Tomorrow is December 17: the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. You can find the 2012 list of names here, and events here (there are less events than some years).

I don’t think anything is going on in Dallas this year, so as usual, I’ll be doing my own thing.

Michael (Mike) Meisenbach

A friend of mine was brutally assaulted by Michael Meisenbach. She found out he had done the same to others — after the fact. Naturally, she put him on the National Blacklist and other bad client lists because at the time he wasn’t on any that she used. Yet he keeps on raping and/or beating escorts. He does not hide who he is — it seems that girls aren’t doing their screening. His violence is escalating and at some point he will kill an escort, either deliberately or accidentally.

Avoiding violence is better than trying to pick up the pieces afterward. For your own sake: SCREEN. Use Google if nothing else. If you have a friend who doesn’t bother to screen, volunteer to Google her client info or be her safety call. No, this isn’t going to suddenly stop all predators but it could very well reduce your chances of being hurt. The life you save may be your own.

Survive this work.

Not every sex worker is going to retire with a huge nest egg or some other safety net. Neither do you have to exit this work harmed beyond recovery. Take care of yourself. It’s very obvious in this society that no one else will.

14 thoughts on “dec 17 — survival

  1. Hi Amanda, I haven’t posted awhile. Thanks for the topic. I have an unusual twist take on this. Fortunately, I see older men and advertise for private, theraputic massage so I tend to attract kinder, gentler types but in addition to screening I insist upon a verbal phone interview that aids me well. Also, I want to recommend a book called “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin De Becker that everyone should read. Anyway… I was walking my dog in my quiet neighborhood and I upset a man whose fence borders the road I walk on. My dog likes to play chase with his greyhounds along his fenceline. His home gives the aura of “I have issues and meth might be one of them”. He warned me to stay off of his property. I was polite and tried. The other day, I forgot about it and he ran out screaming. I apologized, he threated to call police, I told him that was understandable and offered to wait while he called them. He then told me I that next time he would just shoot me. I reminded him that was illegal and decided to go to the police station and file an incident report about it. The officer did not seem to think it was necessary (day before our latest gun tragedy) but I reported his threat to me anyway. It’s shocking what cops deem “important” and I don’t mean them any disrespect as I have known some very good ones but yes, it is very discouraging to be a woman and have to insists upon rights that men want to ignore.

  2. Massuse — I recommend The Gift of Fear to everyone too! It’s a hugely important book because women’s feelings are so devalued that we lose trust in our own instincts. I like the book simply because the author encourages women to believe in themselves.

    Speaking of devalued…that would be your concern for your own safety. I wish you well in regards to your neighbor. Be safe.

  3. The truly sad thing of this article and the post from Massuse is that these actions are necessary. It saddens me we live in a world where women feel insignificant and their opinions devalued. Why? Did Shakespere not tell us “if you prick me do I not Bleed” I will leave my views on Religion and it’s influence out of this but I will never understand the devaluing of anyones opinion or ideas or anything. How do we define an equal? Surely we are all unique, every single one of us so how can we deal in such terms as equals? Surely the fact we are all unique makes our views unique and following the principles of Occam’s Razor the only definition that can be left is we are all equal?

    Speaking of equal it is equaly sad that when a threat of violence is made to another, we live in a society where it is so common, there are deemed levels of it.

    Sadly this world is truly on fire……. I truly wish there was something that could be done but all I can say is I am truly saddened by humanity that we have to have articles and discussions like this.

    With the time of season and recent event’s my parting comment is try to find the joy and love in your soul for others. Understand that people are different and unique and appreciate them for that. Life is precious and those in it are what make it full. Be well and please try and be happy.

  4. Ex-roomie — Thank you for your kind thoughts. Need to get them out to the assholes who need to hear them.

    Though I daresay Australia is a hugely progressive land compared to the US in regards to holding women in esteem.

  5. It is disgusting that people like that walk the streets. A quick Google search revealed much about this man. Entitled jerks like that belong in prison. Please be safe everyone.

  6. I want to add a thought. Always trust your instinct. Not one time that I have ever had a bad client did I not have some gut feeling that he was wrong. Always listen to your instinct. No amount of money is worth the risk.

  7. Mustanggirl — Yes, I always say that. I might have said that to you before!

    David — So now you’re screening too? 🙂

    Seriously, though, this is someone people need to actively avoid. I’m not sure WHY he’s still successfully finding victims.

  8. Dosha — Thanks for the link to this site. But I’m not sure it’s a great screening tool as it requires potential clients to submit their info to the site.

    Any escorts use this site?

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