"I could have been a brain surgeon, but I decided to be a prostitute instead because I LIKE it!"

OK, now how ridiculous is this: a discussion board to discuss postings on another discussion board to discuss postings on Craigslist. Using the very same bulletin board software and layout template, no less.

I’m not sure how long it lasted, but… alas, it’s gone now. The domain was registered last May, and there are indications that something was up and running on the domain between February 22 and March 4. There’s no telling if that was the aforementioned bulletin board or something else, though.

But, if you sniff around some, you can find out what it was that TallBrunette (Bobbi) had in mind for maryjanescloset.net:

Announcement
MARY JANE’S CLOSET IS IN NO WAY ASSOCIATED WITH TNA REVIEWS (FORMERLY CLRB). WE ARE A BULLETIN BOARD THAT HAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POSTINGS AND REVIEWS ON TNA REVIEWS (FORMERLY CLRB). This forum is a repository for reviews and posts that appear on TNA REVIEWS (FORMERLY CLRB).. Other sources are welcome too (newspapers, classifieds, online classifieds, independents).

The Law of Unintended Consequences, Part 247

Meanwhile, across the pond, the nascent ‘United States of Europe’ (known officially as the European Union) continues to struggle with the ramifications of open borders and free trade. The latest casualty is Switzerland, where they are now wondering what to do with all of the newly arrived prostitutes who have come to take advantage of a new treaty that was originally designed to bring in (other types of) skilled professionals.

The lack of restrictions, combined with the country’s wealth, has pushed the number of prostitutes per capita in Zurich to the highest among industrialized countries, estimated Rolf Vieli, a city employee heading a project for improvement of the Langstrasse area, Zurich’s red-light district. Based on police figures, Zurich has about 11 prostitutes per 1,000 people, similar to the rate in Amsterdam, known for its sex trade.

I have no idea what the numbers might look like in other parts of the world, but I would wager that in the U.S. the proportion of prostitutes among the general population is nowhere close to 1%. Well, actively working prostitutes, that is.

Not mentioned in the news story — but clearly written between the lines — is that business must be pretty good in Switzerland. Otherwise the prostitutes would leave.

The Best Defense: A Good Offense

Today we have some superb follow-up to the recent discussions on escort services and their propensity to keep detailed records about their clients. (hat tip: mixmaster via The Petulant Pooner Tipline)

To recap, my own assertion is that such record keeping is harmless, as it doesn’t place a hobbyist in any significant legal jeopardy. Other voices, naturally, have voiced other opinions, using the current dust-up over Washington, D.C. madam Jean Palfrey’s announced intent to sell her records to raise money for legal fees as an example of why one should never deal with an escort service at all.

Hogwash, I say. I stand by my original remarks: for the average Joe, giving your information to an escort service is still less hazardous than crossing a busy street. If you are a politician, movie star or some other kind of public figure — fine, there are some risks. But then, if you have so much to lose, you should probably find another hobby anyway.

But, let’s get back to Palfrey. Normally, I would slam her for this kind of indiscretion or for dealing with the media at all when it is clearly going to be detrimental to the Hobby. But this case is truly different. Palfrey is facing a ruthless prosecution, with authorities moving to seize her assets and leaving her with few options.

Of course, there is another side to this beyond raising money for legal fees. As a defensive tactic, threatening to release the client list is pure genius when the list contains (or might contain) the names of powerful people who just might have the pull to make the whole thing go away. Early indications demonstrate, to my mind, that it just might work. How can I tell? Easy. The prosecution is screaming bloody murder:

In recent filings, Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Cowden expressed concern about what he called Miss Palfrey’s “recent threat to harass potential witnesses whose identities remain secret . . . through calculated public disclosures of former customers’ and former co-workers’ identities.” Mr. Cowden also said authorities want to hold off on the pending civil seizure proceedings because it could affect the ongoing criminal investigation. He said Miss Palfrey’s attorney wants the government to turn over the names of cooperating witnesses. That could compromise the ability of criminal investigators to gather confidential information, he wrote.

This is pure posturing for the benefit of the media, I would have to say. Are we to believe that any of Palfrey’s clients are likely to testify? Think about it… those “potential witnesses whose identities remain secret” will have to be named if the case goes to trial, and they will have to be made known to the defense well before the last minute, too. If the prosecution had a legitimate legal gripe, they could have had an injunction. Instead, they are talking to the press. It could hardly be more clear that the prosecutor is worried.

So, what’s the lesson here? I see several. For clients, obviously, it is about rocks, glass houses, playing with fire, ‘can’t do the time, don’t do the crime’, and all of that. For escort services, the directive points towards keeping secure, off-site — and more thorough — client records. Prosecutors — who have entirely too much discretion to begin with — ought to think outside the box a bit when considering the overall viability of a case.

And, just as it has always been — for women, it’s not what you know, or who you know… it’s who you’ve been fucking that matters most.