Boston High-end Brothel Busted

[WyattEarp]

More than 30 men in Greater Boston charged with buying sex from high-end brothel

Following three days of "show cause" hearings this month, charges were brought against more than 30 men who allegedly bought sex from a high-end brothel ring operating in Greater Boston.

www.wbur.org

As some important names are implicated, this seems to be getting some national attention.

My thoughts are:
These affluent Boston guys are stupid. Why not just take a short flight to Toronto or Montreal periodically?

From time to time, some TERBites like to blame puritanical Republicans for U.S. prostitution bans. The issue is more complicated and really doesn't cut neatly across liberal/conservative lines in the United States. Boston, Cambridge and the entire state are very progressive Democratic domains.

The only places where I think you are completely safe to engage in the world's oldest profession in the U.S. is Nevada and probably San Francisco. Both have libertine histories.

 

[Frankfooter]

whatever

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1909258570064879707

 

[mandrill]

More than 30 men in Greater Boston charged with buying sex from high-end brothel

Following three days of "show cause" hearings this month, charges were brought against more than 30 men who allegedly bought sex from a high-end brothel ring operating in Greater Boston.

www.wbur.org

As some important names are implicated, this seems to be getting some national attention.

My thoughts are:
These affluent Boston guys are stupid. Why not just take a short flight to Toronto or Montreal periodically?

From time to time, some TERBites like to blame puritanical Republicans for U.S. prostitution bans. The issue is more complicated and really doesn't cut neatly across liberal/conservative lines in the United States. Boston, Cambridge and the entire state are very progressive Democratic domains.

The only places where I think you are completely safe to engage in the world's oldest profession in the U.S. is Nevada and probably San Francisco. Both have libertine histories.

I always assumed that anti prostitution laws in the Dem northeastern states were driven by the fact that politicians and cops were both predominantly Catholics.

Unlike Canada, where almost no one goes to church or gaf any more.

 

[WyattEarp]

I always assumed that anti prostitution laws in the Dem northeastern states were driven by the fact that politicians and cops were both predominantly Catholics.

Unlike Canada, where almost no one goes to church or gaf any more.

I'm not sure there is a Catholic angle. Montreal probably has as many Catholics as the Boston area if not more.

Like so many places in North America, you have a diverse mixture of influences. First Puritans, then Catholics, Blacks and later Hispanics. Surprisingly, the Asians now outnumber the Blacks in Massachusetts. Generally, these groups all have different cultural mores.

Some progressives are very much about protecting women from perceived social evils. Reading this story in other media outlets, there appears to be a lot of focus on prosecuting and outing the johns which can go hand and hand with protecting women.

 

[mandrill]

I'm not sure there is a Catholic angle. Montreal probably has as many Catholics as the Boston area if not more.

Like so many places in North America, you have a diverse mixture of influences. First Puritans, then Catholics, Blacks and later Hispanics. Surprisingly, the Asians now outnumber the Blacks in Massachusetts. Generally, these groups all have different cultural mores.

Some progressives are very much about protecting women from perceived social evils. Reading this story in other media outlets, there appears to be a lot of focus on prosecuting and outing the johns which can go hand and hand with protecting women.

That's the old rationale for bill C-36 - protecting "victimized" women from johns and pimps.

My sense is that this view is now declining in Ontario. OTOH my discussion circle is TERB-centric.....

It might be a self-perpetuating myth. The USA drives prostitution underground and limits the participants and - certainly - the open, candid participants. If there are no women stating "I'm a college grad and I make a damn good living sucking dick and it's a pretty good job!", then that PoV doesn't get presented and the old myths about drug-addicted, exploited, "immoral whores" remains in currency.

I do believe that the US is far more religious than Canada. I checked the wiki for Ohio - predominantly urban, northern state - a few weeks ago and marvelled that religious adherence is at 70%. In ON, religious adherence would barely break the surface. No one I know goes to church.

 

[WyattEarp]

That's the old rationale for bill C-36 - protecting "victimized" women from johns and pimps.

My sense is that this view is now declining in Ontario. OTOH my discussion circle is TERB-centric.....

It might be a self-perpetuating myth. The USA drives prostitution underground and limits the participants and - certainly - the open, candid participants. If there are no women stating "I'm a college grad and I make a damn good living sucking dick and it's a pretty good job!", then that PoV doesn't get presented and the old myths about drug-addicted, exploited, "immoral whores" remains in currency.

I do believe that the US is far more religious than Canada. I checked the wiki for Ohio - predominantly urban, northern state - a few weeks ago and marvelled that religious adherence is at 70%. In ON, religious adherence would barely break the surface. No one I know goes to church.

Maybe we're somewhat more religious, but I wouldn't extrapolate religion to everything about our social orientation. Massachusetts in this case here is overwhelmingly in favor of abortion.

I'm guessing Massachusett's anti-prostitution laws have the support of a bloc of many progressives and socially conservative Christians. Given how long the U.S. fought decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana across all states, I think there is simply a strong social conservatism in the U.S. that is not easy to change.

Funny you made the point of the college grad escort. I don't think it's lost on anyone that a smart, attractive woman who organizes her affairs carefully can make a lot of money in the U.S. U.S. law enforcement has essentially drove up the price of escorts Now there's always the law enforcement threat to any U.S. escort. If they screen and are cautious, the legal risks are much lower than girls on the street or in this case a brothel operating in a city.

 

[mandrill]

Maybe we're somewhat more religious, but I wouldn't extrapolate religion to everything about our social orientation. Massachusetts in this case here is overwhelmingly in favor of abortion.

I'm guessing Massachusett's anti-prostitution laws have the support of a bloc of many progressives and socially conservative Christians. Given how long the U.S. fought decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana across all states, I think there is simply a strong social conservatism in the U.S. that is not easy to change.

Funny you made the point of the college grad escort. I don't think it's lost on anyone that a smart, attractive woman who organizes her affairs carefully can make a lot of money in the U.S. U.S. law enforcement has essentially drove up the price of escorts Now there's always the law enforcement threat to any U.S. escort. If they screen and are cautious, the legal risks are much lower than girls on the street or in this case a brothel operating in a city.

Then I lean back on my theory that it's the inability to raise the argument "It's just another job choice" publicly that creates a self perpetuating stigma.

My sister and my nieces are typical diehard Dem voters - all university profs with extremely liberal views. All support abortion and women's rights. One has trans friends and defends trans rights; but even hint that prostitution should be legalized and normalized draws immediate howls of revulsion, rejection and disgust from all of them.

 

[squeezer]

Then I lean back on my theory that it's the inability to raise the argument "It's just another job choice" publicly that creates a self perpetuating stigma.

My sister and my nieces are typical diehard Dem voters - all university profs with extremely liberal views. All support abortion and women's rights. One has trans friends and defends trans rights; but even hint that prostitution should be legalized and normalized draws immediate howls of revulsion, rejection and disgust from all of them.

Oh boy, if they knew what their brother and uncle was up to, they would lace your coffee with Ex Lax.

 

[stephenp]

Cambridge city councilor charged with buying sex in high-end brothel ring

A Cambridge city councilor faces charges of buying sex from a high-end brothel ring that operated out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and Virginia.

www.wbur.org

"Authorities said the ring advertised on websites and screened customers by requiring them to provide their names, email addresses, employers and references."

All providers are free to set the policies they feel they ought to set, while I am free to have my own policy in response. I'm 100% sure, this wouldn't have involved me. Won't be participating in the usual debate, comment over

 

[squeezer]

The US is disgusting when it comes to its sexually repressive beliefs. Stay out of people's bedroom dammit.

 

[Frankfooter]

More than 30 men in Greater Boston charged with buying sex from high-end brothel

Following three days of "show cause" hearings this month, charges were brought against more than 30 men who allegedly bought sex from a high-end brothel ring operating in Greater Boston.

www.wbur.org

As some important names are implicated, this seems to be getting some national attention.

My thoughts are:
These affluent Boston guys are stupid. Why not just take a short flight to Toronto or Montreal periodically?

From time to time, some TERBites like to blame puritanical Republicans for U.S. prostitution bans. The issue is more complicated and really doesn't cut neatly across liberal/conservative lines in the United States. Boston, Cambridge and the entire state are very progressive Democratic domains.

The only places where I think you are completely safe to engage in the world's oldest profession in the U.S. is Nevada and probably San Francisco. Both have libertine histories.

The country that produces the most porn in the world.

 

[Valcazar]

Then I lean back on my theory that it's the inability to raise the argument "It's just another job choice" publicly that creates a self perpetuating stigma.

I think that is a big part of it.
As long as it is politically and culturally unpopular, there is little ability to push it forward because the political cost to even bring it up is too high.

You can think of Canada being more open to it and you will see there isn't a very vocal "it's all cool" contingent here either.

 

[mandrill]

I think that is a big part of it.
As long as it is politically and culturally unpopular, there is little ability to push it forward because the political cost to even bring it up is too high.

You can think of Canada being more open to it and you will see there isn't a very vocal "it's all cool" contingent here either.

It's sold up here as a "let's protect these poor exploited, disadvantaged women" shtick.

And then it's left to the police forces to quietly not enforce what is left of the anti sex work laws.

 

[Valcazar]

It's sold up here as a "let's protect these poor exploited, disadvantaged women" shtick.

And then it's left to the police forces to quietly not enforce what is left of the anti sex work laws.

Right, but even with that quasi-legality of the Nordic model, there isn't any cultural cachet in saying "I'm pro-sex worker".

 

[mandrill]

Right, but even with that quasi-legality of the Nordic model, there isn't any cultural cachet in saying "I'm pro-sex worker".

There probably is in some feminist circles.

 

[Valcazar]

There probably is in some feminist circles.

There are some which are pro sex-work as general work, but outside of circles that are specifically made up of sex workers, it isn't the norm.
There is a long way to go where it doesn't carry some stigma.

 

[mandrill]

There are some which are pro sex-work as general work, but outside of circles that are specifically made up of sex workers, it isn't the norm.
There is a long way to go where it doesn't carry some stigma.

Discussing the topic with a female acquaintance the other day. She offered that most women hate sex workers as "unfair competitors who steal other women's men" and the only way sex work decriminalization can be palatable to even a few women is by sex workers being presented as oppressed victims of male society.

Hence the spin in C-36.

 

[Valcazar]

Discussing the topic with a female acquaintance the other day. She offered that most women hate sex workers as "unfair competitors who steal other women's men" and the only way sex work decriminalization can be palatable to even a few women is by sex workers being presented as oppressed victims of male society.

Hence the spin in C-36.

I am... dubious... as to how widespread that view is.