Craigslist Personals taken offline...

[breadisfunny]

LFM Bank Robbery

i hear the helicopters coming quick everyone hide!

[Xar226]

This sure seems like a limitation of freedom of speech to me.

It isn't. There has always been the potential to be liable for a third-party's activities if you provide a forum for those activities or inducement of those activities; however, Congress specifically protected websites from that liability so long as they followed a handful of steps. This bill simply removes that protection, re-exposing them to the liability that always existed. You're still welcome to say or host whatever speech you choose, but it's at your risk.

And no, I don't support the bill. It's a ham-fisted reaction to an infrequent problem that is likely to do quite a bit of harm for very little good.

[belfpala]

i hear the helicopters coming quick everyone hide!

Don't bother, they're tracking your cellphone...

[Torto]

A little confused here, is it illegal to advertise prostitution or brothels in the US?

[belfpala]

It isn't. There has always been the potential to be liable for a third-party's activities if you provide a forum for those activities or inducement of those activities; however, Congress specifically protected websites from that liability so long as they followed a handful of steps. This bill simply removes that protection, re-exposing them to the liability that always existed. You're still welcome to say or host whatever speech you choose, but it's at your risk.

That's not precisely true, or at least not a as black/white as you think. For example, a motel that primarily hosted prostitutes and their clients would be very difficult to charge. They can just say he/she was a frequent guest.

In other realms, it was held that Google (and other sites) are not liable for linking thumbnail images in search results, even if the result is a trademarked or copyrighted image.

In meat-space, all sorts of liability restrictions exist. For example, try to rent a car. They will make you sign an agreement that says liability is yours, not theirs, for the use of the car. Websites could easily do similar.

This is not doomsday for free speech. It is, however, a test on how businesses are run.

[breadisfunny]

Don't bother, they're tracking your cellphone...

i don't have a cellphone....

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A little confused here, is it illegal to advertise prostitution or brothels in the US?

yes yes and YES. prostitution and brothels are flat out illegal in the u.s. as are "escorts" technically.

[belfpala]

i don't have a cellphone....

Cool, one more person I don't have to call every few months just because.

[theSloth]

Never used craiglist for anything other then curiosity, but this is a first step to much worse implications.

This is basically U.S congress killing off all farm animals because just one got sick.

This is craigslist we're talking about! A place replete largely with spambots, prostitutes, the socially inept who drop trou to introduce themselves to strangers, fellas into other fellas posting to request outright anonymous casual intercourse and on too many occasions, requesting to be "pozzed" or infected with HIV.

While Uncle Sam inflicting felonies on sites hosting this behavior feels like some sort of infringement on freedom, or a harbinger of a police state web, the fact is your analogy is a bit broad. I would say a lot of these environs-- craigslist, backpage, select dating sites/apps, etc, are themselves the ultimate repository of the lowest common denominator, and a vector for psychological and physical disease being spread pathologically among those happless wanderers who stray into these dark alleys.

This bill *could* conceivably present the beachhead established to assault free speech, but it is more likely that state and federal government simply find it less expensive for web entities to police themselves. Craigslist attracts creeps like s*** attracts flies. CL devs have known this a long time and have done NOTHING to assure the safety of those who use their personals. They also know that now they let it go this far, there is no possible way they can come back from being an HIV, HPV, herpes, dope and human traffic distributor, and admitted defeat. Good riddance.

I started an account here solely to present this declaration; my contempt for social media, web dating and other distancing social tools which have systematically damaged or destroyed societal social skills like an ice pick was once used to scramble brains. Which really, is all the Libs who present these tools as equal to actual interaction are doing. I have no qualms with one shooting themselves in the foot and despoiling their own objectives, but I take exception when one influences others into such behavior.

Corporatism, Liberalism, and the lobbyists perpetuating these isms have managed to make a fad out of one shoving their own heads into the depths of their own colons. This is why capitalism is perceived as the same thing as corporatism. Corporations sow misinformation. It makes no sense to steal from you then cop up to it. They have all the money. They stole it anyway. So they spend some to pay talking heads to convince you to not turn around as they continuously dig in your wallet. Craigslist sold info of all email respondents to solicitors. They robbed you and gave you psychos and disease carriers for hookups. They are kin to EA in this manner. You protest, but still you buy. They all know people are become weak and dependant on the teat. Uncle Sam is in reality helping you all and attempting to save you from yourselves.

I know d*** well 99.9999% who read these words will balk or retort before even allowing the seed of this truth to sprout in their minds. And I won't lie-- my being silenced from all social media for my failure to do as I'm told and think safe thoughts, or feed a delusion out of imposed obligation has left me feeling pent up. Some in my shoes become radicalized, having been intellectually cornered and threatened by ban or even personal harm for questioning the populace, moderators, etc. I simply mourn and live with the resulting depression and abandonment. That's how I roll. But sometimes I just can't stfu, I gotta tell a handful of people to watch out for the bus they are being thrown under. It matters not but at least now my words are on the web and out of my head.

Do what you want. Start a game forum thread with encrypted coords to a public stall and drill a glory hole. If you do not endanger or make me uncomfortable in person, I will not intervene or obstruct. It's your behavior, your consequences, positive or otherwise. Just please do not lash out because an authority says adults should be adults and accept the result of their choices. Whorin' is illegal. Doing it on the web after we have been for years aware that our online data is mined by the government is dumb. Plain stupid. It caught up to them. It caught up to personals and dating services. It's Darwinism. The weak are culled. Be smarter or quit it. Or get caught, now. It should be painfully obvious this bill means web hosts will rat you out to dodge penalties, too.

Good luck all,
Live Long and Prosper

[Misuteri]

A little confused here, is it illegal to advertise prostitution or brothels in the US?

Prostitution and brothels are illegal in the overwhelming majority of the United States.

There are only 8 counties in Nevada where prostitution is legal.

All of those counties require it to be inside a brothel and there are 28 of them.

Yes, I Googled the details but knew Nevada was the only state where it was legal.

In relation to the original topic CL has knowingly for years harbored flat out illegal activities in their personals ads. Including human trafficking.

They have stonewalled numerous investigations into these activities as well and had to be threatened by more jurisdictions than I could list over their contribution to these activities. Their peronsal services section was ripe for the worst things people can inflict on one another.

[breadisfunny]

How do you not have a cell phone in 2018? Assuming you are an adult.

why do you care?

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Cool, one more person I don't have to call every few months just because.

why would you want to call me?

[theSloth]

That is kind of an academic reaponse angle considering federal entities tolerate Nevada
They do not endorse what Nevada does, it is done on borrowed time, paid for among house reps and other suits in vice money. A crackdown obbiates any existing allowences, so that whole deal can dissapear anytime. Further, it does not really resonate with my focused reference to web domain-aided foolishness under the guise of consensual adult interactions.

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Precisely, my good sentient.

[Ifeanychukwu]

Those sites could just learn to monitor illegal activities better, CL in particular is notorious for ads for "personal services" that were very thinly veiled prostitution ads.

Yeah they could definitely handle things a little better. Like making prostitution legal maybe.

[belfpala]

why would you want to call me?

ARE YOU SAYING WE AREN'T FRIENDS?

/jk

It was a joke.

[belfpala]

Yeah they could definitely handle things a little better. Like making prostitution legal maybe.

It already is. It's just a question of how you tender payment.

[Ifeanychukwu]

It already is. It's just a question of how you tender payment.

Even that is more dangerous than properly legalized and regulated prostitution to be fair.

[Seranthor]

okay so then it isn't the end of the internet why is everyone making a fuss about it?

That is a really good question.

[Merie]

I find it interesting that the GoP can't accept this logic when it comes to guns, but they can for everything else.

[belfpala]

Even that is more dangerous than properly legalized and regulated prostitution to be fair.

I don't think you realized the extent of my point.

For example: isn't "hey, you can stay at my place" a form of payment? ...for a few years.

[theSloth]

Far better to sow an attitude of Independence and responsibility among young people. It won't kill you to fondle the funstick on your own til you meet someone with common ground who will tickle the pickle for you. But mainstream and social media only ever extol how much a loser single people are so I feel this sexual irresponsibility is partly society's doing-- at least to some extent. So in truth we all (those whom are sexually active and may elect occasional shortcuts) have a little AIDS on our hands, so to speak.

And hookers are trash. They are. If you're cornered into selling your flesh, you were either enslaved (literally), or weak of mind enough either to succumb to a pimp's game, or too lazy to learn a trade to ensure work options or a little of both. Some prostitutes are dumb h*s and some are legitimate victims. All are a bad idea when you can suck it up, bust out the tissues or a sock, and do what you must. It saves you money, keeps disease and criminal charges at bay and has been said to be good for your prostate. I feel the answer to solitude is to get your s*** together, have a life, obtain all the things you want. Nurse social hobbies, let girls (or guys, or pushy confused people with a fetish for pronoun conflicts) see you in the various activities in your life. The right one will want to be part of what you do, and they will be the proud polisher of your pole, will weave your kinks into your mutual lives and happiness will abound. Or you die alone. S***ty, but hey-- it's more money for gaming, delicious eats, and personal hobbies!

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Interesting point. But your timing feels like a political baiting. Not all who are conservative are conservative of mind. The GoP are not the representatives of the middle right, no matter how they style themselves. I fall to the right and condemn both sides for voluntary propagation of division. Neither party is perfect. In nature when there are two things, they are intended to balance each other. Male, female, predator, prey. Conservative, liberal. One needs the other. It is a yin and yang thing.

We need liberal freeness. But we also need conservative responsibility (or its intended iteration, regardless the party member actions) and forethought. Not all in either party can be a beacon for their cause, either. So don't trope it up and claim the conservative party cannot coincide with liberals. They have so far...sort of. Christ said no adultry, but tons of catholics and protestants will nail a barfly if given a shot and are full of enough sauce to overlook the rough looks. Accept and embrace duality. Accept trannies but also accept those who say they are headcases. Trannies are like ladies and dudes their detractors, if you will. Yin and yang, yo.

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Epic and pertinent. You win a day with the Internet in Paris! Lol, seriouely though, it's fact women or other equivalent partners always seem to cost more than just affection...

[melodramocracy]

So when do they shut down Tinder, PoF, etc?

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yes yes and YES. prostitution and brothels are flat out illegal in the u.s. as are "escorts" technically.

Prostitution is legal in certain portions of Nevada.

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Some brilliant, beautiful motherfucker managed to establish artistic merit in porn.

And lawmakers decided that there's no effective way to actually fully stop it, much like prostitution itself.