At least 6 of my engineering friends who I've know for years now, have learned about my little bit of experience with this hobby and now want me to teach them about the hobby/TER/backpage/etc. So they can skip over most of the time wasting newbie phase and get to the fun sooner than later.

Have any of you guys ever helped out your buddies by teaching them about the hobby/TER/backpage/etc?  

I'm debating if I should help them or not though, as it seems to be about 50/50 positive/negative reasons I can think of.

So any input would be appreciated!

I'm sure the ladies will say "Yes, do it!", as who wouldn't want 6 more 30something well off engineers to enter the market =)

Thanks for any responses!
-pushthebigring

Most of us have had to pay our dues - suffering through countless bait and switch, rip-offs, cash and dash, ncns, up-selling, and countless other forms of less than satisfactory experiences.

I would be cautious about introducing friends to this hobby.  Sometimes people act like they think is cool when you talk about it, but get cold feet when it is time to actual do anything.  I don't like to give people vicarious thrills.
Also, the more people that know you hobby, the more likely it is that people you don't want to know will find out.

I agree with Oleoneeye and Huggybear. Helping your buddies out kinda kills the meaning of discretion.

I would agree with huggybear.  Plus, if they would get caught, some folks have a tendency to turn on others to save their own rear end...for some, in that situation, even friendship means nothing!

If they are coworkers or business partners, you might be in for a rough ride if they have bad experiences and trusted you.  No matter how much you tell them, they ARE going to make mistakes.  It is like reviews, ones mans opinion don't mean shit when it comes to another man getting laid. Just look at how many guys see ladies with very low scores! My opinion, stay out of their way and let them rise or fall(pun intended) on their own.

It sounds like they already know about his activities.  At this point, I think even looking at it purely from his own self interest he is better off giving them a hand so they know better what to do and what not to do.  Less chance of them screwing up in a big way and then saying the wrong thing to the wrong person.

was not the plan for this many people to know. 1 of the 2 guys who I did tell, told the rest on his own, which i'm not super happy about to begin with.

I hadn't really thought about what belinda and huggy said before. By helping them, I would in fact become the one to blame for any and all problems....hmm

thankfully no one work related here. Just guys who I have know for 10+ years since college.

Those who are your friends today may not be your friends tomorrow for any number of random reasons.

You sound like you are pretty much "out" about your hobbying and that is cool.

But unless you are totally cool about everyone* you know now and everyone you will ever know in the future finding out about your hobbying, I would stop making it a group event.

*And by "everyone", I mean:

Your current employer
Your nonhobbying coworkers
Your nonhobbying friends
Your future employers
Your present girlfriend or wife
Your future girlfriend or wife
Your golf/basketball/bowling/fantasy football buddies
Your neighbors
Your mom, dad, aunts, uncles
Your local police community

I have told exactly no one about my hobbying experiences.  I am not really even comfortable with how many escorts know me.

The flip side is if you let them sink or swim on their own and something goes wrong for one or more of them, they might be pissed at you for not telling what you knew.  I don't know what the right response is but you might be better off with them in the hobby and being educated about it; less chance and reason for them to tell the wrong person of your involvement.

from my perspective I see it as not ideal.

nothing creeps me out more than having potential  a guest who says "a friend" told them about me yet they don't disclose whom it was. I don't know if that's happened to other ladies here but,
breaks my trust and is borderline gossiping  IMO.

I can understand directing them to newbie boards and letting them figure out on their own though.

If this statement you made is true "was not the plan for this many people to know. 1 of the 2 guys who I did tell, told the rest on his own, which i'm not super happy about to begin with." and you have ANYONE that you don't want to know, you had best decide who your friends are and whether or not you yourself can afford to stay in the hobby.

If your friend told your freinds, he WILL tell enough people for everyone that you would never want to find out, to do just that.

First rule about hobby: don't talk about hobby

Second rule about hobby: don't talk about hobby

...don't talk about the hobby

First off, thanks to everyone who responded here with advice, it was very helpful. In case anyone sent me a PM, my VIP is expired at the moment, so I haven't seen it yet.

So here is what i'm going to-do. Seeing as I have only told 2 guys anything, I'm just going to deny it to the rest of the group when it comes up this weekend. Should be easy enough to blame on a couple beers and whatnot. I don't need/want anything else coming out of this, especially now with my divorce in progress.

There will be no teaching/training for any of them now or ever. And the one who opened his mouth to the others will receive some good old fashion college style punishment this weekend.

Fourth rule about hobby: don't talk about hobby with civs! Got it!

-pushthebigring