Have Craigslist's erotic ads changed at all?

Gentlemen of Philadelphia, don't let this great girl pass you by.

No, those aren't my words. Well, not the last seven. These are the words of Britney, who is advertising in the new adult services section on Craigslist.

She continues: "Im 5'5, 120 lbs all natural 34 c, I have a great body and i want to show you what I can do with it....tanned and toned, sexy, sweet with a bubbly outgoing personality."

Or take Ashley, an advertiser on the New York Craigslist. She headlines her ad with the enticement: "Very Pretty Grad Student Available Now!!!!!!!!!" And she promises: "Your pleasure is my goal, your wish, my command."

Some advertisers have chosen to make their pictures a little more discreet. Some advertisers have even taken the name change from Erotic Services to Adult Services to heart. This advertiser from the Los Angeles section literally uses the phrase "adult services," as if this is now a seal of approval.

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark

(Credit: CC Top Rank Online Marketing/Flickr)

Yet everyone involved knows that this is little more than a dance, a dysfunctional Argentine tango between those who advertise sexual services on Craigslist and those who have sought to pursue the site for no other reason than that it is large and successful.

Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster offered these words to the San Francisco Chronicle on the subject of the new adult services section: "We are no more able to read the minds of people placing ads than are classifieds editors at newspapers and the Yellow Pages."

Yet his language reflects the new subtlety of his advertisers. He told the Chronicle that the new tone of adult ads is less racy than that in weekly newspapers and other, perhaps slightly less high-profile Web sites. He is right.

It is very easy to find ads in many media that tell it far more as it really is. Even those that offer more indeterminate promises, seem to wink as they do.

Please just take this one example from the site nyasianfun.com. As well as showing women in various stages of undress, when you go to the link marked "rates," you will see not only that Suffolk County is more expensive than Brooklyn, but that: "Our escorts are of the highest quality, guaranteed to mostly please our clients."

What conclusions can one possibly reach from the phrase "mostly pleasing"?

Critics, such as Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County, Illinois, have assailed Craigslist for not revealing how monitoring of sex ads is performed, or even who performs it. Does Craigslist founder Craig Newmark do it himself? Or has he farmed the job out to interns, contractors, or full-time employees?

But isn't the reality that this is all mere posturing, as people have learned how to communicate with each other online in ways that will successfully circumvent the law's arm length?

If you don't feel like being in the adult services section, you can try "causal encounters" or "women seeking men" or "men seeking men." And who would wish to declare that all of the massage advertisers in the "beauty" section are, indeed, merely masseuses and masseurs?

If you wander around the site, you will see new code words emerge, words that quickly become understood by those who regularly go there, seeking whatever it is they seek.

It's just a microcosm of life being played out on the pages of a very successful online trading floor. Well, mostly successful.

[EvanSei]

so craigslist is pimping girls out now. what has this world come to when a large corporation is able to get away with selling sex for money, oh thats right I almost forgot that it's the big companies that own the government they can do what ever they want, that is until another company that owns more of the government has something to say about it :)

[BigGuns149]

I think you are being a bit sarcastic, but seriously adult themed advertising has been in print publications LONG before most people ever heard of the internet. I think that individuals who somehow think that Craigslist is dramatically different than newspapers of yore is being a bit dishonest.

[Crow120]

@BigGuns149<br /><br />Of course we're being dishonest, this is America we're talking about! We lie to ourselves everyday of the week and love it. Like you said, sex sells just no one likes to talk about it because they're afraid of what the neighbors and the congregation will think.

[man_w_balls]

@ EvanSei: <br /><br />You're only half-right. Craigslist isn't pimping out anyone - they're pimping themselves. Also Craigslist doesn't get any money from those services, I believe. <br />You are right about corporate-owned government, though.

[myles taylor]

So what? The fact that it's illegal is absurd, ridiculous, and archaic.

[mrferos]

Sex is most likely one of the oldest sold commodities, it's been sold since pre-biblical times and will continue to sell. It's not directly damaging and doesn't cause anyone to go postal and kill, so I don't see anything wrong with it's sale. Get over it.

[nixermac]

+1 for you.

[Cosmo8U]

We're still infected from the Bush / Ashcroft regime. It'll pass.

[codynews]

Bush made prostitution illegal? <br /><br />Didn't think so. <br /><br />But thanks for the chuckle of being able to find a "I blame Bush" in a story about Craigslist Adult Services.

[EvanSei]

mrferos I can tell what sites you like :) no it's your opinion and I respect that but no need to get so hot over someone not liking sexual advertisements.

[kevin_hg]

The problem isn't whether people advert for sex, it is the people who take advantage of the girls and pimp underage or strung out women. Your not gonna solve that by deleting the Adult category, the cops should be using it. The cops should arrest the girls who are in a bad situation, but not lock them up. Why don't they work hand in hand with the outreach groups to rehab the girls and prosecute the pimps. <br /><br />And, I'm sure it would be a nice revenue source/preventive health care measure to tax and regulate these services so the spread of STDs / drug abuse is reduced.

[odubtaig]

Careful now, that reads like you thought it through.

[troyoverton]

I agree with the above comment, and yes, police get an amazing amount of evidence from idiots who posts their illegal activities on CL, myspace, youtube, and the like. When I say amazing, no matter what you think, you're underestimating my statement. It's incredible.

[Jack K1]

It would be interesting to know if churches use these ads like a directory of people who need some help.

[troyoverton]

No, they don't. Because the majority of people that need help have to want help. If they don't want it, you're wasting your time. I know it's a sad thing, but the term "rock bottom" exists for a reason. Unfortunately some folks just won't listen.

[Perry_Clease]

Have people changed at all? After all we are talking about the second oldest profession.

[nicmart]

It's a free country, isn't it? <br /><br />Just a little sarcasm. Of course is isn't, and the extent to which it was has always been exaggerated.

[marsbars86]

What about people who have been brought here under false pretenses and are then pimped out? It's called sex trafficking. Girls and women are pimped out against their will, lacking resources (money, legal status, English language knowledge) to leave, etc. <br /><br />Example of this on Craigslist Adult Services listing: <br />!!!!EXOTIC ASIAN EXOTIC MASSAGES!!!! - w4m (METRO OUTCALLS ONLY) <br />****BEAUTIFUL Asian Massages**** - w4m - (OUTCALLS ONLY METRO AREA)<br />HOT AND EXOTIC SISTERS TAKE A LOOK INTOWN TODAY ONLY - w4m (MINN. IN) Adrianna&#38;Nadia <br /><br />There was a Frontline made about it in 2006 - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/slaves - and it looks like there was just a huge sex slave trafficking bust in New Jersey, proving it's not just for immigrants.

[gerryfiven]

Congrats, Chris. You managed to write about a topic that impacts the lives of thousands of forcibly prostituted women each year without knowing much of anything about what you're talking about, without spending any time looking deeply into the issue, and without taking it with appropriate seriousness or sincerity. Maybe, next time, you'll do your research and write something of substance.

[saturdaysaint]

Wit doesn't preclude seriousness. <br /><br />I think this article effectively brings a serious issue into focus with its undercurrent of dark humor. Judging by the serious discussion that's ensued in the comments, I'm not alone.

[logic2009]

Gerry this is a great comment! You are so right. Bear in mind that by being one-sided, Chris is partial, and if Chris is partial, he cannot be a journalist, and if he is not a journalist, it means that Chris is doing his self-promotion by flattering people.

[nixermac]

Forced Prostitution, sex-trafficking are a bane to the society. They happen when there is not legal control over the demand and supply. Many countries (can't just list enough) have legal prostitutes who are licensed to provide adult entertainment and are known as Commercial Sex Workers. The legal system helps these CSWs to get medical services appropriate for their needs, protection systems from STDs. and host of other services. Obviously these men and women are not forced as a legal process evaluates them. Any person availing of their services pay the recommended fee and the legal system does not harass them as they are utilizing a legal service.<br /><br />Now let us look at Craigslist and the various legal systems having problem with it. For one CL should try to use some data filtering system to get rid of racy adverts. One that we all publicly know is called "Flagging". If you flag an ad, soon you will see it gone. So people can themselves help. I am not saying that we should be visiting the adult services section as vigilantes. :)<br /><br />Legal systems like the Sheriff's Departments can analyze the data and use the system to get info on such services and then find out which ones are forced prostitutes, underage, etc. For the rest they can go and get these people help from out-reach programs, NGOs etc. and if possible a law should be passed to license these people.<br /><br />So many thoughts. It certainly is not an easy process and I may not be correct at all. Complex systems, need the society to provide a sympathetic hearing and analyze the situation, debate over it to provide a better life to all.

[Heebee Jeebies]

Craigslist is pimping nothing. These people are doing what they want with something that is 100% theirs and that is their body. If all of the prudes don't like it then don't hire them. Frankly it is no ones business but theirs and the people they "work" for.<br /><br />It is high time the religious nuts and the prude do gooders kept their fraking noses out of everyone elses business.<br /><br />Maybe law enforcement should spend more time going after the crooked banks, politicians and corporate giants, as wells as the murders, thieves and the drug dealers and leave people alone that "CHOOSE" to sell their body for pleasure and money. It can't possibly be any worse than the screwing the banks and credit card companies and health insurance companies and government has given us in exchange for our money. At least with craigslist we get to choose our sex partner.<br /><br />Robert

[codynews]

By your argument, what's wrong with drug dealers? Why shouldn't someone be able to buy/use drugs if they want?

[Heebee Jeebies]

Well first off drugs are not like sex. Sex is part of the human being. Drugs are not. So stop trying to cram a round peg in a square hole.<br /><br />As for drugs, well maybe people should be able to. Again, as long as they aren't hurting other people I don't see the problem. If they do cocaine, drive and kill someone then they should face the law for murder. But, as long as nothing like that happens leave them alone.<br /><br />It would also be a different story if most of this moral pushing wasn't being done by the reliogus nuts that feel it is their god given right to but in to other peoples business. Just like they feel they should be able to stop gay people from marrying.<br /><br />Time for people to mind their own business and laws should only be passed that deal with highly egregious wrongs (like murder, rape and the like).<br /><br />Robert

[Static-X-Machina]

Actually, You COULD fit a round peg into a square hole! I proved that when I was around 2 years old! <br />It's the friggin' square pegs you can NOT get into the round holes! <br /> <br />Oh and about your drugs comment.... I find it very daft. <br />You obviously have never ONCE looked into the harmful side effects of drugs. <br />I happen to work the IT department at a drug rehab facility. You should see a person come in straight from trippin' out on a whole bunch of acid. It isn't pretty. The worst I've seen is one that had acid laced with something horrible, something that was never intended for human consumption. He kept trying to rip his clothes off and kept acting like there was something crawling on him like spiders. He kept screaming and beating himself up physically to get away from the feeling. <br /> <br />Go look up faces of meth on google. <br />You do know google right? <br />It's not just the goody goodies and religious nuts saying its bad. You have no idea my friend, none at all, about how drugs can and will affect you. <br /> <br />I'm not saying all of them are bad, but there are some which don't belong on this planet. <br />Case in point: <br />Cannabis for instance is used medically to give chemo patients their appetite back, to keep everything from tasting like metal. <br /> <br />&lt;/boredom soap box&gt;

[siriusproductions]

"No, those aren't my words. Well, not the last seven." These last seven words: "let this great girl pass you by"? Or did you mean a different last seven?

[Dr_Zinj]

The only reason why there is forced prostitution/sexual slavery in this country is because the business of sex for money is against the law. Agaisnt the law means no regulation. Against the law means no protection. The facts of life are that if you outlaw prostitution, then you are promoting sexual slavery, forced prostitution, and abuse of of prostitutes. <br /> <br />Small wonder that many of the most fierce opponents of legalized prostitution are the ones who use prostitutes because they can then abuse them with impunity. <br /> <br />Of course this IS the country where half the population things that sex education consists of, "Just say No."

[codynews]

"Just say no" was an anti-drug campaign. Not sure what's wrong with the "just say no" method.<br /><br />And maybe if more kids "just said no" to premarital sex, there wouldn't be the huge problem of single unwed mothers and unwanted children.

[jmans1212]

First off prostitution not considered the oldest profession for a reason. I see no harm in legalizing it. Of course something will have to be done for periodic disease testing. <br /> It has always been a bit odd that in some sections of Nevada prostitution is legal but in all other states ?to my knowledge? it isn't. If prostitution were legalized maybe more funds from fighting prostitution could be directed to other more worthy causes. Not to mention all the sex crazed CEO's and politicians can actually put those huge undeserving bonuses into the economy. At least someone will get true stimulus out of those stimulus packages.

[starchildsf-2009]

How about pointing out how what an injustice and ridiculous waste of taxpayer money it is to continue the futile morality crusade of attempting to police the sex lives of consenting adults? <br /><br />Focusing on that issue would be doing much more of a public service than splitting hairs over the degree to which "adult services" differs from "erotic services."

[starchildsf-2009]

Regardless of how you feel about prostitution personally, is it really productive to our society to put coercively obtained taxpayer money into prosecuting something that so many people feel should not be illegal at all? <br /><br />Isn't shoving laws for which there is no broad social consensus down peoples' throats simply a recipe for societal disharmony and increased contempt for the law? Not to mention an unjustifiable use of money, when there are so many other unmet needs which are much less controversial?