Backlash?

[+ Lucky]

Well, I didn't get my knickers in a twist here, but I did enjoy being reminded that Thunderbuns doesn't wear underwear. I do think that Devon has made a great contribution to the discussion. My opinion of him is pretty high, even though I am not.

And no, I for one cannot imagine the MC without Rick Munroe.

As far as Hooboy's message that was deleted, a part of it is in my response to him. He did apologize for the remark, and I think if we take Devon's post as a starter, let's return to the main program: intelligent, fun, sexy stuff about and by escorts!

[SmallTownJohn]

hey there,

 

Hell, I always assume there will be some backlash when I read posts. After all, it is the Message Center & I knew the kindler, gentler tone wouldn't last forever. I've been working my ass off the last few weeks & probably most other escorts are too:0)so I'm spending a lil time today catching up as to what's happening on here. But, I never take any of this too seriously. Heavy discussions are reserved for family & friends.

 

 

 

John

http://www.SmallTownJohn1.com

[duke37]

>Am I the only one who wonders if there's a new mood in the message center about escorts who actively participate?

 

Devon, I took the liberty of quoting you extensively because you have a lot of content I want to address. I think this new mood you refer to has been here at least in some form for a while. Perhaps it got lost in all the noise concerning the countless other bitchfests and odd strolls down message center lane. But in the new quieter message center I think they are a little more obvious. You may or may not remember the ongoing thread about Mike Stefano. Some of the responses on that thread were well in the ballpark of the kind of mood you are picking up.

 

At first I wanted to post that Devon yes it sucks but have a thicker skin and take the lumps when they come. After all there is not much you can do about it. Instead I slept on it and thought about what you said and saw some of the other responses. I'm sorry you are right the quiet sly back handed slurs and slams will accumulate and grow if not challenged or retracted. I don't think this response to any attack makes for great reading. Quite the contrary but if not answered the ideas slid under the radar grow. Some people might be familiar with the idea from political campaigns of responding to any charge. A great deal of energy in modern politcal cycles is expended vigourously challenging any charge or accusation made by the press or the opposition. Why? Because things like that left unanswered grow. And with the growth they take on greater crediblity.

 

>Yikes! Are escorts who "talk" too much hurting our own businesses?

 

Maybe so. But I would have to think that it would be outweighed by clients who are attracted to you and discovered that attraction by the knowledge gained here. And at least the people you gain from here that like you are able to be somewhat well informed about what you are really like. Sure I guess you can say something to send someone off. I met someone on the chat here Sat. nite that grilled me about Rick and seemed to extract some kernel of support from what I said to confirm his own preconceptions re: Rick Munroe. What were they? I have no idea.

Im sure you at any moment may say something to turn a client to a non-client. Not very likely but possible. But as you say you are not misrepresenting yourself so for better or worse live with the truth. There are some things about being in business for yourself that are a compromise between what you want to do, and what your customers want. I see that in my business too. I'm not much into some of the things I sell but my customers want it so I stock it on the shelves. On the other hand I like certain complex and expensive historical wargames so I stock them even though the sales don't justify it. Why? Because at some level why be in business if not to please myself. I hope you find participation in the site is something that satisfies you. As you say there are other ways to promote yourself.

 

 

>Just what is it that is arousing so much suspicion? As far as I can tell, the only myths or expectations Rick's posts have created are that a) he gives great blowjobs, b) he likes to get rimmed, and c) he has an engaging personality. >The first client in 39 reviews to find Rick merely 'satisfactory' didn't report any letdown with regard to any of these expectations, and he specifically remarked that Rick was very handsome and gave good head. He was (understandably) irritated but reasonably forgiving about Rick's Lucy/lateness episode, and his only mismatch on the expectations front was that the word 'versatile' had made him think Rick would be ready to bottom on a moment's notice -- a perception which, come to think of it, he couldn't possibly have gotten from Rick's self-promoting posts on the message center, which have said that you should let an escort know if you're going to want him to bottom so that he can be prepared. Nor could he have gotten it from the "hype" in the reviews, since only two out of several dozen mention Rick bottoming.

 

>Strange, then, that Rick (who -- full disclosure -- is becoming a better friend the more I get to know him, and whose words on almost any subject have a mysterious aphrodisiac effect on me) has become the whipping boy of the moment on the subject of overhyped escorts. I don't doubt for a moment that some escorts are, in fact, overhyped --what, you don't think my clients tell me stories? -- but it seems to me the best place to take them on is the review section.

 

Maybe but as I'm sure you know its still fairly easy to post a fake review. I think more talk not less is the best answer. If someone believes somthing is true, I want to hear about it. I also want them to back up and defend their charge. That way I have enough information to decide what I think. The "drive-by" slam gets no respect from me unless the critic is willing to stand up and defend his critcism.

 

>I was struck by albinorat's amazing statement:

 

>"I know a lot of men who have been clients of the most

>popular and pushy escorts here. Because of their candid

>reports I have steered clear of those escorts. These

>clients, noting the escorts' popularity were unwilling to

>write less than highly enthusiastic reviews so they didn't

>review the experiences."

 

Say WHAT? Am I reading this wrong, or is albinorat all but blaming the escort's vocally happy customers (and/or would-be customers) for his friends' distinct lack of nuts? They were unwilling to write less than enthusiastic reviews under an ANONYMOUS HANDLE? For fear of what reprisal? Ironically, the only people whose message center handles are actually linked to real reputations which could, in fact, suffer some serious damage, are -- don't look now -- the escorts. If any escort, be he me, Matt Vancouver, or (don't get me started) Kip O'Brien, says something stupid he feels the repercussions immediately and for quite awhile.

 

>Actually not always true. My real name is in my profile and I think you could figure out my workplace easily enough. If someone wants to cause me problems it wouldn't be that hard. I don't think I'm important or irritating enough to make it worth the effort.

 

>Embarrassing moments have a long shelf life. If someone gets laughed out of the message center -- or storms out -- under a non-escort login, guess what? They can come back in with a new identity (though BewareofNick may be on their case) and start over. The same goes for their reviewer handles. Just let an escort try that, and the penalty flags rightly fly. How long do you reckon it'll stay a secret if I change my name to Biff and try to escort under that name?

 

Biff?!? Surely not. Seriously though thats one of the reasons I have always felt we (the message center community) owe you guys with a public persona just a little more consideration than we give each other. You are right you have more to lose from a ill worded post or poorly judged self revelation. As a community we should be willing to protect those who are more vulnerable. And we are a community. Right?

One of the first things I ever posted here asked that question. As far as showing extra consideration I intend to extend it to all who participate here but thats not a requirement.

 

>So I'm sitting here thinking, oh shit, am I one of the pushy escorts albinorat has in mind because I post a lot and flirt with Rick Munroe? I'm getting a little paranoid, thinking maybe people don't want to see escorts on here. Maybe they want a place where clients can talk about the escorts in peace and not have to endure their self-promotion.

 

Flirting? I'm all for it. I wish more of the clients would flirt. I have a huge crush on nmk but so far no luck. I think the consensus is that we want more escorts to participate in the site. It won't be a universal opinion. But I think the strong majority feel that way. BTW preceding sheer opinion and speculation on my part. Feel free to prove me wrong everybody. Life does every day.

 

>I think that's a question clients ought to ask themselves. Do you want a message center culture where escorts are NOT posting a lot, NOT flirting with each other and with clients, NOT trying to flag a little wind into the sails during a slow period, NOT making their opinions known, and throwing some raunch into the mix? Because if that's what you want, by all means keep up the backlash against escorts who frequently post. It's already working; the pool seems to be getting smaller all the time. I'm starting to wonder whether I'm doing my reputation net harm or net good by posting on here so much, even though I know for a fact I'm not misrepresenting myself in any way. I don't even want to think about the message center without Rick Munroe. The very idea is a cure for insomnia.

 

I agree of course. But I want to challenge you guys to stand up to the crap when it happens. Even if everyone doen't like every post of every poster I think you will agree the experience on the whole is positive or you wouldn't have read this far in a thread. That goes for the silent reader as well. Clearly you are getting something of value in reading this site.

 

>But you know something? I wouldn't be surprised if Rick got tired of the daily trash talk directed at him and decided to pull out of the message center and just get a website already. Getting to know him has made me aware of how little things that I'VE said -- jokey posts like "Oh, c'mon, Rick's not that old," start to combine with Traveller's hilarious (and, I think, good-natured) "Rick's a used-up cum-hole" jokes to create this image that Rick's old and tired when -- reality check -- he's been doing this for, what, two and a half years? If stuff like this from friendly posters has a way of creating unanticipated image problems for a well-known escort, imagine what the casual smears from people who hate him (whether they've met him or not) start to do after awhile.

 

Yep, I'm sure the ongoing drip drip of unchallenged misconceptions has had an impact on his image. I think however that a lot of the unpleasantness is carried over from incidents on this board and broader life. I have noted for a while a not so well concealed contempt for escorts in some posters here. While not germane to your post I would suggest that it has SOMETHING to do with some people. Probably something for another thread. What do you think?

 

>Yes, we're public figures and should expect some of the attendant bullshit, but think about this: Rick and Matt both LOST business after being named escort of the year, and yet have had to endure sniping from jealous escorts who assume that it's a boon to their income. How's that for getting the worst of both worlds?

 

Now thats an interesting topic. How much does competition for the business make for slimy business practices by other escorts? Maybe one for "Ask an Escort" section. Well as a client I'll get on the hook for petulant posters you guys get to deal with jealous escort competitors.

 

>All of which is a long-winded way of saying the message center is in a strange place indeed right now -- dull AND dangerous for escorts. Even escorts who don't post here are subject to hit-and-run smears, with nothing like the context of an actual review. Who cares, it's only a whore, say whatever you want.

 

Sure there is a locker room mentality that arises. Hopefully everyone will remember differently and challenge such unsupported claims. On a slightly related note. I think the Coverboy of the Month thing has the same possibility for devisiveness and ill will as the rate the user function. I notice the slur you refer to was in relationship to that contest. It's amazing from seeing other online forums how willing people are to say the most vicious things about other people. From critiqueing his dick size to how he parts his hair, some poeple can and will say anything that pops into their heads.

 

>I'm curious: would people rather see an escort-free, or at least an escort-lite message center? Are clients coming to chat with other clients and finding our self-promoting presences a distraction? Am I wasting my time? With apologies to CT Dick, enquiring minds want to know!

 

As you can easily surmise I support any escort participating in any fashion he want to participate. Heck I support anyone who wants to play. But I hope we can mind our manners a little.

 

Jeff

[Guest DevonSFescort]

Guest post re: Backlash?

 

As you may know from my shameless self-promotions, I keep an online diary about my life as an escort. Yesterday was busy with appointments so I posted the rant that started this thread as an entry in my diary. Check out this amazing response a reader in London sent in (he has kindly given me permission to post it):

 

"From your diary I went on to the M4M Message Board (never knew there

was one as I always go straight to the new reviews) and honestly...I thought it so depressing. Is it the web that makes conversation descend so quickly to personalities and I saidyou said he said?? Or is it gay men???

 

Rather than do any work this morning I trawled (trolled?) through the

whole damn thing at one sitting. If you go there often you probably don't notice this but the tone from the client side seems to me so very very often faintly, or not so faintly, bitter, disappointed, downright lonely. And I am afraid I do have a radical problem with sex tourism. "Whoopee! Things in Brazil are sooo bad that you can get a straight boy from some stinking favela to get fucked for only $20. Hurry on down!"

 

In some ways your question went straight to the heart of the old

question 'What does a hooker really think of the john and what does the john reallythink of the hooker?' In "City of Night" John Rechy said something very sad about the way we all relate to others when he said that at its very centre the relationship was based on scorn. The john scorns the hustler for selling what the john now knows is beyond price - youth and beauty, while the hustler despises the john for paying for something that the hustler has no use for.

 

Now Rechy - who was a hustler - dates from a more self oppressive era

but I think he has something. In my own days as a 'professional' (there the cat's out of the bag) I regularly used to get clients whose behaviour could only be explained by rage at the fact that I was younger, better looking, whatever. Things I couldn't help but things they could not forgive me for. They were not violent or abusive as such just ......, resentful and that is

why I gave it up - could't take the strain. But then again I have two

dear and true friends who started out as clients.

 

All this was a long time ago so maybe things have changed as gay men's

general level of self esteem has risen but I doubt it. There's Rick

Munroe, cuter than a baby duck, horny as hell and witty witty witty and lo and behold people like albinorat seem to be hardly able to bear the thought that he exists. One other poster regularly abuses him 'in jest' - well nuts to that, that kind of teasing carried on over time is just abuse plain and simple.

 

Bitchboy had a point when he said something along the lines of clients want escorts in their place - bright and funny and charming and horny - but notin their own right and only on the client's time

 

Don't know if this has any point or if I have a conclusion - this is

more of an impromptu than a sonata, but, if you have been, thanks for

reading."

[+ Lucky]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

Devon, a suggestion: quit while you are ahead. To bring in a guest poster to disparage members of a message board that he doesn't participate in, and has not followed over time, is simply unfair, if not outright rude.

[phage]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

>In some ways your question went straight to the heart of the

>old question 'What does a hooker really think of the john and

>what does the john really think of the hooker?' In "City of

>Night" John Rechy said something very sad about the way we

>all relate to others when he said that at its very centre

>the relationship was based on scorn. The john scorns the

>hustler for selling what the john now knows is beyond price

>- youth and beauty, while the hustler despises the john for

>paying for something that the hustler has no use for.

>

I’m not sure there is any value in picking at this particular scab, but this certainly rings true to me. I can only speak to my experience, and I certainly don’t know what “most” clients are like, but I find it hard to believe many of them are the legendary successful studs with more money than time who just hire for “convenience.” As clients, we like to believe that this is true because it helps protect our self-esteem. If we must be part of a group, it’s better if the group is not thought of as pathetic or hard up.

 

By the same token, I think there are very few escorts who do this for “healthy” reasons. For one reason or another, they have chosen easy short-term money over the more traditional, and arguably more sensible route of a solid, legal and long-lasting career. I don’t care how mentally healthy a person is, it has to affect his self-esteem at some point.

 

The dynamics are ripe for resentment. Both individuals have something the other desires, and because the commodity is such a personal one, it can never be the simple economic transaction we try to make it. As long as fragile, human egos are involved…nothing is ever going to be simple.

 

All we can do is be as kind to one another as possible and not make a difficult situation worse. I think both parties come to the transaction with baggage so all we can do is manage our own load and not dump our baggage on the other person.

 

Forgive me if this saccharine and off topic, but the dynamic interests me. As far as a backlash goes…much ado about nothing. Anyone who posts frequently will develop admirers and detractors. No big deal. For every person who is sick of a particular escort’s posts, there are probably ten who get hard every time they see their name.

[Guest DevonSFescort]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

>Devon, a suggestion: quit while you are ahead. To bring in a

>guest poster to disparage members of a message board that he

>doesn't participate in, and has not followed over time, is

>simply unfair, if not outright rude.

 

Good point. You're right. What interested me wasn't the names he referred to but the broader points he was making, but I should have edited out the names of posters. I apologize to albinorat and to anyone else he mentioned by name.

 

Thanks for calling me on it, Lucky. ;-)

[Guest ChefsSaltyChocBalls]

Just my $0.02

 

Though "albino" made a fair point that escorts who post frequently might get a little bit of a "home court advantage" in the reviews, I think most of us lurkers are not so paranoid about that as to automatically cross those escorts from our "to do" list.

 

However, a discriminating client who reads these boards is going to form an opinion about escorts who post here. In some cases, that's going to help the escort's business. When it works the other way, it's not necessarily "backlash". It could be that some of the self-promition is a turn off. More likely, however, it could just be that the client recognizes something in the escort's on-board "personality" that he just doesn't like. To each his own.

 

ps to Devon from SF. If I ever get up to NoCal, you're still on my "to do" list

[Guest regulation]

>Probably because Kip admitted to stealing from his client

>and also threatened to expose him to his wife on this site.

 

Neither of those statements is true. Kip stated that he believed he had a legitimate claim to the money and that he never had and never would expose that or any client. So the question remains: Why is it so important to defend certain escorts from very minor criticisms but not important to defend others from far more serious accusations? And why are personal attacks against some posters tolerated while attacks against others are deplored? I think we all know the answer.

[Guest regulation]

>Anyone familiar with regulation/pickwick/spendlove's posting

>habits knows the drill: one of "them" makes indefensibile

>statements which another poster calls them on, then the next

>identity comes along to split hairs and say "spendy never

>said that" in lieu of actually arguing a position.

 

 

Anyone familiar with this message board is familiar with the tactic of accusing another poster of posting under multiple names in lieu of making a serious reply to something he has said. If I am all of the posters you and others have accused me of being, I would be not only the ones you list above but also Rick Munroe, since both he and I have been accused of being TruthTeller. So, in effect, you are accusing me of disparaging myself. That hardly seems likely.

 

> People

>can decide for themselves whether I characterized "spendy's"

>posts correctly, though I'll concede regulation knows

>"spendy's" mind better than I do.

 

 

Anyone who can read English with reasonable proficiency can tell the difference between complaining that this site has become an escort ad site and stating that it is not supposed to be such a site. It doesn't seem to me a very difficult distinction to grasp.

 

 

>I was talking about false "hit and run" message center

>posts, which are no trouble at all to write

 

 

And your point is that there are jealous escorts who are doing this to other escorts? I still find it hard to believe that anyone would go to the trouble. But as I said above, I may underestimate the sleaziness of this business and of those involved in it. Boston Guy has often told me that I do.

 

>If you doubt it, you can see if their email address and

>website in their profile match the contact info in their

>reviews. You can even call the number in the reviews and

>ask the escort if he's aware someone is posting under his

>identity.

 

That would accomplish nothing in the case of someone who pretends to be an escort and who creates posts about his "experiences" as an escort -- with perhaps a bogus review or several to add credibility. To discover the truth or falsity of such claims one would need the subpoena powers of Ken Starr.

 

Although I did not follow the recent Escort of the Year election controversy very closely, I do recall HB or one of the moderators claiming that an escort had cast votes under dozens of different screen names in order to improve his ranking. If an escort can pretend to be dozens of clients, I suppose a non-escort can pretend to be an escort.

 

 

>That's IF you doubt it, of course. You never

>SAID you doubted it. I don't want to get in trouble with

>"pick" or "spendy" for putting words in your mouth.

 

That is a very small improvement, but it will do for the time being.

 

>Here we go again. That "spendy" sure has a lot to not say!

 

He said just what he said, and no more. Having had lots of people on this message board yell at me for making statements I never made, I heartily sympathize with others who find themselves in the same position.

[Guest DevonSFescort]

>Anyone familiar with this message board is familiar with the

>tactic of accusing another poster of posting under multiple

>names in lieu of making a serious reply to something he has

>said. If I am all of the posters you and others have

>accused me of being, I would be not only the ones you list

>above but also Rick Munroe, since both he and I have been

>accused of being TruthTeller. So, in effect, you are

>accusing me of disparaging myself.

 

I don't think you're disparaging yourself at all. And I don't believe for a minute that you're TruthTeller, who along with JT not only disparaged but exposed you in the "Rimming -- Is it Safe?" and "Ass Licking" threads back in January. Anybody who reads those threads -- they're devastating -- or any number of threads in which you and/or "spendy" and/or "pick" have posted -- can tell that the three of you are one, not least because you helpfully don't bother to change your writing style or your "debating" tactics AT ALL when you change logins.

 

>That would accomplish nothing in the case of someone who

>pretends to be an escort and who creates posts about his

>"experiences" as an escort -- with perhaps a bogus review or

>several to add credibility. To discover the truth or

>falsity of such claims one would need the subpoena powers of

>Ken Starr.

 

And what, pray tell, would be the point of "pretending" to be an escort? There are any number of reasons why an escort might wish to have an anonymous login. Why would a client want to pretend to be an escort? So HooBoy might let him into the Escorts Only forum someday? Boy, is THAT phony escort in for a let-down.

[Guest AdamLVescort]

Rick,

You crack me up! Personally I think that yes this board has helped my career but that wasn't my intentions to start. I started this board to get advice from others like yourself and to let people know who I really am. Even though I don't know you personally I feel that if I were to meet you in person you would be the same as I have read about you. Thats a good thing coming from a client point of view since there wouldn't be any dissapointments. I look forward to a trip to NY!

 

Adam

XOXO

http://www.theadambomb.com

[Rick Munroe]

>Even though I don't know you personally I feel that if I were to

>meet you in person you would be the same as I have read

>about you.

 

I feel the same about you and I bet you taste even better than you look. :9

[Guest regulation]

>I don't think you're disparaging yourself at all. And I

>don't believe for a minute that you're TruthTeller, who

>along with JT not only disparaged but exposed you in the

>"Rimming -- Is it Safe?" and "Ass Licking" threads back in

>January.

 

LOL! I'm afraid the only thing TT and JT "exposed" is their own stolid unwillingness to consider any point of view but their own when it comes to the safety or lack of safety of sexual practices. Why, I couldn't say -- perhaps the possibility that what they like to do may not be as safe as they think makes them feel guilty, or perhaps they just can't stand to admit they're wrong about anything.

 

As for you, just as I said above you continue to avoid discussing the issues that are supposedly the subject of this thread by trying to make me the subject instead. It's something many people here have done when they find themselves unable to think of a response to a point another poster has made.

 

For example, after the tremendous fuss you've made about "smears" against Rick, I asked you above to direct me to any recent post stating that Rick is a bad person or a bad escort. You haven't, because you can't. If you talk about that rather than about how many screen names you imagine I have, you might have to admit that you've been making a fuss about nothing much at all. The next logical question would be, why have you been doing it? Why try to portray escorts who post here as much more put-upon than is really the case? I can understand why you'd rather talk about me than discuss that.

 

 

>And what, pray tell, would be the point of "pretending" to

>be an escort?

 

 

Beats me. I'm still trying to figure out why an escort would go to the trouble of creating dozens of screen names in order to rig the results of the Escort of the Year contest. It seems extremely farfetched to me. But then a lot of things that escorts and clients here claim to have witnessed seem farfetched to me.

[Will]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

Wise and beautiful words, Phage. Thank you for speaking so openly about a subject usually left untouched, for all that it's right at the edge of our collective vision.

 

It isn't difficult, for me, anyway, to understand what motivates clients, and that's partly because I've spent so much time getting to know clients on this site. As for escorts, I have stopped wondering what motivates them. One reason for that is my conclusion that the decision to do what they do almost certainly arises from a host of various factors; and I take it as a given that the escorts I encounter via this site approach their work with expectations, hopes, and fears equal in complexity to mine.

 

In the past, some of the more cynical denizens of this board have insisted, a little shrilly, that escorts are "nothing" but prostitutes. While I'm not happy with that reductive characterization, even so, I would say, "What do you mean, 'nothing'?" The common view of prostitution is based on template-ideas about women who peddle their wares on the street. I'm sorry, but that's a different occupation to a graduate student's occasionally augmenting her teaching fellowship by entertaining interesting and well-to-do older gentlemen. At least I think it is.

 

Finally, I remain -- for whatever reason -- intrigued by escorts. Although I've met a few who I think are rather shallow and a few who are rather, well, uncultivated, I haven't met one yet whom I didn't admire as a human being.

[Guest DevonSFescort]

Yawn. Anyone who wants to judge for themselves what came to light in the "Rimming -- Is it Safe?" and "Ass Licking" threads can certainly do a search and read to their hearts' content. I did. Hilarious stuff. In keeping with my heightened efforts not to put words in people's mouths, I'll be extra careful not to claim that regulation denies being either spendlove or pickwick, because, come to think of it, he doesn't seem to be denying it at all! He's merely saying that I make the accusation to change the subject. Far from it. If a poster is using multiple handles to disparage escorts (as a group or individually), either directly or by innuendo, is absolutely germane to the subject at hand. By now people have probably formed their opinions as to the merit of my claim.

 

As for my "failure" to redirect regulation/spendlove/pickwick to any specific smears, it stems from a desire not to repeat and perpetuate them, not from an inability to find them. Did they necessarily use the exact words "bad person" or "bad escort?" No. Did they have to use those exact words in order to be damaging, malicious and/or false, and therefore to qualify as smears? Maybe in "spendy's" moral universe, but not mine.

[Guest Joey Ciccone]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

>Wise and beautiful words, Phage.<

 

Yeah, phage. That's some silver tongue you've got there.

 

>The dynamics are ripe for resentment. Both individuals have something the other desires, and because the commodity is such a personal one, it can never be the simple economic transaction we try to make it. As long as fragile, human egos are involved…nothing is ever going to be simple.<

 

This cuts right to the heart of the matter, phage. If every client were as insightful as that, I'd never be apprehensive outside a new clients' door again.

 

And Will, you're far from a slouch yourself.

 

>In the past, some of the more cynical denizens of this board have insisted, a little shrilly, that escorts are "nothing" but prostitutes... "What do you mean, 'nothing'?" The common view of prostitution is based on template-ideas about women who peddle their wares on the street. I'm sorry, but that's a different occupation to a graduate student's occasionally augmenting her teaching fellowship by entertaining interesting and well-to-do older gentlemen.<

 

Thank you for that uplifting distinction. I'm no graduate student, but my endeavers and ambitions aside from escorting are no less worthy. Certainly not nothing.

 

Guys like you two (and many others here) make escorting that much more rewarding (and less fraught with assholes). Thanks.

 

As for backlash, every poster here faces it's potential. That situation seems less acute since the recent lock-down, but it's still a concern. Much more so for escorts for obvious reasons. As someone who posts in all three of Wills' post categories (not so much whiney I hope), I've won fans and foes alike, but I can't say for sure if it's effected my business or not, one way or the other. The way I see it, a poster who wants to heckle me on the boards had no intention of ever hiring me anyway. And handling the heckle with humour, intelligence, and a semblance of grace might actually bring in a new client who witnessed and enjoyed the exchange.

 

I think guys with thick skin, healthy egos, oodles of confindence, and a loyal client base will never have a problem posting their opinions, but it can be quite daunting for a newbie.

[Rick Munroe]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

Joey...I think having a pic of your ass in your posts is in poor taste.

[Guest Joey Ciccone]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

As long as the poor taste isn't actually in my ass, not to mention the post in my ass, I figure I'm safe.

[Rick Munroe]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

>As long as the poor taste isn't actually in my ass, not to

>mention the post in my ass, I figure I'm safe.

 

Joey, you think you're so funny...well, guess what? It's true.

Let's continue to spread good cheer as we spread our cheeks.

[Guest Joey Ciccone]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

amen, brother

[Guest regulation]

>As for my "failure" to redirect

>regulation/spendlove/pickwick to any specific smears, it

>stems from a desire not to repeat and perpetuate them, not

>from an inability to find them.

 

Sheer sophistry, I'm afraid. Your failure to back up your accusations shows that you can't back them up. And that your motive for making them has nothing to do with attacks on escorts and everything to do with your desire to call attention to yourself. It's an old story.

 

>Did they necessarily use

>the exact words "bad person" or "bad escort?" No. Did they

>have to use those exact words in order to be damaging,

>malicious and/or false, and therefore to qualify as smears?

>Maybe in "spendy's" moral universe, but not mine.

 

I thought you understood that when I asked you to direct me to posts stating that Rick is a bad person or bad escort, I meant bad person, bad escort or words to that effect. If you didn't understand it before, which I believe you did, you certainly do now. So I repeat my challenge for the third time: show me any such post from the past month. Or would going back two months make it easier? I think you would have to go back farther than that to find such posts. Which brings up back to the question why you have made all this fuss during the past few days. I think we already know the answer to that.

[Guest DevonSFescort]

>>As for my "failure" to redirect

>>regulation/spendlove/pickwick to any specific smears, it

>>stems from a desire not to repeat and perpetuate them, not

>>from an inability to find them.

>

>Sheer sophistry, I'm afraid. Your failure to back up your

>accusations shows that you can't back them up. And that

>your motive for making them has nothing to do with attacks

>on escorts and everything to do with your desire to call

>attention to yourself.

 

Merely labeling my explanation "sophistry" doesn't even come close to refuting it. Nice try. Let's say I found five posts that I thought were smears. I repeat them here, giving you exactly what you want, which is "to call attention" to them. Then you get to split hairs and nitpick over why they aren't really "smears" per se, thus keeping them floating around longer than their original shelf life. Assuming you draw me or anyone else into arguing with you about why they are or aren't smears, they stick around that much longer, again giving you what you want. I'm afraid you'll have to get somebody else to join you in that game.

 

I've made the points I wished to make in this thread, and asked the questions I wanted to ask. Most of the responses have been thoughtful and interesting, and I thank everybody who participated. If you want to keep this thread going so as to "call attention" to me, knock yourself out.

[+ deej]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

>As long as the poor taste isn't actually in my ass, not to

>mention the post in my ass, I figure I'm safe.

 

Hey! I sorta enjoyed having my post in your ass! :9

[Guest albinorat]

RE: Guest post re: Backlash?

 

>There's Rick

>Munroe, cuter than a baby duck, horny as hell and witty

>witty witty and lo and behold people like albinorat seem to

>be hardly able to bear the thought that he exists.<

 

Devon you've lost my respect. Your characterization of Ricky Ticky Tacky is yours. Lucky for him, it's evidently shared by a lot of people with deep pockets.

 

Looking at his pictures above, and trying to discern a human under the fur, I see an ordinary looking, aging, extremely hairy, small dicked, rather short guy who seems extremely proud of ordinary looks -- he doesn't show his face. I suppose for all his bravado here Ricky is ashamed or up for an Oscar. By insistently showing his pix even where they aren't relavent to a message board discussion he is inviting not only praise but criticism. Believe me if I showed my ass here the place would be raided and there's be no debate! (Of course my ass is so big Daddy would intercept the picture because it would take too much bandwidth).

 

I detest his manner and twee arrogance and have said so. But you have a right to your great opinion of him, and those who hire him, likewise. Since he is so totally unattractive to me I'd never hire him. He may be fantastic sex. He may be a nice guy and a charmer in person, I have no reason to think otherwise. So in a sense perhaps I'd be losing out if I were more normal. Maybe lucky for me, I'm not all that normal.

 

Because I find one poster here at this time (Truthteller and the ineffable RydeMyButt are probably stuck in the garbage cans where they root for food) dislikable has nothing to do with that poster's profession or identity -- gay, escort, client, dentist, proctologist, you name it. Your generalization about me, at least, is foolish and not supported by any posts I've made.

 

Now YOU look cute to me and though a little past my (fantasy) optimum age range, eminently bondable. Had I not been barred from that great city for excessive unsightliness, I'd fly to San Francsico and see if you'd get into to my "punishing" you for such stubborn disagreement. But just as anyone is entitled to find me a pretentious bore, unbearably full of himself, I am certainly entitled to find Ticky Tacky Munroe not all that and, like, way too high on "huhself'.

 

Your basic wretched Rechy generalization that I want to keep escorts "in their place" whatever that might mean on a message board is just not true, nor it is borne out by my posts.

 

Al