Comments on: Classifieds and Killers http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:23:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Smileypants http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-92578 Smileypants Mon, 18 May 2009 01:18:54 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-92578 Bill Klinton, please explain how you're connecting the dots on that one. Or are they even dots at all? Maybe they're just random shapes and smiley faces. Bill Klinton, please explain how you’re connecting the dots on that one. Or are they even dots at all? Maybe they’re just random shapes and smiley faces.

]]> By: Bill Klinton http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-89357 Bill Klinton Sun, 17 May 2009 01:56:54 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-89357 You clowns who voted for Obama are the cause of our rights slowly being taken away. You clowns who voted for Obama are the cause of our rights slowly being taken away.

]]> By: when push comes to shove http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-85895 when push comes to shove Fri, 15 May 2009 23:52:14 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-85895 This world is full of wrong doers and the ones that want to do the right thing. The people who are trying to do the right thing (so they think) need someone to blame because heaven forbid they open their door and realize that half of their neighborhood are the wrong doers. By making this a big deal all that is being done is bring more attention to where it doesn't belong. Like I have read in some of the other posting you could have a killer, murderer, or a rapist in your home at anytime and even maybe several times. One of them could even be your best friend or your parents best friend. Predators ARE everywhere I mean really you want to shut down craigslist because you say it is permitting or inviting violence, well maybe we should shut down ALL the CATHOLIC churches across the world because of all the bishops & priest raping children. Just remember you could of invited the wrong doer into your house anytime all it takes is once. Even helping someone out that has no place to live, you rent them a room in your home you have kids come to find out your teenage child is being raped and threatened at the same time, "you tell anyone about this and I will kill your family and let you live so you can live the rest of your life knowing they are dead because of you." this is things that people use. so what do you do as a teenager keep your mouth shut until you have a nervous break down or something. You see this happened to me as a teenager. So see even the most kindness jester/or helping someone in need can lead to a voilent crime of some sort. So the people that point their fingers and need to blame other people, website, movies, video games, etc if that makes you feel better about your life thats OK but maybe you should take a LONG LOOK around maybe you have one in your house/or life. from the once terrified teenage girl. This world is full of wrong doers and the ones that want to do the right thing. The people who are trying to do the right thing (so they think) need someone to blame because heaven forbid they open their door and realize that half of their neighborhood are the wrong doers. By making this a big deal all that is being done is bring more attention to where it doesn’t belong. Like I have read in some of the other posting you could have a killer, murderer, or a rapist in your home at anytime and even maybe several times. One of them could even be your best friend or your parents best friend. Predators ARE everywhere I mean really you want to shut down craigslist because you say it is permitting or inviting violence, well maybe we should shut down ALL the CATHOLIC churches across the world because of all the bishops & priest raping children. Just remember you could of invited the wrong doer into your house anytime all it takes is once. Even helping someone out that has no place to live, you rent them a room in your home you have kids come to find out your teenage child is being raped and threatened at the same time, “you tell anyone about this and I will kill your family and let you live so you can live the rest of your life knowing they are dead because of you.” this is things that people use. so what do you do as a teenager keep your mouth shut until you have a nervous break down or something. You see this happened to me as a teenager. So see even the most kindness jester/or helping someone in need can lead to a voilent crime of some sort. So the people that point their fingers and need to blame other people, website, movies, video games, etc if that makes you feel better about your life thats OK but maybe you should take a LONG LOOK around maybe you have one in your house/or life.

from the once terrified teenage girl.

]]> By: Neal Hurwitz http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-83445 Neal Hurwitz Fri, 15 May 2009 05:19:51 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-83445 Dumb and dumber to go after CL. Leave it alone. These pols just wanna make a splash. Dumb. Thanks, Neal Dumb and dumber to go after CL. Leave it alone.
These pols just wanna make a splash.
Dumb.

Thanks, Neal

]]> By: your local human rights activist http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-83078 your local human rights activist Fri, 15 May 2009 02:45:07 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-83078 To: Fr. Heyward Ewart, Ph.D., I totally agree; predators will find their victims, one way or another. True, Craigslist makes it easier to find victims in a way, but it also provides a n easier way for the predators to be caught. There will be the same amount of crime occurring even without the erotic section. The government felt pressure to do something because there was so much media attention on crimes stemming from Craigslist.. We need to take funding and focus efforts on parental education in early years of childhood, drug busts, human trafficing and predators. If the law would put more effort and time into stopping drugs and child predators rather than worrying about what consenting adults were doing, this country would be a better place. I understand those who are against prostitution from a moral standpoint as I believe in everyone's right to their own opinion.....I am also thankful there are laws in place and enforced to protect us. However, I strongly disagree with the government telling me as an adult what to do with my own body as long as I'm not hurting others. It is also absurd that there is no longer going to be an erotic section. It is a designated area that no one has to look at if they do not want to. Bottom line, you have to be careful everywhere whether you are an escort or a lawyer. be weary of people you meet at the bar or work. Look at that horrible story in Hamden, Ct where a woman gave a ride to a co-worker and was brutally assaulted! Violence can happen anywhere at anytime. You have to be careful. I have been an adult provider, on and off for some time now. I have a job and attend college but need more money at times to supplement my income. Whether you feel that is wrong or not, I will tell you that I have never encountered an act of violence once doing this. I have actually been exposed to violence in my personal life. I was walking one evening {no, not doing a stroll:-0} when a robbery was made against me......YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL EVERYWHERE. It's unfortunate there are sick people out there. However, I like to believe there is more good than are bad.. Becareful who you leave your kids with and be aware of your surroundings everywhere. I would suggest always carrying atleast mace with you as it has saved me before. Wishing everyone the best and hoping the law will take more right direction in preventing and prosecuting violence and continue helping to make us all safe. They are doing what they feel is the right thing by pressuring Craigslist to shut down the erotic section but it goes way beyond that. There were several instances where people were robbed or even killed meeting someone from the childcare section and others. It also happens on dating sites........It happens at bars....Children are molested by predators posting nanny ads on the internet....Should we shut down the whole internet? Thsi is offtopic but i urge every parent to monitor their neighborhood at familywatchdog. To: Fr. Heyward Ewart, Ph.D., I totally agree; predators will find their victims, one way or another. True, Craigslist makes it easier to find victims in a way, but it also provides a n easier way for the predators to be caught. There will be the same amount of crime occurring even without the erotic section. The government felt pressure to do something because there was so much media attention on crimes stemming from Craigslist.. We need to take funding and focus efforts on parental education in early years of childhood, drug busts, human trafficing and predators. If the law would put more effort and time into stopping drugs and child predators rather than worrying about what consenting adults were doing, this country would be a better place.
I understand those who are against prostitution from a moral standpoint as I believe in everyone’s right to their own opinion…..I am also thankful there are laws in place and enforced to protect us. However, I strongly disagree with the government telling me as an adult what to do with my own body as long as I’m not hurting others. It is also absurd that there is no longer going to be an erotic section. It is a designated area that no one has to look at if they do not want to. Bottom line, you have to be careful everywhere whether you are an escort or a lawyer. be weary of people you meet at the bar or work. Look at that horrible story in Hamden, Ct where a woman gave a ride to a co-worker and was brutally assaulted! Violence can happen anywhere at anytime. You have to be careful. I have been an adult provider, on and off for some time now. I have a job and attend college but need more money at times to supplement my income. Whether you feel that is wrong or not, I will tell you that I have never encountered an act of violence once doing this. I have actually been exposed to violence in my personal life. I was walking one evening {no, not doing a stroll:-0} when a robbery was made against me……YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL EVERYWHERE. It’s unfortunate there are sick people out there. However, I like to believe there is more good than are bad.. Becareful who you leave your kids with and be aware of your surroundings everywhere. I would suggest always carrying atleast mace with you as it has saved me before. Wishing everyone the best and hoping the law will take more right direction in preventing and prosecuting violence and continue helping to make us all safe. They are doing what they feel is the right thing by pressuring Craigslist to shut down the erotic section but it goes way beyond that. There were several instances where people were robbed or even killed meeting someone from the childcare section and others. It also happens on dating sites……..It happens at bars….Children are molested by predators posting nanny ads on the internet….Should we shut down the whole internet? Thsi is offtopic but i urge every parent to monitor their neighborhood at familywatchdog.

]]> By: your local human rights activist http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-83008 your local human rights activist Fri, 15 May 2009 02:17:35 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-83008 Anyone partaking in the crackdown of Craigslist does not see the whole picture behind the scenes. I do understand terrible tragedies have occured and it is absolutely devastating to all parties involved..HOWEVER, it is entirely unfair to make Craigslist the scapegoat. There are no statistics showing crime has went up because of Craigslist! Unfortunately, there will be crime taking place even without the Craigslist erotic section. Craigslist has put different things in place to make it safer for everyone's use. Due to Craigslist, it has made it easier for more sting operations to take place to arrest those involved with child trafficking and forced prostitution. In fact, I feel that the medical student who killed may not have even been caught if it wasn't for Craigslist being able to trace him. Until yestetday, you had to provide identifying information to post in the erotic section. If someone responed to an ad through e-mail, their IP address could be traced.....Whether or not someone feels prostitution is immoral and the fact it is illegal; it will always be around. It has been around since ancient times and will always happen no matter what! The medical student who killed is sick and would have ended up killing with or without Craigslist. Most likely, he would have obtained a streetwalker and there would have been little way to trace it. Seeing this was not an isolated incident with him, he most likely would continue kiiling and robbing for years. One persoan being killed is absolutely horrible, but I am thankful to Craigslist, that this man actually responded to an ad where a girl was working at a hotel, so he was seen on the surveillance camera at the hotel and was traced by accounts from Craigslist. Partly due to Craigslist and of course to the police, this man was caught and no further killings took place. Taking out the erotic section is not helping prevent prostitution as it will happen elsewhere. Most importantly, it will not stop violent crime and forced prostitution; It will now be harder to trace because more will be happening behind the scenes or on the streets. It is unfortunate, so many were coming down so hard on Craigslist....... I say legalize prostitution and make it safer for everyone invloved; also, it will generate more taxes for the government. Let's focus on actual dangerous crime. Sex between two consenting adults who are of legal age should be their own business. Bottom line, my body, my business..For Let's be real, we live in a country where abortion is legal because supposedly it is a woman's right! We are allowed to kill unborn children and it is not a crime but compensation for sex is illegal and such a big deal......Does that make any sense? ....The next time a maniac kills an escort, etc. it will be in a back alley or at someone's home with little or no evidence.... I'm just sorry Craigslist is taking blame for everyday crime that is going to continue occurring. Anyone partaking in the crackdown of Craigslist does not see the whole picture behind the scenes. I do understand terrible tragedies have occured and it is absolutely devastating to all parties involved..HOWEVER, it is entirely unfair to make Craigslist the scapegoat. There are no statistics showing crime has went up because of Craigslist! Unfortunately, there will be crime taking place even without the Craigslist erotic section. Craigslist has put different things in place to make it safer for everyone’s use. Due to Craigslist, it has made it easier for more sting operations to take place to arrest those involved with child trafficking and forced prostitution. In fact, I feel that the medical student who killed may not have even been caught if it wasn’t for Craigslist being able to trace him. Until yestetday, you had to provide identifying information to post in the erotic section. If someone responed to an ad through e-mail, their IP address could be traced…..Whether or not someone feels prostitution is immoral and the fact it is illegal; it will always be around. It has been around since ancient times and will always happen no matter what!
The medical student who killed is sick and would have ended up killing with or without Craigslist. Most likely, he would have obtained a streetwalker and there would have been little way to trace it. Seeing this was not an isolated incident with him, he most likely would continue kiiling and robbing for years. One persoan being killed is absolutely horrible, but I am thankful to Craigslist, that this man actually responded to an ad where a girl was working at a hotel, so he was seen on the surveillance camera at the hotel and was traced by accounts from Craigslist. Partly due to Craigslist and of course to the police, this man was caught and no further killings took place.
Taking out the erotic section is not helping prevent prostitution as it will happen elsewhere. Most importantly, it will not stop violent crime and forced prostitution; It will now be harder to trace because more will be happening behind the scenes or on the streets. It is unfortunate, so many were coming down so hard on Craigslist…….
I say legalize prostitution and make it safer for everyone invloved; also, it will generate more taxes for the government. Let’s focus on actual dangerous crime. Sex between two consenting adults who are of legal age should be their own business. Bottom line, my body, my business..For Let’s be real, we live in a country where abortion is legal because supposedly it is a woman’s right! We are allowed to kill unborn children and it is not a crime but compensation for sex is illegal and such a big deal……Does that make any sense? ….The next time a maniac kills an escort, etc. it will be in a back alley or at someone’s home with little or no evidence….
I’m just sorry Craigslist is taking blame for everyday crime that is going to continue occurring.

]]> By: joeshuren http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-81636 joeshuren Thu, 14 May 2009 15:58:08 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-81636 Facilitating prostitution and facilitating violence against prostitutes are two different things. By using moral panic about violence to claim that Craigslist is especially facilitating prostitution has the effect of facilitating violence against prostitutes instead of reducing prostitution. As long as prostitution is illegal or disapproved of socially, violence will be facilitated, as then prostitutes will not be able to claim protection of the police against attackers or thieves, for fear of being arrested themselves when they complain of victimization. When computers and the Internet are not used to verify identity, as in the system the AGs agreed to with Craigslist, but instead it moves to some other anonymous, underground system, then the harmful effects of prostititution will increase, such as street-walking instead of inside private rooms. The prostitutes will be criminals along with the pimps who will have to protect them instead of police, and there will be more attempts to extort money from them and push drugs. Clients will be exposed to risk of theft from sex workers. In Rhode Island, where the first ad appeared that the AGs complain of, prostitution is not illegal inside, only on the street. Ads for masseuse and lapdancer will of course continue under any system. The AGs complain of prostitution by minors and trafficking of immigrants. Congress is paying the FBI to use Craigslist to investigate and with expensive raids try to do something about those problems. It appears that this is a device to increase police power, as the moral panic about these two problems of white slavery is far overblown and could be handled with normal police activity, helped by Craigslist. I am sorry to see Craigslist give in to these legal threats. It impairs the freedom of speech of everyone when this happens. It harms everyone except the politicians who promote this moral panic. The media and Craigslist management and independent academics such as at UNLV should follow up on this story in six months and see if the AG policy will improve anything or instead make things worse as I predict. Sex workers and clients should consider alternate online systems of reputation and authentication to reduce harm from such activity. As long as prostitution is illegal the police will attack those systems too and violence will continue and increase. Facilitating prostitution and facilitating violence against prostitutes are two different things. By using moral panic about violence to claim that Craigslist is especially facilitating prostitution has the effect of facilitating violence against prostitutes instead of reducing prostitution. As long as prostitution is illegal or disapproved of socially, violence will be facilitated, as then prostitutes will not be able to claim protection of the police against attackers or thieves, for fear of being arrested themselves when they complain of victimization. When computers and the Internet are not used to verify identity, as in the system the AGs agreed to with Craigslist, but instead it moves to some other anonymous, underground system, then the harmful effects of prostititution will increase, such as street-walking instead of inside private rooms. The prostitutes will be criminals along with the pimps who will have to protect them instead of police, and there will be more attempts to extort money from them and push drugs. Clients will be exposed to risk of theft from sex workers.

In Rhode Island, where the first ad appeared that the AGs complain of, prostitution is not illegal inside, only on the street. Ads for masseuse and lapdancer will of course continue under any system.

The AGs complain of prostitution by minors and trafficking of immigrants. Congress is paying the FBI to use Craigslist to investigate and with expensive raids try to do something about those problems. It appears that this is a device to increase police power, as the moral panic about these two problems of white slavery is far overblown and could be handled with normal police activity, helped by Craigslist.

I am sorry to see Craigslist give in to these legal threats. It impairs the freedom of speech of everyone when this happens. It harms everyone except the politicians who promote this moral panic. The media and Craigslist management and independent academics such as at UNLV should follow up on this story in six months and see if the AG policy will improve anything or instead make things worse as I predict.

Sex workers and clients should consider alternate online systems of reputation and authentication to reduce harm from such activity. As long as prostitution is illegal the police will attack those systems too and violence will continue and increase.

]]> By: The Waters Have Been Tested, and the Internet is Warm for Regulation | myrationalreality.com http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-81519 The Waters Have Been Tested, and the Internet is Warm for Regulation | myrationalreality.com Thu, 14 May 2009 15:05:31 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-81519 [...] oversight to keep them safe.  Forget claims that “use of craigslist classified is associate with far lower rates of violent crime than print classifieds,” or that “Community moderation as exemplified by [the craigslist] [...] […] oversight to keep them safe.  Forget claims that “use of craigslist classified is associate with far lower rates of violent crime than print classifieds,” or that “Community moderation as exemplified by [the craigslist] […]

]]> By: lkasdjf http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-79425 lkasdjf Wed, 13 May 2009 23:58:59 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-79425 I think it sucks how Craigslist is getting beat up over the erotic services section. Frankly, I love that section. Damn that piece of shit Philip Markoff! I think it sucks how Craigslist is getting beat up over the erotic services section. Frankly, I love that section. Damn that piece of shit Philip Markoff!

]]> By: Jack T http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/classifieds-and-killers/#comment-79259 Jack T Wed, 13 May 2009 22:53:35 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=109#comment-79259 Why can't we take responsibility for our own actions and safety without government intervention and grandstanding by politicians. Craigslist provides a great and cost effective service. Keep it up. Don't let big brother screw up another good idea. Just another example of the news media and our politicians blowing an isolated and unusual incident way out of proportion and attempting to use scare tactics to control our lives. We've seen and experienced the disastrous results of allowing the clowns in Washington too much control - more taxes and less personal freedom. While they lie, cheat, steal and use their public office for private gain they try to piously make laws for their constituants. Vote them out ! All of them. Why can’t we take responsibility for our own actions and safety without government intervention and grandstanding by politicians. Craigslist provides a great and cost effective service. Keep it up. Don’t let big brother screw up another good idea. Just another example of the news media and our politicians blowing an isolated and unusual incident way out of proportion and attempting to use scare tactics to control our lives. We’ve seen and experienced the disastrous results of allowing the clowns in Washington too much control - more taxes and less personal freedom. While they lie, cheat, steal and use their public office for private gain they try to piously make laws for their constituants. Vote them out ! All of them.

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