"Social Justice" SPs versus "Laissez-Faire" SPs

[Lucyny]

I did a lot of reading when I first contemplated joining the scene, and have continued reading since. There's an awful lot to get your head around, and the information you get from different places seems utterly incompatible with information you get elsewhere. (I was expecting hobbyists to be a lot more critical than the ones I've actually met, for instance, just due to the number of discussions of what providers are dogs or not that I've run across.)


However, one of the things that's coming through most strikingly comes from the resources I've seen coming from providers themselves. When the talk gets in any way toward the philosophy end of things, these providers seem to fall into two broad categories.


One--which I'll call the Social Justice Providers--focuses on the affirmation of self that escorting can provide, the need for service providers to stick together, and the unfairness of social stigma against sex work in any of its forms. Here you'll find a lot of talk about Solidarity, about working together to fight against (for instance) other providers not charging enough, and how to change the worldwide opinion of providing. These articles tend to treat providers as a Unit, because we're All In It Together, and what we do affects other providers.


The other--which I'll call the Laissez-Faire Providers--focuses on the freedom a provider has to pursue her needs. The greater social fabric or what other providers are doing doesn't actually matter--the focus is definitely on running their own businesses the best they can, and not worrying too much about how other people are running theirs. There's a lot of room in the market for everyone, and in the end the invisible hand will decide who has the better plan.



I consider myself an Laissez-Faire Provider. Most of the articles I end up reading are from Social Justice Providers, though.

(...and of course, I think most providers are probably too busy with running their own lives to stress about the philosophical overtones.)



So what do you guys think? Does this describe it pretty well? And what are some of your favorite examples of each type?

And is there a similar divide amongst hobbyists? The closest thing I've found so far is the divide between liking a spinner and a BBW. :P (But then, I guess that makes sense--a provider is going to be putting a lot of effort into pulling off their business, and a hobbyist is going to mostly want to have fun once in a while. But hey, if there's something I'm missing, let me know! I'm curious.)

[Rogue_Gent]

My heart goes out to the social justice school of thought but I think that pursuing a rational, humanist policy toward the profession in this political climate is shoveling sand against the tide. Consider the recent effort in San Francisco to decriminalize the profession, a resounding defeat...in SAN FRANCISCO for crissake! The opposition is an unholy collation of religious fanatics and rabid, butch libbers that hate any sex that involves a dick.
As someone that has had a little union experience, I think organizing providers would be like herding cats. Visualize a unionized brothel: "You can't have Ki-Ki, you have to take Big Bertha, she has seniority!

[Fast Gunn]

You subject could really encompass an entire volume rather than just a thread.

However, I think that is really an over simplification of a complex issue to merely divide the class into two groups, but people always tend to do that.

Many providers and for that matter, people in general are not well-adjusted people.

Personally, I have a lot of respect for good providers, but society in general looks down on the profession regardless of the quality of the lady and the service she provides.

. . . If a provider can disregard what society thinks and do the best that she can, I think she will be successful. Sadly, many providers think that what they do is "degrading" and that belief will slowly eat away at their self-esteem. No one can be successful in life without self esteem, but it must be authentic to function properly.

[JohnnyYanks]

Originally Posted by Lucyny

And is there a similar divide amongst hobbyists?

Nah, we agree on most everything other than the age old debate of Spinner V BBW, as you noted. You can learn more about this after you've acquired a couple of White Knights.

And welcome! to you. Thank you for the interesting thread topic.

[cumalot]

Why is it that a label is needed to justify what we do, how we do it and who we do it to or with. I like to think that my life is my own and for no other person to endure my thoughts, pain or dilemma's. How I see myself is a reflection as to how others see me. To me I see myself without labels and a person trying to enjoy life with others, even if it is P4P. Life is too short to contemplate if we are doing it right according to others.....just my 2 cents

[Lucyny]

Life may be too short to contemplate if we are doing it right by others' standards--although I suspect each of us, no matter how solitary, holds at least one other person's standards as important. On the flip side, I tend to find life extremely stressful when I do not have my own standards to gauge it by.

In any case, I think the hobbyist has a great deal less to worry about, as far as the philosophical underpinnings are concerned; they've got to consider the righteousness of a single action between two people who are both active parties. A provider is going to be involved in a great deal more of these--her actions are going to affect the other providers a great deal more than a hobbyist's actions will--and she's dealing with a much larger slice of her time.


That said, it's pretty easy for me. I kind of think the voluntary and mutual transfer of value between two parties is one of the best and most honest actions humans take. To follow that with the second-most honest, well...



I'm glad you like the topic, JohnnyYanks! But I have to ask--what's a White Knight?

[JohnnyYanks]

Originally Posted by Lucyny

A provider is going to be involved in a great deal more of these...
she's dealing with a much larger slice of her time ...

I'm afraid you underestimate the prodigiousness of some hobbyists. Round-the-clock might be understatement. Definitely high volume players.


... I kind of think the voluntary and mutual transfer of value between two parties is one of the best and most honest actions humans take ...

I would very much like to delve into this over whiskey or coffee; unfortunately, current geography disapproves. Onto my bucket list. (Note: "voluntary," in this context, implies a self-awareness that might be difficult to prove; "mutual," an equally troubling condition of measure).


... what's a White Knight?

A Gent so smitten with your feminine charms, your wiles, your special fawnings, that currying your favor has become more than a preoccupation, such that he is willing, among other things, to disclose private forum information (read: Men's Lounge) to you. Among other things.

You sound more than lovely. (Note to self: a trip East for the turning of the leaves this fall?)