It seems that the need for this site became much more important with the advent of all of the escort mall sites on net. As you mentioned Swing, I am from that era as well. I do not remember being burned as often in those days. It was a simplier time with far fewer providers. It seemed that most of the independent providers delivered an acceptable level of service. It may have not been great and they may not have been the most beautiful, but I do not really recall a large degree of rip-offs. In those days the major issue was to avoid the agencies which many times did the bait and switch and then the escort played the extra game on you.
Once escorting found the net it seemed to open it up to more people both hobbyists and providers. To a certain extent it seemed to elevate the hobby from the gutter to at least the curb or sidewalk and in some cases to the penthouse. It made it seem more main stream with nice websites, flashy color photos some actually real and many attractive providers. As part of that evolutions it also seemed to attract a much larger group of scam artists.
TER became necessary as with most aspects of the early internet, everyone was infected with the get rich quick bug. Many invested in dot com stocks knowing they had no real value but were going to get rich anyways. Everyone felt they could make their own fortune on the net through their own site or through companies that supported it. If it were not for the adult sites the net may have crumbled before it got started as the porn sites were the only sites that seemed to turn a profit.
The net expanded the provider base and along with it came a larger group of get rich quick providers, thinking they could cash in on the web fever. It made it easy and faster to get to the public. It made it seem more fashionable and higher class, no longer back alley. It made it much easier to search for providers. We no longer had to risk being seen walking into the adult book stores, receiving questionable mail items, we could browse in the privacy of our homes and offices.
Did more men enter this hobby, that is hard to say, but somebody had to support all the additional providers. The rise in web escort malls happened at the same time that many were making more money on the job and in the retirement accounts. Extra money seemed to be available to all and some of us spent it and rapidly. We were like kids in a candy store, so many selections, so inviting, so litle time.
Is the TER a great site, yes it is. I ran across a string of 3 or 4 rip-offs, Bridgette included and she was not the worst, and thought what happend to this hobby and why do I keep looking. Then I found TER and things improved. Has the net improved this hobby, that point can be agrued. As the hobby has become more visible it has also brought along several other problems. Back in the Swing days how much screening was involved. It was easy to set up a same day or same hour appointment with only answering a few questions. Now we have to fill out long appointment application forms with very personal information, provide a list of references and then we may get an appointment a few days or a week in the future. Hey I have the urge today that is whay I am calling.
I am not saying that we should go back to the old days, I am just hoping that we will not consider them to be the good old days. This hobby has rapidly evolved, even though it is involved with the so called oldest profession, over the last few years. Anytime there is rapid growth in any business sector you will get some good businesses and some bad. It just takes some time for the bad to be weeded out. TER makes the weeding process go faster. The problem is new providers and agencies are starting all the time or renaming themselves. Many members are scared and will only see well reviewed providers.
How many potentially great providers may have been driven away because nobody wanted to take a risk when they could have a sure thing. Somebody has to take the risk. The problem any new review or reviewer seems to be considered false until confirmed by others. It seems both sides of this hobby are running scared. With that some of the fun and excitement has been removed. Yes a sure thing is great, that is why many of us return to the same provider(s) all the time.
Reading reviews and knowing exactly what happened in previous sessions takes some of the thrill out of seeing a new provider, especially when your session does not seem to be up to the same level. Yes we all know that it is all fiction and none of it really happened,wink, but you can almost leave disappointed from an otherwise great session as yours was not as good. I still like the thrill of sailing into uncharted water hoping to find the promised land or a jewel in the rough. Hopefully there will always be a few adventurers to look for new talent and then not be afraid to say they were burned or questioned beyond belief when they say they had a good time.
In summary, TER is a valuable assest. But with everything there are pros and cons. In this case the pros outweigh the cons. The increase in providers and agencies makes it very difficult for us to select a safe provider without some help. It seems during this time there is not as much money flowing through the hobby as just a few years ago. Way more specials then before. With limited assests many of us are no longer investing in speculative ventures whether it be in the stock market or within this hobby. I keep paying for my membership here and feel it is money well spent, the only insuracnce policy that I feel is worth paying the premium.
