As obnoxious as the earlier post regarding the economy and the 'plight' of providers, I found some the replies equally callous.

Some of us will be hurting next year. It does not help to hear from hobbiests who boast that they have no problems, earn 6 figures and too bad for those who do not (you might not realize that many hobbiests fall into the Joe the Plumber range). It is not helpful for a provider to tell us that a hobbiest who thinks about the cost is some addicted idiot anyhow. I am afraid it is getting ugly pretty quickly.
 
Then there is the unbelievably uninformed notion that if our SOs were putting out, we would not need to hobby so 'be angry at them'. My SO gets enough of my bullshit. She is mother to my 2 kids. When we do have sex, it is orders of magnitude beyond a great provider. Just not as often as I need and I am a shit who likes variety time to time.

I personally have kept my hobbying under control. At the moment, things look financially ok but I do not have endless finances and I figure I owe most to my children and SO anyhow. Also, as our provider friends will tell you, unless you are a Rockefeller, better to save a bit for the future when the faucet runs dry...

BUT I would argue that this hobby is still a bargain because-

1-It is cheaper than an affair, cheaper than a divorce and cheaper than the psychiatric care I would require if I could not release this sexual energy.

2-While there are many a lovely lady out there at 500-1000 dollars or more per hour, some of the finest reviewed ladies here are priced well below this rate and I am personally amazed this hobby is so 'affordable' when one considers the risks involved for these women and the efforts they go through to look hot just to see you.  
I stated this on this board years ago...I would NOT have the courage to open the door to a total stranger (man) coming to my place for sex.

My major hope for the economy is that the first class ladies I have seen are able to continue and fulfill their 'retirement' dreams. It is part of my rationalization as well.

I hope I will continue to have the means to hobby (as infrequently as I do).  

For all, a healthy and happy (no haggling) 2009 and see you next year...I am off for a few weeks.

-- Modified on 12/29/2008 7:33:33 PM

and sometimes unreasonable things are said. A few jerks continually post on this topic and often post rude comments about prices on response threads below providers, ads. Totally unacceptable. You cannot blame the providers who react quickly and angrily to the topic being continually raised on these boards.

And, yes, I am one of the fortunate, finanacially anyway.  I always remember that I am fortunate and do not consider myself superior in any way because of my good fortune. Things could very easily have turned out differently for me.

But please do not interpret anything I may have written as insensitive - it was not intended to be. I have the utmost respect for anyone who treats the ladies with class.

And I do have a budget - every hobbiest at every financial level needs to keep his hobbying expenses at a level commensurate with his other obligations and life goals.

All the best to you in 2009

I agree, in defense of the providers we are talking about their bodies, not a commodity.  Especially well reviewed providers who are GFE or PSE.  Lets say they ofer a special, do they take from their services.  1/2 off, so no DFK or DATY?  A reviewer would be the first to rate a provider a 4 0r 3.  

For me, I will continue to hobby with ATF's instead of the touring visitor.  I kmow the price and I'm happy with what I get

While I felt the same way about a few of the comments, I think the reaction from the ladies is understandable since they're being bombarded with these types of posts that are clearly intended to pressure them into lowering their rates.  

Economy threads pop up every fews days on the general or local boards.  Girls post ads and guys comment on their rates. Etc., etc., etc.

I would be pissed if my boss or one of my customers went to a public forum and used the language these posters used to try to get me to cut my salary by 30-50%.  

If we don't like how much a lady charges, move on to another lady.  If we don't like that a lady is raising her rates while our disposal income is shrinking, move on to another lady. There's so many options available and so many bigger issues in our lives, why get so worked up over a particular lady's rates?

 

-- Modified on 12/29/2008 8:46:18 PM

-- Modified on 12/29/2008 8:47:05 PM

i agree with what  xenopus said i myself am planning to spend a large amount on a provider who i see as a something i really want. IF you can't afford to do the hobby i commiserate and i hope your personal fortune changes around. However that is no reason to try and badger ladies into lowering prices.

Its not like a gentleman to do that and i actually place providers on a pedestal they do a job that can have major reprcussions and they are wonderful they provide something that sometimes every man needs

I might not be the first, but I'll put it out there simple as can be...

I'm going to spend less in 2009 than '08 and for sure than '07...

Whether it be clothes, cars, expensive meals & wine... pretty much, you name it, I'm spending less.

Will I ask for a discount?  Never.  Will I choose a lower rate per hour on some occaisions?? ... most likely.

If an old friend offered me 90 mins for the same rate as 60 mins, would I pay attention?  You bet!

Things are going to change, whether it's who I call... or what I'm being offered, I'm not sure of what, or which will occur first.

But I also think things will get better... that is that the economy will eventually bounce back... however...

and I hate to get up on my soap box, but I expect things have not yet hit bottom.

Art Laffer (aka h8traffic)

WHEW!

-- Modified on 12/29/2008 10:10:48 PM

In my opinion several providers and hobbyists went overboard with their comments. These are difficult times for many people and it is important to have empathy to everyone's difficulties regardless if a provider is willing to reduce her rates or not. Trying to "rub it in" surely does not solve any problems. The prudent choice would have been to ignore the coward.

I was turned off by some of the comments of the providers. It ruined the fantasy image I had of some of them and basically showed their ugly side. I do not want a carbon copy image in my head of my wife chewing me out when I go to see a provider.

I suspect the situation goes both ways. Several providers and hobbyists are hurting more than they are willing to admit. In this situation privately trying to find a market equilibrium in terms of what rates a provider is willing to accept is likely to have more success than publicly talking about rates.

As a lover of dinner and overnight dates I have begun to notice that the incidental costs are adding up like transportation, hotel room, gifts, dinner, opportunity cost (time off work) etc and am looking to cut back to more conventional dating like civie affairs, one night stands etc.

-- Modified on 12/29/2008 9:28:04 PM

Considering that one of my comments was directly referenced in this post I will crop up:

My comments came with the disclaimer that those who were complaining the loudest were afflicted by what I described.

Obviously my comments were not directed at clients who evaluate their personal situation, play their cards close to their chests and remain respectful in all interactions.

Just as some of my "peers" are exceedingly psychotic, irresponsible, unreliable  and difficult- when I read complaints of them here, on TER, I don't internalize comments regarding the behaviors of other providers.

Alternatively, some of your peers are growing increasingly restless and irate that the provider market isn't crumbling as quickly or significantly as they would like.  FACT.
Providers are tired of reading the comments designed to wear on our heartstrings (many of us are very, very sensitive and attempt to bend to the needs of our clientele and potential guests).  Providers are tired of reading comments designed purely to put us in our place.

As for the poster who said that he doesn't want to believe that the provider is capable of busting his balls as his wife does-
The garter belt is off here on the General Discussion board.  I'm not providing a service when I'm online nor am I attempting to attract anyone.  I've played that card before and now I relegate my business moves to my weekly ad.
I would think that clients would be happy to read honest responses but now I'm inclined to reminding myself that this is a business of fantasy and even those who say that they want the reality of a provider don't entirely.  That's fine...but don't look because I'm not going to water my thoughts down and I hope that other providers won't either.
If a client doesn't want to associate my thought process with my session he can choose another provider but I don't turn my brain "off" to look more appealing.  I don't talk politics, religion or shop in bed so what does it really matter what's behind my eyes?.

What matters is not what you read here but what you as a hobbyist or provider get out of session.

Xenopaus, just as I am told when I read messages from posters who speak of providers as though we're the lowest form of life....don't take it personally.  If you know that we're speaking in extremes it isn't applicable to you.



-- Modified on 12/30/2008 6:16:33 AM

When looking up providers' rates and studying their galleries I've assumed a hobbyist gets what he pays for. Doesn't a $$$+ provider maintain herself as would a top model, and position herself for a man with that kind of discretionary income to spend on hobbying? But if I'd enjoy a fantasy more along the lines of a biker chick or a hot supermarket cashier, I'd hope to find a more basic provider in the $$ to $$.$ range to play with as an occasional treat. So I agree with the ones who say "move along if you don't care for that provider's rates". What I would not want to see is for all the $$/hour providers to disappear and for the bar to be at $$$.

' I personally admire what's "behind your eyes" .... eom

-- Modified on 12/30/2008 12:45:09 PM

Forcing me to agree pretty much with all of your points!  

At it's best TER, especially the GD board is a place where folks on both sides of the envelope should be able to talk freely about the issues that effect the hobby.  

A provider should be able to do this without having it held over her head by prospective clients and guys should be able to speak up without being accused of either being a white knight or a misogynist simply for posting their views.  

Of course the key is to do it with respect to the other folks on the board and without flaming...a neat trick if you can pull it off...