Author Gemini09 Posted August 25, 2009 Author Posted August 25, 2009 http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/03/sheriffs-lawsuit-says-craiglist-largest-source-of-prostitution.html LOL........I think I've found my answer.
Vet Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 3.5 weeks if I recall correctly. Sure, you can blame me for rushing things, I dont really care to defend myself at this point as it was 4 years ago, but I'm not sure why you have such a raging hard-on for defending Craigslist.... I'm not blaming you for anything--why would I? My point is just that you could've very easily met this person anywhere. Do you disagree with that for some reason? I think you're misinterpreting my perceived vehemence, but I've got a "raging hard-on" for defending things that have irrational fears associated with them, and I think Craigslist is one of them.
BCCA Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/03/sheriffs-lawsuit-says-craiglist-largest-source-of-prostitution.html LOL........I think I've found my answer. So...you didnt know there were hookers on there before? I thought that was common knowledge, every big city has gone after them for this. Its not like CL provides the prostitutes or anything, they just provide them a place to post.
butcher's hook Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 That's fair; I'm really not trying to argue with you, I just think that the general perception is usually not correct ("what's right is not always popular, what's popular is not always right" and such), and I encourage people to buck the popular (mis)conceptions in lieu of their own experience. General perception is that OJ killed his wife, that's without any existential proof. General perception of CL is that it's rank and that's WITH existential proof, you do the math. If you think that general perception is usually wrong, then you are definitely coming from a minority stance. Not to say that a minority stance can't have a voice but you are the exception not the rule. I've got a "raging hard-on" for defending things that have irrational fears associated with them, and I think Craigslist is one of them. I can understand you would defend it since you lucked out and met your wife but again that's a one in a million stance. It's like the person who wins the lottery and promotes gambling as a secure way of life because he bought a winning ticket, sure it happens but the odds are very slim and you certainly would not want to bank your future on playing the lottery alone. It's not "irrational fear" it's a calculated and educated assement of what people have experienced on that site. The majority of those ads are prostitutes looking for johns and johns looking for action. Most people think that's rank.
Author Gemini09 Posted August 25, 2009 Author Posted August 25, 2009 Well the thing is, there are people on CL who aren't on there just to women or men. They could be selling a piece of furniture, or buying it etc. They just happened to browse the personal ads because its available on the site, easily accessible, and if there is a legitimate ad, they might respond and luck up. You could look at regular dating sites from two perspectives. There could be some really nice people there who truly are serious about meeting someone special-that's why they go to the trouble to join OR, they are on there desperate as all get it out, because they are not too datable. A great deal of them are paying ridiculous fees to join these sites, putting up all their pictures, and writing lengthy essays. They go to such an extent to find someone, you start to wonder. I'm not saying everyone is like this, but a lot are. It may just be me, but it seems like a lot of people on there are single for a reason, and its not a good thing. Maybe I was hoping something like CL ,which is not directly related to dating would work better, but doesn't seem like anything works too well. I have to admit this guy I recently met from CL, seems very decent in comparsion to anyone I've ever talked to on those other dating sites. I just find it funny, how I put an ad on there for one day, and find someone who seems way better off than most guys I've spoken with on other sites. I could be wrong, he might be a total weirdo or jerk. Like I said, I have trust issues with online dating, so I may not bother pursuing anything with him. I would just hate to pass up a possible good opportunity. I also don't want to end up dead in the back of a trunk like that one girl did from CL.
Vet Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 I can understand you would defend it since you lucked out and met your wife but again that's a one in a million stance. It's like the person who wins the lottery and promotes gambling as a secure way of life because he bought a winning ticket, sure it happens but the odds are very slim and you certainly would not want to bank your future on playing the lottery alone. It's not "irrational fear" it's a calculated and educated assement of what people have experienced on that site. The majority of those ads are prostitutes looking for johns and johns looking for action. Most people think that's rank. Hey, I'm not saying at all that one should bank their romantic future solely on Craigslist; just that Craigslist is just another, very valid tool to meet people. It's also really not like the lottery, in that you actually get out of CL (and other online dating sites), what you put into it. I also highly doubt that the majority of the personal ads (there is an erotic services section) are prostitutes. What I meant by "irrational fear" is that it seems like you guys have a preconceived notion of Craigslist that has been influenced by media buzz that perpetuates stories about prostitutes and killers. I think that's irrational. I've met tons of people that turned out to be creepy, stupid, disease-ridden, and all around horrible that had nothing to do with the internet. That never prevented me from approaching someone outside, at a bar, or anywhere else. I feel like I'm not that different in this regard, so why does this automatically change when talking about people one meets online?
Vet Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 I have to admit this guy I recently met from CL, seems very decent in comparsion to anyone I've ever talked to on those other dating sites. I just find it funny, how I put an ad on there for one day, and find someone who seems way better off than most guys I've spoken with on other sites. I could be wrong, he might be a total weirdo or jerk. Like I said, I have trust issues with online dating, so I may not bother pursuing anything with him. I would just hate to pass up a possible good opportunity. I also don't want to end up dead in the back of a trunk like that one girl did from CL. Maybe he's the best thing that could ever possibly happen to you; would you pass him up if you'd met him at the gym or at school? We don't have to look back too far in the past to find people who have been utterly crazy and performed shootings at both places. Just saying, he may be great, he may be crazy, but if you meet in a public place, get to know him, and trust your instincts (I hope just like any other person you met anywhere else), you will be perfectly fine. Take a chance. You'll probably regret not meeting him more than you would going for it.
butcher's hook Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 woops let me edit that: Hey, I'm not saying at all that one should bank their romantic future solely on Craigslist; just that Craigslist is just another, very valid tool to meet people. It's also really not like the lottery, in that you actually get out of CL (and other online dating sites), what you put into it. I also highly doubt that the majority of the personal ads (there is an erotic services section) are prostitutes. What I meant by "irrational fear" is that it seems like you guys have a preconceived notion of Craigslist that has been influenced by media buzz that perpetuates stories about prostitutes and killers. I think that's irrational. I've met tons of people that turned out to be creepy, stupid, disease-ridden, and all around horrible that had nothing to do with the internet. That never prevented me from approaching someone outside, at a bar, or anywhere else. I feel like I'm not that different in this regard, so why does this automatically change when talking about people one meets online? Uhm, you keep using the word "preconceived" in reference to our comments, that implies that we are relating second hand information. I would hazard to guess all the people who contributed in this thread have had first hand experience with what they are talking about therefore it is not "preconceived" it is existential as I pointed out earlier. Personally while I have never tried to meet someone on CL I have used the service for other aspects and it was filled with sketchy posts predominantly spammers etc. I have also looked at the personals and they had a very slimy feel to them and a good majority of them were there strictly to solicit sex in a veiled appearance of course. Add to that the murders the psychos the degenerates the lurk on that site and it's just a cesspool of riff raff, not to say that I am above humanity but I do feel I am above that aspect of humanity. Sorry if that comes off as rude or arrogant. I compare it to walking into a bar that you know you won't fit in, you take one look around and feel like the crowd is simply not your cup of tea, well I get the EXACT same feeling on CL. It's not my crowd therefore I would not want to meet a potential love interest in that place. Just as I would not want to meet a potential love interest at a swingers bar, even if we were the only two non-swingers in the place the implication is that you are there, you must be a swinger. The odds of finding a needle in a hay stack are slim the odds of finding a needle in a needle stack are a lot more favourable is really what I am trying to say. It's not about "the internet" it's about CL specifically.
stefspets Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 Craigslist is a mixed bag. There are plenty of people on there looking for hookups, but there's some good people there too. My philosophy was, I am normal; there must be other normal people on here. I posted an ad and ended up meeting my fiance on CL. Did I receive a lot of really creepy emails from guys I would never go out with (and who obviously only wanted one thing)? Yes. I just didn't respond to them. I knew what I was looking for and my ad stated it clearly. Out of the hundred responses I got, I talked to a few of them, went out on a date with three, and am going to marry the third one. Part of it is a weeding out process, and part of it is luck. I consider my results atypical but I am more compatible with this person than anyone I met in real life or on other traditional dating sites. It's just another thing to try--be cautious, meet in public, and I don't see how it's any worse than meeting people any other way (outside of the things I mentioned above).
Vet Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 woops let me edit that: Uhm, you keep using the word "preconceived" in reference to our comments, that implies that we are relating second hand information. I would hazard to guess all the people who contributed in this thread have had first hand experience with what they are talking about therefore it is not "preconceived" it is existential as I pointed out earlier. Personally while I have never tried to meet someone on CL I have used the service for other aspects and it was filled with sketchy posts predominantly spammers etc. I have also looked at the personals and they had a very slimy feel to them and a good majority of them were there strictly to solicit sex in a veiled appearance of course. Add to that the murders the psychos the degenerates the lurk on that site and it's just a cesspool of riff raff, not to say that I am above humanity but I do feel I am above that aspect of humanity. Sorry if that comes off as rude or arrogant. I compare it to walking into a bar that you know you won't fit in, you take one look around and feel like the crowd is simply not your cup of tea, well I get the EXACT same feeling on CL. It's not my crowd therefore I would not want to meet a potential love interest in that place. Just as I would not want to meet a potential love interest at a swingers bar, even if we were the only two non-swingers in the place the implication is that you are there, you must be a swinger. The odds of finding a needle in a hay stack are slim the odds of finding a needle in a needle stack are a lot more favourable is really what I am trying to say. It's not about "the internet" it's about CL specifically. Meh, I'll be quick because we're obviously not going to agree with this, but when I use the word preconceived, I mean it. Yeah, I think a few people have posted in this thread that they've actually used it to meet people: one person said he got an STD and a couple of people said they had a few dates that didn't go anywhere; but the fact that you equate it with a swinger's bar speaks very loudly to your preconceptions of it, especially if you haven't used it to meet anyone.
Phateless Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 I know one person who has met their long term significant other on CL. It all depends on what you put into it. I've tried it but never got anything out of it.
butcher's hook Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 Meh, I'll be quick because we're obviously not going to agree with this, but when I use the word preconceived, I mean it. Yeah, I think a few people have posted in this thread that they've actually used it to meet people: one person said he got an STD and a couple of people said they had a few dates that didn't go anywhere; but the fact that you equate it with a swinger's bar speaks very loudly to your preconceptions of it, especially if you haven't used it to meet anyone. I didn't equate it to a swingers club, I sited that as a metaphorical example for being at a place I wouldn't want to meet a romantic partner. CL is lower than a swingers bar much much lower than that. A swingers bar at least caters to people who live an alternative lifestyle, they are consenting adults looking for the same thing they are not riff raff they just enjoy open sex. CL is pure riff raff and scammers.
Isolde Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 One aspect of OD that often goes undiscussed is that some sites are good for one city but not so good for another. OKCupid for example seemed to be filled with interesting profiles in one city but downright scary in another. With CL the sense I got from looking at the profiles was more of desperation than scariness, not like it makes much of a difference in the end if you're looking for a "normal" date. LOL.
borbiusle Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 Meh, I'll be quick because we're obviously not going to agree with this, but when I use the word preconceived, I mean it. Yeah, I think a few people have posted in this thread that they've actually used it to meet people: one person said he got an STD and a couple of people said they had a few dates that didn't go anywhere; but the fact that you equate it with a swinger's bar speaks very loudly to your preconceptions of it, especially if you haven't used it to meet anyone. The media isn't to blame, the CL community itself has been in an uproar years before CNN picked up on it. Pick a big city, go on craigslist at 3am-5am on a Saturday night and look up the words, "WARNING" "FAKE" "TRAP" "ROBBED" "MUGGED" "RAPED". Read first-hand accounts of the less fortunate who ran into weirdos, freaks, and thieves. Yes, it's that bad lol.
BCCA Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 CL is a tool like any other. Its not right for everyone, but its also not wrong for everyone, either. I do know several people who have met sane, normal people on there, without any problems. My experiences in trying to meet women on there have not been good. Granted, I think a guy trying to meet a girl is hard under most settings, but CL certainly didnt help me at all. I posted an add about a week ago looking for someone to catch a museum with, and I got no less than 40 emails which were obviously spam. Does deleting spam hurt me in any way? No. It it annoying? Yes, but more than that, I've posted several adds on there and ALWAYS get 40-50 'hey baby...' emails from sex cam sites. That right there is enough to make me think twice next time. Will I ever use it again? Maybe, I really dont think its bad or that there is anything wrong with the people that go there. Its not the lowest form of people only on there, I can assure you I do NOT fall into that category. But it is what it is, so if you want to post an add and get 5 responses from perfect matches, youll be dissapointed. If you look at it like, 'its free, what the hell' you could find yourself pleasantly surprised. I honestly think there are far more crazy and dangerous people out on the streets than there are on CL.
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