to your contact site (gaydar, manhunt etc.) profile so guys who are on those sites too can contact you there when you are online.

(b) Add a photo to the Photos section.

Don't make it anonymous! Give the image the same name as your contact site profile and put your contact site in the 'Add Comments' section. (eg, if you are on gaydar and your profile is 'TopguyE5' make sure the photo is called 'TopGuyE5.jpg' and in Add Comments put "gaydar TopGuyE5"

(c) Add yourself to the Database.

Your 'FOCT name' will be your Yahoo! ID. Include this if you want to be contacted by email.

Under 'build' include if you are smooth or hairy.

Be sure to include the kind of guys you like in 'his type is' (please keep it brief!)

(d) Another way to get yourself noticed is to get involved in discussions in the Messages section. Join the ongoing debates and start your own topics. What's best, orgy or gang bang? What makes a good bottom?

The more active you are in promoting yourself, the more you will get out of the group. This also makes the group more lively and enjoyable for everyone.

3. Messages

You can use FOCT simply as a mailing list. Once you sign up you will get every message posted to the group sent to you automatically.

If you reply to any of these messages (which will begin with the [co-tops] prefix in the title), your reply will be posted to everyone on the group, and the message will remain visible on the group site Messages page.

If you post a message and then change your mind, let me know. I cannot stop it being delivered to other members but I can delete it from the Messages page.

If you do not want to receive emails from the group, go to 'Edit Membership' on the group site (top of the page) then 'Step 2. Message Delivery', and tick 'Web Only - Don't get notified of the latest happenings. Read messages only on the web.'

You are very welcome to post new messages as long as they are relevant to the group. New members are encouraged to post a message introducing themselves.

Sturdy

Discretion, Privacy and Security

It is advisable that you do not use your real or full name on the group. If you have joined using an email address that includes your full/real name, you should consider creating a new Yahoo! ID just for FOCT (and any other adult Yahoo! groups you may be interested in).

Do not mention any identifiable information such as address, place of work or phone number.

Please DO NOT mention anyone else's real or full name, address, place of work or phone number on the group.

It is a very good idea to NOT upload a photo of yourself that shows your face AND your sexual organs in the same shot! Or to send such a picture to anyone. You never know where it might end up...

When arranging to meet someone off the group, take reasonable precautions. Meet in a public place the first time so that you can suss the guy out. If you arrange to go to someone else's home it is a good idea to leave that information with a friend.

Look after your own health. Take condoms and lube with you, don't rely on him to be prepared!

If you meet someone and change your mind do not feel bad about apologising and leaving, at ANY point.

Sturdy

Tuesday 16 March 2010

PAQ - Potentially Asked Questions




Who is FOCT for?

The Federation of Co-Tops mainly exists to enable top men who enjoy group sex with other top and bottom guys to contact each other so that they can arrange meetings, activities, exchange information, advice and support. The aim is to create a network of co-tops based on real-life contacts and friendships.

Anyone can log onto a contact website and go trawling for trade, but isn't it better when you can meet someone who knows someone you know, like a friend of a friend? Someone that can be vouched for as being worth your time and effort?

In the spirit of co-operation, mutual respect and integrity, this can become a warm, welcoming place, something like a gentleman's club for the discerning bum-poker!

Can anyone join?

FOCT is mainly for gay or bisexual men who identify as top/active and enjoy group sessions that involve other top guys, but if you are 5% bottom you will still be accepted. If you are not interested in three-or-more sessions but want to discuss bottom guys you have met or would like to meet with other tops, you will still be welcome. If you consider yourself straight but still want to have sex with other guys we won't turn you away!

You must be eighteen or over.

Can bottoms join?

Bottom guys are very welcome to join FOCT, especially if they are interested in being available for multiple tops (not neccesarily only in group sessions).

So is this just an orgy group then?

Not exactly. The aim of FOCT is to enable guys who enjoy threesomes, orgies or gang-bangs to meet each other, but this is not the only possible use of the group. You might just want to meet some serious, non-timewasting fuck-buddies for one-on-one sessions. You might be a top who values the opinions of other tops when looking for a quality bottom.

The difference with FOCT is that, instead of every top making a lone quest to find good bottoms, a group of tops will pool their knowledge of available bottoms and enable good matches via networking and personal recommendations.

How do I get the most out of FOCT?

Basically, the more you put in, the greater your chance of getting something out of it. You can just sign up and then sit back and read other people's messages, looking for something that might interest you, but that is a very minimal, one-way approach. Wouldn't it be better if guys approached YOU instead? If you put up some basic information about yourself you will attract attention and will be more likely to receive messages.

Post a new message on the group introducing yourself. It doesn't have to be an essay, but do state your LOCATION, your AGE, your ROLE (top or bottom) and what TYPE of guys you are looking for.

If you have a profile on a contact site like gaydar or Manhunt, include a link to that. Guys can then learn more about you, and contact you more quickly and easily.

If you REALLY want to get noticed, upload a photo to the site. It doesn't have to show your face if you are shy. Choose the appropriate folder, Tops or Bottoms. Make sure to give the photo the same name as your profile on your favourite contact site. Use the 'Add Comment' box to state your profile name and site (eg: "Sturdy" on gaydar), location, age and type sought.

Another way to get noticed is to participate in discussions (Messages section). The FOCT group can also be used as a forum, and you can contribute to ongoing threads or start your own. There is plenty to talk about!

You can also use the Messages section to request help or advice from other members. Want to ask what 'spitroast' means? Want to talk about premature ejaculation, relationship problems, safer sex? Go right ahead.

Can I tell the group about my friends? Can I upload photos of my friends?

Please DO NOT talk about people on FOCT, or upload pictures of them, without their permission. Ideally, get them to join FOCT and introduce themselves.


Sturdy

Rules




1 - DISCRETION:

Please do not mention real or full names of any individual discussed in a sexual context, including yourself, or any details by which they might be identified.

Do not post phone numbers, addresses, or details of an individual's place of work.

Refer to people only by their alias/profile name, or email address.

(NOTE: If your email address contains your full name, you might consider creating a new Yahoo account in order to access this group.)

Do not post the details of any other person, including their profile address (Gaydar, Manhunt, etc.), or upload photos of another person, without their explicit permission.

2 - CONTENT:

Do not discuss any activities that are illegal. Do not upload images that show illegal or violent activities. Racist material of any kind is prohibited.

Irrelevant content, including commercial advertisements, will be removed.

3 - ETTIQUETTE:

Personal attacks, bullying and harrassment are prohibited. Please discuss differences of opinion in a civil manner.

4 - HEALTH:

Please do not advertise for unhealthy activities such as barebacking or illegal drug use.


Sturdy