Midsummers Eve

There are two sides to MSE,as it is called, and you can indulge the site in two ways

1. You can ignore the social networking side , and just concentrate on contacting other members via their profiles, which works the same way as any other site. This way you will go unnoticed by regular forum posters, and you will be left alone to enjoy the site at your leisure.

2. You can become involved with the social aspect of the site by posting to the forums and attending the many regular members' meets which are held all over the country every weekend. There is a nasty side to the social aspect of the site though, and many members have been banned from the site as a result of contrived activities against them by others.

The site has rules, one of which is not to make any unfriendly remarks toward another member. You tread on dangerous ground by making un PC remarks too, because my posting rights were withdrawn for doing so, based on complaints from other members. Now there's the rub, because the admin rely on the members to do their policing for them. For example, two members could each make unfriendly remarks, one will be banned , but the other will remain, why is this? I'll tell you why.

The forums are run by a clique, so that if an unfriendly remark is made to someone who has lots of friends (these are people who socialise in real life a lot) then a myriad of complaints will be made to admin about that post, and the poster will be removed from the site. If however someone is nasty to a member who is unknown or not liked, then no complaints will be received , and that person will remain. I know through experience, and I have seen it time again, there is no consistency to the moderation and fairness of the site. I am no longer there, as I, and most that I ever bothered with have been banned also.

These cliques have been on the site for years, they are protectionist protagonists who will deny that cliques exist, but these people have known each other for years now, in real life, as they regularly attend gatherings. If you venture into the forums you will be entering a tangled web of intrigue. There are busy bodies on there, so don't make too much about yourself known , unless you want it spread through a gossip network that distorts the truth. Look out for factions, each of which will be led by one protagonist or another, though some protagonists may not be at the fore in the forums, but they are hard at work behind the scenes sending private messages. They are all on the phone a lot to each other too. Look out for drama queens, people for who the world has fallen out of their bottom. If you go to a members meet, watch out for members who take the opportunity for turning the occasion into a fund raising event for their charity. Don't be surprised if someone holds a bucket up to your face while you are enjoying a pint.

Back to the conversation forums. If you want to start a firework display by winding people up to react, then this is the site for you. Some are quite good at this, and they can be very subtle. Their wording leaves me in no doubt as to their antics, but is worded in such a way as to fool admin. They are also careful who to target, being aware of who the A listers are, and they themselves are main players, if you know what I mean. So just light the blue touch paper and sit back. Have fun. You'll be amazed how serious this can all get, sometimes between people who have never even met.

If you require full access to the site's features you will have to pay for what they call essentials. Paying for the site gives no guarantee of being removed from the site if the powers that be deem your posts offensive or insensitive. Not a good way to lose £40 for three months membership. Thankfully my membership had all but expired when I was removed.