BLUF has always had a pretty strict dress code, and it's going to stay that way, but it does seem to confuse some members and some prospective members, and quite a few of the photos that are sent in simply aren't entirely in accordance with the rules.

If you're already a member, you'll see notes at

http://www.bluf.com/private/memberIndex/tips.php

You'll see the basic information for new members at http://www.bluf.com/membership.html in English.

In French:
http://www.bluf.com/membershipf.html

In German:
http://www.bluf.com/membershipd.html

The very careful (and polyglot) reader may notice that there are some small differences between the versions on each of these pages. So, I think in the interests of clarity, I shall tidy those up (in English first) and then have a new translation for the other languages (and if anyone thinks we need membership information in other languages, and is able to translate, please let me know). The core dress code information will be the same on all pages, but the tips page will have additional details about photo updates.

There is a lot of discretion involved in choosing whether or not to approve someone's membership, or accept photo updates for the site. I'd be interested to know whether or not members think that should be clarified further.

For example, lots of members have interests beyond the full dress code look. We don't want the site to be swamped with images, where people feel that they have to show off on their profile everything they do; some members clearly do have photos that aren't conforming to the dress code, and some want to add some. At the moment, the page says we may post some non-dresscode pics if they're part of a larger update. The rule of thumb I've used so far is that you need at least five or six photos that do comply with the dress code, before I'll add any that don't. Is that a reasonable balance?

With regard to membership requirements, should we clarify a bit more? The current notes say "we recommend you wear tall boots, gloves, shirt and tie, a Sam Browne belt, and a cap or police helmet"

Does that need to be made more clear? Quite a lot of applications come with just a shirt that has a patch on it, for example, and leather trousers, and get rejected. So, do we continue to use discretion, or change that 'recommended' to something stronger, and if so what?

Any feedback is most welcome; what I emphatically don't want to do is to weaken the dress code in any way. But if we can, I want to make it easier for people to know before they send us photos if they're acceptable.

Nigel.

While I support everything you say, Nigel, I think it is very important to maintain the correct image for BLUF. Boots, leather uniform, Sam Browne belt and muir/cop cap/helmet are representative of BLUF and I personally think a minimum five photos is being generous. If I wanted to see 'leather guys' then I would click the leather page of Recon and, as fuddy-duddy as I may seem, I was pleased when they restricted their profile photos not to include genetalia! Am I showing my age?
Back to BLUF - I have noticed on the photos update pages that simply wearing chaps with a leather thong, waistcoat and harness has become acceptible. I don't know what other photos the guy has on his profile page but I do not see what connection this 'attire' has to do with BLUF. I apologise if I have 'upset' the man/men in question but I strongly feel that if I wanted to see naked flesh flaunted in photographs then there are many porn sites on the web which can provide this viewing. I would rather not count BLUF amongst them.
I see BLUF as a membership club and while I accept we have to move with the times, I would still like to see the club remain established in its roots.
Again, I would ask readers not to take offence to what I have written above. This is purely a personal view and I stand by any changes which are to be made to BLUF in the future.

Indeed; you should see some of the horrors in chaps that have been emailed in (thankfully, this isn't VisionOn, and there won't be any prizes).

We certainly don't want it to become just a mini-rRcon, where anything goes as long as there's some leather. But there are already some photos on the site (I looked through them all, albeit at pretty high speed, earlier this month) which don't 100% conform to the dress code, and have been added as part of a larger photo set.

If someone enjoys being a leather dog, or a bondage sub, or is into authentic military dress uniforms, I think it's probably reasonable to allow them a couple of photos that might illustrate that. If we say it's not, then what do we do about the photos already on the site? If we were starting from scratch, we could be as strict as we like. But we're not, and going back to existing members saying "actually, I want to remove some of your photos" is going to cause even more grief.

So, if those things are going to be allowed - or perhaps tolerated - then we obviously need to carefully define when and how they appear - and from my point of view, avoiding ambiguity with clear guidelines makes life a lot simpler.

Perhaps a higher threshold is a better idea. Or perhaps an alternative (though it will take time to organise) is to have a specific section on profile pages, so there are BLUF photos (as many as you like) and 'other leather/fetish photos' with only, say, five allowed, right at the bottom of the page.

I'm quite happy, in the short term, to be extremely strict, and say "only dress code pics allowed" so that we have more time for members to give their feedback.

I think what you have written is very fair, Nigel - particularly where the Master/Slave scenario is concerned and a small selection of photos would indeed show what is expected were contact to be made to either the Master or Slave.
I think this would be even more important if a messaging system was introduced onto the website.
It would be interesting to see what other BLUF members think...

IHMO the intent of the dress code is--look like a cop. Most members do, but a substantial minority don't, despite technically complying with the dress code. Some have added a pair of cuffs or other detail to reinforce the look, while the rest of the gear indicates that they're into something else.

I'm guessing that the reason the dress code has relaxed is that authority is out of style--perhaps there wasn't enough fresh blood. I've been a member for a long time, and I've seen the mean age of the board (no pun!) rise a couple of decades.

My preference is actually to tighten the code, however. BLUF is for leathercops. I agree with your suggestion to make the gunleather, boots and cap or helmet mandatory. Isn't that really what we're all here for?

I have no issue with the current standards set (although I have seen some questionable profile pics.) But it does clearly state you have the right to refuse to anyone. I took a literal read to what was written and delayed for sometime my application to join. I will say since joining and seeing some of what others here have in their photographs I have slowly been building my collection to better meet those standards.
I too ,have no issue with members having maybe a few pictures representing other items such as pup, slave , rubber, master,etc... as long as it does not become the entire profile. I also have other interests but I have other profiles that will display that and state that in my profile. Perhaps a few example close range photos of what we are looking for along with the membership requirements will help clarify this too. Then again maybe membership should go to a commitee of members (say 3 or 5) to vote on for acceptance with majority having say .
Then again I never had a mancheck account and had no need for it. so I never got to preview so to speak. I know my pictures are far from perfect too but I am working on it and hope to update them in the near future.
Basically what I am getting from here is that it should be ideally a leather uniform, such as Tom of Finland style or tradition German style or even a leather RCMP or leather CHP uniform


BLUF-2631

I definitely support a strict interpretation of the dress code. To me, a man dressed in a code uniform is hot, in contrast to a half-assed pastiche of one. You can see the latter anywhere on the net. I appreciate the men who take the time and effort in acquiring a uniform and joining bluf to share and show themselves...One thing I don't appreciate is new members who hide their faces. This is so retro. We're bluf members presumably because of our pride in ourselves and men like ourselves. What's to hide?[/i][/b]

I support a strict dress code. It should be a uniform. By all means have a naked slave on a leash, but that is just an accessory and the picture is not complete without the man in uniform.
There are loads of other places to post pictures, but BLUF is special...I hope it stays that way.
Andy
861

All things to all men is a plan of disapointment
I became aware of Bluf shortly after its founding but was not sufficently leather clad at the time but particularly impressed with an organisation that actually inplemented its dresscode. It took me a while to build up a sufficent collection but hey thats fun in its self and besides one has to grow (or at least feel as though one has grown) into the uniform. Greater public awareness and more events bring more pressure but just let that be the measure of sucess

So true!

Stick to the strict uniform dresscode, it's one of BLUF's unique selling points!



@ wayhcam: But it's inevitable when you want to keep your privacy. It says somewhere on the site to not violate other members' privacy (by not sharing BLUF-profiles with non-BLUF-members) but I noticed this year that it is a growing trend among BLUF-members to take other members' profile pictures and upload them to Flickr, Facebook, etc.

I'll say it again - we're not relaxing the dress code. It's still going to be just as strict.

But I do want to make sure that it's decsribed the same way, whether you're signed in to the site as a member, or just applying to be a member, and whether you read the description in english, french or german.

And, given the number of people who find it hard to comply, that probably means we need to make sure it's clear. Not relaxed, but clear, so people can read it and know whether they meet the code or not.

Anyone who does that should be banned from BLUF immediately. Let Nigel know if you see anyone posting photos from BLUF that are clearly not his own.

Indeed; that's not acceptable at all.

I did wonder if we should watermark, a little like GearFetish does, so we can see straight away that someone has taken a picture from BLUF, rather than, say, asking the owner for a copy.

If people can't respect the privacy of members, they're out.

Much as some people like to say "It's the 21st century, what's the problem?" not everyone is blessed with co-workers, family and friends who are 100% accepting. Just because everyone you know is iiberal, you can't assume everyone else is!

Nigel.

Ralph Lauren baseball caps? Good God Nigel - has it come to that?

Thanks for that non-sequitur. Who ever mentioned baseball caps?