Rod Hagen

Two things are true, based on an apparently honestly reported account, MaxME in SF/LA/NYC behaved poorly. 
Also, NewDad, you are being reductive and we're not your fucking slave.   Good people have requests and expectations.  Assholes have demands.

Fine then, wise-ass, indentured servant. 
You know this is not a standard business, that this is not the same as hanging Sheet-rock, right?  That the person your gagging with your cock is an actual person and the intimacy that the job entails makes both of you, not just you, vulnerable and insecure, right?  Be kind.  Be gentle in how you talk about us.
After all, how would you feel if your son were an escort and people talked about him in the same, entitled, you-will-do-what-I demand tone you seem to prefer because it's "a job"?

My specialty was First Timers.  Over the decades there were many many men I took from never having Touched or kissed a Man to him getting fucked and made out with and cared for, inside of an hour.  Many.  You need a guy known for that.  It's truly a shame there no longer are long reviews you can comb through, the RentMen reviews available on the Proxy Servers are more like tweets.
All you can do now is reach out.  If they don't have the patience to communicate with you on this subject, they might not be sufficiently patient in bed either.

Even though the tango shows are indeed super-touristy, it’s still worth going.  I just searched for “tango show” on Google Maps and picked the one with the highest rating that was within a 30-minute walk.  OMG, it was fantastic!
The tango was simply spectacular.  Even the weakest dancer (watching several seasons of DWTS qualifies me as a ballroom expert) was pretty good, plus he had a magnificently cut physique.  Hey, if you’re not a great dancer, at least rip your shirt off.
If you plan on going to a steakhouse, it’s helpful to learn how to say rare, medium-rare, etc. in Argentina.  I foolishly assumed they were the same as in Spain (eek!) and ended up having too-long a discussion with the server to figure things out.

Thank you everyone, excited for the trip!

Not silly, we learn the same lesson but in reverse. I'm used to the sun being in the north. Anyone travelling in the hemisphere they aren't familiar with faces the same realisation (the sun being north somehow seems 'natural' because a compass tells you north, the sun tells you north, that sort of thing). The thing about this that first struck me forcefully is that the sun moves across the sky clockwise in the north, so shadows also move clockwise. I first realised that when I sat near the edge of the shadow of a tree (in Omaha, as it happens), and rather than extend away from me as the day progressed, it moved the other way and I was in the sun in less than 20 minutes. I hadn't even considered it, I had just intuitively anticipated how it would move. Wrongly! As you grow up, you just 'know' how the world works.

I love Palermo Soho!  I stayed in Montserrat for 3 months because it was close to my language school, but I spent most of my free time in Palermo Soho.  Super gay-friendly, chic yet unpretentious (my take), it’s a fantastic neighborhood.
If you’re a coffee-lover, ask a local to recommend a good café because most coffee in Buenos Aires  ranges from mediocre to downright awful.  On weekends I went to Vive Cafe, “next door” in Palermo Hollywood, a Colombian coffee shop where they do coffee right.
Most tourists do a tour of La Boca,  but I didn’t like it at all:  it has an interesting history but way too touristy for me.  I would recommend a tour of the Plaza de Mayo that covers the history of the widows and mothers of los desaparecidos, a profoundly sad period of Argentina’s history but critical to understanding the country.  If the weather’s nice, I would definitely visit the beautiful Japanese Garden.  I would also walk around Palermo Chico, the fanciest BA neighborhood where all the embassies are.
If you haven’t already picked your hotel, I would stay at the St. George in Puerto Iguazú, 20-25 minutes from the Falls:  modern rooms, great pool, terrific breakfast buffet included.  If you want to stay inside the national parks (plural because both the Brazilian and Argentine sides are national parks for their respective country), be prepared to pay megabucks.  The Melia on the Argentine side was sorely in need of a renovation yet was literally 10x the price of the St. George.  The Belmond on the Brazilian side is more like 12x the St. George, but at least it’s beautifully maintained.  I preferred the Brazilian side (a panoramic view of the entire Falls) over the Argentine side (walkways that are almost right on top of the Falls), but you gotta do both.  I highly recommend the boat ride along and under the Falls.  Just bring a change of dry clothes because you’ll get soaked.
I wish I could remember the place in Puerto Iguazú that serves 1-kilo ribeyes for just $50 (at the exchange rate then) because it lived up to all expectations for Argentine beef.  Since steakhouses were a lot more expensive in BA, I did an asado Airbnb experience.  Besides being less expensive, you learned about all the customs and traditions of an Argentine asado.
This might seem like a silly tip to Southern Hemisphereans like @mike carey and @José Soplanucas, but remember that the sun passes through the north sky, not the south.  My first day walking around, I checked Google Maps for the route to my destination, checked where the sun was, and started walking.  10 minutes later, I was baffled that I was walking in the wrong, opposite direction.  Duh! the sun does the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere.

Blasphemy!

Listened to this over and over and over as a very very small boy.
 

He's ready.  He's just (justifiably) nervous.  My guess is it will happen and it will happen soon, and his experience will be surprisingly non-impactful.  
I will say this to all men who want to do as much individual research on an escort before hiring, you are at a disadvantage now that email is not a thing.
In the earlier days of online hiring, before texting, we may have been frustrated by longer, detailed, questionaire-type emails, but if we wanted work, we had to respond, line by line.  
In the texting-age you MUST keep your questions brief or you will not get responses.  Additionally, people (including escorts) are easily offended and at some point asking questions about their health may "make" them defensive and/or non-responsive.  So, ask questions here about individual escorts you're interested in, fill in as many blanks as you can to make yourself largely comfortable,  BRIEFLY ask the provider what you need to ask, then spin the wheel.  Most likely, it will be fine.  I wish you a fuckingFantasticTime.

No one should ever feel ashamed for being a virgin. But I don’t think remaining a virgin automatically gives someone clarity or makes them immune to bad decisions. People mess up for all kinds of reasons, and that’s part of being human.
Sex isn’t inherently the problem—it’s how people approach it that can be problematic. When done with the right mindset and respect for yourself and others, it can be one of the most fulfilling and meaningful experiences. It’s not about losing anything; it’s about gaining connection, confidence, and understanding.
At the end of the day, it’s a personal decision. For some, staying a virgin feels right, and for others, exploring intimacy is part of their journey. What matters is making the choice on your terms, free from shame or pressure because that’s where real clarity and power come from.
I lost my virginity to a provider well over 40 years ago—a very different time from the tools we have now. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. We spoke on the phone beforehand, and I even met him in person before going back to his place. He was incredibly kind, patient, and understanding. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have been any of those things if I hadn’t told him, but I can assure you, the fact that I did share that with him made him treat it as every bit as special as it was.
In my opinion, it’s really important to be upfront about your needs and circumstances. While it might feel intimidating, honesty and transparency go a long way and it will also weed out the providers who don’t take the request seriously. I also think the advice about paying for a provider’s time as if it’s “date” is really solid. It can help calm your nerves and also give you a chance to see if this is someone you feel comfortable exploring your body with. What you want is a safe space, and I think finding that in today’s culture, and respectfully at your age, may prove difficult. There are many active providers here who can give you that safe space.
If hiring a provider feels like too much right now, consider starting with an erotic massage as a stepping stone, as others have said. It’s a great way to get used to human touch in an intimate, safe, and professional setting. You might find it helps you feel more relaxed and in tune with what you want from future experiences.
As for the idea that an escort will exacerbate your social issues by making it too easy, I disagree. A provider isn’t a permanent replacement for genuine social connection, but they can help you take an important first step. Building confidence and experiencing intimacy in a safe, judgment-free environment can be a stepping stone to opening yourself up to future experiences and relationships. For me, it was incredibly empowering and life-affirming.
I was VERY lucky with the provider I met. A true professional will meet you halfway, but you also need to be willing to do the same. It’s all about finding someone who respects where you’re coming from and works with you. Best of luck to you!

I never negotiate down. I consider it disrespectful. All freelancers, not only masseurs, are entitled to set their rates. If the rate is too high for you, politely decline. In this case, you should have respected his rate and, if all went well, perhaps made a suggestion about a combined rate on a possible return visit. 
But the minute you say, "That's too much--will you accept less?"--you have insulted him and possibly attacked his self-esteem. 

I think you probably are being unreasonable. I’ve always said on here that to try to negotiate down a guys quote (for whatever reason) starts the interaction off badly. If they ask once that’s ok I guess but when they persist in trying to cut the rate I simply make myself unavailable. I do a few scenarios like you describe: one couple have a massage sequentially and they just sit and watch each other (which I love tbh). Another couple prefer that the one not on the table gets a coffee at a local coffee shop while he waits his turn. 
Out calls are more difficult for all sorts of reasons: you don’t know the environment you’ll be working in (I’ve had some really awkward spaces), there’s travel time both ways which restricts your availability, there’s also an element of personal risk. All these things come into question when setting rates. Then to have someone try to knock 10% off the quote makes you think they don’t value your time and service as much as you do. If his quote is too much just say ‘thanks but not for me’ and move on. 
 

I only ventured into the territory of needing to meet approval to enter a club once, and I think it was the Limelight in the early '80s.  My friends (some of whom lived in New York City, others just visiting like me) suggested that it wasn't just whether someone was attractive (face, body) but the clothes/overall vibe.  I stupidly spent way more money than I could afford on an outfit so I would be deemed cool enough to enter and then pay what was then a high cover charge (as far as I was concerned -- probably not high for people used to living in New York).  I guess it's better than having spent the money on the outfit and not getting selected to enter.  The other thing I remember about the selection process was that we played it cool, by which I mean we walked up and situated ourselves in a way to be noticed by the doorman but we didn't approach him or communicate in any other way that we wanted to gain entrance.  According to my friends, displays of eagerness to get in were pathetic and a higher likelihood of being ignored.  The doorman motioned for us to enter rather quickly, so I guess we did the whole thing right.
My only other memory was that Boy George was there, not performing but just as a customer.  This was between his fame with Culture Club and his modestly successful (in the US) solo career.  I felt sorry for him because a lot of people approached him to confirm it was him, and once he would nod or whatever they'd walk away.  Maybe he was giving off the vibe to them that he didn't welcome their company, but I just found it odd that people weren't just approaching him to dance but were obviously most interested in confirming their celebrity sighting.

Something I'd like to add:
If a provider wanted to top me bare, I'd almost prefer one that is pos/undetectable/U=U status.
Why?
1. He's going to be on all sorts of medications to maintain the undetectable status. 
2. He's going to be getting tested... a lot... for the same reason. 
3. He's going to be far more honest about his status.

I didn't realize this was on Peacock, I'll check it out.

As an engineer, nothing gets me closer to climax like my partner shouting numbers and me doing the math in my head! 🥳 

How does your partner feel about you counting out loud?  LOL  

I love a selfish top! 🤩 

Now that you mention the stomach, I’ve always found it a bit strange that at a Spa I visit regularly, they avoid touching it during a massage, yet when I get a body scrub, they will scrub the hell out of it. Go figure.

It's really remarkable that we pick up a conversation that ended almost two years ago and dive in as if the chat just began. It's an interesting quality of this site. I'd like to know if the journey to Black Sheep's first hire went well in the past two years. That would add some context. 

While I mentioned cliché I hadn’t meant to necessarily cue it.

He's ready.  He's just (justifiably) nervous.  My guess is it will happen and it will happen soon, and his experience will be surprisingly non-impactful.  
I will say this to all men who want to do as much individual research on an escort before hiring, you are at a disadvantage now that email is not a thing.
In the earlier days of online hiring, before texting, we may have been frustrated by longer, detailed, questionaire-type emails, but if we wanted work, we had to respond, line by line.  
In the texting-age you MUST keep your questions brief or you will not get responses.  Additionally, people (including escorts) are easily offended and at some point asking questions about their health may "make" them defensive and/or non-responsive.  So, ask questions here about individual escorts you're interested in, fill in as many blanks as you can to make yourself largely comfortable,  BRIEFLY ask the provider what you need to ask, then spin the wheel.  Most likely, it will be fine.  I wish you a fuckingFantasticTime.

Yes, please be direct.
Don't take it too personally.  If an escort has more than one appointment in a day, he may guard his ejaculations, just as a protective measure.
 

I think a lot of masseurs don't get massages in spas (cuz they are fucking expensive)  and so are unaware of the growing list of areas skipped routinely in Spa Massages.  A friend took me to Burke Williams regularly when I was young, so when I would do private massages before the escort session, or, grudgingly, stand-alone massages, I was sure to focus on feet, stomach and uncovered butt (maybe ears too), those areas the spas deem too intimate.  Particularly the stomach.
To your question, ask.  It's super frustrating to spend a massage thinking repeatedly, "is he going to do the _____?"