Nightowl

IMO, it gives the harassed a context to have a voice, the harasser a warning, and the employer some insulation against liability.  That doesn’t mean I like spending my time being treated as the lowest common denominator of human being  
I don’t like it anymore than you do.  Before I retired, when I had to do these things, I can assure you that I was done in 15 minutes.  I simply fast forward the videos, quickly hit the tabs, and answer the questions based on decades of experience and insight.  And BTW, in my business, it wasn’t just harrassment training, it was about the equivalent of 42 hours of various compliance mandates - I still knocked through it all in about 2 hours.  

True.  I've worked for local government for the last quarter of a century.  For my own sanity, I will not read the local section of the newspaper while our state legislature is in session.  Since I have no personal power to control what happens either way, it's best I wait until the legislative session ends to see what new laws were passed and how they affect me and what I need to change to compensate for them, both professionally and personally.  Thankfully, our legislature is constitutionally restricted to meeting for only 120 days every 2 years; so, that's only 120 days where I need to avoid the local news.
It's the unknown that's more nerve wracking than the final law, executive order itself, or court ruling itself.

My feeling is that, if most of what is currently happening in the world and being reporting in the news is not affecting your outlook for the future, peace of mind, and mental health, you are either enjoying your privilege or happy with what is going on.  

My feeling is that, if most of what is currently happening in the world and being reporting in the news is not affecting your outlook for the future, peace of mind, and mental health, you are either enjoying your privilege or happy with what is going on.  

Thank you for telling me my views are distorted.

I know and understand what you’re saying.  Perhaps one’s outlook depends on one’s age.  I am past looking for new jobs.  As for listening to rumors, I guarantee that that is not what I do.  I live in the DC area where what is happening is very real, close to home, and in the news daily.

That approach certainly works in normal life but in today’s situation, saying “I can’t change that” only works if you aren’t touched by what is happening (privilege).  If your relatives or employees are being rounded up, you health isurance is at risk, or you job is in danger, I don’t see how one could say “oh well, can’t change that.  What’s for dinner?”

My feeling is that, if most of what is currently happening in the world and being reporting in the news is not affecting your outlook for the future, peace of mind, and mental health, you are either enjoying your privilege or happy with what is going on.  

That approach certainly works in normal life but in today’s situation, saying “I can’t change that” only works if you aren’t touched by what is happening (privilege).  If your relatives or employees are being rounded up, you health isurance is at risk, or you job is in danger, I don’t see how one could say “oh well, can’t change that.  What’s for dinner?”

That may be the difference in our perspectives.  Yours comes from how the news was presented.  Mine came from living it as a long term employee of the government, living and breathing 24/7 what others only regard as the nightly news.

That approach certainly works in normal life but in today’s situation, saying “I can’t change that” only works if you aren’t touched by what is happening (privilege).  If your relatives or employees are being rounded up, you health isurance is at risk, or you job is in danger, I don’t see how one could say “oh well, can’t change that.  What’s for dinner?”

That approach certainly works in normal life but in today’s situation, saying “I can’t change that” only works if you aren’t touched by what is happening (privilege).  If your relatives or employees are being rounded up, you health isurance is at risk, or you job is in danger, I don’t see how one could say “oh well, can’t change that.  What’s for dinner?”

Hello, I'm a newbie who has spent more time than I care to admit browsing and searching this forum over the past several months. First of all, let me say that the advices, reviews and experiences shared by everyone here were a huge help in taking the leap with my first hire. I'm a closeted bisexual man who tends to read obsessively on topics I'm anxious about, so thank you all for maintaining this open and supportive community. 
A few weeks ago I hired someone from RentMen and I figured I'd share this first experience now that I've had some time to process it. Who knows, maybe it will help someone down the line, just as previous posters have unknowingly helped me. So, here we go. 
 
I hired a different provider than I had originally in mind, someone of a similar age and with good reviews on this forum. The booking process went quite smoothly thanks to the numerous threads about first-contact etiquette. When I contacted him I stated that I saw his profile on RentMen, I was looking for a 3-hour outcall in a hotel in my city, offered a few options of dates and times, and sent him basic informations about myself. I also mentioned that this would be my very first experience with a man, which made me quite nervous, and I wanted to make sure he was OK with it. He was very reassuring, we discussed what I wanted to try, my goal for the session, my limits, etc. We confirmed the rate and time, and it was all set in less than two hours. 
I was so nervous the day of the appointment, I felt like a teenager on his first date. I had put his rate in an unmarked envelope very visibly on a table, I offered him something to drink and we talked for a while. The conversation was easy, he asked questions about me and my expectations, told me about himself, his life, how happy he was to help me go through with this, etc. 
Mutual oral was the only specific thing I requested when we texted initially, since I knew that I'd feel comfortable trying, so it felt natural to start there. He took the lead, asked me to help him get undressed, he guided me to touch him and he taught me how to blow him (never realized a dick would feels so smooth in my mouth when it was like a steel rod in his boxers 😅). It was absolutely awesome and I was ecstatic when he came in my mouth. We continued fooling around and having some fun, talked for a bit and then he was on his way. 
Was it everything I was hoping for? Probably not. While I thoroughly enjoyed going to town on this stud and I'm glad I got to explore this side of myself, there were moments where I felt somewhat self-conscious and out of place. It still felt like a hookup, which I guess it was, but at the time it made me wonder if this hobby was really meant for me. 
Not at all the provider's fault however, he was lovely, patient and kind. I usually enjoy sex the most when I have developed some trust/intimacy with the person I'm with, so I'm guessing having a regular provider is probably what I'm looking for. I think I was trying to get it to live up to years of built-up expectations, which was unrealistic.
Instead, I'm now trying to focus on the positive aspects of the experience, since I still loved it. Recently, I was thinking about which country to visit this fall, and I realized that I was also looking up the providers available in those countries. I usually travel to explore food and culture, but I guess Men can be another form of cultural exploration. It confirmed what many of you have said — this hobby can indeed be quite addictive. 😉

That approach certainly works in normal life but in today’s situation, saying “I can’t change that” only works if you aren’t touched by what is happening (privilege).  If your relatives or employees are being rounded up, you health isurance is at risk, or you job is in danger, I don’t see how one could say “oh well, can’t change that.  What’s for dinner?”

I like to wear a huge gold medallion on a heavy chain.  When I wear it with my sea-green polyester leisure suit with the top 3 or 4 buttons undone, it looks particularly hot nestled in my dense chest hair.  

I wonder if the zoo has a dispenser by the lion enclosure where little Johnny can buy a hamster to throw to the lions…

While we’re discussing adding characteristics to Rentmen, perhaps the penis size should include elaboration on how it was measured.  

A new target for South Park.

A new target for South Park.

A new target for South Park.

I use my regular phone.  I have no illusions that it is secure so I try to avoid putting anything compromising in my texts.  I vet possible providers very carefully and only hire for incall, which ensures that both of us are discreet.  If I were hiring for meetups at a hotel, I would use some kind of anonymizer.

I hire because I no longer have any intimacy in my home and I still crave physical touch.  It’s easier to hire to get it than it is to find it elsewhere.

Yes, we gay men are financially savvier by default, believe in personal responsibility, turning our friends into our own family if not accepted by them, move from a small town to a bigger city to pursue happiness, etc. 
I'm proud to be one of those who helped gentrified the city and brought back Logan Circle.

In case anyone is wondering, I've definitely revised my opinion about French Kissing. In fact I've done a complete 180 degree change on the subject. I have to admit though that  it was terribly difficult to change my preconceived notions  about it. It probably took me  at least 15 whole seconds during my first experience with said kissing technique before my attitude changed. 😝😝😝

Not harder? We don’t need to compare who brings what to the table or confuse prep with performance, but as a total bottom, I can assure you my prep before the deed is far more rigorous than whatever a top does on his way to meet me. And that’s just the prep. I haven’t even performed yet. One could argue, flippantly, that a top only needs to show up and… make a contribution. But I won’t.