New guy and he has five reviews up already in May, me thinks he must be just trying to get a freebie or maybe LE looking to build a rep.

Whats your take, the reviews look fairly plain with nothing specific in them

Member Shamus definitely is not a writer.  If he was he would never have any of his work published.  Your comments do bring up some challenges that we all face in "doing our homework".  Here's the rub -

1. As a provider gets more popular, they may get more reviews.  More and more reviews.  The more reviews, the less likely that they say anything new - lots of redundancy.  This makes it really easy to do a review on an established provider.

2. When a provider hasn't ever been reviewed, it's really easy to make up a review.  Shamus reviewed (if you could call it that) 3 providers.  NOTE to Shamus - I'm not coming down on you, but IMHO, your reviews shouldn't have been accepted.

We have the situation, which is not new, I'm just pointing it out, where anyone can build a 'rep' for themselves by doing either of the 2 things I mentioned.  Whether that is a hobbiest just trying to get a VIP or someone trying to get you to think they really are a hobbiest.  If you were to check my reviews, you would see that I don't have any.  Although I enjoy reading them (most of them at least), I think many of these reviews have become less meaningful over time.  I also read these discussion boards and think that a handful of individuals need to be a little more helpful.  So what if someone asks about a provider - help them out.  That's what we're here for.  Instead I see the stock response - "Do your homework"  OR "Google search reveals ..."  Instead, why not PM the person and tell them how to do a Google search, or how to effectively search these boards.  I myself have wanted to ask, but don't want the flames up my butt.

Being one who has used the "Google search reveals" on numerous occasions I take slight offense to your opinion. Typically when seeing that header on a post authored by me it is followed by my findings and a comment or two. Most of the time if I have to search a phone number on Google or Yahoo I come up with an agency or ripoff provider. I'm happy to pass along that information. I also PM information I'm privy to to numerous individuals who are unknowns and asking about individuals. Just general information, no specifics but a nudge in the right direction. Care to guess how many return replies I've received to date? No need to guess. It's ZERO, none, nada, zip, zilch. What that means to me is that they aren't VIP's looking for help but lazy, cheap bottom feeders or they are ingrates too rude to say thank you for the information. That doesn't really make me want to help out the next unknown who comes along. I'm not ripping you or anyone else in particular. I'm just stating the way it is. If you have questions about how to search Google or Yahoo, I won't be the one to flame you. I'm more likely to be the one who gives you the help you need. If I can help someone to do their own work effectively, that's fine. I'm glad I can help. One needs only to ask.
 On the original subject of the original post. It brings to mind the importance of the girls participating in this forum, reading their reviews and calling out a fake when they see one. I spoke to a visitor this past week about this very subject. She provides very specific services yet several of her reviews state she goes far beyond her limits. I talked to her and mentioned reading her TER reviews. She said, "I go there but never read my reviews." She had no idea what people were saying about her services. Her donation on her profile was also incorrect. Another thing she didn't know about. I filed problem reports and the profile information was corrected for her but those reviews are still there. She will no doubt be asked to perform these sevrvices in the future. Girls, read your reviews. If it's a fake, report it. Take an active role in your profile information and weed out those trying to establish themselves as legitimate.
My fingers are tired and I need a beer now. Gotta go.

NM

NM - I definitely wasn't 'single'-ing you out with my "Google search reveals" thing.  I didn't know who it was.  But Bro - it gets a little tired.  "YES", I know - so doesn't all the bottom-feeding, LE-type inquiries.  I know - I GET IT.  OK, so let me also appologize for the hobbiests who lack manners.  On behalf of them, T H A N K   Y O U.  Really!  I mean it.  Sometimes, the 'little head' doesnt let them think properly.

As a positive idea, why not just start a thread titled something like  "How to search effectively" or "How to use GOOGLE to do your homework".  That way, you can then tell someone to refer to that thread instead of the "GOOGLE search reveals".  OK, you get it.  Positive stuff!  Negative stuff goes bye-bye!

As far as girls needing to participate - yes and no.  OK Im ready for the regular girls to flame me.  There's Elise, GND, Jenni, and a couple others who dominate the 'girl' dialoug.  I seem to recall JAI trying to give some advise and she was just bashed for no reason.  She was giving her opinions on reference checks or something and the 'girls' totally were rude.

Here's my take.  I have been on a bunch of discussion boards.  From technical support, to doggie adoption, to how to fix a leaky faucet.  All these boards seem to want to help each other.  Even many of the discussion boards on TER have that same feel.  But this one - its gone way too far and is very malicious/suspicious/etc. etc.

Now, I'm going to have a beer too.

read the reviews.  They aren't active members, by either paying the small fee that TER counts on to survive, or by reviewing girls they've seen in the past.

We are quite willing to help out people that have numerous reviews, have done some homework, and narrowed the field.  Also, when they're VIP, a query can be answered by the girls themselves via PM.

We don't throw out ladies to the wolves.  There are more and more posters here, coming on, sounding innocent and they are, bonafide, checked out, not me being paranoid BAD GUYS.  

So when a poster comes on and acts all innocent and wants information about what a girl does, and it's already there in the data bank, there's really no reason to dredge it up here.

Nevermind that a blanket, general question can't really be answered by any of us.   Everyone has their likes, their dislikes, which is why the search engine and the Discussion board have such strong search features.

If anyone does their homework and spends as much time reading and sifting as they plan to spend on their date... let's be reasonable, it's a pretty penny that's going to be spent... it deserves some time weeding out the perfect match.  And the perfect match for one guy is gonna be a dog of a match for the next.

So, go ahead and do your search and THEN ask... which is the best of the three I've narrowed it down to.. or better yet,, email those three and get a feel YOURSELF for which you'll get along with best.

TER is AWESOME.  Respect it, Respect us.. we're not mean or ignorant nor do we even have a war with folks on other boards.

We just CAN NOT pick providers for every tom dick and harry that wants to know which girl will take a facial (which doesnt'?) and it gets really tiresome reading that same generic post.

A little reading and some homework and our board, I must say is really running along rather smoothly.  Alot of boards are just advertisements of who is coming when.  Our board has a ton of smart ladies and men having real exchanges and if you contribute on a regular basis and earn some trust among the ladies and men, you'll start getting information via PM that will.. well..  Stick around and contribute and you might just be the beneficiary or such information.

Let's just say we've got a great community that looks out for one another.  An excellent discussion board.

(And an overworked moderator!!)

xoxo
Elise

...if he is LE he's got a sense of humor.  Shamus is an old fashioned term for a private detective.  Just check out a Raymond Chandler novel or rent "The Maltese Falcon".

Or maybe he just can't write worth a damn.  Somebody had to be in the bottom of the bell curve in Comp 101.  I'm a little surprised these got through with their lack of detail.

It is a little strange that after posting one review two years ago he's suddenly back with five in one month.

and we go from there to see if he's a real hobbyist.

Two things make me pause when reading his reviews. First, he was pretty harsh on Paige in his one previous review. That just doesn't seem like her. When I'm checking a guys' reviews I look to see if we have anyone in common to see if we have similar tastes etc...  I think a number of you local veterans have seen her and I can't imagine anyone writing that review of her. BUT maybe she had a bad day.

The thing that really strikes me is the difference in tone, grammar, spelling etc...   I just can't believe the same guy wrote the review on Paige.  Maybe he was hammered when he wrote all of those?

We all know where the impetus to do a review critique comes from. We're all worried about the same thing.  But in today's political climate do we really think any LE would fake reviews to get a VIP? or to build a rep? They don't need to. They have much better tools at their disposal and Ashcroft isn't exactly worried about civil liberties. My guess it's just a guy.

Alot of what you are saying is very valid, however in terms of LE or a would be abuser writing reviews to build a rep.  That rep is for the benefit of booking with females.  Not to build a rep amoung the guys.  There are scores of girls who take a look at the guys handle, see he has written some reviews and thinks he is OK.  Even book easier because they think they will get another review because he appears to be a "writer".  I know of 3 girls in the past year who were compromised due to lack of screening and thinking referrals, and a "handle" in one particular case was good enough.  I have had to decline from dates from guys who have a good reputation through reviews, but wanted me to accept that as screening, when the fact is anyone could use his handle.  Of course PMing is an added point that could be combined with other points of safety in a screening.  But believe me, without 3 to 5 points of safety through screening, I cannot take a chance.  These points are often different with different individuals, but I have found that when I go through that process with the "would be" guys, they drop out on thier own accord.  Paige is a friend of mine, I read that review as well.  She held her mud a few years back, and is very careful.  I could understand a "would be" giving her bad scores out of vendetta.....but she is one gal I trust, and love to share my favorite boyfriends with.........  

Instead of accusing everybody of being a communist we are accusing them of being cops.  I'm with the person who says that the reveiws were a little vanilla and maybe shouldn't have been approved.  

As far as having two years between reviews, I have walked away from the Hobby from time to time depending on circumstances in my personal life.

The review of Paige didn't sound all that harsh or unusual.  She is known for being late and was remodeling her place near downtown when I saw her there a couple of years ago.  I didn't think the place was overly messy myself but I wouldn't have expected to see it on the cover of Good Housekeeping either.  The only thing I saw that was unusual was the CBJ.  She is very skittish the first time you meet her and maybe they just didn't get along during that first meeting.

Sometimes there just isn't a conspiracy hiding around every corner.  It's great to look at things with a wary eye but pointing out that a guy is suspicious because he has four new vanilla reviews doesn't seem like something that I would lose sleep over.

-- Modified on 6/22/2004 1:47:41 PM

Jenni is absolutely right! These people are trying to gain "legitimacy" through bogus reviews. Once established, they will then "PM" you for suggestions as well as book appointments with the ladies here. How many will fall into this trap?

For example, on another board some guys with the following handles, "stuckon21", "wirelessdude", "bigallen" and "sdplayer" have done "reviews" of so-called providers, like Lusty Lauri, Jewel, Silky Kyla, Dawn, Mia, Serra, Heather and others. Since that other board does not reward you with a free membership based on written reviews, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out why they are writing them!

Please stay viligant, people!

THAT would be a twosome that I would love to encounter.

"But in today's political climate do we really think any LE would fake reviews to get a VIP? or to build a rep? They don't need to. They have much better tools at their disposal".....

Your point is well taken Mike1010.  My post had more to do with what Scampr had to say.

I didn't mean to agree that Shamus is a boogie man.  But only to add to Scampr's quote above and to inform that bogus reviews are written fairly regularly to build a reputation in order to snare unwitting souls.....it is one of the tools most would agree....and again I say, I do know of some who have fallen prey to it......

As for you Mike1010.......your so hot, hot, hot!  

Jenni

Fact is it is me Shamus O'Brien of County Clare. But I've ben in San Diego for 40 years. Sorry I did not reply earlier but have been out of town.
Not usually the one to "kiss and tell" but a couple of experiences lately necessitated the reviews. Well, if I'm going to give a couple why not get a free month- I've been paying every month for years.
Aplogies tho those of you who do not like my writing style, but so be it.
To all the lovely ladies it has been my pleasure to have known, see you very soon

Facts are(and it was a time ago)that she was almost and hour late for a lunch date, when she arrived I was ushered in to a very messy and unkempt apartment, gave he my donation, was asked to get comfy while she went to get ready. Another 10-15 minutes and she was back announcing that it was that time of the month.
I thought the review was pretty damned fair