Prostitutes posing as ‘sexy’ masseuses
Online adverts are quite explicit, often featuring raunchy photos and suggestive text.
Prostitutes are posing as masseuses in adverts submitted to popular local websites and newspapers to attract clients.
Online adverts are quite explicit – among genuine adverts from qualified masseuses in the health and beauty section of one local website are adverts featuring raunchy photos and suggestive text. The advertisers use words such as “sensual” and “erotic” to promote their services and highlight facilities such as showers at their premises.
The Sunday Times called 10 of the numbers listed with raunchy adverts; six of the people who answered the phone said they provide full sexual intercourse in exchange for money and the other four said their massages included sexual acts.
Two of the respondents – a woman calling herself Nikita and a pre-operation transsexual – said independently of one another that they operate from a building on Rudolph Street in Sliema “close to the police station” – which is in the heart of a residential area near to Dingli Street.
‘Nikita’ offered “a good time, not massage” and when pressed for more details she said she offered full sex for €100. The transsexual offered a similar act for €70.
Another two respondents – seemingly Eastern European women, one of whom was speaking on behalf of a male ‘masseur’ – said they operated from an apartment in San Ġwann from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and a sexual act was available with a massage.
‘Lady Jaja’, who described herself as a 23-year-old Maltese girl and posed in lingerie sucking a lollipop in her advert, said she offered “a good time, everything” at a house in Fgura. She also asked the journalist if he was black, and said “good” when the answer was “no”.
A woman from Gudja said she works from a private house in Gudja and offers a massage and full sex for €50, while ‘Maxigirl’ charges €100 per hour for sexual acts. Another Maltese-accented woman – Xantel – would provide a massage with a sexual act for €50 and a pre-operation transsexual was available in the south of Malta for “anything you want”.
Another woman contacted by the newspaper was a qualified masseuse offering Tantra massages that she described as particularly beneficial for abused women and depressed men. Though insisting that she does not provide sexual intercourse, the massage does have a sexual element.
Many genuine masseuses who advertise in this section make it a point to state on their adverts that they do not offer sexual services.
The Sunday Times spoke to one such masseuse who said that despite pointing out in her advert that she does not offer ‘extras’, she receives more calls from men seeking sexual services than she does from people seeking a genuine massage.
“I hear things about some of the other people who advertise offering extras and that’s their choice but I don’t do that. Recently one man even offered me €800 (for sex) but I turned it down. People can do what they want with their lives but I wish they wouldn’t ask me – I just like giving massages,” she said.
Yesterday the site also featured an advert from someone looking for “females to do massages in (a) private place. No need (for) experience. Good wage per hour”. The Sunday Times called the number listed with the advert to see what was required but the call went directly to a mailbox number.
When contacted yesterday, the website’s founder said: “We remove adverts reported to us that we deem to be illegal from the advert description. We also regularly cooperate with the police. Advertisers should be aware they are fully responsible for the adverts they are posting and that if anyone provides illegal products or services, they face the possible consequences of that.”
The prostitutes also target local newspapers with classified adverts using subtle innuendo.
Prostitution itself is not illegal in Malta. However, brothels are illegal and it is against the law to loiter or solicit for prostitution in any place exposed to the public.
Criminal lawyer Joe Giglio said adverts on public websites and in newspapers were clearly public solicitations.
He said that although the adverts did not specifically state that sex was for sale, the fact that they listed phone numbers and, when contacted, informed potential clients they provided sexual services for money meant it would be difficult for them to successfully argue in court that they were not publicly soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.
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Andrei Azzopardi
Dec 21st 2010, 18:06
This is hilarious, the site spiked in traffic and had to make a comment on its main page:
"Dear User,
Due to a sudden and unexpected spike in traffic, you may be experiencing sluggishness in browsing our site at certain times of day. We are monitoring the situation and will take necessary remedies if the issue persists.
Thank you for understanding."
This is really good advertising! Back to the point, legalizing or not legalizing prostitution, this man-old 'profession' will continue. So the government just needs to decide whether to regularize and tax it or just ignore it.
Lori Massini-Morgan
Dec 21st 2010, 15:39
I think it's ridiculous, prostitution is tolerated in Malta but buying or using pepper spray is illegal.
I would be in more trouble than the working "ladies" of Malta if I used pepper spray in self defense. At least the ones who advertise online you don't have to actually SEE.. vs.what you see when you drive down the road in Msida.. disgusting!!!!!! The pope should have been driven down THAT road during his visit!
Well, if you want to get away with something, Malta is a good place to start.
Gordon Pace
Dec 21st 2010, 04:47
Give us the web site link please .. ;-)
J. Scerri
Dec 20th 2010, 23:52
It seems that this paper is running out of REAL INTERESTING arguments lately !! Because first it was the Strip-Clubs turn, now this. So what's Next ? Going to spy couples in a Hotel/Motel Room when going in a Weekend Break ? Or near their cars' windows ?
And all this when the Political Scenario right now leaves good Margin of discussion in Hundreds/Thousands of Subjects !!
Or by any chance maybe are you trying to become the Maltese-Edition of L'Osservatore Romano ??
Joseph Vassallo
Dec 21st 2010, 21:41
Nah! A mention in the press is always good for any business.
a darmanin
Dec 20th 2010, 21:52
@all bloggers: Take a look at the Classifieds section under the Health and Beauty tab on this website...Are they similar adverts??
R.Borg
Dec 20th 2010, 20:43
'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'
'Thou shalt not covet your neighbour's husbant/wife.'
'Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.''
'Do not sin anymore'.
'He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.'
Sammy Ciantar
Dec 21st 2010, 21:14
Thou shall not Judge!
Joseph Borg
Dec 20th 2010, 19:21
Provide them with a VAT number and let them work. What's wrong with it.
Patrick Mallia
Dec 20th 2010, 16:20
I cannot see where this article is trying to arrive at.
Is it warning people not to respond to these adverts on this website ?
Is it trying to draw the attention of the authorities ? Is its aim to shut down this website ? Some people who commented need to get real and be more tolerant that goes on behind closed doors and accept that what is mutually agreed between a man and a therapist is none of their business.
I go to all types of massages often; the girls that are doing this work do it on their own free will. There is no pimp, no white slavery or anything of this kind. And yes married men do go there to seek relaxation and relief. without sexual intercourse.
Kevin Formosa
Dec 20th 2010, 14:36
U ejja.... kollha tilghabuwa tal-kristjani u religjuzi....poplu ipokrita, li rriduwa tal- qaddisin.....Paranoid
JJCamilleri
Dec 20th 2010, 13:40
I read a lot of articles on this site but never posted a comment. I really felt that I need to post on this one.
It is really funny that some of you are posting against these girls. Has anyone thought that maybe these girls are in poverty? If their father lost his job and now they have no money and can't pay the very high bills and not even to pay the rent? Do you know if their mother needs to pay hundreds of euroes every month to buy medicine?
It is not a nice thing to hear, but for goodness sake, they are at home and not harming anyone.
Just a little quote for you "christians"
James 4:11-12 ESV
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Seasons' Greetings
Christopher Debattista
Dec 20th 2010, 12:33
Probably these people are trying to get some sort of money. Well you know, hard times make you do the unthinkable ( LOL @ HARD TIMES ) . Apart from this, its disgusting
alexander
Dec 20th 2010, 12:13
while in this world everyone is free to do what he or she want with his or her body and find it very stupid that such newspaper fill up space with such an article .
C.R. Taliana
Dec 21st 2010, 08:27
L-importanti li jhallsu t-taxxi hux!
Emily gatt
Dec 20th 2010, 11:41
Ma nara xejn hazin li tnejn jintaqghu flimkien basta minn jeddhom. Anzi ghadhom ikunu regolati biex ihallsu t- taxxi bhali u ma jifthux fejn gie gie. Dik hija l-eqdem professjoni u zgur mhux se jirnexxilna nrazznuha ahna!
Ahjar il- pulizija jiffokaw hinhom iktar fuq nies li ihobbu jabbuzaw mit- tfal sesswalment, fizikament u anke b'mod psikologiku minn membri ta' l-istess familja. Dak huwa l- veru hmieg u genn!
Paul Cauchi
Dec 20th 2010, 11:30
I'm guessing certain websites are experiencing a lot of traffic today. Probably this article will help some people get their Christmas bonus in some way or another...
ASpiteri
Dec 20th 2010, 11:26
Patrick Cooke, Waylon Johnston...u both need a holiday to Amsterdam or Las Vegas!
petra attard
Dec 20th 2010, 10:32
what worries me the most is the spread of STD's. I don't really care about the 'business' as it is a private option and no forces people to go and pay a visit to these 'ladies;. However it is also common sense that married men and women may visit these places and if they catch a disease they will then transmit it to their innocent wives/husbands who may not in realty be so innocent and transmit it to someone else.
Sean Grima
Dec 20th 2010, 15:13
probably the prostitutes insist on condom use, which should protect against the more serious diseases.
Joe E Galea
Dec 20th 2010, 09:41
I am a massage therapist and unfortunately due to these people, the massage practice is being assimilated to sex and prostitution. I also receive calls from clients even male who ask for extras which obviously I turn down. For us real professionals, this is a nightmare, for those who mask themselves as masseurs this is a heaven as apparently avery high percentage of people seeking a massage are in reality seeking sexual relief. The funny thing is that most of these are married people. However, I prefer to have no clients rather than end up prostituting. I am proud of my professiona nd practice it professionally and I am sure there are other professional masseurs who studied hard to get this profession, and who think like me. Please do not mix the profession of massage therapy to such indirect prostituion services.
I agree that prostitution is leaglised and controlled so that people don't have to revert to masking adverts (massage) damaging the true profession.
ASpiteri
Dec 20th 2010, 14:56
"I agree that prostitution is leaglised and controlled so that people don't have to revert to masking adverts (massage) damaging the true profession"
That is was prohibition actually brings...You couldn’t say it better mr galea!
Malcolm Felix
Dec 20th 2010, 09:33
For those who are asking about VAT...
Doctors and other professionals are exempted from VAT as they give a service, so I think the same applies here, since this is one of the first profession ever, I think they should be exempted as well, apart they should be TAX free too for workers of the millennium ☺
sarah falzon
Dec 20th 2010, 08:52
I think it is their problem altogether and the ones visiting these people. As long as im not involved or my husband on that matter , its none of our business !!!!!
Mario Sammut
Dec 20th 2010, 08:42
What is this big fuss all about ???? If one goes to Paceville on any given night ,one can see and get all these services on offer for free. I mean how can you miss the young birds scantily dressed , mostly half naked , snogging away after a few good drinks and the like . Quite a few are so punch drunk or so it seems that ending up having sex is the norm . These are the young generation of our future , God help us . So lets stop being so hypocritical and have a good look around us . This island has become rotten to the core with the permissive society we all have generated.
M.Sammut
Dec 20th 2010, 08:42
Apart from the hypocrisy of these people , personnaly i have noticed that even the illegal immigrants are using the services of those women. I am expecting that in a few years time the number of people suffering from AIDS will increase dramatically.
Peter Shaw
Dec 20th 2010, 08:32
These 'social workers' must be regulated and pay VAT. It's as simple as that. Every person who is taxed to the last penny should understand that.
That's the crux of the issue.It's irrelevant whether their trade is immoral or not. Making Eur100 an hour without paying VAT is unacceptable!
Nick Falzon
Dec 20th 2010, 07:21
Oh please!
"Prostitutes are posing as masseuses in adverts submitted to popular local websites and newspapers to attract clients."
In other news: The Pope might be Catholic.
A. Borg
Dec 20th 2010, 05:53
These prostitutes are the safety valve of our society. Those in need seek their services and pay for it. My daughter and your daughter are safer in the streets with these prostitutes around.
Joseph Vassallo
Dec 21st 2010, 21:57
You are probably mistaken in your final assumption, sir.
It is a commonly reported complaint in the UK press that, people who live in areas known to be frequented by prostitutes, are indiscrimately accosted for services that they have no intention to provide.
That could lead to dangerous situations therefore it is debatable whether your daughter and mine are rendered safer by legalised prostitution.
Peter Korsten
Dec 20th 2010, 00:24
That's a price difference of 100% for the full, er, 'service' (and massage). No doubt an enterprising mind will set up a price comparison website with user reviews.
Don't laugh... they do exist.
jcamilleri
Dec 19th 2010, 21:49
I don't care what goes behind closed doors as long they don't come behind ours. Whoever wants to do a visit it's because they want to and not being forced, seems it's done in private too, so i guess it's nobody elses business as long they are not harming anyone. Better check the streets from hold ups and drugs and human trafficing and listen to those who reports abuse, there are worse things going on around us than getting to know about others normal needs activities. This news was a simple free advertisement for all those who didn't know about this especially the hypocrites, now they would surely like to check it out themselves lol !
Brian J micallef
Dec 20th 2010, 09:56
agree with you 100%
Jesmond Micallef
Dec 19th 2010, 21:33
I am of the opinion that these services here need to be investigated and if neccessary stopped altogether. They run in a shadowy environment and so there are alot of unkowns at work. Also of concern is pornography, which I suspect has a strong related element here. This may sound abit conservative to some but I tend to suspect that pornography cultivates a sort of dirty mind. I also tend to think that we are surrounded by too much sex nowadays. Sex is a very potent instinct but love is getting rarer, I think. Divorce, separations, broken down relationships and marriages. There should be more true and genuine love out there and not instinctive sex in various forms, shapes and representations.
Simon Fino
Dec 19th 2010, 21:22
Dawn qed ihallsu VAT?
joseph borg
Dec 20th 2010, 13:47
lol i could do with a part-time job paying no taxes
Sean Grima
Dec 21st 2010, 14:39
if what they are doing is illegal, they cannot do it, x'ghandu x'jaqsam il-VAT!
Carmel Cilia
Dec 19th 2010, 20:36
Imbaghad ma rridux indahhlu id-divorzju. Ahjar il-prim ministru ghada fil-ghodu kif jidhol fl-ufficju jibaghad ghal kummissarju tal- pulizija u jghidlu biex inaddaf dan il- hmig. Kull kumment iehor huwasuperfluwu
ASpiteri
Dec 19th 2010, 19:29
a nation of christian hypocrites!
not that i morally support prostitution or that i' don't have any concern behind the reason for it, but everyone should be free to do what he or she wants as long as he or she doesn't harm anyone else!
i guess we all agree that we prefer this kind of free-will prostitution than the one controlled by pimps!
maria coppola
Dec 19th 2010, 17:48
Dan kollu hazen u tal misthija...........mara kun sabiha tilbes onesta mhux dawn L affarijiet ghax kollu hazen...................u dnub..........
Jeremy J Camilleri
Dec 19th 2010, 19:39
Mhux imorru jqerru wara...
Brian J Camilleri
Dec 20th 2010, 12:10
Maria, its year 2010 going to 2011. ma hemm xejn tal misthija sa kemm isir kollox fil privat.
a darmanin
Dec 20th 2010, 14:49
Maria, taf kemm hawn affarijiet hziena izjed min hekk???? Jekk trid xi ezempji nghidhomlok ukoll!!
M Mealclaff
Dec 19th 2010, 15:54
I personally have nothing against this ' Trade'
What I do object to is the Exploitation of Men by these women.
I mean 100 for an Hour .. Who do they think they are ?
I'm not too sure of wages in Malta but I'm under the impression that the Maltese are one of the lowest paid in Europe.
So I think these girls prices should be according to the Local wage.
After all, not much skill in involved in this trade compared to say a Lawyer or accountant who has to do many years training who then would not charge 100 per hour.
s.koludrovic
Dec 19th 2010, 16:24
She does not get all of the 100, the by far larger part usually goes to her pimp..
Steve Draco
Dec 19th 2010, 16:49
Exploitation on Men?? I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way, as I believe that these women are the exploited as they HAVE to do that. Seems to me like you need the service as you're objecting on the fee..
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Dec 19th 2010, 16:59
Prostitution involves great risk to the prostitute's health because they do not generally vet their clients' health condition and they have practically no way of knowing what STDs he/she may be harbouring. Personally I would not risk practicing this profession even if the pay was a hundred times more than this AND I was still young and attractive enough to attract potential clients. For over twenty years I regularly worked as an electrical engineer in substations and electrical distribution centres within touching distance of bare 415 Volt busbars and even 11, 33 and 132 KV switchgear - which thankfully never exploded in my presence although I had - perhaps - more than my fair share of "near misses". I will not dwell on the potential risks associated with exposure to the electromagnetic radiation invariably linked with this type of switchgear even when it functions exactly as intended. However, I consider the oldest profession to be riskier to health than my profession.
Sean Grima
Dec 20th 2010, 10:38
most prostitutes would use condoms, which provide protection against all STDs, except for those which are transferred by skin-to-skin contact, such as HPV.
M Sciberras
Dec 20th 2010, 11:51
@ M Mealclaff: Re: exploitation of men by these women: I don't think that any of these men are FORCED to go to these women. They pay because they want to.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Dec 22nd 2010, 21:28
@ Sean Grima
Condoms provide SOME protection against SOME STDs. Many diseases are transferred by skin-to-skin contact, through the mouth and throat etc. so prostitution is still very risky for the service provider – not to mention the client.
Sean Grima
Dec 24th 2010, 11:20
we agree that condoms do not provided 100% protection against all STDs. however, if used in correctly (i.e. from beginning to end) in anal, vaginal and oral (mouth/throat) they can provide almost complete protection against STDs which are not transferred by skin to skin contact.
however, as you point out, a condom does not cover all one's skin, and some STDs may be transferred by skin to skin contact.
R. Gauci
Dec 19th 2010, 15:08
Hawn tant professjonisti li jqaxxruk haj u ma jhallsux penny taxxa ma dawn se nehduha? Jekk ghandom il-hila jaghmlu l-ghixien taghhom minn dawn il-'massages' good luck to them, ma huma jaghmlu hsara lil hadd anzi gid ghax dan mhux kullhadd kapaci johrog u jkellem mara, hawn irgiel ghandom 40+ u qatt ma kellmu mara sforz il-misthija. Allura, hawn tfajliet li kuntenti jaghmlulek 60 siegha xoghol fil-gimgha, jqumulek fl-4.30am u dritt fuq magna ghall-paga minima u jitolbu l-permess biex anke jaghmlu toilet u hawn min hu kapaci jaqla 10 darbiet aktar mid-dar tieghu, kuntenti huma kuntent kullhadd. Min jerfa qofftu mhux pastaz!!
jcmicallef
Dec 19th 2010, 15:02
Hello fellow (curious) readers....
These are some of the descriptions used in the adverts to whet (pardon the pun) your appetite:
"NO SEX OFFERED" - now that's a pity...
"SMELLY AND DIRTY CLIENTS WILL BE REJECTED" - and rightly so!
"want something ......? then come and try erotic tantra you will have an hr of bliss"
An hour...hmmm...let me think...
"SEX IS NOT OFFERED (ONLY HAND)" - .honest, this is true!!!...I'm speechless!!!!
"Divine massage for gentlemen by male foreign therapist" there' something for everyone!
this one taks the biscuit: "even tough women, you also have sexual fantasies , let them come true"
"Do you need to relax your body and mind? Why don`t you phone me to book 1 hr full body massage? I am ****** from Greece- ** years old… Easy parking." Is the Greek economy that bad? And what on Earth could she mean with 'easy parking'? Or am I too dirty minded?
And...lastly:
"Why not come for a wonderful 4 hand massage to cheer up your day? Take a break and relax! You deserve it! " (no) thank you very much, but I know what I deserve.
So there you have it...everyone making max use of IT!
jcmicallef
Dec 19th 2010, 14:41
Quote "She also asked the journalist if he was black, and said “good” when the answer was “no”."
What are the ToM journalists trying to do...gasp at teh last straw so that they get the readers' wrath on the 'prostitutes'?
This is probably Man's oldest profession (yes, probably came before doctors and lawyers) and I think that the least thing is that the servic eproviders have a choice on who their client should be.
Maybe for this kind lady, a Male looking for a quick fling is more compatible with her likes than someone running away from his country for god-knows-what (assuming that her perception is that black = immigrant).
Anyway...ToM journalists - please put your eneries into something more useful for your readers and society in general.
As for those that are sounding the alarms and pressing all the red buttons - go get a life! This is sex and sex is as old as Man, buried deep in his instincts. But if these instincts say 'procreation' then it's ok, otherwise, it's sin!
S.KOLUDROVIC
Dec 19th 2010, 15:43
@A MIicallef,
Considering that more than 60% of Sub Saharian Africans are HIV positive, it could be that the lady was being careful about the possibility of contracting the disease.
They do say better no deal rather than a bad deal.
Sean Grima
Dec 20th 2010, 10:37
Your statistics are way off the mark.
Roger Tanti
Dec 20th 2010, 18:26
@Sean Grima I see... you are an expert on statistics... if you know them exactly please quote them :)
Sean Grima
Dec 21st 2010, 08:58
ah, so first these anti-immigrants dish out statistics from the top of their head, and then expect others to do the research they should have done in the first place! the correct statistics are available for all on the internet.
and, by the way, it is shameful to use HIV infection statistics in this way: HIV infected people are sick people, not monsters, and a good number of them are infected innocently e.g. children from their mothers, by a cheating partner.
T Camilleri
Dec 19th 2010, 14:25
There are also quite a few Thai's operating in the prostitution service apart from Russians, Ukrainian etc. Most of them contract a marriage of convenience and wait a few years to acquire Maltese citizenship and a Maltese passport because they are married to Maltese citizens and then they leave their husbands and children to ply their trade in other EU citizens because once they get Maltese citizenship and passport they can go anywhere because they will be considered as EU citizens. I know a few Maltese citizens who were taken in by these prostitutes, married them, and when they got a Maltese citizenship and passport they separated claiming marriage breakdown in order to take half the community of acquists and then left for other EU countries. So Maltese people don't be taken in by these prostitutes because they are just after your money and whatever you manage to make and then leave you holding the stick. The police should investigate all such foreign marriages including those with illegal immigrants, keep an eye on them and deport them once caught. If in the meantime they had gained Maltese citizenship and passport they should be revoked.
c spiteri
Dec 19th 2010, 14:58
SO WATT ? MELA MATAFUX LI MAWX FLUS FLI DEJN mux ahjar min xi hold up jew jotlu xi ansjana dingli str ?
Tony Gatt
Dec 19th 2010, 15:51
Of course prostitutes are after your money. Do you think that they go with many men because they're sex maniacs??
Sean Grima
Dec 20th 2010, 10:39
yes, and meanwhile allow all maltese prostitutes to ply their trade openly!
john muscat
Dec 19th 2010, 13:51
Hi victor how about this for a bill description. " minor temporary repairs"
A Miceli
Dec 19th 2010, 13:45
It always amazes me how deep ToM journalists' investigations go on unnecessary articles like this one. What's the big deal? There are several well-known international sites where people can get information about prostitutes in Malta.
Journalists, use your energies on something more productive.
Cfarrugia
Dec 20th 2010, 10:12
my thoughts exactly....Patrick Cooke must love his job at ToM - first going round strip clubs to write an article a few weeks ago, and now this. Please give us some real news!!
Justin Bartolo
Dec 19th 2010, 12:56
It`s not true that these web sites take notice of these adverts....
A few months ago I sent them an email suggesting to remove or block these users also due to the fact that mostly children visit these websites..
Well guess what I go no answer back.. and everything kept on going and growing....
For them it`s advertising and they would accept anything that makes more people visit their web page...
Finally someone like the sunday times decided to do something about it...
Andrew Mifsud
Dec 19th 2010, 13:47
Justin, you may want to have a look at the Health and Beauty section of the Classifieds of the Times of Malta - it is full of similar adverts.
We do not remove adverts simply because they are advertising a massage service. We cannot speculate on what these advertisers do in their own privacy.
Your statement that Maltapark.com is visited mostly by children is totally incorrect. 95% of our visitors are over 18 years of age. If parents are leaving minors unsupervised on the Internet, Maltapark would be my least worry.
The article mentions 10 adverts out of the current stock of 68,800 adverts, so you would need to be specifically looking for these adverts to encounter them.
A. Mifsud
Maltapark.com
Tony Gatt
Dec 19th 2010, 14:08
Since it's mostly children that visit these websites parents now know what their kids are spending their pocket money on and at around 100euros an hour they must be visiting the advertised places quite a few times per week. These private ads should be encouraged so that hopefully the exposed walking flesh will eventually be out of view.
M Galea
Dec 19th 2010, 14:49
@ Andrew Mifsud:
they are usually in the "Hot items" section so they are quite difficult to ignore.
Andrew Mifsud
Dec 19th 2010, 15:19
@M Galea:
Any massage advert is explicitly prevented from appearing in the "Hot Items" section. This has been so for a number of months now.
M Galea
Dec 19th 2010, 16:32
@ Andrew Mifsud
I just saw a "VACANCIES 4 U THAT U HAVE A HIDDEN TALENT" in the hot items. isn't pole dancing sort of.... selling yourself in a way too?
Justin Bartolo
Dec 19th 2010, 19:25
@Andrew Mifsud
Sry but still I think you`re wrong. The fact is that on your home page It shows the latest auctions so all the pictures and items come up WITHOUT searching for them.
What you just said that you have to look for them to find them is absolutely wrong.
Also Mr.Mifsud if you read the mail I sent you a couple of months ago You`ll understand better my reason to say this. Maltapark is a very good website and I don`t see any reason why it should promote this type of buisness and pictures the put up.
Hope you understood better..
thanks
keep up the good work :)
Kyle Boffa
Dec 19th 2010, 23:32
@Andrew Mifsud
First of all, it is obvious that quite a couple of people had contacted the owners of this website regarding this issue and apart from not receiving merely an acknowledgement, these complaints fell on deaf ears.
"We do not remove adverts simply because they are advertising a massage service. We cannot speculate on what these advertisers do in their own privacy.". True, however certain item descriptions cannot be ignored as they do not require any further description.
Also it would be unwise to ignore the 5% children who visit the website. Just because 5% visit the website, does not mean that this should not be taken into consideration.
And just this morning, amongst the Hot Items, there was such a massage being advertised.
Thanks
Andrew Mifsud
Dec 20th 2010, 15:14
@Kyle Boffa,
If you have strong reason to believe a particular advert is soliciting prostitution, please report this to the authorities. We do not condone prostitution, but drawing a line is sometimes impossible. As proof of this, one of the advertisers currently being investigated is also on the ToM classifieds section, whom I understand screen classified adverts manually.
Regarding your mention of children, I never said they were not our concern - I was merely correcting the misinformation provided by others.
J Cardona
Dec 20th 2010, 17:04
What a nation of moaners. Why don't we attack the Government / Councils now for leaving the well evident prostitutes on our streets? I've used this website many a time and have only praise for it. We should be thankful that we do not have entire erotic or adult sections such as those featured in similar websites abroad. After all, if I'm looking for a silencer for my car and my back is in good order, I don't need to be clicking on massage adverts, do I ??!
john vella
Dec 19th 2010, 12:47
To all those who put this report together and in the paper, THANKS! This is Malta today, wake up Malta we are loosing our fiber.
I keep remembering: 2Timothy3 Know also this, that in the last days shall come dangerous times. 2 Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, 3 Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, 4 Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God. 6 For of these sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires,
Yes Sir, we are either at the end of time or lost all sense of morality.
Randolph Spiteri
Dec 19th 2010, 12:40
So what's wrong with all this ?
I prefer to see such adverts and ignore them, than walking or passing by
car in certain areas with my family and having to see scantily-dressed women plying for their trade.
I agree that prostitution is legalized like various other countries in the EU (ie Germany, Holland) where they're even taxed and have their health checked regularly by the government.
Oh .. but I forgot .. we re in "Catholic Malta" .. we bury ourselves in the sand and pretend that it's only others that have problems and we're in our own cocoon.
The sooner there is a COMPLETE separation of concept between Church and State, the better for this country to move on ...
After all it's not fair for the genuine Masseurs ... Masseurs are their for massages only and if other women feel the need to advertise their sexual services, they should be free to do so and avoid all this confusion.
K. Pullicino
Dec 19th 2010, 13:14
"The sooner there is a COMPLETE separation of concept between Church and State, the better for this country to move on ..."
"Moving on" means having a country full of sex addicts? It's undeniable that we've become so dependant on sex, as a society, that we're now thinking it's the way forward. What a complete failure.
ray bajada
Dec 19th 2010, 13:17
Bingo!!!....exactly my opinion.....the oldest 'sin' since man got organized in groups.....some legal structure to regulate would be much more appropriate than all the condemnation abounding.
R. E. Saliba
Dec 19th 2010, 17:23
@ Randolph Spiteri
What do you mean "what's wrong with this?"
They're breaking the law and should be fined.
If they're allowed to get away with it, the next step will be exactly what you fear and they'll get away with that too. Understood now?
R. E. Saliba
Dec 19th 2010, 17:24
@ ray bajada
X'bingo hu???
The legal structure is there.
It is illegal to advertise their trade, full stop.
Stephen Koludrovic
Dec 19th 2010, 12:29
I hope these masseuers give out a vat receipt for their services.
victor pulis
Dec 19th 2010, 12:38
If they do I'd give anything to see how they describe their' services' on the receipt!!
C.Sammut
Dec 19th 2010, 12:42
If you're lucky you might just get an std instead ;)