Thought folks might be interested in seeing this. I often wonder about the merits and demerits of AMPs vs. escorts.
AMPs can be so dang convenient, economic and low-hassle. I do worry about the trafficking angle. I can see the potential there but in honesty I don't see evidence of it in my limited experience and IMHO.
Would like to hear the thoughts of others...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/novas-asian-massage-parlors-can-be-fronts-for-human-sex-trafficking-authorities-say/2011/10/03/gIQAeWO6IL_blog.html
When I first began my "Hobby Career" which was many years ago, the AMP scene was how I started. The value was and still is unmatched in that, in my view, you get 3 for the price of one. 1. A good pro level massage along with nice relaxing shower and clean up; 2. HE (in the form of your choosing HJ to Full On); and 3. Very Affordable. During my my first couple of years hobbying I was approx 70/30 AMP to Escort. Those are The PROs.
The CONs - 1. Limited communication as almost 95% of the ladies spoke little to no english sometimes the point of having to use hand signals (significant sign of "trafficked" individual as I came to later learn); This limited communication did not lend to any type of "connection" with the provider when over time it makes the AMP experience become too mechanical. 2. You get what they give you. Meaning in the early days they would bring out 2 - 4 ladies for you to choose from then they stopped that I guess cause some ladies (the more attractive ones) were working more than the others. Hence, when you got to the room and undressed wating for your companion to come get you for the shower it was a crap shoot who was walking through that door, a 50 year old burn out? Or a fresh off the boat cutie. I only use the term "fresh-off-the boat" to mean rookie, at this time in this writing
Then I saw a special on TV about Asian ladies being used as sex slaves and/or trafficked. The environment they showed after one bust (ladies living in the same place they worked...hence they ate, slept and provided their looked uneasily familiar to one location I went too (it was not the busted establishment on the news). Hence I did some research and it became clear that their was a high probability that some of the establishments I was visiting were trafficked ladies. I felt very bad that I had supported such a detestable situation.
Hence I ceased using the AMPs shortly after I concluded my research, and luckily so, as DC went on a rampage of busting and closing down AMPs in the DC city area. The AMPs I went to years ago in DC are no longer in business. I see on BP and other mall type sites a host of AMP advertising that, based on my research, is a clear sign that the trafficking is still alive and well.
While I dont do AMPs anymore I do have several Independent (ladies who work out of their own homes/apartments and most are even Eastern trained in massage therapy) Asian FBSM providers in my rotation.
I still see my Escort or a few every now and again but nothing beats the value of recieving a pro level massage, mixed with some very well done sensulaity, for very affordable rates. The combination is unbeatable. I feel like a new man after a 90 minute session.
Hence to the point of your post.....I will dare say the majority of AMPs in the DC metro area (more so in VA and MD locals these days) have a high probability of being involved in trafficking which is abhorant to me. The lady must be in it willing for me to enjoy a session which for me are the independent providers unless their is STRONG evidence that a potential AMP are staffed by willing ladies.
Sadly , though they will never admit it , there are a number of gents who really don't give a damn. I recall one hobbyist of note who use to refer to AMP girls as "units". I wish all the resource's available to LE were focused on trafficking instead of wasting it on BWI stings .
That is the problem, those stings are meant to not only stop prostitution but to help those who are trafficked, abused, or underage. Local LE is being supported by Fed money now and if they don't use it they loose it.
I am not arguing that some of the AMP's may have trafficked ladies, I argue that the media will show you the worse case to support the cause to stop trafficking and that no one here knows if the AMP's here trafficked them unknowingly into being a sex work slave or they were aware of what they were brought here to do and choose it over living in their county in poverty selling themselves for a couple of dollars, and I mean $2.
I have known AMP mamasans managers/owners who started in the business just like those that work for them. And where one offered to sell her business to one of the spa girls.
No one knows the truth, no one here has any facts. I am not saying they should stop trying to help those abused, all I am saying is know one knows the truth and their efforts directly affects all aspects of the hobby beyond just the spas.
I commend the efforts to stop human trafficking. But from reading many articles where the FBI, local LE, and ICE have joined together and created task forces across the US the end results are not coming up with the results you would expect for the efforts they put into it.
The reason why is many cases they find willing participants who where aware of what they were getting into before, not after being brought here.
What surprised me after reading was the extent of trafficking and abuse to the Hispanic ladies appears to be greater than that of Asians.
Last year there was a national effort to save children and those trafficked called "Operation Cross Country.
This is a quote from the new posted by the FBI -
The FBI thanks the over 2,100 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers representing 186 separate agencies who participated in Operation Cross Country and ongoing enforcement efforts.
What they were expecting from their efforts I'm sure was to save more than 69 kids but also those who were trafficked and working at AMP's.
I am not saying that Trafficking doesn't occur at AMP's, it's just not easy to get at the truth. I too got started by going to those AMP's in DC and around the Metro area many years ago. I frequented several and became too well known by the owners and ladies long before the DC efforts to close up spas. What I found at these were young ladies who were introduced into this work by friends who came before them.
They did have to pay a fee to those who brought them here and were committed to satisfying this fee much like a contract or loan by working at several locations across the US. They were here under visiting visa's and limited to their stay. They did not have to turn over 100% of the earning but a portion similar to the agencies many here go to.
I knew a few of them so well I was allowed to take them out to eat, go to the movies, or shopping on the days they had off. They were no more or less like any of the American girls in the sex work trade. They wanted to have those things which were unattainable in their country like Coach or Louis Vuitton hand bags or Rolex watches. Many would leave at the end of their allowed time only to return a couple of months later.
Now the DOJ and our Federal Government is subsidizing these task forces. The money is rather significant and only continues if they actually show some effort, if not results.
So unless you can speak Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Spanish, Russian, or any of the other languages where these ladies are coming from you will never know the truth. And certainly never know the statistics accurately as most of the Media is feed what LE wants them to say are the statistics, not the reality. This is because they want the support of the masses to continue receive the financial support and budget allocated to Vice departments and their task forces.
What you won't see in the articles about the Virginia and DC amps and supporting their belief in trafficking is rescue the stories where they granted permanent green card status to those found to have been trafficked and abused. Now that would be something to help their cause and the right thing to do. But instead what happens is they find these girls and deport them if it can be proven they are receiving an income on a visiting visa or here on an expired visa.
I stopped going to AMPs around the time the first efforts to close them in DC occurred a few years back because they were getting busted more frequently than I cared to risk.
So I would like to see real statistics from outside groups not supported by the Government. I still want them to continue their efforts to save children and trafficking, I only wish they worked cases where the results proved their efforts were worth it and not just arresting consenting adults who happen to be a sex worker.
AMPs can be so dang convenient, economic and low-hassle. I do worry about the trafficking angle. I can see the potential there but in honesty I don't see evidence of it in my limited experience and IMHO.
Would like to hear the thoughts of others...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/novas-asian-massage-parlors-can-be-fronts-for-human-sex-trafficking-authorities-say/2011/10/03/gIQAeWO6IL_blog.html
a willing participant, you can get really good at making others seem you are in to what you are doing. Who picks out the crying/sulking girl to work on them, or for a dance at the strip club?? That victim won't make $$, and will have additional debt or other atrocities befall them. There are some signs that can be apparent, but if one has been trafficked for any length of time, or doesn't know much different in life, they might come across as accommodating and eager as someone working truly by choice.
I have this same thing go through my mind when I'm at the nail salon...always wondering, is anyone here being trafficked?? How would I know?? :-/
xoM
There is no way to know. You can hazzard guesses based on the industry or ethnicity of the staff, but I recall that Kawasaki, reputable asian restaurant in Baltimore, was busted for using trafficked workers. If the trafficked sexworker industry is a large as it is said to be then how can thousands be duped into being pressed into prostitution? And it's not as if they don't have brothels in Korea, Russia, ect.; it's just that ladies make the decision to come to N. America or Europe to make more money.
Wow... I'm forced to work at my job to pay off massive debt! I'm a victim of human trafficking!!!
The girls I've spoken to usually mention taking vacations back home. They've chosen to work at an AMP for the money it provides. If I blew my boss every now and then, maybe I'd be out from under my debt faster, but I've chosen not to do that.
No one should kid themselves about escorts being significantly different. Both are victims of unfortunate circumstances in which they see sex work as their best option.
I'm familiar with women's groups doing the "prostitute as victim" bit, but I'm shocked to see it from people who should know better.
AMPs can be so dang convenient, economic and low-hassle. I do worry about the trafficking angle. I can see the potential there but in honesty I don't see evidence of it in my limited experience and IMHO.
Would like to hear the thoughts of others...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/novas-asian-massage-parlors-can-be-fronts-for-human-sex-trafficking-authorities-say/2011/10/03/gIQAeWO6IL_blog.html