Saturday, November 15, 2008
Craigslist has reached an agreement with the attorneys general of 40 states regarding its listing of male/female erotic-service ads. Henceforth, Craigslist will charge advertisers on that list $5.00 per ad through their credit cards. (This will identify them to the authorities if a subpoena is granted.) Since such ads have always been free on Craigslist, the proceeds will be turned over to charity.
Ostensibly, the wise attorneys general imposed this innovation on Craigslist to avoid exploitation of minors and women. But I believe that what really bothered them was that these ads could be posted without charge and therefore ran more frequently, and in different styles and formats, than the very same ads in newspapers or on Web sites that charged for them.
Flagging (removal of ads) on various forums of Craigslist has been an annoying occurrence since its inception. The ads are flagged by the “Craiglist Community” for being too explicit, by erotic-service competitors, and by mischief-makers of all sorts. In addition, anyone can comment negatively on an ad appearing on that list. While anything is possible, it is unlikely that male or female minors would get away with such ads. Certainly, they couldn't advertise that they were underage and thus attract pedophiles. Foreign women, brought to this country under a legitimate pretext and then forced into prostitution, would not be allowed by their captors to make out calls. It would take only a single comment on the Craigslist to alert law enforcement to an apartment or a house where such activities took place.
The “erotic services” lists also allow males to advertise their services frequently and with no charge. But it serves a much greater benefit for female advertisers. The fact that the person who placed the ad can remove it at will makes it possible for women to “deprostitute” themselves instantly. Males, not under the control of pimps, have always been able to do this. One day they’ll advertise that they are straight, broke and willing to do anything for rent money; the next day their ads will have disappeared. In the olden days, they would be hustling on the street when there was a convention in town and then disappear until the next such event took place.
It has never been that easy for women. Pimps, physical abuse by clients, the concept of a “fallen woman” (have you ever heard of a “fallen man?”) make it difficult for them to move in and out of sex work with the ease of their male counterparts. Craigslist, where they could post anonymously, without giving an address or phone number, made it is easy for them to be sex workers when they wished, and stop doing it at will. They could also include or exclude their photos, always having the choice of attaching it to their e-mails. I believe that this is what the attorneys general disapprove of. I also am reasonably sure that they don’t much care about males. Naturally, they cast a wide net and inconvenienced males while seriously hurting women.
Ostensibly, the wise attorneys general imposed this innovation on Craigslist to avoid exploitation of minors and women. But I believe that what really bothered them was that these ads could be posted without charge and therefore ran more frequently, and in different styles and formats, than the very same ads in newspapers or on Web sites that charged for them.
Flagging (removal of ads) on various forums of Craigslist has been an annoying occurrence since its inception. The ads are flagged by the “Craiglist Community” for being too explicit, by erotic-service competitors, and by mischief-makers of all sorts. In addition, anyone can comment negatively on an ad appearing on that list. While anything is possible, it is unlikely that male or female minors would get away with such ads. Certainly, they couldn't advertise that they were underage and thus attract pedophiles. Foreign women, brought to this country under a legitimate pretext and then forced into prostitution, would not be allowed by their captors to make out calls. It would take only a single comment on the Craigslist to alert law enforcement to an apartment or a house where such activities took place.
The “erotic services” lists also allow males to advertise their services frequently and with no charge. But it serves a much greater benefit for female advertisers. The fact that the person who placed the ad can remove it at will makes it possible for women to “deprostitute” themselves instantly. Males, not under the control of pimps, have always been able to do this. One day they’ll advertise that they are straight, broke and willing to do anything for rent money; the next day their ads will have disappeared. In the olden days, they would be hustling on the street when there was a convention in town and then disappear until the next such event took place.
It has never been that easy for women. Pimps, physical abuse by clients, the concept of a “fallen woman” (have you ever heard of a “fallen man?”) make it difficult for them to move in and out of sex work with the ease of their male counterparts. Craigslist, where they could post anonymously, without giving an address or phone number, made it is easy for them to be sex workers when they wished, and stop doing it at will. They could also include or exclude their photos, always having the choice of attaching it to their e-mails. I believe that this is what the attorneys general disapprove of. I also am reasonably sure that they don’t much care about males. Naturally, they cast a wide net and inconvenienced males while seriously hurting women.
Labels: Craigslist - ertoic services
