I've read that SF is a big destination for human traffickers. To what extent that's true, I'm not sure, but I can't believe that it is wholly false.

My question is twofold: what standards do you have around how providers came to be providers? And how do you go about adhering to those standards?

Is it as simple as asking a girl if she was forced?

If you suspect your provider is a trafficking victim, you should ask her some questions. She may not say it directly but if she indicates she is not there of her own free will, you may ask her if you can help her escape. Refusing service may get her into trouble so don't leave. You could spend your time just talking to her. Don't report to police because what if you are wrong and she isn't a trafficking victim. Her attitude about the session may just be "off" because she doesn't like you or is having a bad day. If she point blank says she is being forced into being a prostitute and she just wants to go home, then it would be OK to report to police.

I don't know of any set indicators of a trafficked provider. Maybe if she seems to be a newbie, overly nervous or fearful, reluctant to be there, doesn't want to touch you, looks scared, etc

It's pretty accurate AFAIK.

I've always been very skeptical that human trafficking is happening on any significant scale in the US. Kidnapping and sexual slavery are serious crimes within US law, relative to prostitution. Trafficking seems like a very risky way to make money when there are plenty of women who will willingly participate.

What the mainstream media, law enforcement, and most women have a hard time wrapping their heads around is the fact that most prostitutes are doing this of their own free will. If it's uncomfortable to conceive of a woman doing this willingly, one will naturally cook up victimization scenarios involving evil traffickers and sadistic Johns. The men who visit prostitutes are compelled by their deep hatred of women, and view them are mere property to be exploited for pleasure. So the women must be forced to participate. Some people have difficulty distinguishing what is true, from what they wish to be true.

Venkatesh at U. of Chicago has done good field research into prostitution. His work overall paints a very different picture: Of willing participants out to make a buck, and clients as diverse as the male population overall.

If you read various reports they claim that up to 30,000 US women are trafficked annually. And in poor countries of Central America and South America they estimate 130,000 women are trafficked.

My personal experience is anecdotal, and I find these numbers to be highly over-estimated. Even in Mexico, where they claim 50,000 are trafficked annually, one would think you would bump into one sooner or later.

I have more than a passing familiarity with the scene in TJ. ANd I never saw a trafficked girl. Almost all of the girls know what they were getting into. A few come to TJ thinking they are going to be waitresses, etc. But they can't make it in a straight job and end up hooking in the zona. But none of these girls are held against their will, no one who is taking their money, etc. Most can earn enough in a day or two to get a ticket home. Some do. Many stay for the money.

In other places trafficking may be a problem, but I do not see it as one in the US.

In the US almost every attempt to independently verify the numbers of the trafficking groups fail.

Has anyone ever met a trafficked girl in the US?

culo is a culo

Be the change
you wish to see

To give you a little background, I'm new to the scene and have visited less than a dozen providers, mostly asian girls from LA (i.e., China). My concern was piqued a week ago when I asked "why are you here?" and all I got was a pair of down-turned eyes and silence. Could be she was embarrassed, didn't understand my question (many of the girls don't speak English well), didn't like me, or didn't want to talk about it with a stranger.

In response to the suggestion that my suspicions are based on a provider in a bad mood or one who is turned off by me, that's completely fair, however I'm young, good-looking, polite, and have been treated very well on average. More providers than not will indulge me in two or three rounds at no extra charge, so when I come across someone sullen, I raise an eyebrow.

In response to Robxxx, my having read an article isn't really an innuendo--it's a report of experience. If you're genuinely curious, google some combination of the phrases "sex trafficking" "san francisco", and "prostitution". You should find yourself as informed as I after a few minutes.

After reading all the feedback, I find myself thinking the best way to to steer clear of manipulated women is to ask questions and go with your gut. bone69 made an extremely valuable observation in that leaving after getting the wrong impression might put a provider in danger, so if you find yourself suspicious and not wanting to engage, at least take the time you've paid for to continue the conversation and find out if there is any way you can help.

Otherwise, enjoy your hobby

And thanks again for the feedback.

No, but that's a good start. Girls who speak no or very little English are much more likely to be trafficked than those who speak it as their native language or just fluently.

Want to err on the side of caution? Then don't hobby with girls who do not speak any of the languages that you speak fluently (Greek's another story entirely ;)

This isn't to say that none of the girls who do speak English fluently aren't trafficked; I'm sure there are examples of those that are. It is just to say that you'll be better able to communicate with anyone that you suspect might have been trafficked to make a further determination.

Good for you for having a conscience about this aspect of the hobby. Another parallel concern has to do with being able to discern which girls are pimped and which are independent. Here too there are definite signs and symptoms of pimpification that we'd all do well to heed. Staying away from minors, pimped and trafficked girls is my preference and goal for sure.

So the best way of avoiding this is to hobby with older Indies who have been providing for a long period of time. However, MILF's are not in many guy's wheelhouse. So all we can do is try to be aware of any possible signs like bruises, lack of enthusiasm and/or eye contact or obvious drug use. If the ad sounds like a dude wrote it, then avoid and, of course, if you see signs of a guy around the in-call then abort the session.

I have another good friend who owns an AMP in the North Bay. Started out as an RA and saved an incredible amount of money in one year and bought the business. She has owned it for many years, and for her birthday two years ago her employees pitched in and bought her a $15,000 handbag. Again, well off employees there by their own free will.

Another friend of mine dated an RA in the city and went to her apartment, a high floor in one of the new downtown sky scrapers. Pretty pricey.

While that is certainly a tiny sample, my guess is that the human trafficing stories are mostly political. The city (and every other governmental agency) wants to crack down on sex crimes, but they realize that the general public couldn't care less that people pay for sex. So they have to give them a reason to care, like selling us that they are slaves. It probably exists, but certainly not to the extent that the government would have you believe, i.e. that all AMP and AAMP workers are doing it against their will.

Pimped girls, on the other hand, are a whole different story. We all know what happens there, but nobody seems to give a shit. Probably because when the city busts an AMP it's very visible, hey look what we are doing to fight crime. When they take down a pimp, it doesn't even make the evening news.

That said, my 'research' leads me to conclude that there is little to no stereotypical 'sex slavery' with the run of the mill AMMPS & AMPS & escorts. I have not seen it despite being alert for it. Just my view. And I believe the vast number of customers would not tolerate it either. Any real 'sex slavery' would not last long in the open venues of redbook or craigslist. Whatever real 'sex slavery' occurs is probably hidden from us.

The far bigger problem, and it is big, is the coercion of younger women who are manipulated via drugs or violence. IMHO this is best addressed by a zero tolerance policy toward violence, and a concentrated focus on violence toward women rather than sex itself.

Also, probably one of the best resources for the police and society to prevent or fight 'sex slavery' and coerced prosttitution is the hobbying community of consenting adults. If LE could find a way to not have to target adult consensual sex, they could get a lot of help from 'normal' sexually active people in fighting the real problem of coercion and violence.