I must say that I have moved from Boston and retired. I recently made a decision to return. The big problem I see is that men don't appreciate our ability to protect ourselves and them. This is NOT a one way street. We protect each other. We use to be able to request and ladies give back. I see that no more. It is a damn shame.
The biggiest problem I have seen lately is no one wants to do for the other. Ladies to ladies or to men...to give out general info. We are not asking for your full name, address, children,and a blood sample info here.
I've, personally, always admired you Anneke (we've both been around for awhile), like you will not lower my standards for references. And if a lady who responds that wayof "Sure I think he's cool) I will simply ask for another reference letting the gent know that she felt complelled to diverge from being help in a safe way.
Personally I see there are several ways to go. We could go to bottom feeding CL, where 200 is the right alternitive for some. Or we may carry on the way reputiable women do. Not adjust our rates but offer a longer time. I prefer a gent stay longer for the same time as an hour.
This economy is terrible, however I remeber when ALL of us use to attempta happy medium be it hobbyist or provider to be, it hobbyiest or provider.
I am with Anneke here.
What do you gents see as the solution? Be reasonable with requests.
AngieRenee of Boston

-- Modified on 6/1/2008 8:46:29 PM

Yes, the economy is in the tank and for some reason there are guys out there who think that the hobby should become a yard sale with no questions asked. Another problem, something that has been building longer, is the fact that many of the "ladies" of Craig's list ARE in fact turning the hobby into said yard sale. The "track" has moved from street corners to the world wide web and the lower end fare has now lumped itself in along with the more legitimate ladies. Honestly I don't know what the solution is other than to stick to your guns and possibly lose some business over it. I'm thinking the guys that you lose to the one-and-done, no screening required CL ladies are not the kind of clients you want anyway.

I still give providers my info.

It's a buyer's market right now. If a guy doesn't want to give anything out, he's going to find takers. For every provider who won't compromise her screening, there's one who will. I sympathize with you. Ride it out.

Any personal info you require.

Even a DNA sample if needed

-- Modified on 6/1/2008 11:02:54 PM

screening information.

What makes them think that a women who screens is going to use that information against them?

LE doesn't care about screening, they only care that you show up.

For all of us.
Gentlemen who won't provide enough information to be properly screened by the ladies put themselves at risk. IMHO, a reputable, high quality provider will be more discrete with your personal information than your attorney or doctor. But chosing to go "down-market" to someone with less rigorous screening criteria sets a gent up for encounters with LE, Cash & dash, bait and switch or worse.
On the other side of the coin, ladies who relax their screening standards due to the slumping economy set themselves up for untold dangers including LE, rip-offs, violence, etc.
Please folks, stick to your guns and maintain the high standards that are in place for everyone's protection.
We'll all be better off in the long run.

time marches on....

What has happened is that time has moved on... remember just a very few short years ago (less than a decade) when there was virtually no internet hobby - in the form we now know it.  What has happened is that the market has expanded and to becry that is to curse the storm.  The storm is here - so you might as well get use to it... and now you are faced with choices....

You either maintain your own standards (and that goes for the gents as well) or you don't.  For my part, I like the idea of a well reviewed lady (occasionally I will risk it for a new comer) where I know that I will be treated with respect, there will be no "upselling" and no B&S event that drives me crazy!  Some men may not care, this one does.  

To think that our little hobby world is not unnoticed by 1) law enforcement, 2) scumbag pimps 3) lower end providers and 4) the civie world in general is to put ones head into the sand and pretend that things have not changed...  I mean - for god's sake, TER advertises in Penthouse - a pretty much mainstream publication!  

This change was predictable - and it was not a matter of "if" but "when" - the economy is just the catalyst for the change.  What I would suggest is for all to reevaluate how they wish to treat the shift... I for one, don't mind that more lower end gals are going "www" as it decreases the exposure of those legit gals... as if you are LE - and in a target rich environment, you grab the easy pickins rather than sting those who have more intelligence and do their screening homework correctly.....  

but then again, it is a numbers game.... so... change?  Shift? yup - it happens.

is the information I will give to her. I have always given the ladies my information, and I don't see a reason to stop now. Since I am careful, and do my homework when I choose a lady I want to contact, I've already decided that she is someone I will trust with that information. Then the only question is if I am someone that she will choose to trust. To this point, it has worked very well, so why change? I'm not going to invent a problem that I don't think exists.

I've chosen not to meet with a lady if her screening requirements are too lax. I can see why it would be a problem for a guy to give his info to someone with just a CL ad. I do extensive research using the guidelines often mentioned on the newbie board. After all, I'm still pretty much a nub.

As Mr. Fisher pointed out- it puts them MUCH more at risk if they see women who don't screen.  When I get calls from men who do not want to volunteer information I take the time to explain why it is important and how it protects all parties invovled.

Usually they take a few days to think it over and eventually get back in touch with me.

I have noticed agencies becoming more reference friendly...maybe they are also afraid of being pulled under by LE and want to extend the olive branch to indys like me?

XO
Melanie

Some guys will always try to get away without giving you enough info or screening. That's just how they are and probably always will be. There are still plenty of gents who will give you what you desire. Some ladies will always be blah on giving references and will say anything to get you off their phone anyways. I'm like you, though. I want to screen well and will do it regardless of someone's wishy washy half assed reference. References have never been my means of screening, though, just something nice to get so you know the guy's not an axe murderer, rapist, abuser...

Maybe bc I'm in L.A. (where there are millions of potential men who might want to see me,) I don't feel any effects of a slowed economy. In fact, business has seemed to go up. Then again, I don't see much in the way of decreased spending going on near me as there are new high rises going up, new luxury stores opening all around me, tons of people in the nice restaurants, lots of people in the clubs at night, packed concerts, busy gas stations/ fast food, etc... I just don't feel the effects and don't see them, though I guess they might be more obvious in other areas.

Katie