Hardy makes some good points. Most providers see a wide range of gents and do not prioritize stereotypes of attractiveness. I think it is important to be aware of (and avoid) the extremes on both sides-- either feeling completely insecure and lacking confidence (not attractive! if you don't feel it, pretend you do until it happens!and the over-confidence that translates to arrogance.
I would not generalize about men based on stereotypes of attractiveness any more than I would based on income or race. But I will say that having things that are valued by society- money, status, stereotypical "attractiveness," etc- and being constantly told one is attractive, can certainly cause one's ego to inflate (whether male/female). I like to feel I am equal with my clients- we both bring something to the table, we both respect one another and ourselves.. and a gent who feels like he is better than me or that he is doing me a favor is a turnoff- ie. "Wow, the hardest part of providing must be dealing with all the old ugly guys.. You must be relieved when a guy like me comes along, huh?" A peculiar blend of complete arrogance and needing validation that will piss me off like no other.. lol..
However, I do understand this sentiment, as most of us are indoctrinated with certain stereotypes- I won't go off on a tangent but the point is that we are taught to believe that a certain stereotype defines sexual attraction- youth; women with certain proportions and a feminine, meek demeanor; men as tall, strong and muscular and protective.. for those who fit these roles, either physically or personality or preference-wise, that is fine! I ejoy wearing dresses and lacy lingerie and being taken out to dinner and doors opened for me.. but I have equally wonderful experiences taking the lead sexually, or havig unconventional sexual encounters (threesomes, being w/another woman, etc.), going camping or canoing, or discussing philosophy.. I am happy with my body and would never consider getting implants or dieting. Am I a supermodel or a Barbie? Nope. But I am healthy and fit and quite happy with that.
I think as a provider it boils down to what the gent is seeking- if he is seeking a fantasy scenario, that can be exciting- but with some of my regulars, we get to know each other on a different level as well. Neither is right or wrong, but when these stereotypes of what is "sexy" make people question themselves and feel badly, it is ridiculous. I know lack of confidence and self esteem are very personal issues, but it also seems that many men feel, especially entering this hobby, that providers will not see them or will give them less than optimal service based on looks, which would in turn make one feel even worse.
It is true that this is p4p, and that each party brings something to the table as an exchange. I'm not going to address civvie dating, because that's not the issue here, and besides I think a good chunk of the civvie women (at least of my generation) have much to learn about sexuality, self worth, and relationships.. every woman has the right to decide what is best for her, but I do feel that there is so much more out there to be explored before settling for these simplistic and over-used cliches of what makes a person atractive or aceptable.
There are likely some providers to whom appearance is a big issue- I think that while a minority of providers can probably give a great performance no matter what, most do need to feel that there is some chemistry or some attraction to perform their very best. That said, while some women have a very limited view of what is attractive to them, I think that many successful providers are able to approach this more broadly, and thus able to give a great experience to a wide variety of clients who differ in many ways. I've heard it said that the art of a good provider is to be able to find something attractive about most anyone, to see the good in people more generally. So while there might be physical or sexual features that can be a turn on, other things are much more important- just a guy's smile, or the way he talks, confidence, sense of humor, or something thoughtful like bringing flowers or remembering your favorite color, feeling like he respects you, the feeling of admiration/adoration, even just feeling good knowing that I have pretty much made someone's day (oh and good DATY skills never hurt!! haha) make it worthwhile and enjoyable.. there are so many good things about providing, and about most people in general, that it is not hard to find the good and focus on it.
A guy's height or weight or age is the last thing on my mind during a date.. if something really bothers you and makes you feel insecure, you could address that when choosing a provider- for example, if you feel weird about an older or younger woman, pick one closer to your age, or about the height thing- you could specifically find a provider who is closer to your height, or request that she not wear heels- but rather than make such a request in a way that makes her feel strange or overly conscious of your insecurity, you could approach it in a way that is more of a fantasy- ask her to bring ballet-style flats and a cute fitted ladies' business suit, or flip flops and sexy beachwear.. etc. That said, I can pretty much guarantee that she will not be thinking about the things you perceive as flaws, so if you can let that go and use this as a tool to help you see yourself in that same light and see the positives, go for it.
-- Modified on 2/14/2008 8:35:18 AM