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The allure of high-end prostitutes: 'unique experiences'

TRALEE PEARCE

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 10:32 AM EDT 12/03/08

Why do powerful, wealthy men - and women - who can presumably attract all manner of gorgeous mate, choose to visit prostitutes? ...Read the full article

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  1. Addie Bundren from Ribald, Canada writes: Kind of hard to write a compelling article on the subject, in a family paper, without a more detailed description of the service for value.
  2. Jimmee J. from tecumseh, Canada writes: Go ahead Addie, cut loose and if it your best shot, I bet the editors will enjoy the read if no one else.
  3. dwight steadman from Fort Macleod from Canada writes: These penetrating explorations of the human psyche are what keep me coming back to the Globe and Mail.
  4. The Wight from Canada writes: Because we've only got 75-80 years on the planet and living that life with a kind, dutiful, caring spouse who just plain sucks in the bedroom can be a loooooooong time. If your spouse consistently doesn't take out the garbage, eventually you either have a fight or ... do it yourself. Think the bedroom is any different?
  5. Jack Jones from Clearwater BC, Canada writes: Easy

    Because deep down they are unhappy and lack confidence. Money is only the illusion of power and happiness. Or as Chretien would say
    'a- piness!
  6. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: Spitzer was married to a Baptist. The so-called exotic experience he was after was probably nothing more than a Lewinsky!
  7. El Christador from Canada writes: I wouldn't have thought the allure of high-end prostitutes was really something that needed explaining.
  8. X. T. from Canada writes: ah, after so much foodie articles, I was thinking maybe G&M should change to something fresher and more interesting. And this hooter appreciation is just what we need.

    Cool!
  9. Hydrogen Bob from Toronto, Canada writes: I think the answer is simple. Great sex with a beautiful partner without complications. It does not satisfy the soul in anyway like life long realtionships with a committed partner, but it may fufill other needs. An exotic distraction without entanglements. And I am sure it is cheaper than keeping a mistress. Not justifying or condoning this behaviour, just making an observation. Like many distractions in life, it doesn't make you happier. And high end prostitutes may make a lot of money, but I can't imagine that they are happy lot.
    Better to cultivate good friendships unrelated to business with interesting people. You get the distraction from life and may cultivate new joys. Oh, and you can bring your spouse too!
  10. Stephanie Holmes from Comox Valley, Canada writes: It amazes me that you can write an article like this an not even try to explore how the prostitutes got there. You make this exploitation of individuals sound glamourous. No one ends up as a prostitute unless they have been convinced they have no other choices. At least the New York Times posted an OP-Ed piece about the abuse and exploitation inflicted on people who end up as prostitutes - no matter how much money is exchanged. Have a look at 'The Myth of the Victimless Crime' by Melissa Farley and Victor Malarek, NYTimes, March 12, 2008.
  11. Hans Ulster from From the heart of Alberta, Canada writes: ddie Bundren from Ribald, Canada writes: Kind of hard to write a compelling article on the subject, in a family paper, without a more detailed description of the service for value.

    -======-

    Well said. Although it is now being reported that Democrat Spitzer used up to $80,000 of STATE funds (in addition to his own monies) to support his addiction. I, for one, can't get my mind around paying $5,000 an hour for someone. But then I am paranoid about STDs.

    $5,000 AN HOUR! These gals must be seriously hot and have large UNTAXED bank accounts. LOL. Apparently he was caught on tape saying he wanted unprotected sex with one of the gals. Yikes.
  12. Hans Ulster from From the heart of Alberta, Canada writes: Stephanie Holmes from Comox Valley, Canada writes: It amazes me that you can write an article like this an not even try to explore how the prostitutes got there. You make this exploitation of individuals sound glamourous. No one ends up as a prostitute unless they have been convinced they have no other choices. At least the New York Times posted an OP-Ed piece about the abuse and exploitation inflicted on people who end up as prostitutes - no matter how much money is exchanged. Have a look at 'The Myth of the Victimless Crime' by Melissa Farley and Victor Malarek, NYTimes, March 12, 2008.

    ------------

    Please tell me in what other 'profession' one can make up to $70,000 a WEEK? Yikes. That is some serious dough.
  13. Philosopher Dog from Toronto, Canada writes: Up until the last comment I thought this was one of the better threads I've read on the G&M site. I think the sexual mind is incredibly complicated, and we spend a lot of time hiding out from it. One of the things I've noticed in my own mind is that which I fear most comes up in my sexual fantasy life in its inverted form. It's almost as if the sexual mind is a release valve for deeply unresolved issues. For example, let's say you were a person who was incredibly shy, your sexual mind might create the desire for exhibitionism, and eventually you might even act on it. Here's a political leader who apparently made a name by being Mr. clean. It's not surprising that he's got a sexual mind that's going in the complete opposite direction. Don't most minds have deeply unresolved issues? They might not express themselves sexually, but they very likely might.
  14. Sue City from Canada writes: Sounds like he'll miss his prostitute more than his position. Bye-bye special favours.

    What do governors in the U.S. make these days, anyway? If they can afford $1000-an-hour prostitutes, it's too much.
  15. max from edmonton from Canada writes: I am not so sure that is the case here Stephanie. In most Sex for pay cases you are almost certainly correct. BUT... if you are talking about a woman rated 7 diamonds and the price is thousands per night you can bet she is not some washed up street troll.

    In this world beautiful people have opportunity, they are given the benefit of the doubt and preferential treatment.

    A woman that qualifies for a 7 diamond rating MOST LIKELY could at least get a job selling nice clothes, or at a fine restaurant. Enough to pay the bills. I would bet these women are in it for the Money but have other choices.

    Of course I have no way of knowing, I can only imagine what 7 diamonds look lilke
  16. C A from Toronto, Canada writes: 'The Wight from Canada writes: Because we've only got 75-80 years on the planet and living that life with a kind, dutiful, caring spouse who just plain sucks in the bedroom can be a loooooooong time. If your spouse consistently doesn't take out the garbage, eventually you either have a fight or ... do it yourself. Think the bedroom is any different?'

    so you think its acceptable to 'just do it yourself' rather than address it with the person you took vows with? have kids with? been married for 20 years and you cant talk to your other half about some issues in the relationship? rubbish. selfish, self serving pigs will do this, adults communicate.
  17. Action Jackson from Canada writes: Sue City: Spitzer's independently wealthy -- mostly inherited wealth. He probably grew up in an environment where visits to prostitutes were as normal as dental appointments.
  18. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: Stephanie. That would be the feminist perspective - you know, the one where a small group of women purport to speak for ALL other women. Sorry, but it takes all kinds. Not everybody has to be 'damaged' in some way just because they don't conform to what you think is or should be the norm. At that price, these girls can live whatever life they choose to outside of the few minutes some rich guy is going to spend in them. Not everyone is as puritanical in their morality as others. You can't imagine doing it - fine. I couldn't either, and I hope my daughter won't too. But it is fantasy to believe that nobody can act out of their own free will when it comes to prostitution. Some people see an easy way out and take it. Character flaw? Maybe. Definite indication of some tragic, deep rooted issue? Not always.
  19. Paul F. from Toronto, Canada writes: Have to say that this whole 'scandal' is a bit pathetic.

    Whatever desires Spitzer has is his own affair, as long as the two parties were consensual. Clearly he was the victim of a sting. Sex sells. That's all that is going on here. He was caught because he pissed off powerful people.

    If there is a matter of corruption, where public funds were used, then that should be his downfall. But so far, he is being pushed out before any real information is coming out.

    For a country that for years celebrated Madonna, Britney Spears, etc. as celebrities and stars, when sex appeal is used ubiquitously in marketing it is a bit hard to hear pious blowhards go on about Spitzer's 'hypocracy'. He targetting corruption by Wall Street and actually tried to make it accountable, which is sorely needed. God knows that the housing bubble stupidity could have been avoided if the Fed and the White House were run by people of integrity.
  20. Tyler Williams from seattle, United States writes: Interesting.

    The article asks a question: 'Why do some powerful, wealthy men - and women - who can presumably attract all manner of gorgeous mate, choose to visit prostitutes?'

    Isn't the answer kind of simple and obvious?

    It is because they are selfish losers in need if a change in attitude!

    It is the same reason why some wealthy men and women sometimes shoplift a ten dollar item from the shelf of a struggling mom and pop corner store, and why some wealthy men and women sometimes file frivolous lawsuits for a million dollars against the poor frightened dry-cleaning worker who accidentally misplaced a pair of their favorite hundred dollar pants, and why some wealthy men and women sometimes hire a hit man to kill a person who merely annoys them.

    It is because they are selfish losers in need if a change in attitude!

    And as far as rich folks hiring those pricey prostitutes in cities goes, the existence of such a large supply - of plentiful 'upscale' educated prostitutes - that is simply reflective of how many selfish losers there are out there!

    Pretty simple, really.
  21. Synchronicity Tour from Canada writes: Its the same reason these types buy expensive cars, giant plamsa TVs and fancy toys – low self esteem, lots of money and a need for true happiness.

    Spitzer was likely a nerdy high schooler who wanted to prove to the world and himself that hes a cool guy and that he could get a hot women in bed.

    A classic case of over compensation.
  22. Dave Roberts from Toronto, Canada writes: The answer is in genetics, men like OPP.
  23. Just A Thought from Canada writes: Stephanie Holmes from Comox Valley, Canada writes: It amazes me that you can write an article like this an not even try to explore how the prostitutes got there. You make this exploitation of individuals sound glamourous. No one ends up as a prostitute unless they have been convinced they have no other choices.

    Stephanie -- that's a pretty broad generalization. I've know a few high-end escorts and they all chose their profession (for different reasons) -- the money, the sex, control over men, etc. They all had other alternative professions but they chose prostitution (one used to be a teacher, another an actress, another a real estate agent). No one forced them.
  24. Private Person from Toronto, Canada writes: Stephanie Holmes: your premise is nonsense. You can write an article about garbage collection or RMT massage without automatically exploring how these poor pathetic souls ended up in such a demeaning, soul-destroying blah blah blah...

    Not everyone believes that prostitution is more demeaning than working for a manager in a company. It is arguably less so. Ask male gay-for-pay prostitutes, who, arguably, have the harder job, compared to their female counterparts. These guys are usually straight, and yet they provide a more than technically sucessful diversion for their clients. Ask them and you'll find many who mostly satisfied in their lucrative job, saving for college, planning a year of luxury travel, saving for real estate investment.

    For some women, the profession would be demeaning and painful. For some, it is a satisfying lark. For others, a profitable enterprise enabling other life-goals.

    Why should we react with automatic revulsion? Whom do you disapprove of? A $1,500 call girl does NOT have a violent pimp injecting her with drugs and pushing her out onto the street to work for her addiciton. She's a professional and at that price she's competent. What, precisely, is your beef?

    The most common surprise that comes from any candid exchange with a prostitute is that men want what they can't get from their wives and that there is something they feel they can't discuss with their wives. Surely if marriage is what we all are told it is, this should inspire the revulsion we incorrectly apply to prostitution.

    They say it's the oldest profession in the world. Perhaps snooty disdain for it is the oldest prejudice in the world.

    If your husbands visit whores, the whores aren't a problem. They're the canary in the coal mine.
  25. James Young from Brantford, Canada writes: Maybe he was just horney, had the money, and satisified the desire. A grand for a tumble sounds pretty good from where I sit-if I had the spare grand. To each his own.

    There are people who have different sexual proclivities, and if you are not aware of them, they may sound strange. People today are less inclined to practice sex with a hole in a sheet for procreation only. But I suppose their are some.

    Durgan.
  26. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: Sex with prostitutes when you are married is a bad idea. But this article doesn't state that every rich person they interviewed were married, did it?

    'Why do powerful, wealthy men - and women - who can presumably attract all manner of gorgeous mate, choose to visit prostitutes?'

    Simple. It is exciting. Wild sex with incredibly hot people. No guilt. No cares. No strings. They aren't being lied to or led on. No hidden agendas. Discretion assured (usually). Never rebuffed. Easy to schedule. No 'work' or wooing.

    Mostly, they are willingly spending a few thousand as opposed to giving up half of their money when SURPRISE, it turns out the other person didn't really love them at all and was in it for the money. (After all, what is Heather Mills, Paul McCartney's ex, but a VERY high priced whore? I bet he wishes he'd known about the Executive Club so he could get his oil changed with discretion, anyway he wished.)

    Not everybody is in love with love. Get over it.
  27. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: Private Person nailed it. So did Albert Bayo - albeit crudely. Too bad the puritan who notified the board censor couldn't handle the honesty. Bet your spouse is banging a hooker right now.
  28. Claude Carriere from Canada writes: Sorry Stephanie, if I were younger and had the bod (and were the right sex of course), I would definitely consider it. Here is the choice, and by the way, many students do it to pay off their tuition bills quickly and efficiently.

    The choice: hundreds or even thousands of dollars for one hours work or $10 to $20 for one hour at the local fast food or telemarketers. Not a real hard choice for many.

    There is no long seething psychological or mental disorder behind it, it's pure dollars and cents.

    Some actually like what they are doing and continue doing it, others do it for a while then move on once they have acheived a certain goal. Also, while customers are mostly men, there are increasing numbers of women who are availing themselves of such services as well.

    Street level prostitution is a very different ball game.

    It would be of far greater benefit to society to allow these services legally and tax them accordingly. The people providing services would be better protected, their health could be better monitored and law enforcement could concentrate on real and serious crime.

    As for the morality of this, when they die, God can pass whatever judgement it deems appropriate. It is not our place to do God's work here.
  29. Sam Smeads from Canada writes: I think people make stuff like this complicated when it's actually very simple. Alot of people have very high sex drives which they spend alot of effort trying to satisfy. I know, I'm one of them. Even if they are married, their wife may not be willing to do the things they desire, or may not be good at it, or maybe they just aren't attracted to the person as much anymore.

    I think it's all about sex. People who say it's about power are deluding themselves, because somehow they can accept it better that way, i don't know why.

    It's really simple - these people want to get off, from a beautiful person, with no strings attached, and in a way where they can be sure they will get the sex/satisfaction that they desire. That's it. No need to dig deeper.
  30. Sylvester McMonkey McBean from Ottawa, Canada writes: No, Stephanie Holmes is right. Of course, her purview is too narrow. I develop software for a living. How did I get here? What nefarious machinations of a patriarchal society led me to this exploited state, wherein I must do this work in exchange for filthy money? Certainly no one would choose this life - the ones I know are forced into it by the need to eat and to house themselves and their families. For $70K a week, I'd be a prostitute as quickly as I could change my clothes.
  31. Henry Allen from East Bank, Don River, Canada writes:
    People are over-reacting. By my rough estimate, Eliot Spitzer was faithful to his wife at least 99.2% of the time. That's a darn good statistic.
  32. Timber Wolf from Richmond, BC, Canada writes: Wealthy people who frequent high end escort agencies are those who objectify people themselves. The CEO's spouse is but another accessory along with the Mercedes, stock portfolio, big house, etc. These people are imprisoned to the false notion that the pursuit of happiness is tied to money; the figure that money will bring them happiness, love, etc.

    Stephanie is correct in saying that prostitutes are victims, but then again, so are the clients. Both parties are victims of souless materialism.
  33. GlynnMhor of Skywall from Canada writes: While I accept the possibility that a professional might do a better job, I can get quite adequate satisfaction on the DIY plan and pay no money at all...
  34. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: Gee . . . did the name of Christian Republican Senator David Vitter (R-Je susland . . . actually: 'Louisiana') come up ?

    He's still in the US Senate, even though he admitted to hiring prostitutes . . . he is completely supported by the Senate Republican Leadership. He blames (1) Satan, and (2) 'the liberal media' for this, uh, 'problem' of his.
  35. I_Hate_David Miller from Toronto, Canada writes: For the most part an escort (maybe not the one's at $5,000 an hour) is likely cheaper than a wife or girlfriend and they are for sure going to put out at the end of the night.
  36. Rollo Tomasi from Belgium writes: Money cannot buy happiness, but money can buy pleasure. Or, as Woody Allen responded to Diane Keaton after she had said that sex without love was an empty feeling, 'as empty feelings go, it's one of the better ones.

    Prostitutes are expedient, like buying a slice instead of an entire pizza. You don't have to dress up to impress them, take them out to dinner, or, gawd forbid, listen to them as they describe their day. Look at the menu, choose what you want, and have it your way when you want. Home delivery is available too.
  37. Lee Turner from Canada writes: Let's not jump all over Stephanie completely. The reality is most prostitutes are not $1500/hour executive call girls. Most do not choose to enter the profession, most are forced into it at a very young age (the average is 13), most have no other choice, either through force of the reality of their lives but to become prostitutes. I firmly beleive we should legalize and regulate prosititution, and that the beneifts to society would far outwiegh the non-action of conservative morality hand-wringing.

    As for why men and women frequent high-class call girls, I'd say their reasons are as varied and diverse as human sexuality is. Why do some people fetishize leather? Why do some like infantilism?
  38. The Middle Finger ..I.. from Canada writes: Hans Ulster from From the heart of Alberta, Canada writes: Please tell me in what other 'profession' one can make up to $70,000 a WEEK? Yikes. That is some serious dough.

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    You live in Alberta, Canada and haven't heard of hockey players? You must be from Red Deer.
  39. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Stephanie Holmes, high end prostitutes earn several hundred thousand a year. And you're telling us they have no other choices? Maybe for that amount of money they don't. Not all hookers are victims. Certainly high end prostitutes are not.
  40. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: "Lee Turner from Canada writes: Let's not jump all over Stephanie completely. The reality is most prostitutes are not $1500/hour executive call girls."

    nobody requires a reality check, or saying most prostitutes lead wonderful lives. Quite the opposite, but this conversation is about high-priced call girls.

    Stephanie was intimating that NOT ONE WOMAN could enter into this profession or be a part of it without being abused or exploited. This is an all too common example of the moralizing feminist puritan movement at its worst.

    They pick the cookie cutter, decide it is the only possible stance one can take, and then try to force everyone into it. It is the mentality of women as a "minority" or special interest group that leads to this and scuttles any rational position that is at odds with that stance and seeks to treat women as individual decision makers. It their zeal, radical feminists women's own worst enemy. Nobody is ever meaner to a woman than another woman.
  41. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: You missed Stephanie's overarching point Alistair. All women are victims, always. Even rich political wives and millionaire call girls. I would add badly behaving rich and famous debutantes and starlets.

    Bad men do bad things to women and it is never women's choice or their fault. When they encounter a woman who doesn't fit the mould and boundaries of acceptability they have created for all women in womyn's name, the women's movement simply infantilizes and/or patronizes and/or pathologizes those it disagrees with.
  42. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: Too bad this maverick 'clean out the cesspool of corporate crime" has been slain. He just made too many enemies to have such an expensive habit. If he embezzeled public money to buy sexual services he should be prosecuted. If it was his own money, who cares. As for the women involved, people sell their brains and brawn, why can't they rent out their other parts?
  43. G. Veneta from Calgary, Canada writes: Pretty simple really. Spitzer grew up average in looks and build and now that he is powerful and rich he can have the women he never could as an average guy. Don't over complicate this.

    What's new about any of this? Wealthy men paying for beautiful hookers for sex? There's many young beautiful women in this oil town who defacto do the same dating men old enough to be their grandfathers but are paid in diamonds, furs, condominiums and sports cars. What's the difference really. It's about the money for the women and about satisfaction and ego for the men no doubt. I imagine some of these high end hookers quite like the power they feel they get vicariously through the powerful men they work for.

    This likely goes on everywhere and in everyone's back yard where there are rich and powerful men and in some cases women. It's now out in the light of day and Spitzer was righteous and sanctimonious about the prostitute rings he successfully 'nailed'. One wonders what went through his mind as he was on one of his righteous rants when he too was 'one of them'.

    Nothing is as it seems on the surface. This is just a glimpse into the lives of the powerful and rich that most don't see or want to see.

    The mighty has fallen and only has himself to blame. He's made the American tabloids full of glee....what juicy material.
  44. NotASpoiledAthelete Athelete from Canada writes: Here's a devil's advocate question concerning the Spitzer affair. Why do we all assume that his wife didn't already know about it? She's a Harvard law grad who runs her own charity - an idiot & a patsy she is not. She would easily recognize that the name recognition her husband would bring to her endeavors would be very useful for her, no? They may have had a tidy little quid-pro-quo agreement where he can be a complete idiot so long as he doesn't get caught.

    Let's remember that he was ducking in & out of hotel rooms to avoid his security detail, not his wife.
  45. Mike L. from Canada writes: Correcting myself from another thread, men who eat regular tasty meals at home have no need to eat in a restaurant.

    All too often in a long marriage, the fire goes out in her stove before it does in his. Throw a little money and power (the ultimate aphrodisiac) in the mix, and the perp is history.

    And the media, will sympathize with the cuckolded wife, not the adulterer. Guaranteed, even if she made his life a nagging, sexless hell.
  46. F H from Ottawa, Canada writes: There's a saying:

    There are many things a wife won't do and there are some things a mistress won't do but there are few things a hooker won't do.
  47. Mellow Drama from Canada writes: I'd like to paraphrase what the Mayflower Madam had to say about this when she was asked about escorting. She said, "Men marry their wives and expect them to continue to act the like the bawdy young women they dated while women marry and expect their husbands to domesticate." I know it's a generalization but I feel it has some truth. Many men are programmed to spread the seed, and have a need for sexual excitement, variety and novelty. We aren't built with a switch to turn off this feeling.
  48. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: If you take the morality argument out of the equation then it becomes just a simple buisness transaction.
    I have worked in the the entertainment buisness for over 20 years and I've seen people purchase escorts ranging from 100 to several thousand dollars. Some of these people were married some were acting on impulse but it basically comes down to fulfilling a desire.
    When I was younger I happily shelled money out for services rendered. It was easier then going out and looking for a one night stand and through the hassel of meeting someone and all the blah blah blah when all I was interested in was sex with a comely partner before moving on to the next city on the schedule. Money was paid services were rendered and both parties left happy.
    I'm presently happily married with 2 children and have not had the need of any outside activity for about 10 years. I have no regrets about the past and my wife is aware of what I did and offers no moral judgement on it.
  49. Kitchener de Regina from Canada writes: Sh*t if I had money to blow, this would be a weekly thing.
  50. B to the A to the R to the T from the left coast, Canada writes: Dawg gone it. I was hoping for at least a broad description of "unique experiences".
  51. J La Flaca from Canada writes: Only in North America does sex get such scandal - geez, human beings like sex, they like variety, they look for different levels of connection in diferent circumstances....and hence the world is full of lovers, mistresses and call-girls. It is nothing all that earth shattering, more that the "scandalous" nature of the Spitzer affair is a reflection of deeply purantical beliefs about relationships between the sexes....and funnily enough, reduces all dynamics and complexities of a relationship down to sex.....sex, the end-all-be-all. Sex suddenly represents and encompasses everything - quality of relationship with his wife, sordid-backgrounds of prostitutes and character of the man.....do we base so much of our assessment of a relationship on sex? What a strait-laced society. For all we know, his wife has had an inkling of his sexual desire outside of the relationship and decided not to make it the fundamental point....I suspect that more than ANYTHING she is screaming "could've you have been more discrete!!"... and that is the irony, because absolutely the $1000 /hr price tag is not for sex as much as it is for discretion and convenience...... And the analysis that ALL prostitutes are a sorry-exploited lot is extremely outdated....my god, at this level, these women are empowered, sexually confident, have choice in their engagements, discrete, and are financially very well compensated. They must be good at their jobs and very "bought in" to them because they could blow dozens' of careers out of the water if they choose to.
  52. Yourname 2 from Canada writes: If you think the hookers were expensive check out how much his wife is going to take.
  53. Mellow Drama from Canada writes: Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States -- gee, you sound like some one I know (seriously).
  54. Norman Petit from Calgary, Canada writes: For all those who have jumped all over Stephanie Holmes - please remember that certain branches of feminism have deified a woman's genitals to the point where one woman will stand up and define the proper (and therefore improper) use of same for all women, thus ghettoizing those who would use their parts for evil, and not good.

    That evil, of course, involves the snaring of men for pleasure and, in exchange, cash.

    That breasts do not qualify for quite that level of protectionism puzzles me, but I presume that is because it's alright to enhance one's breasts and strut them in public for one's self esteem. Kidding. I think.
  55. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: "Yourname 2 from Canada writes: If you think the hookers were expensive check out how much his wife is going to take."

    Indeed, there is an irony in that. He spent thousands to go to hookers, likely to have them do what she wouldn't.

    Now, she'll get millions of his family's fortune for not doing what they did.

    Could this have been her diabolical plan all along?
  56. Lola Tengo from Toronto, Canada writes: This article is extremely superficial. As for some of the above comments, I like to compare prostitution to maid services. I would love to have someone do all of my cleaning and cooking. I could pay a maid well-above what she might otherwise make if she were forced to find different work. She might even like to chat with me, and enjoy cleaning my house more than she would cleaning bed pans in a hospital or working in a factory in her home country. I suppose there are even some very well-paid maids making more than what I make, since I am not in any way wealthy. None of this changes the fact that we live in an unequal society, that her choices are few, and that in an ideal state, she would choose something different. Of those who say prostitution is no big deal, I suspect very few of them would take their child to the pimp booth at career day, were there to be such a thing. Just because one or two of you might reply, "well if society was less hung up about sex, then the pimp booth wouldn't be such a bad idea," doesn't mean that the general drift of my argument is wrong.
  57. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: Lola Tengo from Toronto, Canada writes
    None of this changes the fact that we live in an unequal society, that her choices are few, and that in an ideal state, she would choose something different. Of those who say prostitution is no big deal, I suspect very few of them would take their child to the pimp booth at career day, were there to be such a thing. Just because one or two of you might reply, "well if society was less hung up about sex, then the pimp booth wouldn't be such a bad idea," doesn't mean that the general drift of my argument is wrong.

    I disagree. We live in an unequal society and the choices are many.
    Prostitution is not a choice that all would make to either be the purchaser or the seller. It is a choice that some make and yes I believe if North American society was not so hung up with puritanical sexual values it wouldn't be such a problem.
    Would I hope that my own daughter does not enter the world's oldest profession? Well the answer is yes. But she will make her own choices and all I can do is give her the benefit of my expierences to help her with her choices.
  58. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: Mellow Drama from Canada writes: Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States -- gee, you sound like some one I know (seriously).

    Could be. I'm from Canada originally. Guess we will never know
  59. web warlock from Canada writes: Even the most intelligent man in the most happiest of marriages will find his mind dwelling on the idea of sex outside of marriage; the monkey in his brain will try to rationalize it any way it can. We are wired for sex. The more drive for success, the more drive for sex. There is no mystery here. Human males are not monogamous by nature. Neither are females, for that matter, no matter how much they may be conditioned to believe it.
  60. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: Lola Tengo from Toronto, Canada writes: None of this changes the fact that we live in an unequal society, that her choices are few, and that in an ideal state, she would choose something different.

    First of all, the analogy is useless. This is about high priced hookers - the kind that make thousands by the hour! NO maid, no matter how good, would ever make that. And how do you know she wouldn't be doing that? Why does eveybody insist THEY know the minds of others?

    And what is this "ideal state" argument? Do you have a point? In an ideal state I'd be doing something different too, and I like my job. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be a professional playboy or just a rich layabout. Fact is, the girls with the bodies and skills to make thousands for an hours work are a lot closer to living my dream than I am.
  61. Eric the Red from Uzbekistan writes: " Just A Thought from Canada writes:

    .....They all had other alternative professions but they chose prostitution (one used to be a teacher, another an actress, another a real estate agent..."

    And you know this how? Over coffee? Post-coital chat / smoke / shower?
  62. H K from winnipeg, Canada writes: Cheating spouses are everywhere - in all segments of society.
    All of them seek "unique experiences" (whether they actually exist out there or not).

    The only difference between the middle class cheaters and the wealthy ones:

    The wealthy ones can afford high priced prostitutes who will provide them with the utmost of discretion.

    The middle class cheaters, who can't afford the classy escorts and want to avoid the street walkers, post their ads all over the internet looking for "no string attached" relations in various "intimate encounters" categories - and cross their fingers that someone might want to a) service them, and b) be discreet about it.

    The only real difference is the money factor.
  63. harry carnie from Northern, B.C., Canada writes: There is no "great mystery" here as to why men do this.
    Admit it guys............unless we AVOID situations where we can be "compromised" .. we CAN get into trouble(thinking with the little head).

    I always admired Bill Clinton, when asked on the Larry King show...WHY "he did it "and his reply was "because he could". That is a truly honest reply, and would apply to most of us ..whether we like to admit it or not.
  64. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: "Of those who say prostitution is no big deal, I suspect very few of them would take their child to the pimp booth at career day, were there to be such a thing."

    Well, no. I would rather my children not objectify themselves for money. That includes marrying a person they don't love for money, or acting like a public clown (a la Britney, Paris, the reality show "star" of the day, etc.) It is still their choice, and I would simply hope that they weren't hurt or didn't live to regret those choices.

    At the end of the day, even as a parent I can't be so presumptuous as to think I know what is right for my adult child. I would just hope their decisions are well-considered. If their choice is something I would rather not know about, I only hope they are discrete and safe.

  65. M M from Vancouver, Canada writes: Life is too short to be wasted. As long as the conduct does not hurt other people, why do you guys care so much about prostitutes? Human has many needs. Sex is one of the most important needs. Paying for sex is a more understandable and convenient act than having an affair outside of the marriage. My boyfriend has super high sex drive who would watch porn daily for at least two hours. We have amazing sex everyday, sometimes twice or more a day. Sometimes we would go to striper club together to let him have some different experiences. I know I am hotter than most of stripers and can easily be a porn star or stripper if I want to. I will not stop him from paying for sex if he wants. It is just a way to satisfy his fantasies. It does not mean he does not love me or he loses interest in me. On the contrary, he loves me dearly and he would feel very concerned if I was upset about anything. Everybody has their own interests and desires. Exotic sex is just one of those. Let's just take it easy.
  66. Jean Malice from Fight Global Walarmism and Carbon taxes, Canada writes: Why would you buy a flat in London, pay all sorts of fees, taxes, furnitures and have to cook everytime you go there when you can enjoy the best palaces of the world? Here is your answer!
  67. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: M M - Honey, is that you?!!
  68. Anon -East Coast from Canada writes: What, no pictures?

    Awww
  69. harry carnie from Northern, B.C., Canada writes: web warlock....Great post!..........good, scientific, summation of the facts!!!
  70. Mike L. from Canada writes: M M from Vancouver, Canada writes: "Life is too short to be wasted. As long as the conduct does not hurt other people, why do you guys care so much about prostitutes?"

    Unfortunately prostitution does hurt prostitutes. The vast majority of sex trade workers are not making $5000 per encounter (and I wonder, in fact, how much of that the prostitute does actually get, and what the cut of the "agency" is). Moreover the vast majority are exposed to STDs (even if you use condoms, which fail maybe one time in 100, she is going to have one break on average every 100 encounters), and as the Robert Pickton case showed, there some real crazies out there prepared to do real harm to them.

    The problem with prostitutes is not the exchange of sex for money. It's the pimps, madams, agencies, and the pressures that drive women to sell their bodies in the first place (for the most part, abuse of them and their abuse of drugs).

    All joking about the Spitzer case aside, prostitution, controlled or otherwise, is not a benign consumer service like a dry cleaner or a restaurant.
  71. Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: "All joking about the Spitzer case aside, prostitution, controlled or otherwise, is not a benign consumer service like a dry cleaner or a restaurant."

    I disagree. Had you not included "controlled or otherwise", I would support that it is not a benign consumer service. Having controls would certainly render it a much less dangerous job. Controls would be legislation and laws. Would it be a nice job? Maybe not for some. Maybe not so bad for others.

    What I wonder, Mike L., is what your position on legalization is? Because your argument sounds like it should lead to a more prohibitionist stance, but this "career choice" ain't going away, because the demand ain't going away. It needs to be made safer. Period.

    Prohibitionists of all stripes have had their say for too long - aided and abetted by hypocrites like Spitzer.
  72. Lord Jim from Canada writes: I'd just like to meet the woman he was hiring for that price. I wonder if I could afford just to have her flirt with me.
  73. Proctor Gamble from Inherently Interested, Canada writes: The article asks a question: 'Why do some powerful, wealthy men - and women - who can presumably attract all manner of gorgeous mate, choose to visit prostitutes?'

    --------------------------------

    I think there is a problem with the presumed attraction there. Just because one has a lot of money does not mean that you can find people who will have sex with you without getting some of that money (not to mention getting service for peculiarities of tastes and interests).
  74. Proctor Gamble from Inherently Interested, Canada writes: Mike L. from Canada writes: ... And the media, will sympathize with the cuckolded wife, not the adulterer. Guaranteed, even if she made his life a nagging, sexless hell.

    ---------------------------------------

    That does happen. But the trapped partner has a choice between two alternatives, one valid, one not.

    Valid: Divorce.

    Invalid: Adultery.
  75. Steve Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: Timber Wolf from Richmond, BC, Canada writes: "Stephanie is correct in saying that prostitutes are victims, but then again, so are the clients. Both parties are victims of souless materialism."

    So now I understand why we waste scarce tax dollars to suppress this activity!
  76. Steve Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: Norman Petit from Calgary, Canada writes: "For all those who have jumped all over Stephanie Holmes - please remember that certain branches of feminism have deified a woman's genitals to the point where one woman will stand up and define the proper (and therefore improper) use of same for all women, thus ghettoizing those who would use their parts for evil, and not good."

    Women who don't follow the feminist's prescriptions are in effect "rate busters" who deprive the rest of their chance at happiness. If only they could be controlled, then society's men could also be controlled. We'd all be "better" for it, I'm sure!
  77. Mike L. from Canada writes: Chris Edwards from Greater Sudbury, Canada writes: "What I wonder, Mike L., is what your position on legalization is? Because your argument sounds like it should lead to a more prohibitionist stance, but this "career choice" ain't going away, because the demand ain't going away. It needs to be made safer. Period. "

    I am against legalizing it. Just because something has a market of willing consumers does not make legalization "right". There was a market for slaves for example, and because slavery diminishes human dignity, great lengths are taken to abolish it, even though it manages to persist (in fact, sex slaves from developing nations is a growing problem).

    No amount of control will hide the fact that prostitution victimizes and diminishes the dignity of its practitioners. The safety of the women (and often men) involved would be greatly enhanced if we found ways to get them out of it, instead of facilitating it.

    A large proportion of prostitutes (at least at the <$5000 end of the spectrum) are in it to feed a drug habit. There are stats that I brought up once, published by a former prostitute, that indicate that approx. 80% of prostitutes would rather be doing something else. Not every john is a rich businessman who just took a shower and is disease-free.

    We should be looking at ways to lift these women out of a form of servitude; for most, it is not a willing choice. We should not facilitating the propagation of their problems.

    Will the problem go away with prohibition? No. But neither has slavery gone away. Should we re-legalize it? I didn't think so.

    People, think this one through.
  78. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: Mike L. from Canada writes:
    All joking about the Spitzer case aside, prostitution, controlled or otherwise, is not a benign consumer service like a dry cleaner or a restaurant.

    No it is not but it could be a lot more benign if it was treated as a social issue as opposed to a legal issue.
    It should be legal and there should be controls.
    Stupid puritanical morality is all that stands in the way. In Europe the problem is not as bad since a lot of the puritans left and came here ( NA ) and we are still feeling their influence to this day.
    You'll notice its not that he used a call girl thats the issue with Spitzer. Its about tax avoidence. Thats how they caught him.
    Legal and controlled thats the answer.
    Prohibition has not worked with anything since the dawn of civilization.
  79. SomeGuy From Hamilton from Hamilton, Canada writes: See, with prostitution, you don't pay them for sex. You pay them to leave.

    I know a number of very wealthy individuals, and to them, they would prefer not to get into relationships, mainly due to the commitment. Hookers provide most of the satisfaction, with less of the hassles. Not only that, most look at marriage as some four letter word. There is no way they are going to commit a substantial portion of their wealth in the hopes their mate sticks with them. It just doesn't make good business sense.
  80. John McCormack from Coboconk, Canada writes: I understand that this is a rather delicate subject of discussion in Canada's National Newspaper, but I should have thought that your writer could have found a more suitable adjective to describe these protitutes than "high-end". I think at those prices most people would have assumed that.
  81. Mike L. from Canada writes: Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: "It should be legal and there should be controls."

    Would you be happy if your son or daughter became a prostitute, even in a controlled environment?

    "Prohibition has not worked with anything since the dawn of civilization."

    Should we have made slavery more "acceptable"?
  82. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: Mike L. from Canada writes
    I am against legalizing it. Just because something has a market of willing consumers does not make legalization "right". There was a market for slaves for example, and because slavery diminishes human dignity, great lengths are taken to abolish it, even though it manages to persist (in fact, sex slaves from developing nations is a growing problem).

    I would say Slavery is a seperate and unrelated issue.
    Selling another human being into a lifetime of sevitude is not the same as paying a willing participant for sex. Strippers are kind of like prostitution light. Tittalation for money without the sex but still selling the the body.

    No amount of control will hide the fact that prostitution victimizes and diminishes the dignity of its practitioners. The safety of the women (and often men) involved would be greatly enhanced if we found ways to get them out of it, instead of facilitating it.

    I would disagree that anyone is diminished. I never left an encounter feeling diminished. If anything I always felt refreshed.
    Safety can be increased with legalisation.
  83. Mike L. from Canada writes: Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: "I would disagree that anyone is diminished. I never left an encounter feeling diminished. If anything I always felt refreshed."

    I don't supposed you bothered to ask the lady how she felt after your encounter.
  84. El Christador from Vancouver, Canada writes: I am against legalizing it. Just because something has a market of willing consumers does not make legalization "right". There was a market for slaves for example, and because slavery diminishes human dignity, great lengths are taken to abolish it, even though it manages to persist (in fact, sex slaves from developing nations is a growing problem).

    Wouldn't banning prostitution be more analogous to prohibiting people from voluntarily working as paid agricultural laborers (to take a typical kind of labor for which slaves have been used)? The argument for legalization is not based on the premise that there are willing customers, it is based on the premise that there are willing vendors. As far as I can tell, the counterargument is that even when the vendors are willing, they're not "really" willing, because by definition no one would freely choose to sell sex for money and the fact that they choose to do so proves that it's coerced and not a free choice.

    Of course, at this point, we run into a number of philosophical problems, like what it means to talk about a person's "real" will, and whether such a thing exists. Not to mention that "free will" is not something anyone really takes seriously anymore anyway and exists only in the dustbin of philosophical history along with things like vitalism, Plato's ideal archetypes, etc. etc. etc.
  85. El Christador from Vancouver, Canada writes: I don't supposed you bothered to ask the lady how she felt after your encounter.

    Are we to assume that you have substantial experience with asking women how they feel after you have had paid sex with them. That is, I am curious as to whether we should accredit you with expert status in regard to how $5500/hr prostitutes feel after encounters.
  86. Biggest Redneck from Somewhere, United States writes: Check my posts at 2:17 and 3:21 since you haven't read the whole thread Mike.
    Can't say as in my expierence the other side ever expressed dissatisfaction with the deal.
    Money was exchanged for services and both sides left happy. I've gotten a lap dance from a stripper before and they always seemed happy with pay for services as well.
    Some people just don't have a problem with it.
    If "YOU " do then you should avoid it.
  87. Mary Smith from Charlottetown, Canada writes: The fascination of this story is not that a rich man paid an (assumed) beautiful woman for sex (although it seems an awful lot of money!). It is that another highly-placed political type got caught demonstrating what an absolute hypocrite he is. It's not that he did anything unusual; it's that he was so righteous to begin with, and ran on an anti-corrupt