For what it's worth in light of a lot of discussion online regarding quality and costs of the hobby these days, and a little about why I think it's so.

The "History of Hooking"  (According to TS Jamie...)

The recent history of hooking is about 15 years ago most girls worked the street. When a girl wanted to work she hit the track, when she got tired she went home.  Unless she was pimped, then she worked some more.

When a guy got horny he cruised till he found his dream girl of the moment and went to a dark alley or cheap motel.  Dates were cum quick and move on, if you wanted a double bump you paid double.  The girls job was to extract money as quick as possible.  The guys job was to "get off" without getting actually robbed.  It was simple, and everyone knew the rules.

"GFE" hadn't been invented yet except for a few high end call girls who worked from the swing ads for a lot more money.

Then along came cell phones and every hooker on the blvd became a "call girl" and increased her rates.

Next came the internet.  In the early days (mid 90's) it was the exclusive domain of the technogeeks and a few tech savy escorts. They found each other via newly formed personals sites and mostly by search engines.  The girls who were online invested heavily in their business with expensive computers and web sites, etc.  The guys were programmers, usually highly educated, and the girls had class and gave a great time in exchange for a premium price.

The "girlfriend experience" was born.  Because prices were higher time became less of an issue.  Guys began to expect a lot, and they got what they paid for.

By the early 2000's escort sites started up,  evolving into quality sites like TER where people could meet, view ads and exchange information. Hotels started offering internet access which provided traveling girls a means to move around.

Then along came $500 laptops and wireless high speed and suddenly almost anyone could and did get online.  You could post and view photos and the web was virtually unknown to LE.

Next came Craigslist, where anybody could post anything for free and overnight $20 crack whores became $200 "escorts."  Pimps and minors and spammers and scammers moved in.

What followed was of course the guys complaining about poor service and outright rip offs. Then because those in the hobby and running ad sites  failed to police ourselves, along came online enforcement and stings.  3 years ago it was almost unheard of, now it's almost a daily event.

So what comes next?

Who knows... but one thing is for sure, the world's oldest profession isn't going to go away anytime soon!

Hugs,
TS Jamie  

-- Modified on 8/20/2007 5:17:29 PM

The Future of Online Escorting  - - TS Jamie's Predictions, or lack thereof...

Ok so we know how we got here.  Where will we be tomorrow?

I've been predicting the demise of Craigslist for a year - but it doesn't seem to go away.  (Wishfull thinking I guess...)  But sooner or later I think it will.  Either as a result of lawsuit or legislation.  It propogates too much crime.

My concern is legislation restricting online advertising and private connections between adults interested in consensual intimacy.

The result I'm afraid would be to drive girls back onto the street.  In many areas the Internet has been a positive factor in cleaning up ghetto areas.  The hobby has gone indoors.  It's out of sight.  

But more and more, the religious zealots, LE and the Media, are following us into cyberspace to advance their own adgendas. The media is going to continue to sensationalize and express outrage over sex work.  Why?  Because "sex sells" and while girls may sell sex, they sell outrage.  And they have more money.

One thing we know for sure is the Internet and the way we use it will evolve every few years.  Popular sites will slide into oblivion and new  formats will take their place.

I think with the advent of the iPhone we are going to see a change in the fundemental way many of us use the internet in general.  Girls will be able to post ads from anywhere, it's going to take the hobby more mobile, especially for traveling girls, who will be able to update ads while on the road.

I think as a result of the quality issues with providers and increased outside attacks we are heading toward private, controlled access, probably paid membership.  Regional sites with locally reviewed, known, quality providers and screened hobbyists.

The problem with local sites is if you don't know about them you have no access.  This is where the national sites like TER will hopefully remain.  But it's going to be harder to screen members.  

I unfortunately do not see the legalization of prostitution happening anytime soon in this country.  I see continued persecution of TS sex workers in particular, in most areas.   You guys can help in this aspect by not hiding your views when someone is gay bashing and voting for pro equality laws.

So I don't know where we are going, but one thing is for sure the hobby isn't going away!

So have fun and try not to stress too much!

Giggle,
TS Jamie

-- Modified on 8/20/2007 5:25:04 PM