FabSwingers.com forum: swining before the internet

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"i was lucky to be in the digital age but would love to hear stories about swinging before the digital age.. how did you meet ppl and what was it like x"

We used to stand on the roadside alongside hitch-hikers, with a sign around our necks saying 'Swinger up for a shag'... well, something like that.

Trying to be serious for a mo... I got into it 'proper' (had a little one-off dabble when I was 21) when I was 24 simply because I got lucky and met a GF who was already in the scene... along with her Mum and Dad!!!!! So I never had to do the 'Contact Mag' thing - luckily, as it must have been soul destroying with the amount of time it took.

I got introduced into an established network of house parties and went from there.

The main difference with today that I can see is that old fashioned manners/etiquette seem to have become non-instinctive. Give you an example:- today we have lockable doors on play rooms at clubs and at regular homes where parties are held. In 1985, in the circles I moved in, this would have been unheard of. In fact, in a couple of the regular play houses, there were NO doors at all. BUT.... everyone - single guys especially - knew the etiquette and rules. You could look in from the doorway. If you wanted to enter the room, you had to open your mouth and ask. If you then wanted to join in, again you had to ask. There was none of this putting your hand on someones leg (or whatever bit you could! Lol!!) to say 'I'd like to play'.

Other than that, at least safe play is the norm now - despite the AIDS campaign in 1984/5, bareback was still the way it was done for the majority that I saw.

But, times change. You can't say that it was better then or now. Just different based on the trends of the times..

ted.

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Word of mouth

CB radio

Ceefax

Clubs"

Ceefax????? Blimey, I missed that one!!!!

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"thanks

im guessing single males where a lot less around too"

No. About the same as now, ratio-wise anyway.

ted.

By *llie RoseWoman
over a year ago

By the seaside

I belonged to a big group of people who knew people who knew people lol. Pretty much word of mouth and lucky enough that a few couples within the core group owned large houses where they were happy to host get togethers. There were also a few select local publications where you could post in the personal ad section.