Backpage Defends Prostitution Ads on Nightline

http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/201...-on-nightline/

Overall, though, the D Magazine blurb presented the backpage ads in a negative light. Like always. I can ONLY comment on the article because I haven't seen the Nightline episode.

Add to that, sensationalistic (think that I might have made that word up to fit what I'm trying to state) stories of pimps eating the facial flesh of one of his girls (paraphrasing, of course) and the huge, but inaccurate, discussion of trafficked individuals ... it's just another article in a long line of articles that are completely dumb and ill-informed for the most part.

Not sure about the screening of the ads aspect of what was written. My pictures in these ads are always being deleted whereas I'll see huge hoochie mommas with everything hanging out who get to feature THEIR pictures.

With the screening of ads, I'm not sure how consistent it is.

I always shake my head when I read this crap. And the comments were bothersome.

If you ask me, the only way to stop human trafficking is to legalize and regulate the hobby. You know who hates human trafficking and has the easiest way to get info on it? Those who regularly see escorts and AMPs. Imagine if instead of an alert going out about a guy trying to rape a girl, or a pimp attacking a customer, they could actually call the police? My god, then some good can be done! Of course, these thoughts are probably new to no one on here.

Yes, you're right Daen. It would be great to be able to go to the police if either a client or a companion were attacked or robbed. To me, legalizing it isn't a solution for human trafficking. It doesn't stop young girls from running away from home, and some pimp brainwashing her into believing that giving him all her money is the right thing to do. It doesn't stop those bringing people into the country illegally, scaring them with deportation if they don't do what they ask.

It would open up all kinds of worms trying to handle investigations into human trafficking. What would be the procedures for finding underaged girls when it's legal for us to do this? Are they going to harass every lady under 25, thinking she's under duress or trafficked?

I saw the Nightline episode. Basically BP is saying, thank God you have your search platform. The anchor was trying to make it about the money they receive from the ads. They're a business. They're supposed to get money. They will probably try to disallow gift cards for the purchase of ads, but all the coppers can do is run the stings, and catch someone pimping kids.

If you ask me, the only way to stop human trafficking is to legalize and regulate the hobby. You know who hates human trafficking and has the easiest way to get info on it? Those who regularly see escorts and AMPs. Imagine if instead of an alert going out about a guy trying to rape a girl, or a pimp attacking a customer, they could actually call the police? My god, then some good can be done! Of course, these thoughts are probably new to no one on here. Originally Posted by Daen1304

A person who is attacked should call the police anyway. Whether it's a working girl or not. THAT is one of the personal issues that I have with this business.

Women feel threatened and they won't call the authorities. The police only care about your business if they're looking to catch you. A couple of years ago, I was horribly stalked by a bat shit crazy female. The threats were so bad that I really thought of going to the authorities and filing a report.

I had a serious discussion with my roommates at the time and they were supportive. Although I didn't do it, and slowly she went away (for now anyway!), it was a situation that I was very serious about.

I'm just throwing that out there. If someone is brutalized, call the damn police. They're going to help you. Hopefully.

Elisabeth

My apologies, my last post suffered from bad word choices. I don't think anything can truly stop human trafficking. But if the hobby is legalized and regulated it could make things easier to reduce the problem. I'm going to skip the possible ideas that could help, because my point is the hobbyist could do something if they suspect human trafficking other than just run the other way. It won't solve the problem. But it might save some people from it.

Prostitution is illegal.

Escorting is not.

Hell, the BP body rub section is littered with more offenses that could be result in an infusion of cash for the city by having anyone posting ads in that section cited for massage without a license if they so much as advertise! You CANNOT post ads for massage no matter what the term used if you are not licensed in this state.

Traveling gals with out of state licenses are still violating Texas laws!

Back to the Escort section.

Like ECCIE, Backpage removes images and has edited out ads that are specific with regard to sex for money.

I wonder if anyone posting an Escort ad might be better off using the standard disclaimer about time and money only but leave off the thing about what happens between 2 consenting adults?

Hell, If the owner's would make that a part of ECCIE ads at the bottom for the same reason since one show I recently watched talked about online sites such as this one, would that help?

Sure we know it means nothing but strictly speaking, perception is reality.

Daen, I agree with legalizing. I do not agree with "regulating." You want the government regulating "the hobby?" Imagine DMV running it. No thank you. Legal, YES.

That is why the best option is to decriminalize. Not make "legal" in the sense that ladies will have to register and the such. Then, ladies would be made to do all sorts of unpleasant things.

If that was to be the case and we were required to get licensed or whatever, I'd still be an illegal sex worker because I'm not going to become a registered sex worker in the state of Texas. Period.

Of course, that's a discussion for another topic. If this world was decriminalized, it still wouldn't be quite morally acceptable, but this situation wouldn't be so fraught with the crap like these news shows that only serve to agitate the public and spread untruths.

Prostitution is illegal.

Escorting is not.

Hell, the BP body rub section is littered with more offenses that could be result in an infusion of cash for the city by having anyone posting ads in that section cited for massage without a license if they so much as advertise! You CANNOT post ads for massage no matter what the term used if you are not licensed in this state.

Traveling gals with out of state licenses are still violating Texas laws!

Back to the Escort section.

Like ECCIE, Backpage removes images and has edited out ads that are specific with regard to sex for money.

I wonder if anyone posting an Escort ad might be better off using the standard disclaimer about time and money only but leave off the thing about what happens between 2 consenting adults?

Hell, If the owner's would make that a part of ECCIE ads at the bottom for the same reason since one show I recently watched talked about online sites such as this one, would that help?

Sure we know it means nothing but strictly speaking, perception is reality. Originally Posted by LazurusLong

As usual, I pretty much agree with what you've written. I'm not sure that a disclaimer does anything. I've gotten in some pretty huge arguments with my old webmaster because I don't want a disclaimer on my site. I feel that it's worthless.

If you're not engaging in prostitution, then why would anyone bring it up on their site of business? Crazy.

But yes, of course perception is reality. But even that could be argued, if only for the sake of argument. And so I don't believe that a disclaimer of any sort, even if certain words were left out, would be of benefit to this site and/or others. I wouldn't mind hearing more arguments about it, though.

Warm hugs,
Elisabeth