Hobby Exec hits it on the head again
[QUOTE=HobbyExec;3157472]BINGO! This has been commented a number of times. If only there was some way to stick this up so it would stay near the top of this forum.
Around 2005 and prior, Columbia was actually considered a hot spot and a desired destination for many top providers from many of the larger cities. In fact, Columbia and Charleston was actually the home base of a few of the top ladies with stellar reviews on several of the hobby review sites. This was also a time when there were A LOT more hobby sites for the ladies to post as well as mix and mingle with other providers and fellow hobbyists. There was A LOT more online interaction between providers and hobbyists that didn't jeopardize one's safety and privacy as the case with some of what's happening on social media channels today.
Then one by one, these popular sites started disappearing. With less reliable sites to mingle / validate each other, both providers and hobbyists became more reserved and less willing to take chances with the unknowns. Some even disappeared from the hobby altogether. Then came all the news about the robberies and rip-offs by non-hobbyists in the Columbia and Augusta areas. I would hear from providers as far as LA, NY and Boston, that they heard about how dangerous Columbia had gotten and that they were not going to come back this way until it cleared up. Well, to them, it never cleared up, because many of these ladies NEVER came back to Columbia ever again. In fact, some of them stopped visiting Charlotte as well due to the number of stings that started occurring in the area back around 2007/2008. Providers became fearful of the area but to my knowledge, Raleigh seen to have had more of a positive impact from the providers avoiding Columbia and Charlotte. After a while, many of the visiting providers stopped asking me about Columbia and Charlotte all together and I never saw them visit our area again - not even posting on the other hobby boards.
And then came the now popular Quick Visit advertising. Prior to 2009, I don't recall this as being an option was offered by many of the local providers, or at least it was no where close to "the norm" that it's become today. So, as the introduction of the QV became more popular in many no-urban cities, the face of the hobby changed (IMO). This opened the door to just about anyone to sell their skills (or lack there of). And along with a new flux of non-providers came the vultures, the predators, the thieves, the robbers and the increase in "online management".
There are STILL a handful of reputable providers locally and who still frequent the area from time to time. But for the most part, the word has been out in the provider community for a number of to Stay Away From Columbia.
Unfortunate, but real.[/QUOTE]This is exactly why I lurk more than sample nowadays. I have had several high class providers tell me they won't come anywhere near Columbia. I hobby mostly in other places and keep a low profile. The hobby has changed dramatically. I miss the girls from local boards that you could get to know a little bit and develop a sense of safety and security with over time. There are a few still around, but very few that I consider worthy of my time, money and interest. Sad, but true.