Freakonomics and the Hobby

[Gryphon]

I realize the book has been out for a year, so I'm a little late to the party, but I just finished reading Super Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner. Being an empiricist by nature, I find their methods to teasing out actual data about highly controversial questions fun and refreshing. They don't[/LIST]appear to have any axes to grind and simply go where the data takes them. Their latest book has some interesting insights about the hobby. Some of these confirm what I have seen, while a couple of them surprised me a bit.

Here are the highlights:

• Being a streetwalker is an awful job, with high rates of drug addiction, low compensation, high risk of STD exposure, and high risk of suffering violence
• Streetwalkers who work with a pimp have higher compensation and a lower risk of violence than streetwalkers who operate indepently.
• Being an escort who operates mainly through the internet (like most of the providers on ECCIE) is much more like running any other business, with low risks of violence or getting caught, low incidence of drug abuse, and high compensation.
• Monkeys can be taught to use money. When they are, the first thing they do is exchange money for food. The second thing they do is exchange money for sex. The experiment was terminated at that point out of fear of corrupting the monkeys.

There are interesting bits about other things, such as altruism (it really exists only in the setting of incentives, material or psychological) and global warming (climate science has taken on many aspects of a religion, with accepted dogma and heretics. Oh, and the whole problem could probably be solved for about $50 million). It's an interesting read for anyone interested in thinking outside the box and trying to analyze human behavior.

[ClairJordan]

First, love your quote!
I haven't read this book yet either, but you have motivated me to pick it up. Sounds like they have combined social science research as well as economic data.
One of my favorite animal 'sex for compensation' stories: Female penguins, who partner to produce and care for off-spring, will fornicate with other males the second their SO back is turned in exchange for nest building stones.
In the chimp world, 90% of females are monogamous. 10% 'sleep around'. Those 10% get the best palces to sit and the first bite of meat. They also have all the males of the tribe looking after their off-spring because there is the possibility the baby could be theirs.
Food, shelter and sex, baby.

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by ClairJordan

Female penguins, who partner to produce and care for off-spring, will fornicate with other males the second their SO back is turned in exchange for nest building stones.

Anyone seeing Clair be sure to bring plenty of twigs and stones.

[Trance]

This is a fantastic book--I recommend readking the original and the new one too. Yeah the monkey thing was hilarious!

[WTF]

Originally Posted by Gryphon

Here are the highlights:

• Being a streetwalker is an awful job, with high rates of drug addiction, low compensation, high risk of STD exposure, and high risk of suffering violence
• Streetwalkers who work with a pimp have higher compensation and a lower risk of violence than streetwalkers who operate indepently.

Its a great book but these myth buster do not fit into the accepted norm of thinking around these parts. People around here still confuse human trafficing with sex trade.

The GlobalWarming folks hate this book. Good thing they aren't reporters for NPR!

[Aflac]

Originally Posted by Gryphon

It's an interesting read for anyone interested in thinking outside the box and trying to analyze human behavior.

+1

After reading Freakonomics, I read the following:

• Predictably Irrational, and
• Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

Both also interesting studies of human behavior but more slanted toward thinking about marketing or selling things.

[Guest083011]

Originally Posted by ClairJordan

First, love your quote!

Word!

Originally Posted by ClairJordan

In the chimp world, 90% of females are monogamous. 10% 'sleep around'. Those 10% get the best palces to sit and the first bite of meat. They also have all the males of the tribe looking after their off-spring because there is the possibility the baby could be theirs.
Food, shelter and sex, baby.

Isn't this life in a nutshell. Why argue with solid logic and patterns.

[Gryphon]

Originally Posted by ClairJordan

First, love your quote!
I haven't read this book yet either, but you have motivated me to pick it up. Sounds like they have combined social science research as well as economic data.
One of my favorite animal 'sex for compensation' stories: Female penguins, who partner to produce and care for off-spring, will fornicate with other males the second their SO back is turned in exchange for nest building stones.
In the chimp world, 90% of females are monogamous. 10% 'sleep around'. Those 10% get the best palces to sit and the first bite of meat. They also have all the males of the tribe looking after their off-spring because there is the possibility the baby could be theirs.
Food, shelter and sex, baby.

Love your showcase! Since we're not too different from chimps, you should be running the show.

Originally Posted by pjorourke

Anyone seeing Clair be sure to bring plenty of twigs and stones.

Bundled stacks of Franklins make much better insulation.

[Adrielle]

I don't have much free time to read anymore, but after hearing so much about it a while back I made time. It was fantastic. They actually recently released "Freakonomics: The Movie". I've been wanting to see it but it's not being played in many theaters.

Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfC-ZHJ4A5U

[WTF]

Originally Posted by Adrielle

Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfC-ZHJ4A5U

Thanks, that was news I could use.

Gotta check out the movie. If more people would challenge conventional wisdom the price of Tea in China would fall

[Camille]

If you want to look at complicated mating rituals watch, "March of the Penguins"...bloody brilliant! Throws a few of the stereotypical views of how involved the male is during pregnancy on its head too.

C x

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by WTF

If more people would challenge conventional wisdom the price of Tea in China would fall

I hope you have data to support that opinion.

[ClairJordan]

Bundled stacks of Franklins make much better insulation.
__________________
Couldn't agree more...

[Mr.Oneeye]

Hello All;

"And we learn that at some point in the last 80 years, the cost of a blowjob from a Chicago prostitute went from being more expensive to less expensive than vaginal sex, as the societal taboo against oral sex – which gave it scarcity value – declined. (The average price of each, in case you were wondering, is currently $37.26 versus $80.05.)"

Changing times.

Have a good evening.

Cyclops