What on EARTH?? "Report-a-John" sign

[Annessa 22743]

 

a friend of mine recently posted this as a "WTF?" on her facebook mobile uploads...she says the sign was posted in Edmonton and there are apparently a bunch of them everywhere.

 

the sign reads "this community does not tolerate EXPLOITATION...Report a JOHN!"

 

REALLY?? report a 'john'?? I'm all for getting rid of exploitation but talk about an ignorant solution to a problem.

 

when are these people going to realize that sex workers AND clients are against exploitation (coercing someone to work against their will) !

 

This community here on CERB doesn't tolerate exploitation in any way and I just hope that someday people will find better ways of involving this community and others and sex workers in the fight against exploitation.

 

grr...sorry for the vent but its seeing stuff like this that makes my blood boil.

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

The Edmonton Police Services' "Crime Analysis Section" web-pages, with web-forms for the public to fill out to "assist" the police:

 

"Report a John":

https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/communitypolicing/familyprotection/prostitution/reportajohnform.aspx

 

"Report a Prostitute":

https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/communitypolicing/familyprotection/prostitution/reportaprostituteform.aspx

[Annessa 22743]

well I can see how reporting gang and drug related behaviour and street-walking would be of use to the police.

 

I still think labelling it as exploitation is wrong and the problem doesnt end by seeking out the clients.

 

heres a good video that those ppl should watch:

 

Sex workers against Exploitation:

[Cleo Catra 178382]

That IS disgusting. However, in Edmonton, if things are the same as they were about a decade ago when I lived there, I can somewhat understand them going to extreme means.

 

I lived in an area that was two blocks south of 'hooker' ave. The place was literally crawling with streetwalkers, and my girlfriends and I only travelled in groups after dark. Even then, we'd get approachedin the convenience store, guys would pull over and actually get out of their cars and walk towards us to make offers, etc. I'd be walking to work in the middle of the day in baggy pants and a giant hoodie and men would still pull over and ask how much. It was actually terrifying, and I barely left my house while I was there, just saving up money to move to a different neighbourhood.

 

Now I'm not in any way saying those signs are okay, or that all of Edmonton is like that. However, I was afraid, DAILY, of walking around, and honestly, at the age of 18, if I'd seen a sign like that I most likely would have called in and reported the people who came after me like that. I hope this is targeted just for street prostitution, because, based on what I said above, I can kinda see where they're coming from. For escorting, on the other hand, this is SO not appropriate and they'll get nowhere with stuff like this.

[roamingguy 300292]

Now I'll play devil's advocate for a second, and I'll add the caveat I don't know the background to the sign or anything about this paticular situation.

But maybe the focus is on street prostitution, where the ladies (or girls...might be underage too, don't know), are controlled by a pimp, addicted to drugs, and the men are not hobbiests who treat ladies like a gentleman should but johns who think by paying a woman money they can do what they like for the time they paid for

If it is the street level prostitution they are targeting, no issues

If it is targeting escorting, where it is two ADULTS (a lady and gentleman) involved in a discrete, private, consensual interaction, complying with Canadian law, then I do have an issue with the sign and the message

Some thoughts...and only playing devil's advocate

RG

[Old Dog 179138]

... and here I thought it was a public service informing people of the whereabouts of the nearest restroom....

 

 

... carry on.

[VedaSloan 119179]

I just want to point out that exploitation exists in MANY professions, but you don't see signs, say, posted in hotels that say "Stop exploitation--arrest the management."

 

On top of that, while there are certainly some street-workers who have problems with drugs and/or pimps, those are still stereotypes! And they are stereotypes that are NOT inherent to sex work. Street-work is largely misunderstood by many, even those of us working in the sex industry already.

 

I just watched a great documentary put together by Stella in Montreal about street-workers in France and it is hardly the drug-addicted, pimpin' life one expects.

[Guest s******ecan****]

I thought Edmonton was on the praries....thats one helluva hill..

[moonshine 399]

So let me get this straight - a group of people who have some misconceptions regarding a certain situation are jumping to conclusions without being fully informed?

 

Now who is it that I am referring to - the ones responsible for erecting that sign, or the people here that are upset by it? We don't know where that picture was taken precisely, or what the motivation was behind the street sign being posted.

 

Yes, the inference that Exploitation and John go hand-in-hand is simplistic, prejudicial, and stereotypical. But essentially, without a john, there would be no possibility of exploitation. Some people need to have things simplified in order to take action about a problem, and if these signs are in areas similar to ones that Cleo described, you can well imagine that the denizens are reacting out of panic. Did that sound like a place you'd want to live in?

 

I'm not saying it's right, but we can't get up on a high horse and wag fingers; otherwise, we're no different.

[Pheromone125 100]

The signs target street prostitution, which makes sense given the context. The streets in Edmonton where it takes place are areas with high levels of crime/drugs/gangs etc. And, honestly (trying not to say anything disrespectful here) the women who are involved in the street trade are either extremely young or clearly drug-addicted. This may sound like a gross generalization, but this is what I've observed. On the other hand, by and large, the MP's and independents are generally left alone (a few exceptions but this is the general rule).

[omehgosh 736]

"This community does not tolerate EXPLOITATION...Report a JOHN!"... hmm...

 

Okay... exploitation... so where do I get the paperwork for reporting the cable company, hydro, Bell... oh ya, and the freakin' government?!?

 

I keep insisting I don't offer Greek but they just won't listen... :bddog:

[Loralee Reach 245]

Stereotyping again.....

Drugs? underage ladies? Pimps? may be, but it is not the point.

Blunt a clear stereotyping

The sign could have said:

Report drug users, or

Report pimps, or

Report sex solicitation, or

Stay away from the streets, or

whatever, but they had to use derogatory "Johns"

Ugly choice of words, may be we should send them a dictionary with a Thesaurus and a manual with instructions.

loralee