Oh, I definitely understand that. I talk about it later in this post, but I was an admin/mod/active user for a Q/A site that was about relationships/sexuality. (Coincidentally, there were several cammodels that would hang out there too I know and give advice from their perspective lol) I am most definitely used to seeing/dealing with horny people and their collective behavior. I'm not a woman nor model, but I think I have at least a somewhat good sense of what's going on.
I don't have much of a history with them. In fact, I hardly have any social media now (i.e. a Facebook I don't post on). The closest thing I've had to social media was being very active on a question/answer forum centered around relationships, and that was only late teens. It sounds probably sad to talk about in a way lol, but I am actually low key proud of it, since I have over 7500 opinions on there + over an 80% best answer rate. I wrote the long, detailed answers usually, as is probably evident by this response itself
. As far as filling a similar void, that's a tough question to answer. I'm super introverted (not awkward/shy necessarily, just introverted), so I don't really require a whole lot of social interaction. If I had to psychoanalyze myself, I enjoyed going on the question answer forum and giving advice to help others, but it also gives you a sort of 'do-gooder' feeling that helped myself in the process. That was the self-benefit of it. Like it makes you feel sort of like you have more of a purpose (if that's the right word) when someone gives you a big genuine 'thank you so much' response. It's a wholesome warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that you could provide some encouraging words of wisdom to someone who really needed it. Hence, I was going to become a counselor and studied psychology, but alas, life has a way of changing things.
From the Q/A site though, since it was really open about sexual topics and had a lot of horny-ass guys/catfishes (very similar to ones seen on CB), it really wisened me up to dealing with rude/horny people. I was an admin for a bit, so I saw A LOT of stuff, whether bizarre kinks, spammers, horrible personalities, two-sided people, etc.. Talking with a friend who had a traumatic sexual experience as a teen due to self-esteem issues also made me adopt a stance of 'truly comfortable for both sides' approach towards cams or even sex in general.
I don't feel particularly lonely or anything of that sort now though. My mental health is so much more solid/stable after getting past the depressive episode some years ago. I remember how I felt, and I have healthier mindsets/better strategies to never enter to that state again. During the covid lockdown for instance, my daily life pretty much wasn't even affected tbh. Also, I don't feel like I have some deep void, or that I'm looking for some GFE to compensate for some mental anguish. I enjoy the cams, because I'm a straight male and also enjoy talking to people, but I don't feel obligated to them.
I agree this is also important. It's why I try to be responsible about everything and stick to a budgeted out amount. If I have a day I want to spend big tokens on for instance, I save up for it little by little instead in preparation.