By Tom Terranova

        They say it's the world's oldest profession, and they might just be right. Before there were banks or merchants, people were trading their affections for things of value. Despite much of the world's moralistic posturing, escort services are used in every segment of society. But contrary to assumptions, escorts (unlike hookers) don't sell sex. In reality, they deal in an even more precious commodity: intimacy.
        For a reasonable price, you can spend time with someone who makes you feel listened to, appreciated, and attractive. And you might be surprised to learn that it doesn't feel as insincere as you might imagine. A lot of people hire escorts because they're lonely or have a hard time meeting people in the course of their daily lives. Likewise, many folks become escorts for exactly the same reasons.
        Repeat escort users know better than to expect sex from an escort. Instead, they pay to spend quality time with someone attractive and interesting. Clients might simply want to talk or cuddle at home – or they might need a charming companion for a black-tie event. But what they pay for is companionship. Many of us extract the same benefit from therapists or psychologists, but we would never think of them as whores – and neither should we think of escorts in that way. The CIA has long used escorts and “honeytraps” for information gathering –and that’s because experienced escorts often make better listeners than even trained operatives.
        To be honest, sex is on the minds of some who hire escorts. But what differentiates escorts from hookers is the fact that escorts are paid for time, whereas hookers are paid for sex acts. Escorts aren't obliged to sleep with clients – and if a client insists, an escort is within his or her rights to walk away (without a refund.) Sex can happen – but only when a rapport develops and the escort wants it. A unique personality is an escort’s primary commodity, not his or her body.
        Besides keeping escorting legal (unlike prostitution in most places)the pay-for-time model also plays a big part in creating the magic that can happen. More specifically, when an escort acts interested in you, he or she sincerely is – and if an escort sleeps with you, it's because it pleased him or her to do so. Those who prefer slaves hire hookers, but those who desire the company of equals hire escorts.
        If you've thought about hiring an escort but been intimidated or embarrassed, do yourself a favor and be brave. We all need intimacy, and this is a safe way to get it with no strings or time commitments.
        One of the best places online to find escorts is Rent Boy, one of the most popular escort/client networks in the world. Rent Boy invested almost a million dollars in site upgrades last year and has now made escort/client matching into a science wherein you can specify almost any detail that's important to you. It's hard to believe that the site started out with just 25 escorts back in1998, but it did. And since then, the site has swelled to an astronomical 80,000 escort listings – with an international business presence and postings from escorts in 180 different cities around the world. Instead of acting as an agency, Rent Boy simply provides a safe place for clients and escorts to find one another. In addition, Rent Boy has become legendary for its fabulous charity events such as the well-known HustlaBall. There are no fees or tricky memberships required and contact info is posted openly, along with photos and rates. Rent Boy is also a great place to find porn star escorts, if that's what you're looking for.
        As good as Rent Boy is, it's just one of many escort hookup services. Each caters to a different niche and offers something unique, so it's good to shop around.
        Classified Escorts is another robust and comprehensive escort network with a lot of great features. You can create an anonymous profile, leave reviews, browse top-rated escorts, and maintain a favorites list. It's easy to contact the escorts and most who advertise here are true professionals.
        At Men 4 Rent Now, you'll find a revolutionary Wanted List that allows you to list the services you want and what you're willing to pay. It helps to make the process of finding an escort easier for everyone involved. There are also escort reviews, a favorites list (called a Stud List), and even free personals.
        If you travel a lot and use escorts internationally, you'll really appreciate Escupido. This international escorting community is part world escort directory, part blog, part live web cam community, and part free gay video site. From England and France to Mexico and even China, everyone is welcomed. Escupido’s dedication to discretion and privacy means that you can log on without fear. Whether home or abroad, Escupido is your mainline to the escort world.
        If you're looking for hairy daddies to keep you warm, try Daddy's Reviews. They offer all the bells and whistles you'd expect, but with a bent towards strong daddy types.
        The “Top 100” lists you may findat Google for gay escort services can be dubious (often selling placements or simply promoting their own escorts) so stick to the safe, established sites. And remember –life is too short to spend worrying about what others may think, so be daring and discover for yourself what escorting is really all about.

Contact Tom Terranova at tom@cybersocket.com

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