former lurker

What's "creepy" is the simplistic declarative position you're advancing. We really have no idea whether the approach in Sweden is working well there, or whether it can be translated to the U.S. We are very different societies in terms of demographics and the structure of our economies. In addition, the "lockdown" approach provides order and structure to what otherwise would be a haphazard middling approach whereby many companies and industries would adopt similar layoffs and shutdowns while others remain open leaving us with the worst of both approaches -- higher rates of transmission with high levels of stagnation, job loss and uncertainty. Ours is an economy driven largely by consumer confidence, and with a significant service sector component. Both would suffer in the absence of the lockdowns without any sense of how to overcome the downturn. As it stands, the most productive approach would be to focus on the public health crisis which holds the best prospect of returning confidence to consumers, employers and workers. If all restaurants and bars were able to be open, and all gyms, tanning parlors, tattoo parlors, etc., how long would they remain viable? Would restaurants be full, or would people avoid them to mitigate the risk of contracting the virus and spreading it? Would there be a spike in cases, leading to renewed panic and its economic fallout? There are additional measures that ought to be taken to address the loss of income of people who live paycheck to paycheck or a little better. Also, we're experiencing a major shift in the approach to the workforce. Those who can work remotely are doing so. For those jobs and sectors reliant on in person service, many are considered "essential" and continue to operate (all medical related, public services, grocery stores, delivery services, etc.). Leisure related industries are taking a huge hit, but they would experience that without the government ordering distancing and isolation, as people wouldn't be comfortable with either the financial or the health risks of travel, hotel stays, going to theaters or casinos, etc. For the fringe element that sees every problem as being caused by government action, no approach would be acceptable. For the majority of people, we expect government to regulate and provide structure and order, to set the norms and rules within which we can freely operate. The alternative is chaos, especially in a crisis.

I have the looks for radio and the voice for print media.

To a point. But not if people are within 6 feet of one another outdoors and not wearing masks, etc. Being out in public with people who have the virus at a communicable stage is less safe than being indoors alone or with people who don't have the virus. And you're assuming outdoors and uncrowded are synonyms, when they are not. The beaches were crowded during Spring Break, as the French Quarter was crowded during Mardi Gras. How did the virus migrate indoors to hotel rooms, etc? Someone who caught the virus, perhaps outdoors where s/he came into contact with tons more people than in his/her hotel room, brought it back to the room.

That is a lovely sentiment.

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I don't associate the word "rape" with anything consensual or desired. I think it does a disservice to the concept of consent, and robs the word of its proper power, to treat it as a fantasy akin to other kinks. I get that the point is that a "rape fantasy" is meant to role play in which someone is, at his desire, seemingly overpowered. I'd much prefer if we could find other terms that don't include the word "rape".

And what, pray tell, is novel about your "data" and reasoning? It's the same mantra that the Trump and his acolytes in right wing media and blogs have been arguing since the pandemic hit the U.S. It boils down to arguing that the costs to the economy outweigh the costs from the disease. Steven, for his part, consistently updates with new data and findings. You stumble across a derivative rehash of the same counterposition and post it, and reiterate (that is, repeat) your previous position.

It's one factor in some places with older ventilation systems. In most condo/apartment set ups, you're not breathing air common from your neighbor's apartment. There's separate ducts, filters, etc. But some of the older housing in the places I'm discussing above are quite old, and haven't been updated. They're in depressed areas, and haven't been "renewed" and upgraded. I haven't seen any detailed studies, but I've heard it discussed as a factor on local news. A quick point and counterpoint on that theory. First, there is some reason to believe common ventilation has an effect. The propagation of the virus in the Boston area is widely thought to have resulted from a scientific convention at the South Port convention center, in part because people were in close proximity and in part because the same air was re-circulating. Second, the housing stock I'm describing is overcrowded, so there's not only the common ventilation issue, but people coming in close contact in narrow hallways on a regular basis. The common ventilation issue is a theory, and one that we probably can't rule in or out at this point. And, I should note the ventilation issue isn't necessarily about how long the virus persists in ducts and remains transmissible. The air is circulating constantly.

Reminds me of an escort I saw who claimed to be in his early thirties. I was in my mid-thirties, and he was older than me. For several years thereafter, well after he turned 40, he continued to claim to be 32 years old. He looked very good for his age, kept in great shape, etc. I enjoyed my time with him, but he clearly lied about his age for years.

And, consistent with this analysis, we're witnessing a spike in new cases in Florida, North Carolina and elsewhere. Here in Massachusetts, the pace of new cases has leveled off, but remain persistent rather than significantly declining. It's particularly harsh in several of the crowded poorer cities just outside of Boston. Places like Lynn, Chelsea, Revere, etc., are densely populated, have large immigrant populations living in cramped quarters in older housing stock with multiple families in each of three apartments in three-family houses, and the houses closely bunched. All of these places share another characteristic that promotes spread of the virus -- they have older common ventilation systems so the virus passes through the ducts from one residence to the next. It's having a big effect on the housing market here, too. A lot of young professionals are looking to move out of the city to the burbs in order to live with more space between homes and in single family buildings. Sellers are concerned about moving from single family settings to condos and apartments.

Well, that get's into the post-WWII division of Europe. Western European countries and Japan promoting English as an important language to learn. Those countries in the Soviet sphere were less likely to emphasize English. The U.S. was the major trading party with most of the non-Soviet dominated countries in Europe and with Japan.

That episode was in poor taste, but again, I think you've gotten it a bit wrong. My recollection is that someone pointed out what purported to be an ad to provide escort services from someone who was, to put it mildly, not the typically toned/muscled advertiser. From that, there was some fumbling about over whether the gent was really a client who mislabeled his profile and expected to pay rather than sought payment. My sense of the whole situation was that the person who placed the ad was a bit lost, for whatever reason (mental condition, drugs, unfamiliarity with the scene and the site) and that he didn't deserve the pile on and ridicule. But it was definitely not a case of making fun of someone representing himself as a client -- it was the disconnect between seeming to advertise as an escort and appearing more likely to be a client. I'm not condoning the ridicule. But it wasn't a case of client-shaming by clients, at least not at its heart.

The client and the escort are NOT similarly situated. I don't disagree with your observation, but it's not unfair to expect the one who markets himself as a companion for pay to go beyond his preferences to an extent you would not expect in a non-paying situation. After all, a lot of the hiring is done precisely because the client wants to get together with someone who would not see him except for pay, that is, the client is paying to see someone that fits his preferences where he (the client) would not fit the escort's preferences except for the money.

This AM's review (6/12/20) confused me. Did the escort take the fee and run, never providing the service, or was there a subsequent loan which wasn't repaid. Also, is the review a second experience by another client, or is it the same experience/client posted about by "ais4adrian" in this thread?

Forewarned is forearmed, for both the client and the escort. Provide as much info as you're comfortable sharing. Generally, the things you are most sensitive about (both your appearance/physical condition and your interests/activities) are the ones most helpful to share. If it serves no other purpose, it should make you less self-conscious when you do meet up because you have a sense that nothing about you is going to be a problem about the escort. As to ethnicity, etc, I find it difficult not to form an impression of the person asking, but I'd rather they do if it's going to affect any meeting. Finally, I agree with those who say don't send pictures or other identifying items. You don't have control over those things once you give them to someone else.

Never heard/read the term "skinny complexion" before. What does that mean?

Perhaps I was too verbose. Let me be clear. You SHOULD do your research and not just ask others to do it for you. You'll get more and better input if you do so. As it stands, you're not inspiring much of an urge to help you out. But by all means, do what works (or doesn't) for you.

Perhaps I was too verbose. Let me be clear. You SHOULD do your research and not just ask others to do it for you. You'll get more and better input if you do so. As it stands, you're not inspiring much of an urge to help you out. But by all means, do what works (or doesn't) for you.

As you are in New York, perhaps this analogy will make sense. You can hire, as in pay, a broker to find you the apartment of your dreams. Or you can scour the net and printed ads trying to find the place on your own. Here, there's no "broker", so you have to rely on your research skills. If you can't be bother to wade through the posts, or to trim your list down to specific possible hires you find via Rentmen or other sites, you aren't going to have much luck getting feedback. You need to take the burden on yourself, and then seek input. I don't live in New York these days (I used to, quite a while back). There are a number of current and former porn performers who live in or visit NYC. Find them, id the ones you're considering hiring, then ask for feedback. There are a few Sean Cody guys who have advertised, some still do. Falcon guys doesn't really say much because so many work across studios that you're basically saying anyone who is a reasonably well known porn performer. My suggestion is you think of the specific guys you are interested in seeing, search Rentmen to see if they advertise and where they are based, then ask about them here.

As you are in New York, perhaps this analogy will make sense. You can hire, as in pay, a broker to find you the apartment of your dreams. Or you can scour the net and printed ads trying to find the place on your own. Here, there's no "broker", so you have to rely on your research skills. If you can't be bother to wade through the posts, or to trim your list down to specific possible hires you find via Rentmen or other sites, you aren't going to have much luck getting feedback. You need to take the burden on yourself, and then seek input. I don't live in New York these days (I used to, quite a while back). There are a number of current and former porn performers who live in or visit NYC. Find them, id the ones you're considering hiring, then ask for feedback. There are a few Sean Cody guys who have advertised, some still do. Falcon guys doesn't really say much because so many work across studios that you're basically saying anyone who is a reasonably well known porn performer. My suggestion is you think of the specific guys you are interested in seeing, search Rentmen to see if they advertise and where they are based, then ask about them here.

Thanks for adding that. I thought to mention it, but wasn't sure my memory was accurate.

Thanks for adding that. I thought to mention it, but wasn't sure my memory was accurate.

Okay. Valid point, although not the one you made and to which I responded. You're saying that he's too expensive. Fair enough judgement on your part. But his pricing isn't overly complicated.

Okay. Valid point, although not the one you made and to which I responded. You're saying that he's too expensive. Fair enough judgement on your part. But his pricing isn't overly complicated.

It's not the norm, but it's hardly complex. The only wrinkle is the "package" approach, but unless you're looking for multiple meetings over time, which presumably you'd only do once you already knew and felt comfortable with him, that's not an issue.

It's not the norm, but it's hardly complex. The only wrinkle is the "package" approach, but unless you're looking for multiple meetings over time, which presumably you'd only do once you already knew and felt comfortable with him, that's not an issue.