The Future of Punting in Ireland

[Mousey]

In what is once again probably going to be a futile attempt to raise the intellectual bar in this godawful online dive bar populated with the stinking worst specimens of humanity (not me, but probably you), I have decided to unleash a serious debate thread on you all.

When (not if, but when) Ruhama and other pressure groups succeed in turning off the red light and outlawing escorting in Ireland, what will that mean for the average punter like you and me?

I personally worry whenever I read a newpaper article that condemns me (and all punters) as an uncaring pervert who laughs at trafficked women and is only interested in fucking them against their will - this sort of stereotype cannot be defended against in wider society. There is no way on this earth that the average housewife with a vote is going to believe that you see escorts purely because you don't get to meet girls because of your career, or you're stuck in a sexless marriage, or whatever other valid reason you have for doing what we do. Their own prudishness and narrow-mindedness will cause a swell of support for whatever reactionary thing is doing the rounds on the TV chat shows, with the ultimate result that, yes, the Dáil will eventually pass a law that criminalises punters.

There's no use going on about how this will drive escorting underground into the hands of pimps. Whether or not that's true doesn't matter a jot to someone who believes that all escorts are drug-addled trafficked victims and all punters are veritable rapists.

I feel that this is inevitable. It might be delayed for another year or two, but there's enough criminality and untaxed money in the world of escorting to make it a perfect scapegoat for whatever sleight of hand an under-pressure political party wants to use it for.

So. Imagine the scene. 24 hours ago the Escorting Bill was passed with a massive majority in the Dáil and has come into force (let's forget the Seanad). Now, the Gardai can arrest and prosecute a punter even if he is with an independent escort. A first offence means a court summons and a hefty fine. A third of more offence might mean jail time.

In a situation like this, I simply can't see myself punting anymore, at least not for a year or so until we see how this new law is going to be enforced. There are laws I'm prepared to break, but not with something like this. The fallout in my life from being arrested for soliciting an escort (both personal and in the job) and having it made public in a local newpaper would be devastating.




I was going to write more, but I'll wait to hear what you lot have to say.

[dr love]

Your last paragraph there would apply to a lot of us here mousey.: doc

[jammy69]

Your last paragraph there would apply to a lot of us here mousey.: doc

That sums it up for me. I'd hate it to end, but think Mousey could be right on this one.

[samlad]

It's a good question Mousey. Surely this will force consenting adults underground and this will in turn not only make the already apparent mentioned stigmas even worse, but it will probably result in a lot more escorts being attacked, with the real criminals knowing that sex workers won't be in a position to turn to the law.

That's why TOBL are working so damn hard to fight for the rights of sex workers generally (not just escorts), so that they can have peace of mind when they do what they do, rather than being incriminated for it. I imagine this would mean double the arrests too... punters and escorts. What are the authorities planning on doing? Building more prisons for these people? Come on!!! They'd have to arrest most of the country!

[Liberty Love]

Its been the law for a few years now in Scandianavia countries and it has not really had an effect on Independents... It did get rid of the street hookers in Oslo and brothels.. when the law changes here its going to be great for discreet independents as its going to run off most of the agency's and apartments that are over run with escorts... I say bring it on

[dr love]

That sums it up for me. I'd hate it to end, but think Mousey could be right on this one.

Especially if you are from a small town .: doc

[samlad]

Escorts and punters can still stay in touch on our sister sites anyway if the worst does come into fruition:

http://www.escort-scotland.com
http://www.escort-wales.com
http://escort-england.com

Now might be a good time to have first dibs on your usernames before someone else does.

[ladiesman217]

Escorts and punters can still stay in touch on our sister sites anyway if the worst does come into fruition:

http://www.escort-scotland.com
http://www.escort-wales.com
http://escort-england.com

Now might be a good time to have first dibs on your usernames before someone else does.

Leave E-I?? Perish the thought Luckily I am registered on all 4 anyway though, be prepared and whatnot.

[samlad]

Leave E-I?? Perish the thought Luckily I am registered on all 4 anyway though, be prepared and whatnot.

We don't want anyone to leave E-I mate! God forbid! No, I'm just suggesting that people might want to claim their usernames if there is ever a situation when they might need to use them, that's all.

[carlos marvado]

In a situation like this, I simply can't see myself punting anymore, at least not for a year or so until we see how this new law is going to be enforced. There are laws I'm prepared to break, but not with something like this. The fallout in my life from being arrested for soliciting an escort (both personal and in the job) and having it made public in a local newpaper would be devastating.

I'm in complete agreement with you Mousey. At the end of the day, it might not even matter that much if you are convicted of the crime or found not guilty due to lack of evidence to prove the case against you............finding yourself the key character is a nice sleazy tabloid piece could do you more damage. Only those who do not fear this type of publicity would be comfortable continuing to punt.

I think that once the law comes into force, and I do agree with you here, that it will be "when" and not "if", there will be a marked downturn in punting activity. Once the initial publicity dies down and as long as no prosecutions are brought to start another journo feeding frenzy, then some of the hornier brothers may not be able to hold out any longer and resume punting. However, as sure as night follows day, there will be prosecutions and the infortunate brothers involved will find their names, their photo (with a jacket or coat over their heads) where they live, maybe even where they work splattered all over the local and/or national papers..........ffs they might become right famous and make the RTE 6 o'clock news.

At this stage the bottom pretty much falls out of the market. Given that most of the "decent" clients, who stand to lose more will be gone and God only knows what will be left and what risks they will present, this combined with a cronic lack of business will drive the true independents away from our shores in droves. What will be left will be those escorts who have no choice in where they work or even whether they work or not. Any true independents will be few and far between, and those who will then be in total control of the business will have an easy job putting the squeeze on any independents who put their heads above the parapit. This near monopoly will allow the godfathers to push up the prices once again for those clients who are prepared to take the risks and consequences of being caught.

Some may argue that the outcall option would then be a safer proposition. If you are prepared to incur the extra cost of booking into a hotel for the night, this may be one solution, but you have to ask yourself, would you feel comfortable having a trafficked or pimped escort do an outcall to your home? In any event, it will push up the costs of punting quite dramatically. The only safe alternative for those who can avail of it, or who travel regularly on company business, is to only punt if and when they go abroad. In the same way that English hens and stags used to frequent Temple Bar on hen or stag weekends, I can see Irish punter travelling abroad now and then for punting weekends........many do it already, probably under the guise of travelling to a football match or going on a business trip.

In any event, I think that just like with the tightening up of the drink-driving laws, rural Ireland will be hit much harder by such a law and that vast swades of the country will not only be Fianna Fail free, but escort free as well.