Unethical competition

[Visions of Codeine]

The new phone book just came out and there is an add for SINdee's exotic massage. Another massage therapist called and started questioning her and it became known that she's doing very inappropriate and unprofessional stuff...things that put massage in a bad light. It really irks me knowing that she is out there doing stuff and tying the professional title with it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to remedy the situation or get her out of the area or out of the business? Obviously she'll be in the phone book for the next year. Unfortunately, Idaho is not a licensed state so that will have no bearing on the situation. It REALLY bothers me that the school certified her even after they found out what she was doing. Makes me ashamed to use the school name! I will not refer people to the school any longer because I felt like they should have done something, or even SAID something to her. It was just brushed under the carpet. Do they not realize the effects it could have on their former and future students if people find out and question the ethics invovled in their core training?! It's got several people in the massage community rialed up and ready to take some sort of action.Ugh!Sadie

 

[Sleepy]

Unethical competition

I recently met with a few guys from the Verizon Yellow pages in NYC about possibly getting a larger listing in the phone book, along with a web page. Our phone book has a few different listings for massage. My main concern was that there is a listing for "Massage" and the next is a listing is for "Licensed Massage Therapy." Even without the ethical issue.....what about alphabetizing the darn categories? My guess is the "unethical" listings probably pay more money for the advertising, and have more customers. As you can guess, in Manhattan, there are countless more escort services using the eforum.xxx "Massage" than actual Massage Therapists. The crummy thing is that these businesses are, by law, allowed to use the term "Escort" in the advertising, but still choose to use "Massage", probably because it makes them look more professional. I opted out.Personally, I went to the Swedish Institute in New York. At least two of the women that I went with are involved with questionable practices today. The school is a great place to learn the profession. Expense aside, it's friendly, convenient, and they try to give you the best education in the short time you are there. It's up to the student /graduate to decide what they do with the time they "wasted" at an expensive professional school. I'm not sure the schools should be punished for the ethical , or unethical choices of its students. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[John S]

Mabye its time to look into gathering other therapist with your same views and get a massage board togeather. Mssissippi just passed all the laws this year.I dont know how long it takes but it would be well worth it. The lady in charge is very nice she could probly answer any questions. Untill then I dont know what to do except harrass the heck out of her. I know thats not profecional but what else can you do????        (I realy need spell check)          Jessica  

 

[anwen55]

Unethical competition

Idaho has tried to pass licensing requirements at least three times now...three that I know of and I'm fairly new to the profession. Hopefully we'll chase her out of town before long. I still can't believe the school knowingly graduated her. I am disappointed in the teachers--I worked with them for some time.

 

[ponderingincanada]

Unethical competition

New York was one of the first states in the country to pass registration and licensing laws restricting "massage" to educated, board approved professionals...and we still have this problem. Prostitution makes ALOT of money. Advertisers want that money. Licensing therapists is crucial, but I personally think the next step needs to be licensing prostitutes. I know saying this is going to spark alot of discussion and disagreement, but if these people want to advertise, they should, BY LAW, say what they are...state clearly what they do in these "sessions"....and not use another VALID skill as a cover. If prostitution is the "oldest" profession, then making it illegal won't get rid of it. I don't agree with sex for money for myself, my family, or my business...but it'll ALWAYS be there! And it shouldn't use the description of MY LEGAL label of services if that is not what they are doing!

 

[Samantha J]

What's all the bru-ha-ha about.  Call the cops on her.  If she's not doing anything illegal, she won't mind.  Don't forget there is always the Board of Health, etc.  Do you know anyonewho has been there and been offered more than massage?  Have them file a complaint.  Easy enough@!

 

[Chase E]

You know Calico, you do have a very valid point.  Legalizing prostitution will free them up to advertise their services truthfully, while leaving our industry alone...thereby eliminating the stigma our industry is trying to live down.  Hmm...never thought about it from that perspective.While I also don't condone it, it is definitely an industry that has no intention of going away.  This is quite a can of worms...right up there with legalizing drugs, and definitely worth discussing.  I'm not suggesting that our discussion of it will change anything, but then again, major changes have originated in some of the smallest forums.Thank you for presenting it...it's definitely something to chew on...Namaste'Carole

 

[Goldie6669]

Sadie,   I came to massage from law enforcement.  This is a simple fix.  Call your local police dept. and ask for the detective in charge of VICE.  Complain to them about the situation.  They will send in an undercover detective to get a massage and ask for 'extra's'.  If she does something unethical she will be arrested.  If she doesn't stop, do it again, and again, until she closes up shop.  We had 6 "massage parlors" in our town.  They have all moved out of town and into the county.  Now we have the Sheriff's office doing the same thing.  It is unethical to advertise like that but it is illegal to act on it.  Good Luck.      

 

[gansta432]

Unethical competition

Law enforcement to massage...wow, what a change!She was reported to the local police department. It is in their hands now. A few years back we had the same problem and the lady ended up dead.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well lets hope that it doesn't go that far.  I think the police will take care of the situation.  If it becomes uncomfortable for her to do business she will either shut down or move.  If she moves others have to do the same thing over and over until she does shut down.

 

[Alelvehes]

 oh my god!!!! Are these people crazy???

 

[Dentist]

I think selling sex is legal in Nevada, but the girls have to be tested every week for everything.    I seen something on tv about the "bunny ranch"  I think thats where it is.  And if they do legalize it should be like that.  Having a series of tests every week should be a standard to keep all the "not so upstanding"  people  safe from disease.

 

[kylerdavidson1994]

Unethical competition

Other than regular medical testing, Universal Precautions (disease control methods) should also be taught to potential license holders. I also believe these people would benefit from business management classes. I know it sounds like I'm "All for it", but I only think this way to protect myself and my community.

 

[Ambir.]

Unethical competition

Selling sex IS legal in Nevada....I'm in Idaho but about an hour's drive away. That's one reason I don't understand why this woman has to sell her body HERE when it would be perfectly legal just across the border. Hm! I understand where you are coming from, Calico....In school I would frequently take the side of legalizing drugs. It extremely reduces the black market and puts it all upfront, on the board. Then you can gain a little more control over it. I haven't ever thought that way about prostitution until you pointed it out. Definitely made me think about it. Wonder how it has effected the massage industry in Nevada? Anyone know?

 

[gaston M]

I would think why get a massage when the milk is free across the border.       I just cna't beleive this!!

 

[neoplop]

Unethical competition

:-X - can'tWhen I first started my practice, my teacher herself warned us about the "bad reputation" massage therapist is tied to.What it is really is that "Promiscous Massages" was first introduced before the "Therapeutic Massage".So we are not preventing something from happening, but rather we are trying to clean what "ONCE WAS DIRTY".Problem is - I tried using "BODYWORK" verbiage to advertise my massage business, but not a lot of people knew about the relationship between them, so I ended up using "therapeutic massage", amazingly though the word therapeutic does not cut it - As soon as others who have not been educated enough to know the difference between an erotic massage and a therapeutic one starts questioning me too.Well, we still have a long ways to go for sure.

 

[Ra6chel (the 6 is silent)]

Actually, therapeutic massage has been around for a long time.  I'm sure we all know about Pehr Ling and his studies and development of western massage therapy practices and that prostitution masking itself as massage therapy really became more prominent in the last 50 years.  Yes, prostitution is the oldest profession but masking itself is a newer phenomenon.  I personally don't even use the word massage attached to any act that would cross the line into prostitition, like "promiscuous massage".  It's not massage it's prostitution plain and simple and has nothing whatsoever to do with massage.  The key when advertising is to be very clear without being on a soapbox.  My business cards reflect therapeutic massage by a nationally certified massage therapist, a member of the American Massage Therapy Association specializing in pain relief and relaxation, and on and on.  There's a lot of information on my cards and advertising (probably too much) but it weeds out the wackos pretty well.  If you advertising yourself under a banner that can be misconstrued in any way, you're setting yourself up for the calls.  I had a friend who named her business "Angel's Touch" and innocently didn't see what people might think.  She got all sorts of calls.  She changed her business name to "Shoreline Therapeutic Massage" and the calls almost stopped to a halt.  I also don't let anyone get away with making an innuendo when I tell them I'm a massage therapist.  I've created a number of scenes at friends' dinner parties to prove it.  hehehe.  I correct people, in a nice way, when they call me a masseure and people listen.  As therapists, it's our job to educate people when these situations come up or we'll never get away from it.  If every massage therapist called their local yellow pages and complained about how prostitutes are lined up right next to us in the phone book, maybe it would get changed and they would be moved to a completely different section of the book.  I apologize most sincerely for these rants but it really burns me when we complain about these sorts of problems but don't take action to stop them at the most local and personal level.  I think the professional associations are moving way too slowly and if not for the need for liability insurance, I'd have ditched them all long ago.   Take action, educate and do great work that would stand up to any ethical standard - that's the best we can do.  Thanks for listening, Joe E.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Unethical competition

I agree that massage and prostitution are two completely different professions, but I also see where the confusion comes from. One of the biggest problems in New York City is the "manual release". There are many offices that are adding this "happy ending" to the therapeutic sessions. Their argument is that this IS massage, be it on a sexual level. Just an extra few inches of skin to cover, right? The men that I've talked to about this say it is another level of release, and goes hand-in-hand (pardon the pun) with the normal range of massage techniques geared to relaxing the body and the mind. I adamantly choose NOT to engage in these practices on ethical, moral and religious levels. I rely on word of mouth to grow my practice and rarely advertise. It doesn't happen often, but when I am approached for this service, it doesn't shock me. I politely say no, and move on.

 

[EatinHorsePoop]

I actually don't see your point.  One has nothing to do with the other.  Ejaculation for money is PROSTITUTION, plain and simple.  They can throw any spin "manual release", they want on it, it's still a sex worker's job!  

 

[?JD?]

Unethical competition

I also make a scene when people discuss having a massage "parlor" or being a masseuse. I make sure they know I don't appreciate the terms and quickly correct them. When the add came out for this exotic massage lady, I did contact the yellow pages and asked that those types of ads be put elsewhere (like adult entertainment). It will take more people to get it changed but at least I've put my efforts out there. This "manual release" stuff. That's horrible!!! You couldn't pay me enough to lower my standards to that level! We've all got quite an uphill battle but I do think a lot of people are getting a clearer picture of what therapeutic massage is about. In over two years of practice, I've only been approached once for sexual services.