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-- Modified on 11/28/2003 6:41:36 PM

I think it was actually one of the better written articles - seemed to have a less than the usual judgment tone to it.
(wonder if the author partakes in the hobby himself?).

What do you think about alchohol and drugs being common, as a way to escape or deal with 'what they do'? Accurate, or off-base?

To the ladies -what do you think about the 'hobby' 'eating you up alive'?

I didn't notice any tone to the article, just a statement of the facts. The references to alcohol and/or drug abuse came from interviews with police, family, or friends and associates. I didn't read any bias on the author's part. It's what a good reporter is supposed to do.

As to alcohol and/or drugs being a common way to escape or deal? I've only ever seen one lady who was obviously drunk when I got there. It was before I discovered TER and it was a pretty bad experience. I'm pretty sure she didn't like 'what she did'. But I have seen several others where more than two bottles of something were in plain sight. I don't know if it's for them to cope or if it's part of their repertoire.

Of the ladies I have seen (both reviewed and unreviewed), I would say that only two are really, really, comfortable with their decision. They have been my best experiences and there wasn't any alcohol in sight when I arrived. They were completely at ease with themselves, exuded confidence, and allowed me to relax.

Sedona, you strike me as someone who is completely comfortable with yourself. I get the same feeling from the other women who are active participants on TER. As a group, you remind me of the two afore-mentioned ladies above. I would be surprised if any of you had a substance abuse problem. Substance abuse and keeping it together don't exactly go hand-in-hand, especially over the long haul. I would therefore also be surprised if the ladies who actively participate on this board think that the 'hobby' will 'eat them up alive'.

-- Modified on 11/28/2003 2:39:07 PM

It's certainly plausible. Half of the accidents of all types in this country are due to intoxication from alcohol or drugs. Car wrecks, falls, fires, and every other kind of mishap. If she had a problem with booze, it wouldn't have been hard for her to fall and hit her head. And if she was in the house alone, it could be some time before anyone found her.

overall it was (trying to be) non-judgemental, but then why mention her jewelry, fur coats and the $3K/month rent on her Georgetown pad?  in truth, 29th & M is certainly NOT all that glamorous a neighbourhood (i was there just last night) ... and why relate the comment by her provider friend: "I'm in it to keep my Nordstrom's card" ?  ... IMV, these are sly attempts at denigrating providers (and the profession as a whole) by portraying them as shallow money-obsessed women (some are, some are not) whose lives have been derailed in one way or another

but getting back to Summer (!) ... i wonder if the investigation into her death would've been so summarily dismissed (declared an "accident") if she was the daughter of a prominent businessman or linked in some way to a politician or diplomat

>IMV, these are sly attempts at denigrating providers
>(and the profession as a whole) by portraying them as
>shallow money-obsessed women (some are, some are not)
>whose lives have been derailed in one way or another

Many I've come to know have issues and have been derailed.
They do it for the money--not because they're dying to meet you or me.

I don't view it as denigration but telling it like it is--I believe it's highly likely the issues presented in the article are probably factual (or as factual as the media can be).

Sweet Dreams Summer Breeze.

Most certainly a tragic subject Summer was a lovely lovely woman.
Alcohol is very common and I think the author of the article presented it well as well as the lady that responded. So often our dates involve dinner and drinks or drinks simply themselves. I find the best way to go about this is to order a ginger ale. No caffeine settles my butterflys (I always get no matter what) and Its not as horrid as soda pop. When asked why I wont have a glass of merlot or the such. Very to the point. I am driving.
One glass of winde depending on its "boquet" : ) can knock me pretty fruity. Doesnt make for a great session.

Do I think alcohol is a tool for drowning issues of insecurity and moral judgement .. ABSOLUTELY !!!!
Reading through other cities boards and posts.. I can tell you exactly who is not comfortable in their own skin -who is a provider because situations lead them to it not their own devices... etc..  Sedona and I had a really great post going one time about perception.
Those that percieve this hobby as a self validation tool- end up very burned out very quickly..
as the saying goes .. ridden hard and hung out to dry wet.

I thought the article was probably about as non-judgemental as could be expected.  And let's face it, this occupation is not for everyone, so it's not hard to imagine it taking a toll on someone's life and somehow it sounds worse in print.

What I did think was interesting was that it didn't make a mention of TER.  I'm not familiar with Bit Dodgy... er uh Big Doggie... so I guess the "research" may have been conducted there, but the reference to her getting "8's" and then "2 and 3's" seems awfully familiar to a rating system of a certain site we all visit.  Personally, I'm glad they didn't mention it.

the reporter did some research on TER and/or TBD. Probably both. A one month membership to both would be less than $50.00 (and probably expensed at that). There's no need to mention either site, it's peripheral to the main story.

Sites such as this one would be a story in themselves. National Public Radio's show "Marketplace" did a piece on TBD about a year ago. The overall theme was doing business on the Web and how adult-themed ventures made up the majority of profitable concerns.

-- Modified on 11/29/2003 4:25:16 PM

-- Modified on 11/29/2003 4:25:29 PM

...not a broad-brush denigration of a group.  The word "she" (not "they") appears 17 times in the article.

The last paragraph was a quote from one person:
"In this business, there are a lot of girls that turn to drugs or alcohol because they can't deal with what they're doing," said another of Howell's friends, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "It will literally eat you up alive."

And I don't doubt there's a ring of truth there, for some, and maybe that's why the article is being denounced?

Freelance doing the write up for marketplace based on that same genre. Wanted to do a phone interview regarding my members only site that contained all the leather and latex for my bdsm interests. However that was all before the TBD bust and arrests wasnt it? Wonder if they ever followed up on that.. lol