When did Escorts become “Providers”

[CTguy]

Back in the day when I visited the Hooboy site the guys were called “escorts”.  I recently came across this site and I noticed that the guys are referred to as “providers”.  When did this change happen and why?  

[Luv2play]

Good question. The term provider seems to be one used to obfuscate the service being provided so that the sexual aspect is downplayed. 
When I interact personally with escorts I refer to them as such face to face and they have never objected to me using that term. 
When we’re in bed I sometimes call them lovers and that also seems to go over ok. They know I respect them and the service they provide.

[Delter]

Agreed- definitely about security reasons. 

[jeezifonly]

Also, within the walls of COM, it encompasses the full range of personal services that might be availed by paying Clients when we discuss the generalities of conducting business. 

[Nightowl]

5 minutes ago, jeezifonly said:

Also, within the walls of COM, it encompasses the full range of personal services that might be availed by paying Clients when we discuss the generalities of conducting business. 

Although a lot of the discussions on CoM aren’t exactly general…

[+ PhileasFogg]

In my view, the term connotes a broader spectrum including both legal and potentially illegal activities.  Better to give the benefit of the doubt 

[marylander1940]

4 hours ago, CTguy said:

Back in the day when I visited the Hooboy site the guys were called “escorts”.  I recently came across this site and I noticed that the guys are referred to as “providers”.  When did this change happen and why?  

It was a process... but this event has a lot to do with it:

Homeland Security raid of Rentboy.com raises ire - CBS News

[marylander1940]

3 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

In my view, the term connotes a broader spectrum including both legal and potentially illegal activities.  Better to give the benefit of the doubt 

In Rentmen they're called Pornstars... 😂 not all of them are obviously. 

 

[Delter]

1 minute ago, marylander1940 said:

In Rentmen they're called Pornstars... 😂 not all of them are obviously. 

 

Might also be a marketing thing- the allure of potentially finding and fucking a pornstar one adores is what drew me to the site in the first place 

[+ PhileasFogg]

1 minute ago, Delter said:

Might also be a marketing thing- the allure of potentially finding and fucking a pornstar one adores is what drew me to the site in the first place 

I think it’s much more nuanced than that 

[marylander1940]

5 minutes ago, Delter said:

Might also be a marketing thing- the allure of potentially finding and fucking a pornstar one adores is what drew me to the site in the first place 

Nope... it was plain old ass covering or taking measures to avoid likely negative consequences.

3 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

I think it’s much more nuanced than that 

Exactly!

[+ Jamie21]

Provider (of sexual services). The words in brackets are implied. I think the obfuscation is clearly because of the legal position of sexual services in the US. Here in the UK it’s legal to provide sexual services, and of course it’s a much less puritanical society. The phrase most commonly used here, and which I use to describe myself is ‘sex worker’. 

[wsc]

But the lexicon can cause some confusion, such as when Medicare advises that if I have questions about the billing, I should contact my provider. 

[+ azdr0710]

I embraced the 'provider' nomenclature early on because the word 'escort' had become so obviously and comically 'wink-wink-nudge-nudge' and I thought a more discreet word should be adopted.....'provider' is much more neutral, generic, respectful, and safer-sounding from a legal angle......of course, the word 'escort' was appropriated several decades ago to discreetly cover up what was really going on and, now, has lost much of its historic meaning......  

[+ purplekow]

Allow my escort and me, to bring you over the corner where the provider is speaking with the sex worker.  They all do the same things, some better than others, but essentially, it is more discrete for those not in the know.  

[soloyo215]

On 2/21/2026 at 5:05 PM, CTguy said:

Back in the day when I visited the Hooboy site the guys were called “escorts”.  I recently came across this site and I noticed that the guys are referred to as “providers”.  When did this change happen and why?  

They are still escorts. At least I still use that term. I use the term provider only here in this forum.