I really don't think it is that serious. CL closes the provider forum down and they do what they need to do....join TER, set up accounts on BackPage, Hard Drive, or Eros. Many of the providers who were on CL are members here anyways.
This is the oldest profession in the world. If nothing else providers are very good at SURVIVING. Our businesses thrived before CL and will continue afterwards.
If you ask me, I think it was a good thing to have all the scams, LE activity, subpar providers congregated on one site.
Now you have to worry about this stuff on other sites that have been more or less trustworthy in the past. The CL people will be moving elsewhere. I agree, the CL thing won't lead to people moving out of the country, but it might lead to trouble for those of us who never even went there.
As long as TER reviews exist I guess, all is well though.
Yep!! It's about time! Never really felt comfortable about CL any how. I now use NR, P411, TBD, date-check, BackPage, CityVibe, Sensualzen, ect. and TER of couse..lol justed wanted to get that out of my system...I think it's a smart idea to go on other sites -yeah? 
-- Modified on 5/13/2009 4:48:52 PM
Only one of those pages you listed is outside of the US. The others are hosted in the US.
One is being hosted in a city where major agency got busted in August 2008. LE will be licking there chops when they shutdown the site.
Two of the sites are hosted in the DC area in reaching grab of the US Attorney general.
Last minute appointments and filling the book will go away.
I will admit there were some bad things going on CL. Today a provider that I have seen 2 times in the past called and told me she got robbed yesterday. She asked me to rent a car for her, I declined the request because I am not her pimp.
Anybody who has seen a CL provider you might want to think about changing your cell phone number. I have been getting cold calls from CL providers I have seen in the past.
I think they should start asking for a gov. bailout. Hey they work harder for their money than the bankers, and look what they are getting.
I Don't see why some people are running around with their heads chopped of CL might be the biggest but its not the only site out there. I am concerned about the government trying to censor everything it apparently doesn't like. That's the thing we should be concentrating on how they are slowly trying to dissolve our fundamental rights
CL erotic section shutting is not going to hurt any person who advertises there.
I have no second or third.
CL is kicking themselves in the butt because they will be losing alot of money and alot of traffic.
In an exclusive News 2 Interview, McMaster told us this afternoon he is standing firm on his threat to Craigslist. If the posts aren’t down by 5pm Friday, he will charge the website with aiding prostitution.
“What we want is an act. We want it to be done.“
They had a good thing with CL and they took
advantage of it and now its gone.
to Bad!
I think you are grossly over estimating the number of serious and established providers who depend on CL as their only form of advertising.
I agree with those that feel this is not a major deal, but it's stuff like this (along with a host of financial and other moral reasons) that just makes me want to retire overseas even more.
Independent escorting will never be legalized in the US in the lifetime of anyone old enough to be reading this thread. In fact, it would not surprise me if the Nevada brothels eventually get pressured out of existence. Meanwhile, the politicians will continue to have access to prostitutes (while they prosecute regular citizens for it like that scumbag Spitzer), and when caught, won't even be charged.
Hey kids - well I haven't posted here in quite awhile, but the CL thing brought me out of my "retirement" for a comment or two.
First, I think it's a good thing CL is gone. Some of the old timers will recall I predicted this about 3 years ago. LOL Told ya so... gloat gloat.
The vast majority of providers and clients are good, mostly law abiding citizens. It is wrong and sad that a few bad apples destroyed something that was good for so many individuals and the community at large.
Secondly I think the remaining sites need to police their advertisers and try to keep the ghetto trash, and downright criminals out. These are the people that ruined a good thing for the rest of us.
TER has always done a pretty good job of this, and I hope this will remain the best place for national dating contact info.
I think the next evolution of internet contact dating will be semi-private sites, where members will need to be "vetted" in, thereby providing a level of quality and safety that most of us desire.
Sadly the demise of CL will probably force many providers back onto the street - and back into the public view. This really is a disservice to the community at large and the hobby community specifically. It will make it far more dangerous for many girls, who will be forced into positions where they cannot properly screen clients. It will cause more men to have to "cruise" the streets again.
The past several years, the availability of internet contact has taken what was once a highly visible and often a source of negative community impact and moved it into the realm of private contact. I believe this was over all a good thing.
I sometimes wonder if this whole thing was orchestrated by vice squads who were afraid that if prostitution moved UTR and out of the pbulic eye they would lose their cushy six figure overtime jobs and their pension plans that are driving our cities into bankruptcy.
What is needed is a national law decriminalizing prostitution. One modeled upon the Canadian structure would probably be most effective. Canada allows consenting adults to make mutually beneficial private arrangements, while public (street) prostitution is illegal.
Anyway, sad to see a great venue like CL ruined, but I won't miss it.
Sigh,
TS Jamie
I forgot to add - "Thank you CL" for being there for me when I need you.
I'm no longer active in the hobby, but a few years ago when my partner and I were unemployed with no prospects, no community help, living in a hotel and three days from the street we ran our first ad on CL. We made enough money that first day to survive the week and rent an apartment of our own.
Later we got into adult film and pay video web sites. We earned enough from our adult entertainment business to live well and eventually retire. My partner is now in her last 2 semesters for her BS degree from a major university. I run our real estate business in three states, and we are going to buy our first plane later this summer after I finish flight school.
If it hadn't been for CL we'd have probably been standing on a street corner somewhere doing car dates until some psycho killed us in the dark and dumped our bodies in the gutter.
So "thanks CL" for giving us a leg up. We couldn't have done it without you.
Sigh,
TS Jamie
-- Modified on 5/13/2009 11:10:04 PM
I buy and sell things on CL, but would never use the erotic services. section I have friends who have gotten stung,and I don;t like the whole thing paraded on a site that is of general interest..The ads gave the hobby a bad name and played to the public's prejudices
If the reasoning for doing away with the CL erotic services is the possible using it as a tool for homicide; then why not outlaw adventurous and high risk couples vacations?
"They" have been looking for a universally held aberration to happen directly from CL erotic services. "They" got it!
The world’s oldest profession/vacation and its participants must now do as they have done for eons; ADAPT!!
See my post on the P&R board on the news media by the say!
As to the others, it is all too easy to target someone offering sexual companionship, when they themselves paint a target on their back. This is such a bogus LE and political effort. Think, what is hard to do, domestic violence, hard drug enforcement, violent crime, banking and other white collar crime.... oh, my fave? cybercrime... and my all time fave? political corruption.
To get at all of these, takes real balls.... and we know how that plays out.
Do I think this will permanatly hurt the internet escort profession? no, because it is adaptable. but it IS a temporary set back with implications for ALL the other sites hosted within the US.
As to Canada, I've hobbied in Canada... All I can say is I've very intimate contact with civie dating in Canada and the hobby in canada.... the hobby is great - very nice Canadian ladies.... as to civie dating - well that's a very different story.
“As to the others, it is all too easy to target someone offering sexual companionship, when they themselves paint a target on their back. This is such a bogus LE and political effort. Think, what is hard to do, domestic violence, hard drug enforcement, violent crime, banking and other white collar crime.... oh, my fave? cybercrime... and my all time fave? political corruption.
To get at all of these, takes real balls.... and we know how that plays out.”
Exaggeration and/or bogus information? Approximately 1 out 180 (or 0.6%) of the 10 million plus arrest in 2007 were prostitution arrest. Most of the remainder, 94.4% arrests are for domestic violence, hard drug enforcement, violent crime, banking and other white collar crime.
I see providers launching websites, raising their prices or they join an agency.
Women are pretty smart and resourceful. What do you think they used before CL?
The sky is the limit.
CL closing down shop will be better for all. Guys will have more time on their hands...the ones that claim they just read CL for the "heads up", and the hobby will be safer.
I liken it to cleaning up the streets.
Go ahead and flame me.
CL was the bottom of the barrel. The good ones will move to other sites or have already moved.
Some girls will try to find real jobs at fast food places or other low wage situations.
Those who already have a criminal record will have limited employment options.
It will eliminate some of the pimps who post ads.
Yes that is true the intelligent will be able to upgrade. The others will go back to the streets and/or start breaking into houses, dealing drugs etc. I think we will have more women going to prison.
During the transition process we will see some ladies be evicted or have their homes foreclosed.
Maybe demand for the hobby will go down because men won't be able to browse the ads (even though they did not see CL providers) to get turned on. Many guys that start in the hobby did not find TER first. They started out on CL or sites. TER might see an initial uptick but could see declining growth in the long run.
This is one of those events that could lead to a class war in the country.
I think it's a sad day, because many genuine providers used CL. In our town, backpage has no adult. The good thing is, membership isn't too costly (yet) where screening can make it safer for everyone. Good luck to all.
Is this another one of those doomsday predictions?
Try looking at the glass half full.
And give people some credit.
Americans all over the world are having a time of it. Be they a prostitute, a welder, an automobile salesperson. We are all affected.
The best advice I can give anyone, is to try and adapt. Live with less. We have been spoiled. Too many choices.
Leave your worries at the door and instead of posting such a grim future, step up to the plate and do something about it. And have some faith.
Your post was pretty funny.
Many people have never used CL for anything other than furniture and cars. Those who used CLEA will find the many other sites or the weekly papers, just as was the case before...BCL.
Some may get out of the game entirely, I doubt that will impact the national economy much - especially as an unemployed escort won't be able to collect unemployment benefits from it.
