I often see the term "hooker" being used playfully on this board.

Not a huge deal to me but since you asked i call myself a hooker and me and my other working girlfriends call each other that as a term of endearment.Although I prefer hoe personally😋

Does it even matter?

I hate to be politically correct, but I could not comfortably refer to the ladies whose company I have enjoyed in the past years as "hookers" (these were camp followers of General Hookers Union Army during the Civil War. The ladies I see do not act like camp followers.) or whores or...well you know the words.  I also don't feel like a "trick", etc.  
I am comfortable with "provider" and "client" because that's what it feels like to me. With most of the ladies I have met I feel like I am a client in the hands of a skilled and caring professional.  That's what feels right to me ......so sue me.  

I call it hoeing, personally hahaha

On the Internet in comment sections and forums, people have an alter ego and talk big. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the guys who post that stuff don't call thier providers hookers to thier face. None the less, sarcasm and teasing, lables, I don't care. It goes in one ear and out the other. I pay for sex and women are selling their bodys. No matter how nice the term we are doing that. I do hate the term provider. LOL. I'm seeing a provider. Ill tell you what I am, a lucky middle aged guy who has $400 to blow on a sure thing, someone I chose, (with DD's!). Dating over 40 sucks. Swiping on Bumble or Tinder, texting, trying to get a face to face and often not connecting. Call me whatever you want! I'm getting laid!

hooker and escort.  The one that seems to not make me or the hooker I'm talking to the least bit uncomfortable is "working girl."  Likewise, I don't mind being called a "john" because its not my real name, but most of the girls I see refer to me as a customer.  Ironically, I have NEVER had a girl refer to me as a hobbyist.

Hooker, prostitute,  courtesan,  ho, slut, call girl and a fucking machine lol doesn't matter as long as we have the fun we were intended to have  ☺😚

-- Modified on 12/28/2016 10:23:12 PM

as long as it makes you Happy

Yes, and,
there are still deep-seated beliefs that women are not supposed to have control over their vaginas.

I would definitely would say escort because I view myself as a high class and sophisticated women that entertains clients. It doesn't even mean we have sex all the time. Some of my clients like going for nice dinners, shows, and travel. Hooker to mean just does not fit me or who I represent.

I have a civie friend who likes being called slut, whore, cunt etc.   During sex.  Not out in the real world, I imagine.

and much, much more....

Provider also seems to work as does lady - which is my favorite - as in "lady of negotiable affection".  Since I am not one of the sisters - hooker or ho doesn't seem right.  Just as you can't use the "n-word" if you ain't a brotha....

Although many of the men that visit with me are technically clients, they are more like special friends in this sexy lil world here!

...I'll let you know my opinion. First and foremost, they are women and they have stage names. What anyone chooses to call their profession is not something I give a lot of thought to. (Except in this case) let's see how many choices do we have... courtesan, escort, provider, hooker, lady of the evening, street walker, call girl, prostitute, whore, mistress, harlot, strumpet, and concubine. I'm sure I missed some.

I refer to the guys by their "names" as it makes it a little more humanizing. I am not fond of referring to them as anything else.  

I'd honestly prefer companion or escort because it has a neutral connotation in a sense.

I am a client who pays for a service. She is a provider (in the same way I --as a physician-- am a provider.)  
I pay, of course, and have found that in general I get the kind attention and care and skill I try to provide to my patients.  I hope I am to her a respectful, affectionate, and appreciative client.

e word Hooker was used long before General Hooker had his cam followers.

It depends upon the audience.  If I were writing for the general public I would use prostitute.  Escort is too neutral in not conveying the nature of the relationship.  i.e. "I escorted my mother to church on Sunday."    However on a forum like this escort is fine because we all know what we're talking about.