Rentmen.com reviews, no longer allowing text

[keithhardy]

Hey guys,

 

I just recently had a client submit a review and the text isn't showing after inquiring as to why it was not showing, the following is what I received. Has anyone else heard of this? Reviews without text are kinda pointless.........

 

Subject: Re: RentMen.com New Message from KeithHardy

Message:

Hello Keith,

 

Due to recent changed in the Terms and Conditions, the text of the Escort

reviews are not allowed. This is why the last review doesn't have any text.

 

We are sorry for the confusion.

 

Regards,

Robin

WebAdmin

[+ José Soplanucas]

Shit. Why are they so fucking pussies?? Aren't they located in the Netherlands?

[marylander1940]

Shit. Why are they so fucking pussies?? Aren't they located in the Netherlands?

 

I guess they're not as tough as their twin brothers the Germans.

[+ Keith30309]

The same thing happened to me yesterday and I assumed it was a mistake. I sent an email but haven't received a response.

If this is the case then the RM reviews will be of even less use - much like the M4RN stars.

[MiamiLooker]

Hey guys,

 

I just recently had a client submit a review and the text isn't showing after inquiring as to why it was not showing, the following is what I received. Has anyone else heard of this? Reviews without text are kinda pointless.........

 

Subject: Re: RentMen.com New Message from KeithHardy

Message:

Hello Keith,

 

Due to recent changed in the Terms and Conditions, the text of the Escort

reviews are not allowed. This is why the last review doesn't have any text.

 

We are sorry for the confusion.

 

Regards,

Robin

WebAdmin

Maybe you should ask Rentmen what has changed recently in their Terms and Conditions. The last revision date is shown as September 25, 2015:

http://rentmen.com/about/terms/

[+ José Soplanucas]

Naw, let's just double down in our commitment to Daddy's reviews.

[rvwnsd]

Shit. Why are they so fucking pussies?? Aren't they located in the Netherlands?

I'm guessing they do not wish to meet the same fate as Rentboy.

 

Maybe you should ask Rentmen what has changed recently in their Terms and Conditions. The last revision date is shown as September 25, 2015:

http://rentmen.com/about/terms/

 

They outright rejected reviews for a while. When they resumed publishing reviews, which I think was in late September, they stopped publishing reviews containing explicit content. Here are a couple of key phrases from their Ts and Cs:

 

Restrictions on Advertiser Content – Under no circumstances may Your Advertiser Content include any of the following:

 

• Actual or simulated sexual activity;
  
• Defamatory, obscene, child pornography, harassing, illegal, or otherwise objectionable material (determination of which is in Our sole discretion);
  
• Code, slang, and/or acronyms referencing sexual acts, drug use, violence, or other illegal activity;
  
• Disparaging text regarding the Site, Services, Users, or the respective activity of the same;
  
• Express or implied promotion of a competitor website (determination of which, is within Our sole discretion);
  
• Disclosure of personal contact information pertaining to other Advertisers;
  
• Your own personal contact information, excepting information disclosed via the Site’s permitted format;
  
• Images depicting subjects under eighteen (18) years of age at the time of creation;
  
• Text implying that any depicted person is under eighteen (18) years of age;
  
• Fake or inaccurate depictions of You as the Advertiser;
  
• Images, videos, or text published, or otherwise used without the authorization of its legal owner; and
  
• Communications suggesting, soliciting, or implying the unlawful exchange of funds for sexual activity (including, but not limited to prostitution-related services).
  

I hate to keep saying this, but had Rentboy adopted this type of Ts and Cs document and did not go around calling themselves "pimps"they probably would have avoided the situation they find themselves in today. RentMen has learned from the mistakes of others. Good for them.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Again, why a company based in The Netherlands should be concerned about adjusting their terms and conds to American law?

[LookingAround]

I guess they're not as tough as their twin brothers the Germans.

We are not twin brothers.

[MikeyGMin]

Again, why a company based in The Netherlands should be concerned about adjusting their terms and conds to American law?

 

I have heard repeatedly that their servers are in the Netherlands, but do we know that is where all the owners / principals reside? Just wondering whether there are American owners / operators that can be affected by this asinine direction our government is currently taking. It does seem odd that they would be so paranoid.

[+ dutchmuch]

We are not twin brothers.

 

Thank you Lookingaround!

[AshburyGuy]

I also submitted two reviews this week and wanted to give 2 stars to both, but it wouldn't allow me to change the star from a 5. So, I had to click "would not recommend" and submitted it. I've sent a couple of emails to them but they have not been very helpful.

[+ nycman]

If they have ANY assets in the USA....they are at risk.

 

Period.

[+ saminseattle]

It does seem odd that they would be so paranoid.

 

Paranoid? Perhaps. On the other hand, if you see people running a similar business being arrested and threatened with serious jail time, you’re probably going to err on the side of caution. As others have pointed out, this was probably part of the government’s strategy from the beginning. They likely don’t have the resources to go after everyone they disapprove of, so they went after the easiest target to send a message to others: “You’re not as safe as you think you are. We can take you down whenever we want.” Fear, uncertainty, and arguably paranoia have resulted, the most extreme example of which is Masseurfinder’s recent reclassification scheme.

 

That is why I disagree with those who have argued that the RB prosecution is primarily about that specific company and its sometimes questionable conduct. Instead, I view it as a much broader attack on the notion that consenting adults should be free to act as they choose without government interference in their private affairs. Unfortunately, if this prosecution is successful, the chilling effect it has already had on others will only increase. So, even though Mr. Hurant is clearly no angel, I intend to make another contribution to his defense, knowing that in doing so I am contributing to a much larger cause. http://rentboyfund.org

[+ José Soplanucas]

Yes, paranoids. American laws does not apply abroad. After I wrote that I realized hoe naïf it is. Rewrite. American laws on decency and prostitution and pornography do not apply abroad.

[MikeyGMin]

Paranoid? Perhaps. On the other hand, if you see people running a similar business being arrested and threatened with serious jail time, you’re probably going to err on the side of caution. As others have pointed out, this was probably part of the government’s strategy from the beginning. They likely don’t have the resources to go after everyone they disapprove of, so they went after the easiest target to send a message to others: “You’re not as safe as you think you are. We can take you down whenever we want.” Fear, uncertainty, and arguably paranoia have resulted, the most extreme example of which is Masseurfinder’s recent reclassification scheme.

 

That is why I disagree with those who have argued that the RB prosecution is primarily about that specific company and its sometimes questionable conduct. Instead, I view it as a much broader attack on the notion that consenting adults should be free to act as they choose without government interference in their private affairs. Unfortunately, if this prosecution is successful, the chilling effect it has already had on others will only increase. So, even though Mr. Hurant is clearly no angel, I intend to make another contribution to his defense, knowing that in doing so I am contributing to a much larger cause. http://rentboyfund.org

 

What I meant was that it is odd that they would be so paranoid if they're completely based out of the Netherlands. If they have people or assets within the reach of the United States government, I don't find it paranoid at all in the current climate. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

[keithhardy]

This review had nothing explicit and didn't make mention on anything sexual in nature.

[keithhardy]

Maybe you should ask Rentmen what has changed recently in their Terms and Conditions. The last revision date is shown as September 25, 2015:

http://rentmen.com/about/terms/

I did and no response.......

[marylander1940]

We are not twin brothers.

 

very similar Languages, looks and cultures.

[jimboivyo]

kinda makes those who said rent men was the end all be all (over Daddys Reviews) look foolish

 

daddys is the clearinghouse and always will be

[Nvr2Thick]

I'd be interested to hear if Rentmen responds with a reason. If the reason truly does align with our conjecture then they are unlikely to publish that reason. If reviews are not permitted because remarks about sexual acts with escorts could suggest that they're facilitating prostitution then stating that as reason to not allow reviews creates a similar suggestion.

[+ quoththeraven]

Again, why a company based in The Netherlands should be concerned about adjusting their terms and conds to American law?

 

Because their US activities are still subject to US laws. If their servers are in fact located in the Netherlands, where sex work is legal and it's not necessary to parse the differences, if any, between escorting and prostitution, that makes it harder (probably impossible) to take the site offline. If they are headquartered outside the US and have no US business office (as opposed to employees who telecommute or otherwise work from home), that makes assets harder to locate and seize. But none of that insulates US-based employees (which it used to and may still have) from prosecution.

 

Yes, paranoids. American laws does not apply abroad. After I wrote that I realized hoe naïf it is. Rewrite. American laws on decency and prostitution and pornography do not apply abroad.

 

Not paranoid. Careful and discreet. Yes, there are downsides to this but if it keeps the government away, is that a bad thing?

 

What I meant was that it is odd that they would be so paranoid if they're completely based out of the Netherlands. If they have people or assets within the reach of the United States government, I don't find it paranoid at all in the current climate. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

 

Exactly. They probably still have assets and employees in the US. Hiding assets is illegal and likely to be perceived as money laundering. Keeping a low profile helps them, their advertisers and you by keeping the site viable.

 

There are reasons why it's better to keep reviews and ads separate. The main ones are the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act, which Hurant was told protected Rentboy but which I don't believe does if you can characterize the site as facilitating the exchange of sex for money. But on its face it appears to apply to this site.

 

I'd be interested to hear if Rentmen responds with a reason. If the reason truly does align with our conjecture then they are unlikely to publish that reason. If reviews are not permitted because remarks about sexual acts with escorts could suggest that they're facilitating prostitution then stating that as reason to not allow reviews creates a similar suggestion.

 

Hence the sticky post here about decorum. Concerns of that nature were why I took a break for a few weeks shortly after the raid on Rentboy. Not only was the atmosphere funereal, I gave myself a headache trying to figure out what was safe to say in public and what wasn't given that we have to assume the Feds may still monitor this site.

[mike carey]

Hiding assets is illegal and likely to be perceived as money laundering.

These days it's easier for the entity providing a service to be domiciled where ever it likes. I paid for my bar bill on a cruise by credit card and it was billed in Cypriot pounds (before euro days), no doubt for tax reasons. Presumably Rentmen can bill from the Netherlands so it does not have to transfer the proceeds of its US advertising to NL. The escort would be paying in the NL for a service that is legal there. Does Rentmen bill in USD or €?

I gave myself a headache trying to figure out what was safe to say in public and what wasn't given that we have to assume the Feds may still monitor this site.

I didn't take a time out, but I did consider carefully what I said about what I might do in the US. I was less concerned talking in abstract because nothing I would talk about is illegal here.

[LADoug1]

I had the same thing happen to me. Reviewed an escort with absolutely no explicit language or discussion of sex acts. The written part of the review was never posted.

[jawjateck]

We've sorta moved into a post-review era for hobbying. Future client newbies will have to make selections without some of the advantages that we had in the past.