4 ms·

Why Is There No Uber for Prostitution?

24 points by colinramsay 12y ago

RafaelB 12y ago
Actually the solution to the problem of reviews raised is one that has already been semi-solved amongst sex-worker communities in the UK. Punternet(don't know if there are similar sites in other countries) allows customers of sex workers to review and there seem to be quite active communities around it. Before anyone's left wondering, I know about this because there is a project called 'The Invisible Men', that collates these reviews and presents them as an insight into the world of sex work. Both very interesting to check out. Obviously it's not marketed and packaged in the same way as Uber is, but it's probably the most effective one can create whilst sex work remains illegal.
lormayna 12y ago
Airbnb for prostitution exists: http://www.airsnb.com/ http://www.airsnb.com/
fwn 12y ago
A centralised service for a market still illegal in many (even some modern) countries isn't expected to be something sustainable. What am I missing here?
mycroft-holmes 12y ago
Because our government doesn't respect the sovereignty of individuals to sell services that involve their own body?
astazangasta 12y ago
In addition to the legality issue, thanks to Tinder et al there is plenty of free exchange going on; lack of demand for paid sex is my guess.
- justathrow2k 12y ago
  You guess wrong - demand will always be high. For the most part, the people who can easily get hookups on Tinder are not the same people who would be paying for sex.
iblaine 12y ago
Forbes, asking the tough questions.
stolio 12y ago
> allowing technology that makes it safer and less intertwined with criminal world seems would seem like a positive step forward. No copy editing? At least proof-read the dang thing. There's no reason to write an article like this if you're not willing to look at the reasons of _why_ prostitution is illegal since that underpins the entire thing. Instead it's just another libertarian rant about yet another regulated market that would totally be fine if the government would just get out of the way.
twic 12y ago
Vooza tried this before they pivoted to local - see around 1:20: http://vooza.com/videos/radimparency/ http://vooza.com/videos/radimparency/
drchaos 12y ago
there is: https://peppr.it/ https://peppr.it/
markoolio11 12y ago
There is no Uber for prostitution, because app stores do not allow such apps. Wikisexguide ( http://www.wikisexguide.com http://www.wikisexguide.com ) is an site online that finds escorts and street prostitutes from the city you type in to the search box, but currently they do not have mobile app. For a while there was similar an escorts app called Pepp r ( https://peppr.it/ https://peppr.it/ ) but I do not think you can find it from app store anymore. Tinder ( http://www.gotinder.com/ http://www.gotinder.com/ ) is an dating app which tries to block prostitutes using it, but example if you use this app in Bangkok, you will mostly find female and ladyboy prostitutes from this app. Also in NYC I have seen some escorts on Tinder.

24 points by colinramsay 12y ago

Actually the solution to the problem of reviews raised is one that has already been semi-solved amongst sex-worker communities in the UK. Punternet(don't know if there are similar sites in other countries) allows customers of sex workers to review and there seem to be quite active communities around it. Before anyone's left wondering, I know about this because there is a project called 'The Invisible Men', that collates these reviews and presents them as an insight into the world of sex work. Both very interesting to check out. Obviously it's not marketed and packaged in the same way as Uber is, but it's probably the most effective one can create whilst sex work remains illegal.

lormayna 12y ago

Airbnb for prostitution exists: http://www.airsnb.com/ http://www.airsnb.com/

fwn 12y ago

A centralised service for a market still illegal in many (even some modern) countries isn't expected to be something sustainable. What am I missing here?

mycroft-holmes 12y ago

Because our government doesn't respect the sovereignty of individuals to sell services that involve their own body?

astazangasta 12y ago

In addition to the legality issue, thanks to Tinder et al there is plenty of free exchange going on; lack of demand for paid sex is my guess.

justathrow2k 12y ago
You guess wrong - demand will always be high. For the most part, the people who can easily get hookups on Tinder are not the same people who would be paying for sex.

iblaine 12y ago

Forbes, asking the tough questions.

stolio 12y ago

> allowing technology that makes it safer and less intertwined with criminal world seems would seem like a positive step forward. No copy editing? At least proof-read the dang thing. There's no reason to write an article like this if you're not willing to look at the reasons of _why_ prostitution is illegal since that underpins the entire thing. Instead it's just another libertarian rant about yet another regulated market that would totally be fine if the government would just get out of the way.

twic 12y ago

Vooza tried this before they pivoted to local - see around 1:20: http://vooza.com/videos/radimparency/ http://vooza.com/videos/radimparency/

drchaos 12y ago

there is: https://peppr.it/ https://peppr.it/

markoolio11 12y ago

There is no Uber for prostitution, because app stores do not allow such apps. Wikisexguide ( http://www.wikisexguide.com http://www.wikisexguide.com ) is an site online that finds escorts and street prostitutes from the city you type in to the search box, but currently they do not have mobile app. For a while there was similar an escorts app called Pepp r ( https://peppr.it/ https://peppr.it/ ) but I do not think you can find it from app store anymore. Tinder ( http://www.gotinder.com/ http://www.gotinder.com/ ) is an dating app which tries to block prostitutes using it, but example if you use this app in Bangkok, you will mostly find female and ladyboy prostitutes from this app. Also in NYC I have seen some escorts on Tinder.