TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Tag: erotic services

  • Ex-Marine arrested in craigslist death

    Murder Shocks Neighbors:

    As you all know you can find just about anything on craigslist. Hacked iPhones, stolen stereos, a human being. Wait, what?

    That’s what 35-year-old Willie Donaldson of Arlington, VA got. He responded to the ad of 32-year-old Matthew Hicks of Sterling, VA. Donaldson hired Hicks and his girlfriend but it was unknown for what but not surprisingly Hicks’ ad was in the erotic services section of craigslist.

    At sometime during the night Hicks and Donaldson got into some kind of argument. Shortly before 4am the ex-marine Donaldson put an end to the argument by allegedly shooting and killing Hicks. Donaldson then called the police and when they arrived at the scene Donaldson turned himself in quietly.

    According to the article, Donaldson looked brutal in his mugshot sporting some blood, a black eye, and a sling. So technically Donaldson could have acted in self-defense. That remains to be seen.

    What you won’t hear the media say is that this is the third murder that was somehow connected to craigslist. The first was Katherine Ann Olson of Minneapolis who was shot and killed when she responded to a fake employment add. The second was Charles Parrish Murphy of Fresno, California. He was found dead after he went to meet someone he was selling a car to on craigslist. That doesn’t even count 19-year-old Donna Jou who disappeared after having a date with a sex offender that she met through craigslist.

    This highlights a big problem with craigslist and its erotic services section. Even after its much-lauded new security measures, it seems that the erotic services section of craigslist is still alive and thriving. If you haven’t figured it out by now I would say that 99% of all erotic services ads are not so thinly veiled ads for prostitution. And prostitution is not a victimless crime as so many would have you believe. Even if prostitution was legal you’d still have the problems of drugs and violence that are associated with it now.

    Even though craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said that any amount of crime on craigslist is unacceptable he still allows the largest source of crime on its site to continue.

  • Buckmaster: No amount of criminal activity is acceptable

    Craigslist gets strict on erotic listings:

    This is another article about the alleged craigslist crackdown on prostitution.

    One of the problems with craigslist that it shows that the people who are flagging the ads in the erotic services section are competing ‘escorts’. How’s that user policing working out?

    The other thing is yet another quote from craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster and his alleged disdain for criminal activity…

    Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said preventing site misuse and improving public safety is the company’s highest priority.

    “The incidence of crime on Craigslist is actually exceedingly low, considering the tens of millions of legitimate ads posted each month by well-intentioned users,” Buckmaster said. “But no amount of criminal activity is acceptable, and as Craigslist has grown, we have become aware of instances where our free services were being misused to facilitate illegal activities.”

    You’ve become aware? That sounds like you’ve just found out about it. I know someone who has been following the criminal activity on your site for almost 3 years. And if the crime on craigslist is so unacceptable why haven’t you taken any real measures to curb it?

    Just more lip service.

  • Has craigslist cleaned up?

    Cleaning up Craigslist:

    TV station WTNH from New Haven, Conn. thought it would see if craigslist new measures to limit erotic services ads has had any effect. Basically, it hasn’t.

    They also talked to Ray Bechard, the founder of Ahava Kids which help rescues Connecticut kids from prostitution. He had something familiar to say.

    “Well, here’s what I don’t understand — Craigslist has on its website, under services, a category called ‘erotic’ — if they just removed that, the problem would be mostly solved,” Bechard said.

    What a novel concept. I wonder why no one has said this before. Oh wait, they have, it was me.

    craigslist won’t do it because of all the traffic it brings to their site.

  • Palm Springs Police on prostitution

    SPECIAL REPORT: Trumping Prostitution on the Popular Craigslist Site:

    Just wanted to share with you this quote from Palm Springs, California police about craigslist’s new measures to limit activity on its erotic services section.

    Police are optimistic this will help, but they say the only way to stop the abuse completely would be for Craigslist to stop allowing “erotic services” ads.

    That’s not likely to happen.

    It seems like I remember someone else saying that too.

  • More on craigslist’s new rules

    Craigslist to charge for erotic services ads:

    Yesterday, I did an interview with Matthew B. Stannard of the San Francisco Chronicle about craigslist’s new security measures. Let’s get my media self-back patting out of the way first.

    On the other end of the criticism spectrum was Trench Reynolds, a pseudonymous crime blogger who tracks Craigslist-linked crime at thetrenchcoat.com.

    “I still say the best way to crack down on that is to do away with the erotic services section altogether,” he said. “I think (the deal) will cut down on a lot of the erotic services ads, but I don’t think it will cut down enough to put me out of business.”

    And I still stand by what I said.

    Now let’s move on to a quote by craigslist’s CEO himself Jim Buckmaster…

    “It raises the accountability for people posting to the category,” said Craigslist Chief Executive Officer Jim Buckmaster. “Our well-intentioned users don’t want to see illegal activity on the site, either.”

    Buckmaster said the company is trying to strike a balance, keeping the erotic services section – in part to keep such ads from appearing elsewhere on Craigslist – but trying to do so responsibly, protecting free speech and preventing exploitation. Hopefully, he said, Craigslist can be a pioneer in this kind of cooperation as it has been on the Internet.

    “In our humble opinion this is the way to go, and we would invite other online services to follow suit,” he said. “We all would be better off if we all voluntarily do what is necessary to curtail illegal activity on the Internet.”

    I keep hearing this theory that if craigslist did away with erotic services, the ads would appear in other parts of the site. Well, if erotic services ads appear in other parts of the site, won’t the users then be able to flag them? I mean, that’s what Mr. Buckmaster was touting prior to the new measures. Has Mr. Buckmaster lost faith in his user base that he has so highly touted in the past? Or did he never have it to begin with and just wants the traffic that the erotic services section provides?

  • craigslist announces bold new security measures

    No sooner did I post my previous post about Craigslist big announcement did I see this post by Jim Buckmaster on craigslist’s official blog.

    craigslist is taking huge steps to eliminate crime on its sites.

    First off craigslist is suing 14 companies whose service and software are geared towards circumventing craigslist’s existing security measures such as needing a working phone number to place an erotic services ad.

    Speaking of erotic services, those ads will now require not only credit card verification but also a small fee with 100% of that money donated to charity.

    They have also entered into a new partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help put a stop to the exploitation of children.

    You can read the entire press release at the link I posted above.

    Is this the end of crime on craigslist? Is this the end of this section of the site? Um…no.

    While I applaud the efforts that craigslist is going to they still refuse to eliminate the erotic services section altogether.

    While the measures they are putting in place are admirable but still can be circumvented. How many of the new ads will be placed with stolen credit cards?

    This is a huge step to eliminating crime on craigslist but unfortunately, it is still not enough.

  • A real massage therapist weighs in

    I got the following e-mail from a legitimate massage therapist. You know the ones. The ones with licenses that don’t give happy endings that usually work in an actual spa and not just some place that calls itself a spa when it’s in a rundown hole in the wall in the seedy part of town. Anyway, this massage therapist has a beef with craigslist…

    What bugs me about all the articles about craigslist is that they don’t encourage the public to flag illegal ads! As a massage therapist, hookers on craigslist give my profession a bad name. Please start encouraging people to flag these illegal ads, if we all work together we can reduce these ads! Hell, at least it’s better than doing nothing!

    Oh believe me MT, I do recommend that. However, for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. If anyone ever comes out and publicly claims they flag ads the hookers and whoremongers start a harassment campaign.

    But as long as everyone stays quiet about it I think we could theoretically get something accomplished.

    If everyone reading this went to their local craigslist and started flagging just a few illegal ads in the erotic services section maybe we could actually get craigslist’s attention on this.

  • We get letters

    I received the following comment from someone calling themselves Kali on my post about the Erotic Services Backlash…

    To the vigilante posse who have taken it upon themselves to dictate how others should live their lives, I wish many curses to rain down upon your home and your loved ones. May you reap the karma that you are sowing a thousand times over, may you get into freak accidents and may you get attacked by swarms of bees, bitten by bown recluses and black widow spiders and may large trees fall upon you crushing you to death and dismemberment

    You deserve everything that the counter posse is doing to you ( glad to hear that they are fucking up Jon’ world, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay) and much, much more..

    so mote it b e, it is done.

    Kali

    In case you don’t remember Jon had his family threatened and his personal info posted online.

    What’s a matter Kali, was it cutting into your meth money?

    Personally, I don’t see it as a matter of morality. What you’re doing is illegal and people like Jon are doing exactly what craigslist suggests people do and flag the ads for obvious illegal activity. Criminals should never talk about reaping what you sow, especially those in the sex trade. You’re just inviting a nasty STD on you if you don’t have one already.

  • We get letters (It’s a long one)

    I got some interesting e-mails and comments over the weekend about my stance that craigslist should eliminate its erotic services section. Let’s start with the long boring one from a male craigslist ‘escort’.

    Since your blog makes it perfectly clear you can do a better job of discerning what are “legal” or “illegal” services offered in the erotic services section of craigslist, I challenge you to the following test: I will provide you with the legal statue of the state in which I work, the content of my ad, and a synopsis of what is discussed with a client before

    services are delivered. Your task will be post that same information & then an explanation of how it qualifies under the state statute as illegal activity WITHOUT relying on conjecture and presumptions. Are you up to the challenge? We’ll see….

    1. STATE LAW: Prostitution is performing for hire, or offering or agreeing to perform for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: Sexual intercourse; sodomy; or manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the offender or another.

    2. CRAIGSLIST AD: Interactive, Sensual, Satisfying, Massage PLUS – m4m Much-deserved, much-needed, and completely satisfying sensual massage. Former USArmy – 5’8″ husky & masculine — tattooed/hairy arms & legs — Just a real guy for your very real pleasure. Interaction Welcome.

    Special Attention given to Mature Men, but all ages (18+) welcome. Older? – Fully Appreciated & Respected Bearish, Hairy or Chubby? – All body types accepted Straight/Curious? – Your Limits Completely Respected Married? – DDF, Safe, Clean & Absolutely Discreet

    ###-###-#### – EMAIL, TXTMSG or CALL for APPT

    Available MOST WEEKDAYS after 5PM….or ANYTIME Saturdays & Sundays

    INCALL: $60.00/hr; Home or Hotel Outcall: $80.00

    3. UPON CLIENT ARRIVAL: There is never any discussion of sex or sexual acts of any kind for payment.

    Client is asked whether he agrees to the “Terms of Service” presented in large-type which read, “This is not an offer of prostitution and no fees will ever be solicited or accepted for illegal activity. I AGREE that money exchanged in legal adult recreational services if only for time,

    companionship, and general/non-therapeutic massage. I AGREE that anything else that may or may not happen is a matter of personal choice and personal preference between two or more consenting adults of legal age and is not expected or included in the services provided for fee. I AGREE that the services provided for fee do not in any way include or relate to performing for hire, or offering or agreesing to perform for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: sexual intercourse; sodomy; or manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of that person or

    another.”

    4. SERVICES DELIVERED: As stated in the ad….massage.

    5. SESSION ENDED: Clients pays (and hopefully tips).

    FROM THE ABOVE INFORMATION ONLY can you explain how anything illegal has been offered or has taken place?? If you can’t, I bet you won’t have the guts to post it on your blog. Have fun!

    You’re right. I can’t say with 100% certainty whether or not your services are illegal or not without actually using your services, which I wouldn’t but that’s just my personal preference.

    However, if I were law enforcement in your community your ad would definitely draw my attention.

    Buzzwords like Massage PLUS are a tip-off. The fact that you posted the typical escort ‘this is not prostitution..blah blah blah, would lead me to believe that’s exactly what it is. Not to mention when you posted I AGREE that anything else that may or may not happen is a matter of personal choice and personal preference between two or more consenting adults of legal age and is not expected or included in the services provided for a fee also leads me to believe you’re offering an illegal service. You know that argument never holds up in court right?

    If your massages are so legitimate then why are they posted in the erotic services section? Do you have a professional massage license in your state? Have you ever been arrested for your ‘massages’?

    The next I received as a comment on my post about Jon who was harassed by the ‘hobbyists’ of the erotic services section for flagging ads…

    So you’ve got nothing better to do than this, huh? I have no problem with you having your own religious morals. Just don’t try and force them down my throat!

    If you go back and read that post you’ll notice that religion is never mentioned anywhere. It’s got nothing to do with religious morals but everything to do with prostitution being illegal. I’ll stop when one of two things happens, when prostitution is made legal in the other 49 states, or when craigslist eliminates the erotic services section.

    This next one is from a repeat customer who I’ve ignored up until now. I figured since I was addressing hobbyists and escorts I might as well address a comment from the cult of craig. I received it as a comment on my post about the journalist who took out craigslist escorts on actual dates.

    So you are a judge and jury and human expert?

    What is the objective of this website?

    You need to provide a page telling your tale,

    or you ware just a whiney person, who looks

    a the world and complians,,,but has NO SOLUTION,,,

    what is your purpaose?

    First I’d recommend that you switch to the Firefox browser. It comes with a spell checker. Secondly, I thought the objective of this site was pretty obvious. It says so in the tagline, “The craigslist crime blotter“. Do you know what a crime blotter is? A lot of local newspapers in the US have a section that’s called the police blotter which mentions calls that the police have had. That’s sort of what I do except all the crimes here deal with craigslist or other classified sites. And I have three basic solutions that I’ve mentioned repeatedly that would go a long way to reducing crime on craigslist. 1. Make users have a public profile on craigslist. 2. Eliminate the erotic services section. 3. Don’t do business on craigslist.

    Hell, craigslist should be paying me a consulting fee.

  • An escort on craigslist

    I got an e-mail over the weekend from a professional escort who we’ll call Mary. She pointed me in the direction of archive.org and their Wayback Machine. Now I was familiar with the Wayback Machine but I never thought to run craigslist through it until now.

    Mary says that craigslist has been building their fame off the backs of hookers since almost the beginning but they don’t dare tell the public how long they’ve been doing it.

    Thanks to Mary’s tip I went through the Wayback Machine and the earliest I found that craigslist had the erotic services section listed on the front page was October 29, 2002. So for most of craigslist’s life, they’ve been using prostitution to attract users. If anything craigslist should give the prostitutes a cut. Also, we now have a date to ‘celebrate’ the day that craigslist started dallying in child prostitution and human trafficking.

    Getting back to Mary she says that craigslist has basically used the women to build their site and now they act like they have no clue of what’s going on. Mary also says that she has been harassed and stalked by craigslist users in the past and that craigslist does nothing to protect its users. She says she has posted warnings about stalkers and lost clients because of it so basically like I’ve been saying it’s the inmates who are running the asylum at craigslist. Mary finds it ironic that the stalkers get the last say since craigslist was built on the backs of hookers.

    Do I think that Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster are pimps? Not in the least. Pimps at least pay their girls.