Cuddle Connect

lilychamps

This post was made by a fake account for promotional purposes. The topic has been allowed to stay open due to the genuine discussion that followed. [Mark]

Renamed topic to be descriptive and allow for any related discussions to be merged into this one. [Mark]

Inspired by one of the ongoing forum discussions here about - No female moderators, I decided to share one of my experiences with cuddleconnect.com late last year. That site appears to have both female+male moderators.

But irrespective of what gender the moderators were, what truly impressed me was their customer service and genuineness to help. Below is one of the email conversations I had with cuddle connect support:

I wrote with desperation
Could you put me in touch with a caring cuddle buddy please - anywhere in my state - I don't mind where - PLEASE.......

Response I got
to answer your question on cuddler in your area, we are still building our cuddle buddy connection. While making you aware of our competitors is not ideal but for us more important is to help our members in ways we can.

Please try CuddlComfort.com and see if you find anyone around you on that website.

Hope you will respect our genuineness to help you to best of our possibility by our gesture of sharing even our competitor websites.

Cheers,

Cuddle Connect Support Team

This is what I think truly matters when it comes to genuine service - they are the ones who made me aware of cuddle comfort and one more cuddle site, so that I can possibly find someone sooner.

What matters to you?

cuddlerforu24

This is right out of the movie “ Miricle on 34 th street “ , The shopping mother asks the Macy’s Santa Claus for a particular toy and the Kris Kringle says we don’t have that here at Macy’s but you can find it Gimbels .
Then when Gimbels found out about that strategy , they started sending customers right back to Macy’s , so they can be known as the “ helping store “ . Great movie

Catloaf

@cuddlerforu24 Love the comparison lol. As far as the OP... @lilychamps glad you found us, but I don't know how I feel about Cuddle Connect after a certain incident. I joined and I too found that there was no one in my area, and I came across a few profiles which didn't seem to fall in line with what a platonic cuddle site should be about. These were mainly people with photos that were shirtless etc... I was told by the site admin later that they do monitor photos being posted.

What really bugged me was that I made a comment in someone else's thread about my experience there, and then I got a message on my personal email I believe not even a day later that someone had seen my comment and passed it off to them. That is highly sus to me. They've either got moles in here or they are watching the forums themselves, probably both. When I asked for clarification, they said that a member had shared one of their videos (in this thread) and was banned for doing so, which is simply not true. The account was paused, and it may have been either because the person was a pro who did not update to the new credit card requirement, or other non-platonic activity. It makes more sense that it's the latter, because that "touching game" mentioned in one of them is just fishy. They said they believed it was because the person was posting resources and information from a "competitor" website. I'm sure it wasn't as simple as that.

Anyway, I had emailed them back to communicate my discomfort with that, told them that they should not be seeing us as "competition" and they actually asked me to be an "ambassador" of their website to Cuddle Comfort. I haven't even really used their site for more than 15 minutes! They're brand new, and I'm not a pro with them so I don't intend to do that; my utmost loyalty remains here. I would consider joining if there were more people around to talk to, but after that whole thing, I just don't know.

PinkLipstick22

Cuddle Connect looks like a knock off of CuddleComfort. Might be some trademark infringement going on That request for you to be an "ambassador" sounds like trolling to me. Pretty suspect.

Glad you found your way here!

PaulaDahla

At this stage of the cuddling movement can anyone afford to be condoning, flagging as suspicious or in any way putting down genuine attempts to bring more attention and access to any legitimate cuddling site? @catloaf, I'm sorry you thought some of the pictures on cuddleconnect are potentially non platonic but honestly there is a reason one of the stickied forum posts is called INAPRROPRIATE PROFILES; we have our fair share of meat shots and members looking for all the wrong reasons.
I'm just curious why this went from a potential thoughtful post to shades of condemnation instead. Let's support any legitimate attempt to make more people aware of platonic cuddling! We should be trying to help them not hinder or warn away. I for one wouldn't care where my cuddles came from and this isn't a paid site anyway.

I think genuineness to help is utmost importance but I really think this site does a very good job of that also. We may not see it as well atm but that's because again it's a free site, mainly run on a minimal budget(no idea honestly), and admin is trying to work out kinks before moving forward again. After all anyone who works out knows that a muscle needs to be broken to grow, a pause for the cause if you will before moving on.

My 5 cents, pennies aren't worth anything any more!

PaulaDahla

Can I just say to our two pro's above, look around you may be surprised to find who is behind cuddleconnect and who you are potentially knocking as lessor. Pretty sure you both know the creator.

It sounds like at least one of you have tried registering there. Maybe you are on a few other cuddle sites also, maybe the too clinical one, or a different one. If I were a pro I would probably welcome new sites and even offer possible help until it's up and running. Seems to me the more sites ~ the more attention is given to cuddling and the positive reasons to participate in cuddling someone in your life. Maybe you have more business than you can handle currently but if not I only see additional sites as a business benefit not as any sort of competition. But neither of you meant that in your comments so sorry if it comes off wrong. I for one, love reading everything you two have to say on the forums and think you're both great.

Catloaf

@PaulaDahla I too have always appreciated your input, specifically your diplomacy with a hint of conviction. I tried to be kind to the admin in my correspondence, I like the look of CuddConn, and I think their pro upgrade packages are extremely attractive, love that they also have a forum and I did take a peek...but the whole act of people "tipping off" comments etc. made on an entirely different website just didn't sit right with me at all. It seems shady. And then posts like this in response to a different thread are coming up, where it seems to be tooting the horn... was OP also asked to be an "ambassador" like I was? It makes me feel like whoever is behind all of this can't communicate openly with us, right here on our forum in response to the comments made here, and instead they need to triangulate which is a pretty manipulative tactic.

Sadly I don't know who the creator/owner is...do you? Obviously without being named, is it someone from here who's active on the forum? I'd be curious to know, but of course I can't be PM'd at this time...

My implication to the admin of CuddConn is that if they feel the need to come in here and watch what's being said, or take inspiration from CC, they should be communicating openly and banding with us rather than viewing us as competition to glean from. I'm in agreement with @PinkLipstick22 that the site looks like a slight knockoff, though I do wish them well in their endeavours, and again, I hope they don't turn into the trainwreck that the other big name "cuddle site" has turned into. The steps they're taking are the correct ones. Their attempts to grow and improve though are somewhat...questionable, at least in my opinion.

respectful

@Catloaf The creator is someone from this site, and has been on the forum. I agree that it might be better if he didn't view this site as competition -- having more platonic cuddling sites is a good thing, and doesn't have to be competitive. My first comment to him was that it looked like a copy of Cuddle Comfort and it would be better to differentiate it, which he has tried to do a bit. There are also some fake profiles on that site which are for testing purposes, which is offputting to me (reverse image search shows that they are stock photos). I think his heart is in the right place though -- he definitely wants it to stay platonic, as hard as that can be to enforce. But he does put some pressure on people to promote the site. I think if a thing is good it will promote itself really.

(Since I can't private message you @Catloaf, I'll just say I appreciate you and all your comments!)

Mark

The member that started this topic is a fake account. It's one of several fake accounts that have been created here to promote Cuddle Connect.

I've known for a while that the owner of that website has been an active member here. That person had previously asked my advice for a 'project' that would later turn out to be Cuddle Connect. I was a little unsettled by the lack of transparency but looked past it. I also tried to see the outright copying and pasting of content from here as a sign that we're doing things right.

However, using this place to covertly promote the website while breaking the rules doesn't seem ok to me.

I invite the owner to explain himself here before his account is put at risk.

PinkLipstick22

I actually do applaud other pros and other cuddle sites for their efforts and their promotion of platonic cuddling (if they truly are) in the space. I've posted to that effect many times on CC. As you say, PaulaDahla, all efforts to promote platonic cuddling are useful and at this time we aren't well known enough to truly have competition that would hurt "business" in a traditional sense.

In fact, I've openly and honestly spoken in support of another site I was on when I first joined here. I wouldn't have done that if the owner of that site had asked me to do so covertly, as that doesn't sit right with me. My decision to make the comments were and are solely my own and the words are also solely mine; months later when he did see the comments, he sent me a quick note of appreciation but that was the full extent of conversation about that.

This type of thing seems underhanded to me. When I first saw this post, I thought it was an attempt to social media advertise on the DL on a more popular site (CC), but gave the poster the benefit of the doubt. When Catloaf posted what they asked her to do, it seems my first instinct was close to the truth and the underhanded covert advertising of them seems so sketchy and dishonest that it doesn't sit right with me at all. If the person who started the site is from here, which is actually worse than an outsider knocking off this site, they should be transparent about it when posting. If they don't want to reveal themselves, then pay for true advertising like CC, Snuggle Buddies, and many individual pro cuddlers do rather than being underhanded.
Cuddling is a wonderful thing, and because it can be misunderstood requires transparency and honesty. Someone who wants to start a cuddle site and then act in this way is a blight on our whole community. They should just be open about it.

I've been a pro cuddler for over 5 years and have never heard of that site Cuddle Connect. It seems they must be new, but I just heard of them from this post. I have no idea who started it, but from respectful's post above it seems I may know them. The whole thing doesn't smell right to me. But, best of luck to all with honest, true intentions.

Mark is handling this very patiently and professionally, in my opinion, and I applaud his stance. This type of conduct is what makes CC stand so above the rest so far.

Catloaf

I had a strong feeling that was a sock account.

Very, very well said. @PinkLipstick22
@respectful I kind of picked up on the activity with fake accounts there. I did reverse image searches on the mod accounts yesterday too and was baffled. Reading Mark's input has entirely flipped my decision in regards to joining their list of pros in the future. Deception is the weakest pillar to build something on.

mickcuddle

I went over and logged into “Brand X” yesterday. It’s a decent platform. Not enough users to be useful, and I think the author/owner has a few spots that are not as stringent as here. Case in point there’s a multiple choice on cuddling apparel. While they toss the word “platonic” around a lot, one choice for how you’d dress is “whatever is comfortable”. There are others. I wish them well, for as someone else said, more exposure to platonic cuddling will bring wider acceptance. That being said, I think that some issues require Mark’s iron fist.

Sideon

1) Create faux outrage ("like, omg, where are all the female moderators?"),
2) offer alternatives to non-issues here ("THIS site has GREAT customer service and GENUINENESS"),
3) add puppet accounts,
4) and it adds up to negative integrity and a really crappy business strategy.

Good riddance to the sock puppets. The least they could do is hire a decent writer and editor ($75-$100/hour).

The owner has some 'splainin to do.

Esquire

I signed up, had 3 scammers contact me and decided to leave. There were only 7 or 8 Michigan members

Lorelei

@Sideon XD It honestly cheered me up to think of the person doing this as a sock puppet. Maybe with a twirl worthy mustache.

PaulaDahla

☝ ? Ribknit as well. Definitely twirly moustache. ?

PaulaDahla

Thank you Mark for your willingness to allow him the benefit of the doubt.

Again, duplication is the sincerest form of flattery.

Can I just say that as a community let's always strive to be inclusive; refrain from taking a better than attitude with others trying to advance the concept of cuddling.

It's not my place or Mark's or anyone else's to state who it is/was except him. The long time posters all knew him and respected him.

Good luck my friend. I for one will be checking out the site and hope for improvements there as well as here. Except HogBoblin there are no active cuddlers within 200 miles of me ages 25 to 65 that cuddle women so that site can't be any worse or better than this one.

Plus I don't recall Mark at anytime giving a public warning to stay away from the site. So maybe we as a stronger cuddling community can all be of help. If you're asked to be a promoter and you're uncomfortable it's a perfect opportunity for a practice of consent. Just say no. Or yes. Your choice.

laylanie

As a warning, this happened on cuddle connect and not here, but this has been my experience everywhere else. I find it funny, and hope this is just a troll, but considering this is like... The 3rd time on this site this has happened I'm convinced I have a crazy satellite.
This is my life.
http://imgur.com/a/w8J2wJG

Merged topics. [Mark]

Catloaf

Sorry to hear the struggle. It would appear based on various accounts that you're not the only one encountering this kind of crap on Brand X (someone else's cute little term for Cuddle Connect, not mine lol). I dunno, it's just rife with sus people.

ReltvlyCanshes

Ironically, i have been banned on Cuddle Connect. I absolutely had not communicated with anyone on there i found that site the same time i found this one, but never talked to anyone so i think it’s odd i was banned. Hmmm

laylanie

The heck? How does @BashfulLoner get banned?

Also, new laugh from cuddle connect if anyone is interested.
https://imgur.com/gallery/wC2KY1k

@laylanie it doesn't really make that much sense in the context but I hope you told that guy it was the last straw in relation to his hat. It's about 2am so that was either a great joke, or something I'll never speak of again.

ReltvlyCanshes

@laylanie that’s what i said! What the frick?

It seems like guys would be better at disguising nefarious intent. At least a little while geesh. But apparently not on that site.

laylanie

@Zundar that was a knee slapper for sure. Not that it matters, but I approve this joke. I'll be sure to send "all the internets" to you as swiftly as possible.

@BashfulLoner I would think that if I was getting banned, I'd see something along the lines of what rule you broke. Like, I know that specifically saying what you did and who claimed it isn't proper but at least to point out in the tos what was violated.

As for they guy, I blocked him. At this point. I'm just having fun sharing the conversations that go awal. I hear that using the colors blue instil more calm and thoughtful communications and I am starting to think it's true since I have never seen so much going on in messages here as I have with cuddle connect.

PaulaDahla

I agree with @laylanie that there has to be a reason you were banned. If you did something inappropriate they should at least tell you what it was.

It makes no sense unless someone reported you for being inappropriate. I agree with reaching out to find out why.

Wow woman, I'm surprised by the nature of the replies you get and I remember that picture(wink) you and I discussed that one before!! haha He is right though, you are gorgeous. I'm surprised that's happening so regularly. Do you get any serious inquires at all? I hope you are just giving us the best of thread and not the only replies.

HappinessHenry

Holy smoke Batman, the level of intrigue in this discussion strand is more than GOT (Game Of Thrones)! But when do we get the reveal???

ReltvlyCanshes

I have no idea why i would have been banned, i really didn’t even use that thing since my initial discovery. But i quickly learned it was as useful as this site and i only looked occasionally to see if things changed. I’m not really interested at this point, especially after reading this thread.

laylanie

@PaulaDahla I have had 2 real conversation that have been civil. The other ones were baby levels of what I posted but not funny or got themselves banned so didn't get a chance to snap the chat lol
Also had a chat with a mod asking if I wanted to be a pro.. Sooo jumped on that offer.... ?
Edit: and of course! The infamous picture! Lmao shrug at least it's not my playboy bunny costume that I so conveniently and TOTALLY have!
At this point the site is almost feeding my inner troll, but this time I'm not going out to rattle cages, I just have to be me!

@BashfulLoner I really don't think you're missing out though. I think eventually I'll probably be banned at some point for being too mean or something like that and now where would I get my luls?

Lev136

I have just joined this site. Poor management or something where I am getting a handful of Messages from fake accounts throughout the day. When I contacted management about it they said that they are having their 3rd influx of spanner, etc. coming in from Europe. Wonder why I don't see the same here or on other cuddling sites?

Lev136

Or should I say more than a handful???

Catloaf

@Lev136 I wouldn't take their word on the spammer thing. The admin admitted at one point to using fake accounts, and even the mod accounts are using fake pictures etc.