Escort Mission

Those are my thoughts exactly. I can't ever imagine why anyone would pay, but clearly people do, and if everyone is having a good time then it's fine by me.

I agree though with what others have said in the past, that I really don't want sl to become famous for this. While it's obvious that it's a large part of the sl experience for many, there's much more here. SL is an incredible thing, and I'd hope that just like the web before it, people recognize that sex is only a part of it, but not the focus. It's there if you want it, but there's a lot of other things too.

Cheers,
Skip

omg! i thought the same thing when i read this, you just put it better. *goes to change her knickers*

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Quote:
"They take a house cut of 20 percent for every trick turned, which, on average, would be about L$150," she says. "I see stuff every several minutes, so that would add up to about L$1,500 an hour, 24/7. You do the math, but my worst estimate says that that's several tens of thousands of U.S. dollars per year." $47,608, to be precise. And bona fide tycoons traffic in more than just brothels and strip joints. As Suntzu says, "All these clients need man parts and male animations to complete the package, and the cheapest cost L$1,500. It's like selling candy in a cinema."
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LOL,

would love to meet the working girl making even $1500 Lindens an hour consistantly.

Not that I would know anything about it of course *polishes halo*, but theres simply not enough tricks to turn for a whole bustling brothel to make 47k US dollars a year.

Maybe its supply and demand - maybe the gals are charging too much for what customers are willing to pay. Though of course they dont charge very much in the scheme of things.

I know several gals who are Escorts or Used to be and the biggest complaint is though the Hourly rate may be good, theres a whole lot of "down time" -(*slap* No not that! get your mind out of the gutter)

If I may as a working girl, make a couple of observations here...

I think many of you are making the wrong assumptions about the sex industry in Second Life. You are extending the real world into Second Life where it really doesn't apply.

To a large extent, Second Life is like an adult Disney Land where we can all play with our desires and fantasies. It's safe and yet the interactions can be fairly rich. Those fantasies can be very mundane or very taboo, yet there is a great deal to be gained for each individual in the exploration and PLAY in ones fantasies. It's the same thing that goes on with children who play fireman or cowboys and Indians. Or the adult who dresses up for Madre Gras.

I got involved with the sex trade in Second Life for a couple of reasons. The first was to 'play' SL by a rule I decided on early, I wanted my avatar to earn her own way in the world. The second reason was that I always had the fantasy of the "Hooker with a heart of gold" and this was a world where I could live out the fantasy. Note that neither one of these reasons are tied to earning RL money. I make great rates in SL (over $1500/hr) but still that isn't minimum wage in RL, and in RL I earn 10-20 times as much, so there is absolutely no RL financial reason for me to escort, it's all about fantasy and play reasons.

I would suggest that this is the motive of most of the escorts in SL. The money we are paid is just part of the game and fantasy. And in that context, our play, our fantasy, is just as real, just as honorable, as anyone else's.

And I think this is true of the clients as well. For example, over 50% of my clientele are women. Excluding some that must have males driving the keyboard, this is a fascinating observation. It says something about fantasies that women must have, that society completely suppresses. Second Life has created a fantasy outlet for women that no one ever even thought about. On both sides of the equation.

I think Linden Labs should be proud of what they have created, and how it is evolving. And proud of the freedom they have given us to explore our own selves.

Marla

I have noticed many posts about how "funny" it is that people get off to cybering through SL and looking at pixels. It seems a lot of these people are not really aware of the sex trade within SL. There are many escorts out there now (men and woman) who exchange lindens for live video feed through Skype, MSN, AIM, Yahoo or Eyeball Chat. These are actual men and woman on cam, not pixels. While it may be an avitar driving the transaction, the product they sell is no different from that of regular pay sites, except for the fact that they accept lindens rather then dollars.

Agreed. Excellent post all around, Marla.

Although I don't doubt that there is some truth to this, I've never run across it and I must ask the burning question "Why"? This seems to be marketed not at adult play in SL but at RL clients and prices. And that is way beyond what the market will bare in SL (we are talking 6k to 15k an hour to be profitable in RL monies!). Simply put, I don't see a real market. Or at least not yet, and possibly never. It's a kludge that other specifically designed adult sites should be able to solve much better than SL.

Marla

Hehe, that was my first thought, too, though in a Wing Commander context (Draymans have the armor of a box of facial tissue, approximately, and shields with the protection level of paper mache).

I can't help but wonder if, in the beginning, did Phillip have any idea that this would be one of the things that makes SL famous?

Hmmm. I first joined SL because it was mentioned in ID magazine and I'm a designer in First Life. I thought it would be fascinating to use my First Life skills in a virtual enviroment. While I have no problem with people of their own free will being engaged in the SL sex trade (it's your Lindens, do what you want with them) I have to wonder if the SL vision will flourish with the type of PR it's getting of late... "rags-to-riches" stories and virtual callgirls. If I'd first read either Anshe's bio in Businessweek or a story about virtual hos I wouldn't have bothered joining (not my thing.) What about a call for creative people to actually imprint something upon our virtual landscape? That was what originally got me fired up about this game/platform/whatever, and what I think sets it apart from others.

Incidently, I think the escorts in SL charge way too little. If the amount you make as a good escort is still on par with minimum wage in First Life... why? If you're good enough to help someone live out a fantasy, I think you deserve better pay.

Doubtful since it was 'US' the users, that had to 'create' the necessary bits and bobs and animations to make SL sex a viable option.

Or was there a standard stock penis available in our library in BETA? Eggy could you answer this?

Because thats what the market will take. For a decent hour of time you are looking at about 1500-2000L. Lets say we bump it up to 3. Well for 3 I can buy a decent skin, a decent set of clothing, and a decent prim hair.

Once I have these items, assuming I shopped well and have a personality above that of cave troll I won't NEED to pay for sex anymore. The sex will take care of itself.

Instant gratification often will be chosen over anything, so long as its relatively reasonable.

I am about 2 weeks old, in my first few days I went nuts and decided to buy some L, get a nice skin, some nice clothes, and a few accessories that finished the look.

Since then I have had more offers than I care to relate. But atm I think only one is worth following up on, she managed to hook me like a fish within only a few days of knowing her

While I like seeing both types of articles, I have to agree with you that it doesn't provide a balanced view of Second Life. Le't hope we start seeing articles on other aspects of this fascinating world.



While part of me would like to see the rate go up, I don't think it would be a good thing overall. The current rate reflects both supply and demand. If the rate went up, it would imply that Escorts are not doing it for their own enjoyment and fantasies anymore. And to me, that is definitly not a good thing.

Marla

In order to degrade the profession, society has long perpetuated the myth that clients use escrots only because they NEED to and there is no other option. Certianly, that is the case for some, but study after study has shown that for the majarity, a lack of other options is NOT the primary motivie.

When I hire a painter to paint my house, is it because I can't paint it myself for free? When I hire a lawyer, is it because I cannot find free legal advice from any other source? When I go to a professional football game, is it because I can't find a free football game to watch?

The answer is no for those and almost every other time one hire's a professional. The motive is because the professional provides value for my money, more value than the free alternative.

An escort is a service provider just like a painter, a lawyer or a professional football player. And she or he should be judged by the same standards.

It's amazing that for one of the greatest and deepest joys we have access to as human beings; society has decided to totally trivialize training, skill and talent in the field.

Marla

Drinking without being thirsty and making love at any time, Madame, are the only things that distinguish us from other animals. - Beaumarchis

While I don't disagree that some of you girls may be talented Marla, even more talented than the girls I usually attract (Actually I found myself a rather good, actually amazing one but that was luck and providence). It all boils down to personal opinion in your wants and needs.

I find a woman glowing with love a much better lover than one glowing with love of my money any day of the week. A businesslike transaction of money for a quick 30 and a toss in a tissue is 10 times less fulfilling than finding a girl some night, dancing the night away with her and taking her home. In one instance I tossed away 1500+L for 30 minutes of pleasure. On the other all I have to spend is a bit of my time and effort for an entire night of fun and pleasure, and if we dig eachother even longer. The well NEVER runs dry in my chosen methods.

I think people miss that theres a significant difference between making 1500L for an hour , and 12k Lindens in 8 hours.

That was the point of my post.

To steal from a infamous song - "sex sells , but whose buying?"

Well, lots are i suppose , but compared to the number of working girls theres definite underemployment going on.

I hope im not Over stating the obvious but , at $750 for a half hour thats 16 clients in 8 hours. I just am pretty certain ( though mebe im wrong, everyone seems to know so much) - there there are not lines of clients like this out there.

I dont know about you maybe i have a club foot and a hunchback , but id have trouble logistically GIVING it away to 16 people in 8 hours in SL.

Of course maybe theres a couple girls working to long lines, maybe they type 90 words a minute and can compose errotic poetry in their sleep.

However , it doesnt make sense when the number of Escorts is a significant proportion to the number of potential clients , that they are all that busy. Lets say for every Client theres 4 escorts. that limits earnings to 3k a day at the rate listed above. The 4 number is probably on the high side.

Thus , a theres a lot of new escorts , but few stick with it over time.
They get tired of -
Looking for customers,
fending off people wanting something for nothing,
and harassment from people who believe asking a stranger for sex for free is cool, but wanting paid even small change is immoral.

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As far as the whole "I dont get why cyber sex is fun stuff" - its okay , hun, the kiddie pool is fine and you dont need to remove the training wheels either.

Now someone may not LIKE cyber sex, That make sense.
but please - whats the confusion why other people do?

Personally, I can confirm your point. I probably only escort (and educate, I seem to specialize in teaching newbies) 2-4 hours a week. And that's as much as I want to do. I have too many other things I want to do in Second Life <g>. Not only play, but I'm a builder and even just released a book in Second Life.

Marla

=)

Ohh now you go and bring out an additional point to confuse people - some escorts are really accomplished to.

Im glad your enjoying your second life hun.

You'd probably find a more receptive audience if you weren't patronizing to them, or otherwise implying that they are mentally incapable of understanding your thoughts.

(And, yes, I have done it, in text-based MUCKs. I just have no partiular desire to slap pixels in SL, though I don't care if others do.)

There are a LOT of escorts in sl. Last night I looked at my friends list and 3 or 4 of them claim they are. I have maybe 15 people on my list. So that's a huge percentage.

I think Marla is an excellent example of why sl escorts, and the sex business in sl in general, isn't really the same as rl. Her posts are thought provoking, intelligent and clearly well thought out. She's no dummy, and no bimbo. My friends who are "escorts" aren't either. I think she's spot-on with the fantasy angle, sl is a great way to explore those things without "actually doing it." No legal issues, no disease and the morallity aspect is muted by the fact that it's "not real" and you're anonymous.

Surprisingly interesting thread. But I still wouldn't pay for it. lol

Cheers,
Skip

All this hoopla for a bj animation? What am I missing?

Up on another floor is the same animation but cheaper......

Good sex? <giggle>

I'm sorry, I apologize but I couldn't resist. But you know, I've also asked a similar question; why is there a powerful sexual energy in these second rate animations? Isn't the whole idea silly? Yet, there is no denying SL is capable of generating powerful sexual and sensual energies. Shoot, the first two weeks I was in SL, I was constantly horny (I think I got in with the wrong crowd at the start <g>. There is no denying this power.

But consider, we are all addicted to SL to a lesser or greater degree. It's because even with cheap animations, there is a huge emotional power within it's framework. There is no reason for sexuality to be an exception to this power. And remember, your most powerful sex organ is between your ears.

Marla

thats okay i intended that attitude, thanks.

Becuase many come out with the tone they dont understand why people like cyber sex, or porn , or racy TV , or what have you.

Whats to understand? People enjoy sexual related activities of many sorts, and have , historically , as long as their has been a history.

Again what i think they MEAN is they dont see the appeal - then further make a statement to reflect they dont see why other DO see an apeal - thus being the ones truley condescending.

Its the same thing as people who say "computer games are a meaningless waste of time" and if you happen to enjoy computer gaems as a diversion they are telling you you waste time.

By telling people cyber sex is stupid and for losers , peopel tell others that they are stupid losers. see?

Now If someone truley does not understand why people enjoy errotic influences they really are living life through rose colored G rated glasses.

Humans are sexual animals, and that is a good thing for obvious reasons. Any time you gather a large number of humans in one area (or even a small number), you are going to have sexual situations, pixelated or not.

Anyone suprised by this must have lived an incredibly repressed or secluded life.

Sex is all around us, every day, in RL, in games, in books, in movies, on TV. The fact that folks still look down on it, or act as though it's unnatural or bad is really pathetic and sad.

I think that Second Life is an ideal place to act out fantasies that would otherwise be either to hard to do in RL, or for those that are currently without lovers in RL, or even just for those curious about various scenerios.

If it is concensual and all parties involved enjoy themselves, then it is a good thing. As for payment being involved, that's the business of those involved and no one else. We all pay for our relationships in one way or another. Whether it be through time and attention, room and board, gifts and gratiuties, compromise and hard work, etc...

I think that escorts, prostitues, whores or whatever you call them, have always had a place in human society and always will. It is very obviously a needed service and will continue to be one, no matter how repressive a society becomes. History speaks volumes on this subject.

Yippie more whores.