Just wondering how many people would want to participate in a televised interview regarding internet hobbying. What would be your resistance to do so and what would be your motivation to do so. Also, what points would be most important to make?
Thanks,
Jenni
I can think of a lotta reasons not to, and none to!
LE LE LE LE LE LE LE
That is my reason. I like my life private (as much as it can be.)
I don't need to world to know.
Shaye
Hypothetically speaking, if you could be anonymous, wouldn't you want to be able to speak to the issues of reasons why this profession should be legalized?
Jenni,
That is why we all love you....you have the real cajonies (sp?) to hang out there and go for it regardless of what others think of it. We admire you for that trait. Although I would be interested and am curious about it, I fear I may have too much to risk in doing so unless it could be completely confidential. Just how anonymous would one be?
Jenni,
On a hypothetical basis, yes there would be tremendous value to have an open forum to speak of changing peoples understanding of this "hobby". (Especially if it were possible to have an intelligent discussion)
Maybe, if there were to be a prostitution lobby to get it legalized, but for some reason the puritan philosophy as well as other elements in this country have an interest in keeping it as a sub-culture and illegal.
I for one do not so strongly feel for the issue that I am willing to fight for it. Maybe if I were independently wealthy, and had no family to consider I might take up the stump, but until then I will stay hidden and participate in this "Fantasy" world as bear, semi-anonymous.
Once upon a time I lived in Berkeley, CA. In the Bay Area there was an organization called COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics). Thesepeople were working toward the end of legalizing what we all hold near and dear to our hearts: Hobbying.
Apparently there has been some public/political debate about this issue in San Francisco recently.
The following link is to a short interesting article on the efforts of an organization advocating changes in current law in an effort to provide protections for sex workers.
http://www.walnet.org/csis/news/usa_2003/afp-031221.html
The distinction between decriminalization and legalization is beyond my level of expertise and would require the opinion of someone trained in the law to offer an explanation of the pros and cons of one versus the other. This article does make a generalization as to why decriminalization might be the more attractive option if in fact an option ever comes into play.
No matter which approach was pursued it would undoubtedly be a long arduous task to change the current situation in this country.
The current politcal/social climate here certainly weighs heavily against any change in the status quo for the forseeable future.
It would require a determined effort to educate the public about the potential benefits of decriminalizing the profession. There are any number of organizations/entities that would oppose any such move and oppose it vigorously.
Exploitation and abuse of women would be raised immediately as a reason to fight any such effort and some organized women's groups would be at the forefront of the opposition.
Despite how illogical that opposition might be given such a decriminalization could actually enhance the safety of women in the profession if structured right, it is so deeply ingrained in the social psyche of this country that this activity is simply wrong, immoral and demeaning to women that it is hard to see how it could be successfully changed.
I anguish over this because the Europeans and the Canadians and evidently even the Austrailians are far ahead of the US on this
if I understand the situation correctly.
So yes if there was some way of assuring annonymity I would certainly consider participating but I am not particularly optimistic about the outcome particularly given the character of the current administration in Washington and especially the residing Attorney General--John Ashcroft.
Jenni I certainly understand your concerns, even passion for trying to change things. It saddens me that you and others like you have to constantly watch your back and take risks that could so easily be avoided for the most part if reason were to prevail over hypocrisy and fundamentalist extremism.
I admire your moxie. You are so much more than just a pretty face!!!
-- Modified on 1/30/2004 4:28:00 AM
I still don't trust the media...
Shaye
I agree ......... I like my life as private as possible. The other problem would be that I happen to have a voice many can identify and I would be afraid of the consequences to my family.
mara of san diego
Ummmmmmmmmm...................nope
I'd do it if anonymity could be preserved. I would do it because I believe sex work should have at least the dignity of work of any other kind; sex workers should be accorded the respect that other workers get; and the stigma and criminalization of sex work (a) is unfairly burdensome and demeaning to the workers; (b) encourages involvement of organized crime, spread of disease, and true oppression.
The emergence of the Internet has made "hobbying" a completely different thing than it was 10 years ago. I consider the existence of communities like this to be a sea change of proportions we can only begin to imagine in the attitude toward sex work, sex workers and their patrons. My God! Discussions among hobbyists about etiquette, ethics, impotence, disease, romance and -- holy cow! -- feelings! Men ordinarily don't discuss such things easily in the best of "normal" circumstances. But oddly - in the nurturing environment of providers and the anonymity of the Internet -- amazing things are said.
For many of us, providers have been our confidantes, our shrinks and the keepers of our deepest secrets --- that is what this business is about at least as much as it is about F-ing and S-ing. People ought to know that!
I guarentee that all that would come of a "rational" discussion would be more, intensified repression from the "good" citizens and political hacks!
What can I say? Yes I think I would be interested in such an interview. It seems to me that we spend way to much time in the last 70 years or so in this country trying to make things illegal because a loud group of fundamentalists say something is immoral. We banned alcohol, and that went over big. Then we made drugs illegal, and everyone has stopped using them, so that has been a success. Prostitution is illegal too, in many places in this country, and we all know how few folks are involved in that. Our country squanders resources, time and money on chasing these invisible monsters that some think are threatening the fabric of our society. This is a load of crap that Comstock shoved down our throats beginning in 1870's. When it comes to the effect of prostitution on the health of a society, would you rather listen to Comstock, or Thomas Aquinas?
Thomas Aquinas wrote that prostitution served a necessary function in society. I agree.
In 1987, I was asked to participate in an interview about the path I took that led to my downfall, and recovery from a serious cocaine habit. I was told the program, an episode of ABC Nightline, was to be about different recovery programs for cocaine and other drug abuse, that my interview might serve as an inspiration for others ( I was pretty damn bad), and that my name and anonymity would be preserved via digital distortion of voice and face.
I spent 30 minutes being interviewed during which time my total immersion in the "industry" as well as my eventual recovery were discussed.
The program turned out to be about the Big Business of Crack Cocaine, my name and face were clearly put on screen, and the ONLY soundbite they used out of the entire 30 minutes was my answer to "what types of people were you doing cocaine with?"
It made me out to be this big time cocaine pusher. It led to the total destruction of my family relationships, business relationships, and of course, my life was turned upside down and inside out.
I think it would be a serious error for any hobbyist or provider to put their image out there on TV under the auspices of Hobbyists and Providers. As long as ruthless media heads and bastards like John Ashcroft are in positions of power in this country, we are susceptible to their repressive whims and manipulative lies.
As much as I would love to inform and educate the general public, I'm not sure our society in this country is ready for it just yet.
I very much want this hobby/profession of ours to be accepted. However, at this time, the social climate is such that I feel we are better off just quietly taking care of business and policing ourselves without interference from those outside of our community that do not understand all the relevant issues. That is why I am not at the forefront of any movement to change, legalize, or even decriminalize the current prostitution laws. Mainstream acceptance most certainly would also bring in more of an undesirable element than we already currently have. Those of us who want to be active and productive members of the hobby community will seek it out. Anyone wanting to certify, liscense or otherwise regulate the industry is doing so for their own benefit and profit. So, no I am not in favor of any televised interviews, or any other media attention for that matter.
Yes, it is true that I and many others have greatly benefitted, and experienced some personal growth from this hobby in so many different ways. However, I still prefer to keep that private time between two people just between the two of us. What we do is for ourselves and is nobody else's business.
It certainly is nice to think about sometimes and dream of a day when we could openly talk about this, not need to worry of LE busts, etc., etc., etc...
but for now, best regards, privately and anonymously
for the little bit of fun. I'm single, but I've still got parents and friends to face, and most important, I've got a job I don't care to lose. Maybe if they did one of those blurring the face and distorting the voice jobs.
I agree with Turkana, I would if it was certain to be anonymous.
The hobby has meant a lot more to me personally than I thought it would when I started. It's become part of the fabric of my life... It's a TOTAL secret from my SO, family, and friends, so I'm not ready for a speaking tour, but it's been such a big deal for me that it's hard not to speak out. (I hope that EVERY provider that reads that paragraph takes it personally.)
It is so different on the inside--the fullness of so many of the women in this business is almost bewildering, not what an outsider would expect. I think the attitudes and personalities of the guys are much different than what the outsider would expect. And there's much more going on than just the exchange of money and whoopie--far more than any outsider would understand.
But most of all, I'm a libertarian. I believe in the sovereignty of man, in the freedom of consenting people to engage each other in any manner of their choosing. One voice speaking out won't change the world. But one voice remaining silent will.
What we really need is someone to slip Jenni a few million dollars to get the signatures to put this on the ballot in California.
If someone intelligent and articulate were willing to be the "face" of such an initiative, it would be really interesting to see how the vote went. Can you imagine the media sh*t storm a "decriminalize prostitution" initiative would cause?
It could be an invitation. There is an opportunity, but not sure if it should or will happen. There is a reporter who is having a very difficult time getting the other side. The only people who ever talk to her is LE, and of course only the bad side of the coin is ever reported that way. This reporter says it has been impossible to get the other side of the story regarding the Internet Escort/hobbyist perspective. It is tempting, but not sure if I will do it yet. I have no qualms being completely public, but I have a young daughter who does know what I do, but I don't want her to be embarrassed among her friends and peers. So anonymity would have to be guaranteed in writing. I couldn't care less about getting attention as someone suggested, I get plenty of it right here. But there does have to be some risk taken regarding our side. I understand that regulation of this profession could be a real drag. It also is pretty sad to constantly have to worry about being arrested every single time you go out to meet someone.
1st off, even in shadow with voice masking, SOMEONE would pick you out based on mannerisms.
2nd, why would anyone want to point out in the media how prevalent it is? You might get an increase in interest from both new hobbyists AND LE.
just tell them to really like what they do and if they do not don't do it.