Slog - Comments on Erotic Services Just Got More Expensive

Comment by hwhut>?

hwhut>? — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:56:05 -0800

I didn't even know there was "erotic services" on craigslist. I figured everybody used the personals, like 'men seeking women' or 'men seeking men.' What's the difference? Do those in the "erotic services" area charge for their service? Well why would you do THAT when you can just go get it for free?

Comment by Julie Russell

Julie Russell — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:58:35 -0800

The Reality of the Recession: If people are buying their whores from Craigslist, we must be really close to the bottom. Ewwww.

Comment by Nixor

Nixor — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:02:47 -0800

I guess the regular CL personals are just going to get even more flooded with hookers now than they were before.

Comment by Aislinn

Aislinn — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:08:21 -0800

@1: There are some people, even on Craigslist, who can't get it for free.

Comment by lusk

lusk — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:08:26 -0800

Marginalizing illicit groups and pushing them into dark corners usually works great for helping the exploited!

Can we simply start calling cops the Crime Corporation? Our profit margins are flagging!--we need to generate more crime!

Comment by unclaimedfreight

unclaimedfreight — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:28:39 -0800

HA! Whores are funny.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:31:18 -0800

amusingly, @5 for the win.

Times are tough, and downsizing of luxuries is in.

Conspicuous consumption is out.

Comment by tomasyalba

tomasyalba — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:31:52 -0800

The downturn is hitting sex workers pretty hard, so to speak. Saw a recent story on the Nevada brothels getting pinched these days. They're having to raise their profile to try to make up for lost income, which puts them a bit more in peril. Craigslist is correctly anticipating/experiencing a boom in adverts from them, and no doubt needs to take measures like this to keep them off the radar of every DA seeking reelection by going after these second-easiest of targets. But hey, Stranger, look on the bright side - if Craigslist starts charging, it keeps your rates competitive for your booty-photo page at the back. Yay!

Comment by Jane

Jane — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:40:39 -0800

Wish they'd charge for ALL their listings. Then maybe newspapers wouldn't be dying so quickly! Damn you, Craigslist!

Comment by sepiolida

sepiolida — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:45:07 -0800

What is with this sense of entitlement? Where else will let anyone advertise for free? Well, there's telephone poles if you want free advertising...

Comment by sepiolida

sepiolida — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:47:50 -0800

BTW, I think they will start charging for everything at some point. It's a brilliant business strategy really. Build up the customer base, then start charging. If everyone who posted "for sale" gave them just one dollar they'd be rolling it in!

Comment by mint chocolate chip

mint chocolate chip — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:10:16 -0800

You know, Obama can make everything free by executive order.

Comment by Algernon

Algernon — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:38:25 -0800

(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the second degree if he knowingly:

(a) Profits from prostitution; or

(b) Advances prostitution.

(2) Promoting prostitution in the second degree is a class C felony.

West's RCWA 9A.88.080

Go to jail, Craig. Go directly to jail.

Comment by Dougsf

Dougsf — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:08:38 -0800

#13 - when I read that, I sort of wondered what the legal ramifications could be. Same goes for the ads in the weeklies. Is there a loophole here, or does just no one care to pursue this?

Comment by munchkin

munchkin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:15:37 -0800

"I don’t feel like I should pay for something that I once had for free.”

Hmm... like sex?

Comment by munchkin

munchkin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:15:51 -0800

"I don’t feel like I should pay for something that I once had for free.”

Hmm... like sex?

Comment by Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:23:26 -0800

While Craig�s List is definitely a major resource for escorts to advertise their services, there are a number of other sites out there that provide free advertising to escorts. The only thing that will happen if the government sinks its teeth into Craig�s List is that sexual providers and those that use their services will move increasingly to other sites that provide something similar. As a supporter of prostitution myself, I would point you all towards such sites as http://www.naughtyreviews.com, cityvibe.com, or MPreviews.com, just to name some of the better known alternatives out there. These sites allow sexual providers to post ads for free and for �customers� to contact them directly. Prostitution is the oldest profession because there has always been, and there always will be, a demand for it. The internet simply provides too many ways for prostitutes to stay in business and these latest attempts to thwart it will simply cause a movement in traffic from poor Craigslist to the sites I mentioned earlier.

Comment by mamirica

mamirica — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:20:28 -0800

I think that while yes there should be some restricyions on craigslist its unfair to the many providers that arent "full service" that offer sensual massages to have to pay a fee that can only be paid with their credit cards so thier names and addresses can be given to the police. A couple of coked up babydolls get into fights with their pimps/drug dealers and everyone should pay the price for thier problems? So if your co-worker is a drunk/crackhead should you get into trouble to? So does that make craigslist their pimp?