Discretion a two way street?

[Daniel84]

As a massage therapist for the past 7 years who holds a state license, I have always worked to treat my clients with respect and discretion. I have worked mightily to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of my clients. I am an avid reader of this forum. I do have to say that it disappoints me that the same attention to privacy and confidentiality isn’t extended to masseurs. Things are said here that could cause me to lose my license…plain and simple. I understand that there are lots of flakes and fakes among clients and body work providers. Having hired a few massage therapists myself, I’ve felt taken advantage of by a few. Overall, I wish that some details be saved for private messages.

 

Your friendly Neighborhood Massage therapist

 

Just to clarify I am not bitching or complaining I am just hoping to have an open dialogue

[MikeBiDude]

As a massage therapist for the past 7 years who holds a state license, I have always worked to treat my clients with respect and discretion. I have worked mightily to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of my clients. I am an avid reader of this forum. I do have to say that it disappoints me that the same attention to privacy and confidentiality isn’t extended to masseurs. Things are said here that could cause me to lose my license…plain and simple. I understand that there are lots of flakes and fakes among clients and body work providers. Having hired a few massage therapists myself, I’ve felt taken advantage of by a few. Overall, I wish that some details be saved for private messages.

 

Your friendly Neighborhood Massage therapist

 

Just to clarify I am not bitching or complaining I am just hoping to have an open dialogue

You're not wrong, and just look at the sub-heading in the "The Spa" forum's label "Discussion about Masseurs. Please be careful so as not to compromise their licenses."

 

I think a LOT of clients don't read or adhere to that, but prefer to discuss how "far" a masseur went with them.

[Terpmaniac]

Has any masseur ever, ever lost their license because of what someone said on a massage site, ever?

[rvwnsd]

As a massage therapist for the past 7 years who holds a state license, I have always worked to treat my clients with respect and discretion. I have worked mightily to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of my clients. I am an avid reader of this forum. I do have to say that it disappoints me that the same attention to privacy and confidentiality isn’t extended to masseurs. Things are said here that could cause me to lose my license…plain and simple. I understand that there are lots of flakes and fakes among clients and body work providers. Having hired a few massage therapists myself, I’ve felt taken advantage of by a few. Overall, I wish that some details be saved for private messages.

 

Your friendly Neighborhood Massage therapist

 

Just to clarify I am not bitching or complaining I am just hoping to have an open dialogue

 

That's a great point. Many Forum members, myself included, try very hard to follow the rules posted at the top of this Forum.

 

You're not wrong, and just look at the sub-heading in the "The Spa" forum's label "Discussion about Masseurs. Please be careful so as not to compromise their licenses."

 

I think a LOT of clients don't read or adhere to that, but prefer to discuss how "far" a masseur went with them.

 

[Dmitri]

Has any masseur ever, ever lost their license because of what someone said on a massage site, ever?

 

Maybe not. But that does not mean it will never happen. I think what we all have learned with the Rentboy Scandal is that ANYTHING is possible....and no massage or escort site....any forum....or any masseur or escort is safe. So we all need to watch each other's back. So I appreciate what @Daniel84 has mentioned.

[Daniel84]

I am happy that we are just having dialogue.

[+ poolboy48220]

If I'm sharing more-than-your-usual-massage experiences I will rarely mention the masseur's name in the forum. (I may have slipped up on this a few times but that's my intent.) I'll talk more frankly in private conversations.

[bloop]

I find it interesting that you suggest maintaining client privacy and confidentiality is somehow arduous. How so?

[+ EVdude]

Yes, the point is well taken and actually a few months back I edited a number of my responses, first at the request of a masseur, then being aware, I edited others. For the record, I did not remove mentions of HE as they are prevalent throughout the forum.

[LivingnLA]

Has any masseur ever, ever lost their license because of what someone said on a massage site, ever?

 

I am not aware of it due to a review on a massage site, but there are countless examples of people with massage licenses being arrested, charged, and convicted of various sexual assault, sex work, etc. crimes in the USA. That's probably why the majority of the people on "massages sites" are amateurs without any formal training, licensing, or insurance. In the USA, any form of nudity or erotic activity is illegal in massage and can lead to loss of licenses, lifetime bans, registry as a sex offender and prison time.

 

I've had many many massages and cultural norms vary around the world. In the USA, I'd guess 98% of my massages have been purely professional and therapeutic. If you desire erotic activity in the USA and you happen to find an actual trained massage professional with a license who will "go there" with you, have some common decency, respect, and discretion! You can ruin their personal and professional lives if you're not careful.

[Daniel84]

I find it interesting that you suggest maintaining client privacy and confidentiality is somehow arduous. How so?

 

Having clients who are on TV, politicians, celebrity's ect I never expose who my clients are. Maybe I'm naive but I assumed the unspoken rule of discretion goes both ways.

[LivingnLA]

Having clients who are on TV, politiians ect I never expose who my clients are. Maybe I'm naive but I assumed the unspoken rule of discretion goes both ways.

 

As a certified or licensed (state requirements vary & I don't know where you are) massage therapist, I thought you were generally expected by law and ethics codes to maintain client confidentially per HIPAA. Massage is essentially a paramedical field in the eyes of the law for many states. Or, that's my understanding.

[ScottLMT]

As a certified or licensed (state requirements vary & I don't know where you are) massage therapist, I thought you were generally expected by law and ethics codes to maintain client confidentially per HIPAA. Massage is essentially a paramedical field in the eyes of the law for many states. Or, that's my understanding.

 

Yeah, licensed massage therapists are considered healthcare professionals and bound by HIPAA. In NJ, we are to keep any paper records locked up and any digital records behind password protection.

[+ glutes]

Having clients who are on TV, politicians, celebrity's ect I never expose who my clients are. Maybe I'm naive but I assumed the unspoken rule of discretion goes both ways.

 

Good thing you don't have a gossipy blog Daniel. You get my credit!

[bloop]

Having clients who are on TV, politicians, celebrity's ect I never expose who my clients are. Maybe I'm naive but I assumed the unspoken rule of discretion goes both ways.

 

Sure, it just seems like saying that you work "mightily" to ensure discretion is a bit of an overstatement given that it amounts to not saying who your clients are, which is a pretty passive measure. Not a big deal, just thought it was curious.

 

Anyway, to return to your original concern, I've seen at least one of the posts you're referring to, and it probably makes most sense to just PM the people in question and ask them to edit/delete their posts since there's no broader measure in place to make sure everyone who posts here refrains from sharing info that could get masseurs in trouble.

[Bonedoc]

How does one do a PM?

[bloop]

Click on the person's username and then "Start a Conversation," or click inbox at the top, click "Start a new conversation," and enter the username(s).

[RyanMoore]

This is an excellent Post.

[Bonedoc]

Click on the person's username and then "Start a Conversation," or click inbox at the top, click "Start a new conversation," and enter the username(s).

Thanks!

[MassageAdam]

I really don't think anyone could be convicted just by sharing stories on here. It's just hear say when someone tells a story. They would have to have hard evidence for any kind of action to be taken place. Who's to say a cop isn't private messaging someone for more information.... I mean if they are on here, I think they would get more info from the private message than the boards.

[ScottLMT]

I really don't think anyone could be convicted just by sharing stories on here. It's just hear say when someone tells a story. They would have to have hard evidence for any kind of action to be taken place. Who's to say a cop isn't private messaging someone for more information.... I mean if they are on here, I think they would get more info from the private message than the boards.

 

I don't think the primary concern is being convicted, I think it's the loss of licensure from state massage boards.

[LivingnLA]

I really don't think anyone could be convicted just by sharing stories on here. It's just hear say when someone tells a story. They would have to have hard evidence for any kind of action to be taken place. Who's to say a cop isn't private messaging someone for more information.... I mean if they are on here, I think they would get more info from the private message than the boards.

 

Maybe, but would you want your private, personal, or professional interactions discussed online when the outcome of those discussions could negatively impact you for years, decades, or life?

 

I've read articles of police stings and investigations against massage parlors or therapists who are found on backpage or other erotically themed sites. I also have heard from friends in massage that many state governing agencies will aggressively investigate sexually themed complaints.

 

Again, yes it's unlikely, but we're talking about someone's lifetime livelihood and the possibly they'll be labeled a sex-offender or even serve time in jail. It's not much to ask forum members to be considerate and discreet. It's basic human decency.

[MassageAdam]

@Baron, I get that, but when they are advertising $150 for a massage when you can go to any legit massage shop for a massage for $60, would any normal person think that you get something else, cuz why would anyone pay $150 to go to someone's house for a massage. Like I said, if there were any suspicions, they could email them on massuerfinder, massagem4m, or rentmassuer.com and find out personally what they do... Or they can email someone on here and get told what they do. Anyways, I don't think someone is going to work that hard to find a massage therapist just to take away their license. Anywhere I have worked most people can't even do their regular work.. For someone to try and go above and beyond for something silly seems ridiculous to me. Another way they could lose it, if they piss a client off and they client turns them in. I mean come on, there are so many other ways to have them get in trouble than someone from the licensing board trolling this web site. This website is hard to find, I have been getting sensual massages for years and I just stumbled on this site. I don't think many people who aren't looking for this type of thing are going to find it very easy.

[Daniel84]

It's not just the legality of state licenses. I am concerned about keeping civil decency of holding discretion equally. I easily can out politicians/ celebrities but I don't because of my core beliefs and how I run and value my business.

[+ nycman]

If you don't think the vice police monitor this and all our forums....you are a moron.

 

Plain and simple.

 

Yes, in big cities they usually just turn a blind eye to activities that don't occur in public and frighten the horses.

 

Nonetheless, as Rentboy taught us....it doesn't mean that they always will.