Warning: /Mangina Rant_On
all the time, and some are not acting most of the time. But it can be hard to tell. Some things that I was told by one provider seemed contradictory and I found out later that they were both true. It was a provider that I really admire - not love - admire for her bravery, honesty, intelligence, wit (and incredible looks and skills). I was glad to get that cleared up.
When I started seeing a girl that I have been seeing regularly now for quite a while, I had a talk with her explaining that I didn't want any well-meant lies, faked O's or other embellishments to our relationship, just be yourself and treat me like a friend with benefits. We had already established some chemistry, so I was willing to take this chance.
The resulting honesty in our relationship has been wonderful for both of us. She has helped me in some very difficult times for me in profound ways that I won't discuss and I have helped her with some of her problems (non-financial), just as friends do for each other. We don't have many secrets from each other; we both know about each others' dirty laundry and that's OK.
Yes, I still bring the envelope every week and recognize the limits of our relationship, but it is nice to know that the relationship that we have is real, if limited. It is very relaxing/comforting/ yet exciting to have some depth and stability to our relationship so when I come in the door, I know that I'm going to be seeing the same real person I did last week and we can continue to build on the same base.
I don't think that this is the only provider-client relationship like this. I hope that it's not. There's no reason for an Us vs. Them mentality or deception in the business. We're just partners in a business transactions that can get incredibly personal at times and we are all human beings with emotions and worthy of respect.
If other clients want to treat providers as disposable fuck-toys and providers to treat clients as interchangeable envelope deliverymen, that's their business and OK by me. If other participants choose to be a bit more genuine and personal about things, that's nobody's business but our own.
/Rant_Off