There's an interesting and apparently well-received new report by a feminist social worker at the University of Chicago titled "Our Great Hobby: An Analysis of Online Networks for Buyers of Sex in Illinois," at  

http://media.virbcdn.com/files/8b/dba0efa619423c1e-Version2_Web_OurGreatHobby.pdf

I find her report quite objectionable in many ways. As an aside she seems to be studying men who cruise for outdoor girls, and she seems clueless about the escort industry, which is good. But her attitude is that all the poor girls have been abused and trafficked and she calls the evil men johns, pimps and mongers. I don't know whether most outdoor girls have been trafficked, but I'm afraid it may be true. I hope it isn't true for the escorts I see. At any rate the report is really just observations about the chat on one particular free web site; I don't know whether her "research" is not important enough to spend a few bucks on, or whether she's afraid her reputation would be sullied. In any case there are still some good tips there about avoiding LE. And if you do want to cruise for outdoor girls, this report will give you information about helpful websites.

It also makes me realize that LE and/or "academics" are probably trolling our boards here. FWIW.

I'm interested in what others -- hobbyists and providers -- think about this report.

go throw up.

She's a graduate student. She's not a "social worker." She does not engage in direct service work. Her contact to this industry is limited to reading a seedy-ass board and occasionally hearing the stories of a small, hand-picked group of individuals who identify as "survivors of the sex trade" at fund-raising events.

This report was published as an advocacy report for an anti-prostitution organization. It was not published by the University of Chicago. It is not academic research.  

For a more detailed critique of the genre of "research" this study falls into, see the link.

If anyone wants a not-painfully-biased read on street-based prostitution in Chicago, see the link below.

I am so bored of the obsessive way in which some seems to have the right to judge us all and yet are sicretly attracted to this world and use judgement as a tool to be involved and yet removed

 
Serenax

END OF MESSAGE

I do not disagree with you.  However, in fairness to the "do gooders" who perform these "research studies."  I think we have all run across both providers and hobbiests who are not emotionally equipted for this life, and probably need some guidance finding things for which they are better suited.

I have found lately that we are DEFINITELY being studied. Recently on a local channel they did a report  abo Ut   S ite    A lternative to this GUIDE. And I was like WOW! It was pretty crazy.

I think this may be the report that I saw on TV. I think it is kind of interesting taking into consideration how our community is viewed by the outside world. If we ever hope to become part of society, we do need to take their opinions of us into account...

What ever happened with your radio interview?

You are correct, this is not 'academic' research.  It's more advocacy nonsense from people with a political agenda.

I haven't been able to find much bona fide academic research at all.  In fact, really the only thing I was able to track down was a study of the apartment scene in Tel Aviv.  Speaking from personal experience, it was indeed just as disturbing as the research described.  But of course it's apples and oranges between Tel Aviv apartments and the industry in the States.  If I call up a girl on bp (and yes I know you guys may want to flame me for using bp, but whatever), I can be fairly certain she isn't a trafficked sex slave from eastern Europe!  But I digress.

Nevertheless, I do see many problems in the industry here in Rockford.  Streetwalkers crowd the alleys, and sometimes when I visit a bp girl, her pimp is not far from view.  Several of the girls I've seen showed up on the mugshots site for drug and theft busts.  It's sometimes hard to find a girl who appears to be truly independent, with a good head on her shoulders, and not being pressured by violence or drug addiction.

On the flipside, I hear about the problems with us johns.  My regular girls tell me about the crap they have to take on a daily basis, and it appalls me.  Whatever happened to being polite?  Is it really that hard NOT to call someone a dirty ho?  Do you really have to choke your provider every time you see her?  Seriously, that kind of stuff is just crazy to me.  Apparently, though, it is very common.

But the answer is not to shut down the industry, which is an impossible task in any case.  Unfortunately I do not know what the answer actually IS.  All I know is that something needs to change, because as it stands the industry is in rotten shape.

Other than three typos, and a curious, repeated reference to "MacDonald's" instead of "McDonald's" this is a pretty kick-ass article.  Thanks for sharing!

Thanks to all who have made contributions here.  Indeed "advocacy research" is not new and should not be mistaken for more rigorous, legitimate academic research —though in connection with many areas of life, the former type, in essence pseudo-research, its claims and purported findings are routinely reported as if it were of the real thing.

And apropos of nothing in particular, perhaps, it should come as a surprise to no one that academic and law-enforcement types count among the customer base of many erotic service providers.

But seriously, thank you so much for your response. The article you linked to was incredibly helpful. I feel like I'm inoculated against the bullshit now. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

And there are great organizations in Chicago that do this... [See Link Below]

That said, the organization that put out that study spends the majority of a 600K budget lobbying to increase penalties for soliciting "adult entertainment", demonizing people who consume "adult entertainment," and promulgating really inaccurate information about people involved in the industry. They do engage in some legal aid, which is much needed and great: they represented 140 individuals in 2012...but for 600K, Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago would have represented 2000.  

So props to actual "actual do-gooders," Although I think it's a stretch to frame these activities as effective "do-gooding"

***sorry, just a pet peeve of mine***

Which may be one reason so few people say anything against the pseudo-research. They don't want to be outed.

That is a great pet peeve.  

Some of mine are:  tangled earbuds (I hate that ... like, every time you put your iPod in your pocket, wham! tangled earbuds again); drivers in the left lane who put their left turn blinker on AFTER the light turns green; wobbly restaurant tables; people who talk in movie theaters; agenda advocates.

This list could go on.

"In partnership with Thorn.... A Digital Defender of the Children"..... It's all about the CHILDREN.... please.....

Is trafficking an issue, yes. Is underage in the business acceptable, no. Are people like to have sex with kids....fucking freaks, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY!! Were they "target specific" to make their point, probably...

The group was a foundation started by Ashton K & Demi M. I don't think the report is a major issue with TER.

I smell a Federal Grant Application being filed to further study this.  

Men and women get into & out of this hobby/ business for a BUNCH of different reasons.

-- Modified on 11/11/2013 9:05:43 AM

I wish someone would do a study with the bias for legalizing the hobby.  But then the government would regulate, perhaps even create a web site that won't work.....lol.