GAO studies SESTA,/,FOSTA

[Publisher]

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-385

No surprise here - it's a stupid law wasting taxpayer money.

[vorlon]

The current landscape of the online commercial sex market heightens already-existing challenges law enforcement face in gathering tips and evidence. Specifically, gathering tips and evidence to investigate and prosecute those who control or use online platforms has become more difficult due to the relocation of platforms overseas, platforms' use of complex payment systems, and the increased use of social media platforms.

As we predicted.

[YAG]

There are loads and warnings about trafficking posted here semi-regularly.

It took the Feds and locals 7 years to bust Marcus Rouse in Springfield.

[iowanprimate]

There are loads and warnings about trafficking posted here semi-regularly.

It took the Feds and locals 7 years to bust Marcus Rouse in Springfield.

But didn't you get the memo? We're the ones demanding trafficked SWs...

I will defer to Pubs' command of the vernacular to describe my feelings about those who traffic in others, whether SW, sweat shops, field labor, domestic work, or any other profession. Coercion is not a negotiation technique, it's abuse.

In my expression of "the hobby", I still like to ask for consent. I don't always do it as faithfully and consistently as I think I should, but I try to ask before I initiate anything, even on a repeat visit. And this is just within the power dynamic of client and companion. Feel free to cry "virtue signaling" or "white knighting", I really don't care.

[Mia]

I can’t blame or dislike laws that are put in place especially if it’s to help protect and to keep safe from any harm, threats, abuse, or trafficking going on....
I knew the consequences beforehand and have to “accept the results,” too. I do know that if I was to be in any danger or anything else like it that I do have help out there.
Asian Mia

[vorlon]

I can’t blame or dislike laws that are put in place especially if it’s to help protect and to keep safe from any harm, threats, abuse, or trafficking going on....
I knew the consequences beforehand and have to “accept the results,” too. I do know that if I was to be in any danger or anything else like it that I do have help out there.
Asian Mia

The problem in my view is that SESTA/FOSTA does nothing to actually help protect people who are being trafficked and actually makes it harder by driving trafficking deeper underground as shown in the quote from the document I made earlier in this thread.

[iowanprimate]

I can’t blame or dislike laws that are put in place especially if it’s to help protect and to keep safe from any harm, threats, abuse, or trafficking going on....
I knew the consequences beforehand and have to “accept the results,” too. I do know that if I was to be in any danger or anything else like it that I do have help out there.
Asian Mia

It would be helpful if the laws were better written (and then implemented) to truly target actual human trafficking. The problem is that, due to the dipsh*t politics of this country, and the puritanical hang-ups of our society, it's assumed that any SW is being coerced, either directly, or by systemic poverty. So the laws trumpet the anti-trafficking angle, but still boil down to being anti-SW. The problem that's being exposed in the GAO report is that the laws aren't protecting anyone from trafficking or abuse. They shut down BP. Yay? As usual, they're still targeting the people who could help them the most in identifying the traffickers and abusers (i.e., contractors and clients), making it less likely that any action is taken until a situation gets horrifically out of hand.

I hope you never find yourself in danger, but I am glad you have a support system.

And, of course, vorlon beats me to the Submit button by being more concise...

[Publisher]

I can’t blame or dislike laws that are put in place especially if it’s to help protect and to keep safe from any harm, threats, abuse, or trafficking going on....
I knew the consequences beforehand and have to “accept the results,” too. I do know that if I was to be in any danger or anything else like it that I do have help out there.
Asian Mia

This set of laws has created an even more dangerous environment.

[Mia]

Thank you for the feedbacks. I do like to listen, learn and grow from feedbacks. It does help open my mind and to better understand the reasons for your disagreements. Yes, it’s caused even deeper levels of problems or caused the opposite effects to happen that’s never good either when a new law is placed and it only causes situations to worsen. Great points to say back. Take out the new laws or at least have it rewritten so it results in a positive. I do try to focus and look for the good that’s with anything and everything in life in general for me. I should’ve said that in my first post. I apologize for not being clearer. I’m new to all this and it’s a new experience for me voicing out my opinions on a forum like this.
Asian Mia

[iowanprimate]

I apologize for not being clearer. I’m new to all this and it’s a new experience for me voicing out my opinions on a forum like this.
Asian Mia

No need to apologize, we appreciate hearing your views, and are glad to provide you a safe place to express yourself. I hope that you can also feel as comfortable expressing views that might not be as universally held as trafficking being a bad thing. I will promise to be as respectful as possible to viewpoints I disagree with. Well, I'll try. Sometimes, I have bad days...

[vorlon]

Thank you for the feedbacks. I do like to listen, learn and grow from feedbacks. It does help open my mind and to better understand the reasons for your disagreements. Yes, it’s caused even deeper levels of problems or caused the opposite effects to happen that’s never good either when a new law is placed and it only causes situations to worsen. Great points to say back. Take out the new laws or at least have it rewritten so it results in a positive. I do try to focus and look for the good that’s with anything and everything in life in general for me. I should’ve said that in my first post. I apologize for not being clearer. I’m new to all this and it’s a new experience for me voicing out my opinions on a forum like this.
Asian Mia

You have nothing for which to apologize. One of the valuable functions of GBN is as a place to exchange information and viewpoints so we learn from one another.

[Mia]

I do appreciate reading both of the last two feedbacks in regards to my apologies written on here. I do feel at ease now to know that that I can express my opinions openly without feeling like attacks are going to spark off at anytime cause of having a different opinion. Sometimes I do get ahead of myself and don’t realize it until after I had said it which is too late then lol. Both the feedbacks put a smile on my face meaning I felt a release of comfort that I’m able to be open up and be honest with my view points and not scared and nervous like I said something that i shouldn’t have feeling.
Asian Mia

[Publisher]

Read our Rules of Conduct. They are really who we are, and what this place is about. Express yourself civilly and nobody will jump you for having an opinion.

[iowanprimate]

Read our Rules of Conduct. They are really who we are, and what this place is about. Express yourself civilly and nobody will jump you for having an opinion.

Of course we won't. We don't want to get fed to Fluffy...

If we can't behave with civility, then what's the point? One of the things I distinctly remember from Heinlein was one of his protagonists considering bad manners to be a deadly sin. (I think it was Number of the Beast, but I'm not sure.) While I appreciate that sentiment, I don't have the personal chutzpah to actually live that way...

[Publisher]

Hence, a deadly sin.

[beechnut79]

Too bad the original Backpage was so careless. It was much better than the clones that have come forth since. At it’s height you actually could talk to the ladies on the phone so you felt sure they were real. On these clone sites you never get to a live person. All you get is a text. Ang it seems for the most to be scripted. First they will ask for your location and then will respond that they are nearby and post rates and expect you to drop everything and have them come to you or vise versa. And most claim that they don’t take cash. They want you to prepay through one of these virtual wallet programs or gift cards. I tried the gift card thing a couple of times and got burned. Have heard that once you send the gift card you get ghosted. Another time I went to the hotel and once I arrived was told that I needed to make a deposit in order to get the room number. Come on! Why would I need to make deposit if I am already at the location?

[YetAnotherHobbist]

If we can't behave with civility, then what's the point? One of the things I distinctly remember from Heinlein was one of his protagonists considering bad manners to be a deadly sin. (I think it was Number of the Beast, but I'm not sure.) While I appreciate that sentiment, I don't have the personal chutzpah to actually live that way...

Jubal Harshaw from "Stranger in a Strange Land"?

[Publisher]

Too bad the original Backpage was so careless. It was much better than the clones that have come forth since. At it’s height you actually could talk to the ladies on the phone so you felt sure they were real. On these clone sites you never get to a live person. All you get is a text. Ang it seems for the most to be scripted. First they will ask for your location and then will respond that they are nearby and post rates and expect you to drop everything and have them come to you or vise versa. And most claim that they don’t take cash. They want you to prepay through one of these virtual wallet programs or gift cards. I tried the gift card thing a couple of times and got burned. Have heard that once you send the gift card you get ghosted. Another time I went to the hotel and once I arrived was told that I needed to make a deposit in order to get the room number. Come on! Why would I need to make deposit if I am already at the location?

BP was living on borrowed time the way they handled things, and SESTA/FOSTA would have completely cooked their goose.

The clone sites have zero accountability, and nearly zero spam protection.

The Best of Breed site for advertisers was E.com, which got caught committing tax fraud. The void allowed truly awful sites like eroticMONKEY to get a toehold, and Tryst when FREE might have taken its place - but as I predicted, that freebie ended.

[zero_nerves]

New video from John oliver's show

[vorlon]

That was superb!

[RattleHead]

That John Oliver video is excellent.

[vorlon]

Another video on sex work that is mostly about the raid in which Robert Kraft was involved.

https://youtu.be/AdtIUxWg_6c

[Drlickalotopuss]

The John Oliver piece is superb!! Only in Puritain based US, where any topic regarding sex is "taboo" and "deviant", do we still hold onto these outdated and dangerous beliefs. What is wrong with 2 consenting adults coming to a mutually benefiting arrangement? It's ok to have our elected officials to line theie pockets with corporate money?? These are the true "whores". I was with a Contractor in Chicago who also loved John's essay!

[chevytooheavy]

Interesting.