GAY&LESBIAN TIMES — June 18 — What began in 1989 as a telephone dating service called The Tool Line, is today the leading Web site for men looking to meet other men. The Gay & Lesbian Times sat down with Jonathan Crutchley, the co-founder of Manhunt to discuss how he and his business partner Larry Basile first came up with the idea for an online gay dating site.Q: How did you meet men in the ’70s?
A: It wasn’t until the introduction of telephone chat lines, like the ones founded by Larry Basile in 1987.
Q: Are people surprised to meet the man behind the Manhunt curtain?
A: Yes, the real me is not what people imagine. You wouldn’t find me marching in a Pride parade with my shirt off, but I’d be watching the parade from the sidelines.
A: Yes, the real me is not what people imagine. You wouldn’t find me marching in a Pride parade with my shirt off, but I’d be watching the parade from the sidelines.
Q: What is the secret to Manhunt’s success?
A: We developed a site that was easy for the average guy to use and we emphasized our 24-hour-a-day customer service to help guys use the site and be comfortable with it and with themselves.
A: We developed a site that was easy for the average guy to use and we emphasized our 24-hour-a-day customer service to help guys use the site and be comfortable with it and with themselves.
Q: How has gay dating changed since the site began 10 years ago? What are men looking for now?
A: Guys have always been looking for the same things. The Internet makes it much easier to find exactly what you want.
A: Guys have always been looking for the same things. The Internet makes it much easier to find exactly what you want.
Q: What is Manhunt doing to remain on top?
A: Our biggest bet for continued growth is international expansion. We are growing very rapidly in Brazil and all of Latin America, and we have expansion plans in Asia.
A: Our biggest bet for continued growth is international expansion. We are growing very rapidly in Brazil and all of Latin America, and we have expansion plans in Asia.
Q: How does Manhunt feel about eHarmony and Match.com targeting the gay community?
A: Straight dating sites just don’t get it as far as was what gay men are looking for.
A: Straight dating sites just don’t get it as far as was what gay men are looking for.
Q: How safe is Manhunt?
A: Meeting a stranger on Manhunt can be just as dangerous as meeting a stranger on Craigslist or in a bar or in a dark alley. We tell guys to be careful and meet first in a public place, but men will do what they want. The Internet can be dangerous.
A: Meeting a stranger on Manhunt can be just as dangerous as meeting a stranger on Craigslist or in a bar or in a dark alley. We tell guys to be careful and meet first in a public place, but men will do what they want. The Internet can be dangerous.
Q: Is it Manhunt’s responsibility to protect its members from online predators?
A: We urge Manhunt members to take responsible precautions about meeting any stranger, but it is difficult if not impossible to prevent bad things from happening.
A: We urge Manhunt members to take responsible precautions about meeting any stranger, but it is difficult if not impossible to prevent bad things from happening.
Q: Manhunt will be introducing its new version later this year. How will the new Manhunt be different than classic Manhunt?
A: The new version accommodates many more users, but it will look different and take getting used to.
A: The new version accommodates many more users, but it will look different and take getting used to.
Q: Is mobile the next big wave for meeting men?
A: Yes, the future is mobile. Manhunt has a mobile application and we’re updating it.
The full article was originally published at Lesbian & Gay Times, but is no longer available.
