Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen,

If for any reason you will be near the University of Toledo, Ohio, on October 7, please come hear my presentation of data on TER hobbyists. The organizers have given me an unprecedented 60 minutes to speak - it will be a full 45 minute PowerPoint on the entire study with 15 minutes for Q&A.

I have linked the program page - just look for the ''Internet Hobbyist'' listing under "Presentations." The conference does require a fee for attending, which apparently goes to charities that combat anti-trafficking measures (and also fund some kind of religious movement, no doubt). Unfortunately it looks like my presentation is the only sex-positive one - the rest is a complete onslaught of anti-prostitution discourse. Nevertheless, for those who are brave and have absolutely nothing to do except make a pilgrimage to Toledo - here's your chance to participate as an extra in the remake of the Spanish Inquisition.

I'm bringing a modern, flame-retardant suit in case there's an auto-da-fé set up for me,

The Love Goddess

Just make sure that your laser pointer and power point clicker both have fresh batteries in them before your talk!

although that will be at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality - a fascinating conference with lots of very interesting topics, mine included.

Check the link for the SSSS event please,
The Love Goddess

Well, dfwjim123,

I'd be just as careful with the kind of statement "large percent of men see prostitutes" as I would be with the statement that "prostitutes have been sexually abused." In addition, I'm wondering if you really have any statistical evidence for the fact that "most prostitutes online in US are Americans who are in the profession by choice."

What we need so desperately are large scale quantitative studies of an activity in which the participants on both sides are heavily stigmatized; until we do, neither side appears credible under empirical scrutiny.

I will say this - there is certainly a large-scale agenda to demonize clients and endow sex workers with victim-status.  This has to do with seeking public funding for causes, political favors, special interest groups, etc.. Unfortunately, many in the social science community are confusing their own values with methods of inquiry and facts become distorted - as you pointed out in your posting - although the purpose is not the distortion per se, but to "rescue" people that at best don't need to be rescued or at worst don't even exist [stats for sex trafficking victims are grossly conflated or misinterpreted in many NGO reports.]

It will be most interesting to see the reception my presentation will get,
The Love Goddess

...conflated with non-trafficking crimes, or misinterpreted in many NGO reports."


The Love Goddess

I knew their had to be a reason i live in the Buckeye State.
LG in person,,cool!

I had planned on attending but my schedule simply will not allow it.

Will audio or visual of the presentations be available online for those of us who cannot attend?

Knock 'em dead!  You'll do great!

All my support,
Lynette

The purpose of this kind of 'academic events' is mostly to distort facts.

Large percent of men see prostitutes; most prostitutes online in US are Americans who are in the profession by choice.

There is a movement going on to find 'victims' in prostitution: men are criminals; women are victims.

There are really 3 categories of people on the matter: 1) those who know; 2) those who know but pretend not knowing; and 3) those who have no clue because of being ignorant.

People in the category (2) is large.

If I were you, I'd show where the "internet-prostitutes" post their ads: Craigslist, Backpage, EROS ... then everyone can be a researcher and find the facts -- the key is to let the words out "everyone knows these things -- only some pretend not knowing and being hypocrites".

the males in your audience will be listening with the thought of getting into the hobby if they have any hormones at all.  On the otherhand, most of the women will play the "disgusted type" while wondering what they are missing in the bedroom.

Enjoy.

As there any way we can see the material that you are presenting, I cant make it to Ohio, but am interested to know what you came up with from your survey. thanks and good luck

If you are staying over Friday, we are throwing a friends & allies of sex worker rights party.  I hope you can make it, but will look forward to meeting you regardless!!

xoMegan

I am presenting on the Value of Sex Work.  Two of the major people involved support sex worker rights, and understand the difference between the perspectives of choice, circumstance and coercion.  In the past there has been difficulty in finding common ground with anti-traffickers, and that is not always the fault of the anti-traffickers.  Some sex worker rights activists *can be* a bit hard to swallow when they come in blazing guns and being argumentative.  I have found that a more subtle approach allows for greater understanding.

There ARE *some* that think all forms of sex work need to be abolished, that any form of sex work including stripping and porn degrades women.  This is why it's important to have those of us that buy/sell sexual services to represent, and to do so in a way that does not work against us by being over emotional or with a chip on our shoulders.  

If you don't want the facts to be distorted, we must stand up and have our voices be heard.  All these people see are women and children that are either victims of trafficking or in marginalized situations.  The men that seek these women out DO tend to be those that do not value women...they are not wrong about that.  But there is MUCH MORE they don't see, and the only way for them to change the perspective they rightfully have is to give them better information.

I hope to see some of you there, speaking up about your experiences and for our rights as American citizens...to privacy, to sexual freedoms, and to personal choice.

All my best,

xoM