Escorting Before HooBoy

[Buddy2]

My comments may not be popular, but here goes. HooBoy made a great contribution to guys who are seeking escorts by establishing a computer site that allowed reviews of encounters with escorts. His message center was a step forward allowing people to chat, or often argue, about common interests.

There were plenty of escorts and escort agencies before HooBoy, many

providing excellent services. Matt Adams wrote a book on the subject called

"hustlers, escorts, porn stars" back in the mid- to late 1990s. Most major cities had hustler bars. I am most familiar with Rounds in New York City, which was different from strip clubs in Montreal. I never quite believed the urban legend that Tom Cruise hustled at Rounds. But, the joy of Rounds was the thrill of the unknown. On any given night (or the next night), you might meet and hire someone more attractive and interesting than Tom Cruise. Rounds was closed by a Republican mayor long before HooBoy. The bar/restaurant was probably doomed anyway as New Yorkers became more computer oriented.

.

I miss HooBoy the person, but I miss bars like Rounds more.

[TotallyOz]

Hooboy did something that no one had done before. He cleared the way for open communication between clients and escorts. Everyone benefited. It was a win-win situation for all.

His contribution to this segment of the gay population cannot be undervalued. He did something amazing. He was a pioneer.

The community misses him, as he was the one that held the M4M site together. He is also missed among those of us that were personal friends. He was unique, witty, odd, and spontaneous and kept everyone around him guessing as to what he would do next.

I sent a photo to his family last year that his lover Foxy took on a boat trip that the 3 of us were on in Thailand. Hoo insisted that he rent a speedboat and spend the day on an island outside of Pattaya. I agreed. As the waves were high and the boat was jumping over them, he got up on the very top of the boat with his arms over his head and his knees on bouncing from the boat and the waves and yelling, "I am king of the world."

I was yelling for him to please get down as I was nervous for him and did not want him to fall into the ocean and get hurt. He finally got down, gave a sly smile that said, "You only live once."

I was a little antsy on the island as he made me nervous. He sensed my tension. When it was time to leave, he started walking into the water to go to the boat and intentionally fell into the water to put on a show for me and make me laugh. I did. But, he had forgotten that his new cell phone was in his pocket. His mind was not on his phone. He wanted to keep the party going. He wanted to make me laugh. He did make me laugh.

(BTW: he brought along his florist on the boat trip as he thought I would be attracted to him. He kept his room filled with flowers and smelling wonderful.)

He lived his life the way he wanted. He let no one interfere with his pleasure. Even when pressured to make changes, he stood the course he desired. He did that in his life and with his business.

He is missed.

[marcanthony]

Buddy:

I don't think you are wrong, but I think you are missing one very important fact. Not everyone either has access to places like Rounds, or has the courage to seek companionship in places like that.

In fact... I agree with everything that Oz says about Hooboy... and I miss him a lot too. But one thing that is missing from that story is that Hooboy, for all his zest for life, was actually quite shy. I remember the first time he entered a Montreal strip club. He didn't have the courage to pay a dancer that he liked to go in the back. So I secretly slipped the dancer some money to do it.

For those who are shy, cautious, and lacking in access, his website was a god-send. You could, from the comfort and privacy (or secrecy) of your own home, pick someone, research him, get to know him a bit first, and then take the plunge. For many people, this actually became the beginning of their gay life.

Believe me, I am not shy. And now I have no problem going up to some cute young thing in Unity2 in Montreal, or SplashBar in NYC, and asking them if they wanna go home with me. And I love it. But I think without Hooboy's website, I am sure I would not be as comfortable as I am now. I am sure I would not have all the wonderful experiences I have had. I am sure I would not have made all the friends I have made.

And for that reason, I am grateful to him

And like Oz, I miss him too.

[Buddy2]

I realized when composing the message that places like Rounds existed in only the largest cities in the US in the 80s and early 90s. For those who lived outside

those cities, HooBoy completely changed many lives.

I'm 62 and have been hiring escorts/hustlers for more than a decade and a half. Escort review/forums are great. They have made my life easier and more enjoyable. But, HooBoy did not change my life, not even close. That does not mean that HooBoy's memory should not be honored and respected.

To Totally Oz & Marc, I am sure that I would have liked HooBoy as a peron; he sounds like a wonderful companion and friend. But, I do understand how

that has much to do with my original message.

[Guest djroth]

>

>For those who are shy, cautious, and lacking in access, his

>website was a god-send. You could, from the comfort and

>privacy (or secrecy) of your own home, pick someone, research

>him, get to know him a bit first, and then take the plunge.

>For many people, this actually became the beginning of their

>gay life.

This is describing my experience with Hooboy exactly! I came along too late to know Hooboy the man, but the website was exactly what i needed. I was encouraged by the website reviews to meet with an escort, and he turned out to be the perfect choice for me!

[Guest tweety]

I have been wondering whether the days of on-line escorting are numbered. I see fewer and fewer guys on-line who I am inclined to hire. I spend more time searching and end up settling for secon best moe often than not. I remember when I could find someone by either looking on Rentboy, Campus, Maximum or Chelsea. Now Campus is crap, as is Maximum. Chelsea is not much better and Rentboy seems to attract a different sort of escort these days.

The problem is not just in New York. I think the escort scene in Amsterdam is also in decline. I am not sure about London because whie I have had a great time there in the past, it always seemed somewhat hit and miss to me.

So while I don't think the bar scene is making a comeback, I am wondering whether the hey-day of on-line cash for sex has come and gone. Could that also explain the decline of Hooboy's site and the slow start of this one? Maybe there is a lot more on-line sex out there, but less quality on-line sex for cash.

I would be curious to hear the reactions of others to this perspective.

[marcanthony]

>

>So while I don't think the bar scene is making a comeback, I

>am wondering whether the hey-day of on-line cash for sex has

>come and gone. Could that also explain the decline of

>Hooboy's site and the slow start of this one? Maybe there is

>a lot more on-line sex out there, but less quality on-line sex

>for cash.

>

>I would be curious to hear the reactions of others to this

>perspective.

Interesting comment.

I can't speak for general trends, as I am only really aware of what is happening with me....

But my first initiation into the gay culture was exclusively sex for cash arrangements, and pretty much exclusively online. I don't diss it... as I have had wonderful experiences.

Now I am older, and yet though I still have some great online sex for cash experiences, I think I have an equal number or more different types of arrangements... ranging from sex for cash but meeting in different settings (like clubs, etc) to non-cash relationships completely.

Who knows why... but it is definitely different. And because of that, I agree with you. I don't spend my time exlusively on this type of site anymore... but frequent places like myspace, gay.com, dudesnude, etc etc.... not to mention CLUBS themselves where you can meet the nicest cutest sexiest Quebecois boys to obsess over.... oooops, I digress. hehe

[Guest tweety]

"Who knows why... but it is definitely different. And because of that, I agree with you."

I have myself if it is different because I am older, or my tastes or desires have changed. I don't think any of these explain it. I think there appear to be objectively fewer escorts who are atractive to me on-line.

One factor that I think mat account for it is the rise of sites like gaydar in the UK or bigmuscle in the U.S. I wonder if more and more guys who might have advertised as escorts 5 years ago now straddle the fence on sites like that. Depending on their mood, they seem to seek out sex fir cash or casual hookups.

If I am right about this, it would appear that the world of on-line escorting that HB, the growth of which HB helped along, has changed fundamentally. Whats left is an industry of well known celebrity escorts (with their much canvassed pros and cons) on the one hand and others who are not fully committed to the profession or who would not have been succesful in it five years ago.

[Guest stef]

He was just such a wonderful human being.

Those who had the chance to meet Hooboy know how much he is missed.

It Sucks I did not come along that boad ride in Thailand

Such is life

We will have many stories to talk about, many stories full of joy and fun as hooboy always made sure something was "Up" wherever we were......