Online Brothel - Craigslist, the newage pimp

[MaddyH]

This happened earlier this week in/around my neighborhood - in a sting operation, they busted prostitutes for advertising sex on craigslist. Nothing was done to hold craigslist accountable, because they post a warning about posting ads offering sexual favors for money. They busted the prostitutes, not the johns who replied to the ads. What a shocker!

Are we looking at a possible action to craigslist? We can write a complaint on their website, but I fear this will only push the protitutes to the streets again and not focus any of the negative attention on the Johns. I want to write a complaint for them not turning over the Johns who respond through their website. They have the information, why would they not arrest them? Link below:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/

By John Sharify

Video : KOMO 4 NEWS
You can find a job, buy some furniture, or even a car on the popular Web site, but some are using the listing site to sell sex.

Selling Sex On Craigslist


EVERETT - We met "Kay" earlier this year. She runs a consignment shop. "If there were things I didn't have here for them I would absolutely send them to Craigslist," says Kay, who asked us not to use her real name.

Craigslist is one of the most popular Web sites in the world. People use it to find jobs, furniture, or whatever.

But there is something else you can find on the site. You can buy what a "drop dead gorgeous bombshell" is selling. That bombshell Kay's daughter. And what she is selling is sex.

"It would be nice if it weren't so easy for her to do this," says Kay.

Kay is now asking customers to boycott the online service. That's why she wants people to sign a petition in her store.

"Most people don't know," says Kay. They don't know that prostitutes court on Craigslist. They don't have to walk the streets.

Prostitution is the oldest profession, and this is the newest way to do it. Craigslist allows it to happen, and it's free to the prostitutes.

'No Sexual Favors For Money'

Craigslist warns that you'd better not. They spell it out in red on their site: "No sexual favors for money."

But we found prostitutes charging $200 for the hour. Another, $150 for the half hour. Another one charges $99. And a fourth was asking $80 for a half hour.

How many prostitution postings are there in the Puget Sound area? There are too many to count.

But thanks to Craigslist, "Courtney" made in a day what many women her age make in a month. "On average, about $1,000 a day," says Courtney who says she's out of the prostitution business now.

Kay wishes she could say that about her daughter, who just turned 22. "I just want her to stop it," says Kay.

Her daughter's listing boasts that she's the "Best Chest in the West," promising she'll "make you a great deal."

It makes her mother sick.

"I could, if I were so inclined, get on there today and by tonight be doing this," Kay said. "I could be a 14 year old girl and get on there tonight be doing this tonight."

Monitoring Left Up To Us

How can Craigslist allow this happen? Are they promoting prostitution?

I talked to the head of Craigslist himself -- Craig Newmark. "Anything that's illegal on our site is wrong and should be removed," he said.

So Craigslist should remove those prostitute postings right? I asked Craig: "How are you monitoring this?" Craig's response: "We don't monitor it at all".

They expect the visitors to the website to monitor the listings. Only when you complain, will they remove any prostitute listings.

"We've heard very few people complaining about it," says Craig.

But wait a minute, the law says "anyone who assists a person to engage in prostitution commits a felony." Does Craigslist do that?

"We don't do that!" says Craig. He says his Web site isn't responsible for content. You are. The prostitutes are.

Courtney didn't think of it as prostitution at first. "Escorting," she says. I asked her "What's the difference?" Courtney's response: "It just sounds better, I guess."

No matter what you call it, prostitution is still illegal, which is why police like Craigslist for one reason: It makes their job easier.

This past Thursday night, a first. Everett Police used Craigslist to arrest prostitutes -- one of them underage. Officers want to spread the word.

"You could be dealing with a police officer on the other end of the phone or keyboard," says Lt. Dan Templeman.

We wondered about Kay's daughter. Did she happen to be one of the prostitutes they arrested Thursday night? The answer is no. But Everett police would know where to find her. Right here on Craigslist.

But wait, we just checked Sunday. She isn't selling today.

Maybe after what happened Thursday night, she knows police are on to the prostitutes on Craigslist.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/43548.htm

[deedle]

Isn't that the same site that was in the news for hosting ads placed by men for 'hawt' female 'flatmates' willing to share a bed in return for not being charged rent a while ago?

They must bear some responsibility for what goes up on their pages, surely?

Incidentally, this always irritates me so much:

Prostitution is the oldest profession,

It's bloody not! Agriculture is.

[MaddyH]

Thank you - no kidding, what a crock! And they don't, I mean really - they take no blame. And the guys in my office the other day are just trashing on the women who were taken away to jail... "what stupid idiots those prostitutes are for getting caught." HaHa, HeeHee. Fuc*ing pricks. Like prostitutes are not already beaten down enough - now we have to laugh about it that they are in prison. Consequently - they are probably safer in prison for the night then being mutulated and raped by the assholes that abuse them.

And yes, it probably is the same site where guys were offering a room for sex - but you don't see the police banging on their doors. More violence against women. When will it end?

[MaddyH]

I'm beginning to think I posted this in the wrong place... possibly "articles, rants for discussion?"

[sam]

moved

[SaltyC]

If I'm not mistaken, the oldest profession is:
healer.

[MaddyH]

Thank you for moving this thread Sam.

[CoolAunt]

So, should we write Craig's list and demand that john's be held accountable, too? Maybe include some links to men looking for prostitutes at their site?

[oneangrygirl]

Craigslist has demonstrated that they don't care to monitor their listings.
The only way to get something removed is to complain about it.
So, we could all pick a city served by craigslist and monitor the listings, and email them every single prostitution ad.
Who's in?

[CoolAunt]

I'm in just so long as I can write a form letter for myself and e-mail each link to them in its own letter, stuffing their e-mailbox with my complaints. hehehe!

[oneangrygirl]

Williamson County conducts Craigslist prostitution sting
Friday, December 28, 2007
By KEVIN PETERS
KVUE News
Six people have been arrested in a prostitution sting in Williamson County. Police say it all began after a 17-year-old teen, who has not been identified, found a prostitute Saturday on the popular website Craigslist. Investigators say the two met that night at his house while his parents were out of town, but it’s unclear what happened. The next day investigators say the woman came back to the home with “security” to confront the teen and demanded money for the night before. Police say the teen then called 911. When Williamson County deputies arrived, they arrested Bethie Coker on drug charges and Allen Dehoff on an outstanding warrant.

Investigators also learned about the connection to Craigslist. That’s when deputies decided to take the investigation a step further. Deputies say they set up a sting and called up other Craigslist posters offering sexual services. Deputies arrested 4 more people, including Lindsey Force, the woman who allegedly met the teen on drug and prostitution charges.

“Really it's right out there. You contact them and they ask you what you want and you tell them,” says Detective John Foster with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. “They settle on a price and they're on your doorstep.”

Police say the 17-year old teen will not be charged with any crime since it’s unclear what took place between him and the alleged prostitute. However, deputies are confident he did learn a valuable lesson.

[elfeminista]

Investigators also learned about the connection to Craigslist. That’s when deputies decided to take the investigation a step further. Deputies say they set up a sting and called up other Craigslist posters offering sexual services. Deputies arrested 4 more people, including Lindsey Force, the woman who allegedly met the teen on drug and prostitution charges.
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“Really it's right out there. You contact them and they ask you what you want and you tell them,” says Detective John Foster with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. “They settle on a price and they're on your doorstep.”

Police say the 17-year old teen will not be charged with any crime since it’s unclear what took place between him and the alleged prostitute. However, deputies are confident he did learn a valuable lesson."
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"Valuable lesson", like what ,that you can go to prostituted women without worries, that they get arrested and you are scott free? What wankers.

It is clear what Craigslist role is here. I have been trying to get lawyers to work with me on this and the feminist lawyer (who has experience in this sort of stuff) told me he would look into it,and that he thought we might be on to spmething. 2 months later the lawyer is not to be found. frustrating.....