corndog

Well, I was one of the first in line, and I've now been using it for about a week. This thing is glimpse of the future. There is a lot about it that is simply amazing, but it is definitely a "1.0" product, with its share of shortcomings and lots of room for improvement. I'm old enough to remember when the original Mac was introduced, and of course the iPhone. In both cases, there were many naysayers, but each of these ultimately changed the world. I'm pretty sure that the importance of this is on the same scale.

Right out of the gate, there are already some questionable assumptions and misinformation. Let me address a couple of these...

On 2/9/2024 at 10:41 PM, marylander1940 said:

Big tech for good and bad will have access not only to what we google and our movement but also who we interact with and everything else. No more privacy!

That's a real concern, and, in my opinion, an issue I'd take very seriously with Meta/Facebook, Google, or Amazon. Their business models are all about monetizing the data they collect about you and your behavior. Although Apple builds their products with an eye toward locking you into their ecosystem, they take privacy very seriously and their success is based largely on maintain users' trust in those privacy safeguards. Although they get a lot of criticism for their "walled garden" approach, it largely prevents rogue developers from abusing users' privacy. I do some development work, and I can tell you first hand that the privacy-based limitations can be frustrating, and ultimately prevent some interesting possible applications. Apple severely restricts the information that applications can use. For example, a Vision Pro application can't tell what you're looking at until you actually interact with it, and can't directly access the cameras at all.

On 2/10/2024 at 10:54 AM, MikeBiDude said:

…some are surprised that adult content is currently not allowed or supported on the Apple product.

Like all of the other Apple products, there is plenty of porn available. Generally, they won't allow porn apps on the App Store, but there are no restrictions on the content you can access through a web browser. PornHub, OnlyFans, Rentmen, you name it.

I gave him a try. It was strictly therapeutic and conscientiously draped. As far as his technique goes, it was strong and deep and pretty good. Perhaps he's improved since @7829V's experience. I'd give it an A-.

That said, I think maybe his rates have gone up, too. For a strictly therapeutic massage without even a hint of sensuality, I think his rate is pretty high.

4 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

Fortunately after we’ve tidied up he can now see the funny side and we spend a while chatting on the bed, both naked but somehow the horn has gone.

Unfortunately, this is usually the case. Even when both people take the situation in stride, it is, in my experience, nearly impossible to get back "in the moment." I think the best thing to do is to behave with dignity, minimize the inevitable embarrassment and realize that it happens to just about everyone from time to time, regardless of preparation.

Conversely, the opposite can occur... sometimes you end up bottoming unexpectedly in spite of your better judgment, and everything is fine.

If he uses Android, not iPhone.

In many cases, I think the advertiser is using the ambiguity to their advantage, and it’s totally on purpose.

To be a good escort, a guy needs to be able to find the appeal and attractiveness in just about anyone that hires them. That’s simply not the way many of us are wired. Speaking for myself, I know that I could never be an escort because I have a fairly narrow range of physical traits that turn me on, and if a client didn’t appeal to me I would be unable to perform.

So, I think that some guys advertise as masseurs so that they can provide a full escort experience to clients that meet their criteria and just give a body rub to those that don’t turn them on. If they’ve just advertised massage services, even with a some suggestive ambiguity, the client is really in no position to complain if the session doesn’t get sexual.

This can work the other way, too. Arguably, giving a good massage is a lot more work than sex. Sometimes, I think it’s pure laziness that motivates a masseur to steer a massage to sex… it’s simply easier than giving a good massage.

He’s been around for a while. I tried him last august. I don’t remember the details, but I would not repeat.

I'm really skeptical of guys who advertise "tantra." Usually, I think they're full of it.

That said, I gave him a try and really enjoyed it. He's for real. If you decide to meet him, I highly recommend that you go in with a positive, open-minded attitude. If you have rigid expectations, I think you could leave shaking your head and saying to yourself "well, that was weird."

Also, note that he advertises on both rentmasseur and and rentmen. The rates are significantly different, and I suspect the services are too. I opted for the lesser choice, the "erotic and therapeutic massage."

3 hours ago, Vegas_nw1982 said:

Let scientists classify the diseases in Latin and with numbers.  Let the population refer to it by where it started.

I’m thinking that you might sing a different tune if a virus happens to originate from (or appears to have originated from) Las Vegas and completely devastates the local economy. Or, if HIV was known as the “gay virus” or the “men-who-have-sex-with-men virus.”

I’m sorry to be so late to engage in this conversation. I was trying to keep my mouth shut. However…

What you’re doing by making these moves to arranging your business based on the behavior of the worst possible customers—not actual customers but time wasters. You are letting the low-lifes run the show.

Instead, I propose, you should be thinking about the best potential customers and assume that anyone contacting you is that perfect, ideal, benevolent customer until they have individually proven otherwise. You are treating everyone—including your best prospects—with contempt due to the annoying behavior of people that don’t deserve your energy. 

Why not make your private pictures completely public? While I understand the theoretical discomfort in knowing that countless losers are jerking off to your pictures for free, you’d save a ton of time and frustration screening time-wasters. And, the real potential clients will need very little back-and-forth before setting up an appointment. Put it all out there: show them what they’re getting in the photos, tell them in your blurb about the services you offer and any limits you may have. In short, answer just about every potential question before they ask it.

2 hours ago, SamMiller213 said:

What was weird about the massage? And what do you mean by not interactive?

I’m hesitant to answer those questions, as I’m afraid that doing so would verge into “full review in the forums” territory. 

I tried him out, and he was good enough that I repeated. However, I think he should just be in the "therapeutic" category, if there were sensual/erotic elements, they were very limited and unmemorable. So unmemorable, in fact, that I don't remember for sure if they even happened.

Super sweet guy. Good intentions. Very weird massage. "Extras" were not interactive. Wouldn't repeat.

On 9/19/2021 at 7:03 PM, huf said:

So what is someone was curious to massage another man, to give them pleasure? I'm in the OC, CA - and am straight, but do enjoy...  - should I just find a CL type publication? Not sure about posting somewhere else - any ideas? Thanks!

There is a site that seems to be designed just for this purpose: https://www.massageexchange.com

I have no idea how popular it is, or whether you'll have any luck finding what you're looking for, but it seems to be designed just for you!

Just for the sake of accuracy, all the reports I've read say "early November." I don't think they've announced a specific date, and I doubt that it will be November 1.

2 hours ago, Lucky said:

Today we were quoted $500 for 6 brand name Viagra tablets at Walgreens. Who can afford that?

That's absurd. I just looked on GoodRx and generic sildenafil is 30 100mg tablets are $14.89 at Costco, or $15-25 at local grocery store pharmacies. 

I gave him a try...

Flaky/difficult to schedule: The first time I scheduled with him, he completely flaked and told me the next day that he "lost his phone." When I gave him another chance, months later, he texted me 15 minutes before my arrival and rescheduled for an hour later.

His massage was unremarkable, I'd probably give it a C+. The sensual/erotic elements were mostly a tease. He was friendly enough, but didn't seem into it.

I will not repeat.

Let me guess... someone told you about this on Grindr, and sent you a link, or wanted you to text them to get detail and/or sign up? SCAM.

23 hours ago, 7829V said:

how was the parking situation? 

He works in a commercial space, and there is a parking lot. When I was went, there weren't a lot of empty spaces, but I found one. I don't think that street parking in that area would be difficult, either.

22 hours ago, SamMiller213 said:

Do we know if he’s gay/Bi?

I'm not sure, but if I had to guess, I would say "yes." He had a gentle demeanor and didn't put off any "bro" vibes.

On 8/31/2021 at 3:49 PM, 7829V said:

Yeah. Based on his rates, I'd guess Therapeutic only. Now my questions are, does he drape or is draping optional? does he give a good glutes and abductors massage or does he stay away from those areas?

I needed a good therapeutic massage, so I gave him a try. His massage was completely legit, and started out draped although it didn't end that way. It was one of the best legit massages that I've ever experienced, and although he didn't avoid massaging any "sensitive" areas, there was no sexual energy whatsoever, and no HE. I will definitely be back when I want a legit massage.

I contacted him last week. He's visiting San Diego.

He said he couldn't do incalls because he was staying with friends. I asked him about coming to my place, and he said didn't have a car. I suppose that if I pushed it, I might have been able to get him to take an Uber if I paid for it, but he didn't even suggest that. Odd.

(BTW, I think he is more of an escort than a masseur. His rentmen ad is expired but still accessible at: https://rentmen.eu/bryanbello)

The biggest issue right now is the power outage, with no real estimates of when it will be restored. Beyond that, the French Quarter experienced minimal damage. The bars will survive, but the outlook until power comes back is grim.

1 hour ago, jerryskater said:

Question: Can U.S. Global Entry be used at Nexus kiosks?

US Global Entry can be used to expedite your return to the US, but it isn't recognized for entry into Canada. Only the Nexus card will help you with that.

17 hours ago, DanteV said:

It's a little funny to me that Joe and Justin couldn't manage to coordinate on this one....

I think that a simultaneous, reciprocal opening would have sent the signal that this was a political/diplomatic decision, and the Biden administration is stressing that these decisions are being made based on science, and based on the advice of the CDC. Assuming that Canada is also following the science and their health agencies, it makes sense that they would operate at different speeds, and the openings would not be simultaneous.

First, I think that you need to completely disregard their claims for your risk assessment. Whether they claim to be HIV Negative, Pos/Undetectable, or a virgin, you should assume, for the purposes of your decision making process, that they're HIV+ with a high viral load. Horny people lie. Or, they are unaware that they're infected.

So, your actions should be based on the assumption that everyone you have sex with is HIV+ and act accordingly. PrEP has proven to be very effective, but the risk is not zero. Condoms further reduce that risk, but they're imperfect, too. If your risk tolerance is truly zero, you shouldn't have sex with anyone.

9 hours ago, RoyThree said:

On a somewhat related topic, Is the Hotel Place Dupuis (formerly Gouvernor) permanently closed? If so, what are the next best alternatives in that area? Thanks!

It appears that the Hotel Place Dupuis is turning into a Hyatt Place. Their website says they are accepting reservations beginning October 27.

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/canada/hyatt-place-montreal-downtown/yulzm