Press Release - 2nd October

[Galahad]

I have had a large number of queries from various news agencies over the past day, too many to write each one a personal reply, so I am posting this instead.

Regarding claims that PunterNet "degrades" and "exploits" women:

Most definitely not! As it says on the home page, "This web site aims to promote better understanding between customers and ladies in hopes that everyone may benefit, with less stressful, more enjoyable and mutually respectful visits." Anyone actually reading the site can see that the atmosphere here is one of camaraderie, not degradation!

Participation on this site is 100% voluntary. If a particular lady or agency chooses not to have reviews published here, their wishes are respected - unlike on many restaurant review sites.

Regarding claims that sites like this promote trafficking and sex slavery:

Again, exactly the opposite is true! The sort of low-lifes who engage in such despicable activities would not dare subject themselves to the scrutiny of being discussed in an open forum such as this one. The people who use this site (and the many others like it) are decent folk and would not hesitate to make that call to Crimestoppers if they suspected something was not right. So, sites like PunterNet are helping to REDUCE trafficking and slavery, which is what the Government claims to want to accomplish. Whatever one may think personally about sexworkers and their clients, we should all be working together in furtherance of that goal, by promoting a political and legal climate in which consenting adults can conduct their private business in a safe, clean, and respectful environment.

Why is Mrs. Harman picking on PunterNet when there are so many other, similar websites in the UK?

That is an excellent question! Considering the many high-profile escort directory sites, the thousands of websites belonging to escort agencies, massage parlours, and independent ladies, not to mention all the other discussion/review websites, how PunterNet came to be singled out is something of a mystery. Perhaps it was the fact that Mrs. Harman and her misguided beliefs were previously discussed here in a negative light. If that is the reason, she will have to close the entire Internet after this latest fiasco!

How much extra traffic did you get on 30 September, the day the story first broke?

Just over 2.7 million hits, more than double the daily average. Here's the graph from my server statistics for September: http://www.punternet.com/daily_usage_200909.png

[robbiede1]

Well done G.

This is an excellent site, where punters and girls mix freely and exchange information and help each others out. Scroll through the many pages of post and where people are asking for help (and not just about sex) it is readily available and suplied without hesitation and for free - just to be helpful to a fellow forum member.

It is a shame that the press does not have some of the standards shown here and they will publish any old rubbish whether it is true or not, the mods on here at least ensure some accuracy of its content!! Maybe a lesson a few editors could learn.

[punter992005]

To answer why she chose punternet, I think the reason is two-fold. One is the reason you gave, in that we've been instrumental in fighting her proposed legislation. The other is that, as far as I'm aware, the other sites that work in a similar way to punternet, with messageboards and reviews of escorts are all based in the UK. By targeting Punternet she can safely attack prostitution without having to worry about whether it's possible to close the site. The site is hosted in the US so when it's not closed, it's not her fault.

The fact is that prostitution is completely legal in this country, and even if her proposed legislation gets through the Lords in its current format, it will still be legal to pay for sex, and there will still be no legal basis for this site being closed.

Harriet Harman seeks to blame the US for this site's existence, when the fact is that she couldn't close it herself even if it WAS hosted in this country.

[Galahad]

Jerome Taylor's latest piece, if you haven't already seen it:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...t-1796759.html

[Tiggy 7]

Originally Posted by Galahad

Jerome Taylor's latest piece, if you haven't already seen it:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...t-1796759.html

Good luck, G. The concluding paragraph of the article probably says it all, though. Those who don't listen will learn nothing:

Last night Ms Harman said she remained determined to try and shut the website down. “I am against exploitative websites such as Punternet,” she said. “They should be ashamed of themselves for boasting about how they degrade women and I am determined to shut them down”.

She won't succeed, and the voters will soon rid us of this turbulent harridan.

[giddy]

Harriet Harman is in my oppinion merely courting media hype she nor the Labour party have enough time left before they are cast out of power to make any real significant changes thank god ...
and let us not forget there are many who seek the discreet ( and sometimes not so discreet ) services of working girls that walk the corridoors of power i doubt very much they would allow a frumpy old busybody like Mz Harman to suceed lest there own often deviant sexual urges would go unsatisfied...... I think we can sleep easy in the knowledge this personal vendetta of H.Harmans will soon be cast on the scrap heap along with New Labour

[Ghenghis]

Originally Posted by giddy

Harriet Harman is in my oppinion merely courting media hype she nor the Labour party have enough time left before they are cast out of power to make any real significant changes thank god ...
and let us not forget there are many who seek the discreet ( and sometimes not so discreet ) services of working girls that walk the corridoors of power i doubt very much they would allow a frumpy old busybody like Mz Harman to suceed lest there own often deviant sexual urges would go unsatisfied...... I think we can sleep easy in the knowledge this personal vendetta of H.Harmans will soon be cast on the scrap heap along with New Labour

Do not write off the average politicians ability to compartmentalise.

For decades politicians have believed they are above and beyond the laws that they impose on the rest of us. Witness the recent expenses scandal as the latest in a string of examples.

Therefore they could easily make life extremely difficult for us if they wanted whilst ensuring that their "ability to play" is relatively unfettered.

What we need in the UK is sensible legislation on prostitution that will allow Indies to work in safety, off the streets, and able to use the Police to protect them from pimps and "albanian" gangs who try to control some of them.

It is a total disgrace, in my opinion, that when a WG is threatened or attacked at her place of work, the Police try first to establish if they can do anything further to her for potential brothel keeping etc rather than concentrating on the assault/attack. If Harriet and her twisted agenda had any credibility, it would start with trying to protect working girls, not prosecute them and their clients.

[Overworked]

The reason she probably chose punternet is because its the most popular.

But she has sady not thought WHY its so popular...

Because its well administrated, honest, free approach and views to this industry match with the majority of this country and those who decide to partake in this industry.

If she saw what kind of postings/FRs we ban or close, What information we freely give out, the HUGE numbers of people who visit, then maybe she'll realise that she has gone about this wrong.

There are many sites in this industry. But the reason punternet is the most popular is because the majority agree with what it stands for. And if the government took a few seconds to see what those views were then they would at last see why all of us come here.

If she doesnt care to listen or wish to understand what we are all trying to say then she has no place in politics. Since she has said nothing about this issue since I belive it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. One that has gone wrong since all the public views OFF this site disagree with her. She should start listening to the people. If not, then she should resign as she is not fit for the post she holds.

[Tarquin]

Originally Posted by Tiggy 7

Good luck, G. The concluding paragraph of the article probably says it all, though. Those who don't listen will learn nothing:

Last night Ms Harman said she remained determined to try and shut the website down. “I am against exploitative websites such as Punternet,” she said. “They should be ashamed of themselves for boasting about how they degrade women and I am determined to shut them down”.

She won't succeed, and the voters will soon rid us of this turbulent harridan.

You are so right, whatever the reasons behind her personal crusade she won't succeed.

Excellent timing for the Press Release G. The Sunday papers should be a good read this week!

[Vin DaLoo]

Originally Posted by Overworked

The reason she probably chose punternet is because its the most popular.

But she has sady not thought WHY its so popular...

Catchy name. Internet/PunterNet, gedditt??

[Kinky1956]

Originally Posted by Galahad

Jerome Taylor's latest piece, if you haven't already seen it:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...t-1796759.html

Read the readers comments, especially the one headed 'Shut up HH' by 'alternativeview' Priceless...

[Matty 972]

Originally Posted by Galahad

I have had a large number of queries from various news agencies over the past day, too many to write each one a personal reply, so I am posting this instead.

Regarding claims that PunterNet "degrades" and "exploits" women:

Most definitely not! As it says on the home page, "This web site aims to promote better understanding between customers and ladies in hopes that everyone may benefit, with less stressful, more enjoyable and mutually respectful visits." Anyone actually reading the site can see that the atmosphere here is one of camaraderie, not degradation!

Participation on this site is 100% voluntary. If a particular lady or agency chooses not to have reviews published here, their wishes are respected - unlike on many restaurant review sites.

Regarding claims that sites like this promote trafficking and sex slavery:

Again, exactly the opposite is true! The sort of low-lifes who engage in such despicable activities would not dare subject themselves to the scrutiny of being discussed in an open forum such as this one. The people who use this site (and the many others like it) are decent folk and would not hesitate to make that call to Crimestoppers if they suspected something was not right. So, sites like PunterNet are helping to REDUCE trafficking and slavery, which is what the Government claims to want to accomplish. Whatever one may think personally about sexworkers and their clients, we should all be working together in furtherance of that goal, by promoting a political and legal climate in which consenting adults can conduct their private business in a safe, clean, and respectful environment.

Why is Mrs. Harman picking on PunterNet when there are so many other, similar websites in the UK?

That is an excellent question! Considering the many high-profile escort directory sites, the thousands of websites belonging to escort agencies, massage parlours, and independent ladies, not to mention all the other discussion/review websites, how PunterNet came to be singled out is something of a mystery. Perhaps it was the fact that Mrs. Harman and her misguided beliefs were previously discussed here in a negative light. If that is the reason, she will have to close the entire Internet after this latest fiasco!

How much extra traffic did you get on 30 September, the day the story first broke?

Just over 2.7 million hits, more than double the daily average. Here's the graph from my server statistics for September: http://www.punternet.com/daily_usage_200909.png

as she belongs to the Labour goverment they like to pick on certain things knowing they do not know how to do their own jobs

[sciros]

I fully agree, but..
Do you have a business continuity plan? What if the site is closed down in the USA, will it re-open in another location?
A number of sites recently that have not broken any laws have been closed down, due to their government taking a moral standpoint. The first amendment is driven oven in tanks everyday.

[Nick Bucks]

No doubt HH has quite a few viewers /members of Punternet on her staff.
She probably asked someone for the name of a site she could use in her speech and someone gave her the details of the one he / she knew well.
Good advertising though.

[Wayne King]

Well I have complete faith that Punternet will still be here long after HH and Labour have been kicked out of government next May.

I was a member of the original board back in 2002 and it was a life line to those of us that wanted to visit girls safely and girls that were clearly providing a service of their own free will. I learnt what to expect and how to behave when visiting a girl which I hope has made the work environment for the ladies that much better.

One quite amusing comment to the article in the Independent was that Harriet Harman may wish to use the services of the site herself in the near future should she consider the drop in pay too much.

The success of Punternet is down to the fact that Galahad didn't try to exploit the sex industry but rather produce something that genuinely made it better for us all. It is thanks to Galahad, the moderators, and members of Punternet that it is so successful.

[Northwinds]

Originally Posted by Kinky1956

Read the readers comments, especially the one headed 'Shut up HH' by 'alternativeview' Priceless...

It reminds me of the writing style of a few FR authors we have here

[bethofkettering]

Another good reply to those naive peeps who think they know the reality of our world and yes my stats for yesterday were fantastic - thank you HH

[Uncle Pokey]

Well done Galahad.

I feel a little guilty that one of my posts earlier was a bit shallow. I referred to the Harman woman as a "stupid, stupid bitch".

NO, she is an intellectual minnow in the field of human relationshops, completely shorn of any understanding of sexual relationship matters in particular, has total lack of knowledge of the commercial sex world ([pause to reflect how very - very badly she is advised since I know two fairly senior Home Office civil servants who are rampantly engaged in paid sex and one of whom leaked to me the bit about police commissioners being totally unable to police the proposed paying for sex criminalisation) ) and thus not qualified one bit to be speaking on such matters in public. So what I should have said was that Harman is completely wrong, wrong, wrong. (I know mere repetition does not imbue same with greater validity. But it's feckin' well meant.

Uncle Pokey

[PrinceBoy]

Originally Posted by Kinky1956

Read the readers comments, especially the one headed 'Shut up HH' by 'alternativeview' Priceless...

Yes that was a really great post indeed, RESPECT

[EscortBunny69]

Well done G

HH has just added the wind to make your flame much bigger

[crip]

La Harman is-of course-a relative of Lord Longford.If you google him,you'll see the kind of causes he supported!

[Tiggy 7]

Originally Posted by Galahad

Regarding claims that sites like this promote trafficking and sex slavery:

Again, exactly the opposite is true! The sort of low-lifes who engage in such despicable activities would not dare subject themselves to the scrutiny of being discussed in an open forum such as this one. The people who use this site (and the many others like it) are decent folk and would not hesitate to make that call to Crimestoppers if they suspected something was not right. So, sites like PunterNet are helping to REDUCE trafficking and slavery, which is what the Government claims to want to accomplish. Whatever one may think personally about sexworkers and their clients, we should all be working together in furtherance of that goal, by promoting a political and legal climate in which consenting adults can conduct their private business in a safe, clean, and respectful environment.

PN's success at helping to 'reduce trafficking and sex slavery' has been far greater than HH and JS's success. It has been amusing to note the steady stream of 'returnees' from the two highly-publicised oriental agency closures flaunted by the desperate duo 18 months ago. A number of the 'oppressed 'apparently had an opportunity to go home to visit their mums and offspring, subsidised by the HO, but are now back and exercising their indepentent life-style choices with renewed vigor.

[karin_sheffield]

Originally Posted by Tarquin

Excellent timing for the Press Release G. The Sunday papers should be a good read this week!

So which ones should I be buying today

[skater]

Well Done PN. I lurk here often and find it highly informative. Have always had a hugely enjoyable time reading posts. . This Labour b***h has actually persuaded me quite finally to turn completely against them. The country is going to the dogs. The party has sold us down river. Created a huge housing bubble , planned increase in taxes. Signed us up to various treaties without a vote , taken us into a war on LIES which is resulting in lots of our soldiers being killed for nothing(should also add - ill paid, ill equipped) .
Screwed single people like me who do not get one bit in return and who have acted principally all through(I could go on).

Instead of trying to solve MAJOR problems the country is facing this damn party is now suddenly interested in a HARMLESS site like this. The sooner this inbred, hypocritical trash is out , the better.

[berksboy]

Originally Posted by skater

Well Done PN. I lurk here often and find it highly informative. Have always had a hugely enjoyable time reading posts. . This Labour b***h has actually persuaded me quite finally to turn completely against them. The country is going to the dogs. The party has sold us down river. Created a huge housing bubble , planned increase in taxes. Signed us up to various treaties without a vote , taken us into a war on LIES which is resulting in lots of our soldiers being killed for nothing(should also add - ill paid, ill equipped) .
Screwed single people like me who do not get one bit in return and who have acted principally all through(I could go on).

Instead of trying to solve MAJOR problems the country is facing this damn party is now suddenly interested in a HARMLESS site like this. The sooner this inbred, hypocritical trash is out , the better.

wot a great post ! as a single working guy like you i think you are spot on