Hi everyone, following yesterday's (June 9th) flurry of group chat messages that were being sent between those participating in the chat at the time, but also copies of which were being sent to others who were not, via email copies etc.  We have now had a chance to look at the chat features available on the site. 

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The chat system functions better in one-to-one chats it seems.

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For group chats the features are very limited. It’s not as flexible as applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram for example. However, if you are in a group chat you no longer wish to be part of, or chose to be part of, you can select to leave the chat, look for the three dots at the top of the chat which gives a drop down menu. 

 

You can’t opt in or out of having the chat feature active I’m afraid, nor can you mute messages etc. 

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It is appreciated that there is a desire to create community, dialogue between members and reduce isolation etc, something HONM is passionate about overcoming. However, given the limited scope of the chat system here, it is important that members are not receiving unwanted messages/emails, when they didn't sign up for those and were not consenting to be part of a chat group. 

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It is therefore proposed the following protocols about use of the chat system on the site which aims to strike a balance in terms of how we interact with each other online:

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• As with much of how HONM works and how consensual, positive social intimacy is created, start gently, ask permission perhaps to begin a one-one-one chat, or include someone in a small group chat, be thoughtful.
   

• Don’t assume someone wants to see or accept unsolicited images. Yes we are developing the group as a positive expression of being naked and naturist, that doesn’t give automatic permission to be sent pictures, again, ask first.
   

• Please do not start a group chat with everyone in the membership, which is what happened yesterday on the 9th. Because the system is so limited in its controls and settings and there is nothing that can be done about that, as soon as a chat develops amongst a few people, everyone starts receiving those messages. It feels like you’re being spammed very, very quickly.
   

• If you want to chat to a smaller group, you can select members individually, before sending out a group chat message to just those selected. That function may become more beneficial as people build social networks over time.
   

• In the end the chat feature may not offer enough of what people need, especially for those that cannot attend the Monthly Meet-Ups at all, or with any frequency, but want to be part of an online community. With that in mind details of existing online networks that are related to mens’ naked/naturist forums will be posted on the site and included in the one of the next newsletters. Some of you are already part of these.
   

• There will not be a separate Hang Out Naked Midlands WhatsApp or Telegram group established.
   

All of this will be kept under review and we appreciate your patience, feedback and thoughts as we go forward in the development of HONM.

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All the best

Hang Out Naked Midlands

10 June 2025