I'm pretty sure terms that de-humanize people, regardless of their historical use, should be off limits. Especially by government representatives in formal conversations with the press.
A lot of hos already moved to Casual Encounters when they started requiring the phone number. It's mostly agencies over in Erotic Services. The independent gals (like I was) just use transparently coded language or look for long-term benefactor type relationships, which are somehow different from prostitution because you might get pretty clothes in addition to cash for your rent.
@collegecallgirl: Right. If a guy pays to film you having sex, it's legal. If a guy buys you presents in exchange for sex it's legal. If a guy pays you for sex it's against the law.
@Beausoleil: But Craiglist will be much, much more fun now - because you'll never know if your "casual encounter" will ask you for money after you cum or not.
The really sad thing here is that the real health issue is the people who are giving it away for free in Casual Encounters. The call girls and boys at least insist that their clients wear condoms, while there's tons of people looking for lots of random unprotected sex that craigslist is doing nothing about.
How does this target pimps? Are these idiots unfamiliar with the last few thousand years of human existence? Pimps are a distribution channel. Craigslist was a distribution channel. If you remove competing distribution channels you crowd the original, dangerous, drug-dealing, rapey one. It might scare the college kids that had an easy time making Craigslist into a kinder, gentler form of whoring themselves out, but it's not stopping the business.
I'm so sick of being lied to about "quality of life" legislation. This has nothing to do with reducing crime and everything to do with victimizing prostitutes, forcing them to become tools of the criminal justice system.
I will say that what this will NOT do is push them out onto the streets. Street corner prostitutes have very little in common with craigslist girls and boys.
The on street sex workers are selling their wares for $25 to $75 a go. The Craigslist people are going for a minimum of $150 and, in general, a lot more than that.
What it could do is force them to start working the bars and cocktail lounges of tourist hotels and/or buy ads in the Village Voice.
@drunkexpatwriter: Exactly. Whomever wrote that this will drive people to the streets is wrong. I worked with adolescents in foster care who I learned were regularly using craigslist for one shot deals. Sure, they could go to the piers and make $10 bucks + crack for blow job OR they could place an add on craigslist and make nothing short of $150.
@kitkatsplash: Sure, they could go to the piers and make $10 bucks + crack for blow job OR they could place an add on craigslist and make nothing short of $150.
Okay, quick thought process.
If option #2 isn't available, will they still do option #1?
@ADismalScience: For some sociological reason, there is virtually no overlap between streetwalkers and callgirls/boys, even when times are hard and usual venues are restricted. For example, if the city cracks down super hard on the street, the workers will more likely get on a bus and go work in another city instead of crossing over to "call" work. It seems bizarre, but that's just the way it seems to work.
@collegecallgirl: Seriously, if I was a rent boy, I'd place all my ads in Casual Encounters just on the assumption that the cops might check out Erotic Services but wouldn't be smart enough to read between the lines of casual encounters ads.
I think I'm going to bitch about this in my Ask A Pornographer feature tomorrow. If you want to contribute a quote, let me know.
@drunkexpatwriter: CE also appeals to a certain kind of guy. Most of the men on Craigslist don't want "professionals," they want a sweet, innocent college girl who has been driven to try this out for the VERY FIRST TIME by the cruel financial requirements of life.
@Unfun: hehe... i always browse missed connections to see if anyone was checking me out lol
i post fake stuff there too... outlandish stuff... stuff that would NEVER happen. It's a hoot getting responses like, wow - did that really happen? I hope you find that person...
Easy solution to all of the sex workers/pimps out there: pony up some cash and buy a VISA or AMEX gift-card at a large retailer, and use the gift-card to purchase ad-space on craigslist with discretion. You can charge your clients more to make up for the increased marketing expense, or accept slimmer margins.
If the dregs in Iran can continue to finance their pernicious behavior despite government obstruction, our girls (who are much smarter) should be able to finance their lasciviousness. USA!
@Peoplefamiliarwith: yes, helpful suggestion, People. but it's about men's lasciviousness. in prostitutes' case, it's about lack of other opportunity. let's try not to paint this grueling, souldeadening work with too rosy a brush. let's have a little empathy. let's recognize pimps for the controlling, manipulative, often abusive men they are.
@TheologicalSong: There are other immediate opportunities for girls in America who would be unhappy with this line of work: starbucks barista, waitress at hooters, Wal*Mart cashier, stewardess for Net-Jets, Vice-Presidential candidate.
I say cut out the pimps. Middle-men are a dying breed in the 21st century economy.
@Peoplefamiliarwith: What's helpful in this regard is a lowering of hiring standards at Starbucks. At my local one, the new hires are all middle-aged women who might as well be pouring coffee at the diner. They yell at each othe across the room, cackle insufferably, and have boyfriends named Eddie who double park their pickup trucks while running in to flirt with Edna.
11/07/08
And by "love" I mean "outraged".
11/07/08
11/07/08
I'm pretty sure terms that de-humanize people, regardless of their historical use, should be off limits. Especially by government representatives in formal conversations with the press.
11/07/08
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11/07/08
It's like Alice in Wonderland.
11/07/08
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11/07/08
Hookers are great, and Craigslist is a wonderful resources for GFE.
11/07/08
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11/07/08
I'm so sick of being lied to about "quality of life" legislation. This has nothing to do with reducing crime and everything to do with victimizing prostitutes, forcing them to become tools of the criminal justice system.
11/07/08
But I thought this was about jobs for lawyers and police? It's a "make-work" program, isn't it?
11/07/08
11/07/08
Ugh. Can we please just legalize brothels and move on to other more pressing issues, like the Obama family puppy?
11/07/08
11/07/08
It means that for extra money the girl will kiss you.
11/07/08
11/08/08
11/07/08
work out by Candace Bushnell, author of "Sex in the City".
Nice product"placement" Gawker.
11/07/08
11/07/08
The on street sex workers are selling their wares for $25 to $75 a go. The Craigslist people are going for a minimum of $150 and, in general, a lot more than that.
What it could do is force them to start working the bars and cocktail lounges of tourist hotels and/or buy ads in the Village Voice.
11/07/08
11/07/08
Isn't there more competition on there now that all of the unemployed bankers are looking for a quick score?
11/07/08
Sure, they could go to the piers and make $10 bucks + crack for blow job OR they could place an add on craigslist and make nothing short of $150.
Okay, quick thought process.
If option #2 isn't available, will they still do option #1?
11/07/08
11/07/08
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11/07/08
I think I'm going to bitch about this in my Ask A Pornographer feature tomorrow. If you want to contribute a quote, let me know.
[www.stinque.com]
11/07/08
11/08/08
To be honest, If I'm paying $200 for a blow job I want to know the girl has got enough practice and experience to make it worth it.
11/07/08
Get ready for a lot of girls who need "tuition assistance" and guys who "need financial help because their family threw them out for being gay."
11/07/08
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11/07/08
casual encounters?
missed connections?
barter?
yeeeaaa...
11/07/08
Stop laughing.
11/08/08
i post fake stuff there too... outlandish stuff... stuff that would NEVER happen. It's a hoot getting responses like, wow - did that really happen? I hope you find that person...
craigslist is where i live my secret life
11/07/08
If the dregs in Iran can continue to finance their pernicious behavior despite government obstruction, our girls (who are much smarter) should be able to finance their lasciviousness. USA!
11/07/08
11/07/08
11/07/08
I say cut out the pimps. Middle-men are a dying breed in the 21st century economy.
11/07/08