Creepy Job Postings on Craigslist

Millions of people everywhere are struggling to make ends meet, stay in their homes and afford to put gas in their car to even get to a job interview. Okay, so there are a few that are not struggling and some that will tell you that there is no recession, repeat stuff from The Secret, and then go home to a stack of bills. As a writer who isn't sure where my next check is even coming from, browsing the job posts for freelance opportunities has become part of my regular routine. But a freelance position took on a whole new meaning today when I found this post for an "Executive/Personal Assistant":

Busy executive seeks mature lady for, personal assistant duties, social engagements, and discrete rendezvous. If you are generally free during the day between 9-12am and live near the Eastlake Design district I am interested in speaking with you about this opportunity. Very generous financial incentive will be provided for companionship. Please include a picture and contact information in your reply to expedite the process. Prefer reserved housewife type looking for supplemental income.

After a few minutes I went back to copy the verbiage and it had been suddenly changed to "Assistant/Companion". No matter what the heading is, this job posting on Craigslist, not listed in the gigs section under adult so only those looking for this type of "Betty Crocker meets Heidi Fleiss" job will be able to access it, got me thinking. In our current economic state and unemployment rates skyrocketing, I wonder, with so many unable to stay afloat, is this type of post more tempting to more women? What will the response rate be? Are creeps tapping into desperate women's plight?

Whatever the case may be, I was sad to see the post, realizing that there actually may be women who are desperate enough and lack the support and self-esteem they need to never even consider this an option.

Note to Craigslist: better filtering of job postings would be nice.

 

 

Follow Michelle Renee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dreambiglife

Comments

[CatTheGadfly]

With "discreet rendezvous" I don't think the ad would mislead many people. Most of the ads on dating sites are just as creepy, minus the "financial" part. Lots of people seeking one night stands. For free. Getting them, too.

Exploitation is sick. But our attitudes toward sex for money, guys who pay for it, guys who can't get dates because they're considered "cheap", women who would skip the expensive dinner, thanks, and prefer the $200...

Having lived overseas, in a country where prostitution is legal (not streetwalking, though), I have encountered women who have perfectly adequate self esteem and haven't "sunk" anywhere, but choose to provide a service, for which they are well paid.

Since in our country prostitution is criminal, we don't see anything but the sensationalist and/or sordid side , which far too often DOES involve abuse, drug habits, desperation, mental illness, or despair for whatever reason. It's hard to accept that women can, and do, have sex for money and maintain perfect emotional stability, but they can, and do.

We may not share their value system. I had trouble adjusting to the normalcy of it when I first moved overseas. Obviously, though, no woman should be a prostitute if she doesn't freely want to. And I mean freely -- no economic pressure, not just other issues. But, it's not a matter of definition that no sane woman would choose to be a sex worker, and not all guys who pay for it are creeps.

[InternationalObserver]

Creep yes, but.....
Prostitution is legal in may countries. Maybe if it was legal in the US (aside from Reno) innocent housewives wouldn't be lured in? Because the men would all be getting what they want from the local brothel.
And it's not called the world's oldest profession for nothing...

[billkarwin]

Wow, yes that's creepy. On the other hand, the ad for the assistant/companion is nothing if not plain. Anyone reading it ought to know exactly what they're signing up for.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

This ad was posted by someone who didn't want to get busted for trying to find sex online. It's not any more creepy than any other craigslist ad.

[gretchenart]

You can always flag posts such as these!

[Eris23]

Or, have some more fun with it. Respond and find out where the guy works, what his name is, etc. Find out if he is married with some googling. After this, respond again to the ad, only this time use a picture and the personal details of his wife. ;)