Quote:
Originally Posted by jfred
Yeah, so what about this?
HOBBYIST IN BIG TROUBLE!!! Ladies, I need your help. There have been insane demands on my budget lately -- totally unexpected -- and I can't make ends meet. By the time I pay my bills there's NOTHING left to hobby with!!!
I'm depressed and irritable. My boss has noticed a drop in my work quality. My poor kids think I'm Jeckel/Hyde. It's gonna cost me dearly in these areas if I don't get some relief.
I'll get paid on the 15th, but until then please provide me with unpaid sex. Five or 6 sessions is all it would take.
You know I've never asked for anything like this before. But this is an EMERGENCY!!!
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Now that is a very clever use of sarcasm to make a point, jfred.
Kudos to you!
Having been around the hobby block for what will soon be three decades, this sort of thing does often happen. Often there is a legitimate reason for such electronic panhandling, but just as often it is a ploy to generate revenue, or sadly they get the compassion of others and either only put a bandage on their financial troubles, or blow the cash completely and continue to perpetuate their woes. This is not a provider thing, it is a people thing. Not many people male, female, pervert or puritan handle money well, just look at the consumer debt statistics.
Now I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but the reality is that the some providers see hobbyists as walking ATM machines. That is not necessarily a bad thing.
This is a business and emotional/social buffers are important. While with them, the best providers craft an illusion of friendship, affection, and passion for us--that is why we pay them. We also pay them to gives an hour or so of bliss with no entanglements. Sure sometimes we can become friendly, and perhaps even establish friendships, and romance has even been known to occur. None the less, we should strive to keep the lines clear rather than blurry.
We are also a community. When tragedy strikes, it is perhaps best to manage it outside the hobby, or perhaps by word of mouth and hopefully a group of people will champion your cause so you do not have to beg. Hopefully those that come to the aid of a person that is struggling will also beware not to enable a bigger problem.
Sadly, having done this for many years, I have learned the hard way that
YOU NEVER GIVE A PROVIDER MONEY UNLESS IT IS A PAY FOR PLAY SITUATION.
More times than not you will actually make the situation worse, and perhaps ruin a fun relationship with regret and resentment.
Now what I have seen done effectively, is an impromtu social put together as a benefit for a provider with an illness, or having loss her property and belongings in a fire. Several providers and hobbyists have rallied around, thrown a party, had many door prizes and raffles (including reduced sessions or free sessions) with the proceeds going to the person in need. This helps the person in need, stimulates business for other providers with the raffles, and creates fun for everyone while bolstering those buffers to protect everyone from dangers of personal charity that becomes addictive, co-dependent and enabling.