Feeding Frenzy . . .

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: $60? Shouldn't be..., posted by Frank O on Oct 8, 2002

Well, Bear in mind that I was NOT there in November, so I don't know how well heated the place is ... but it SEEMED like a pretty modern building. (Steam heat though... so who knows?)

Actually, Oscar gave me the lady's info. I have sent it to a few guys on here. Here name is Luda, and she was great to work with.

If you shoot Oscar an email, or me (at markjoel60@hotmail.com) I can give you Luda's email address...

[Dan]

... in response to Re: Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by MarkInTx on Oct 6, 2002

Now is we could get consensus, based on logic and fact, that would REALLY be something!

As it is - we evaluate the reports and anecdotal evidence and everyone draws their own conclusion.

In point of fact, I would not have said that Kherson is the scammer capital - I would have said it is Chernivtsy - but to each his own.

As for Frank - he strikes me as one of the more realistic guys I've seen post here in a while. He acknowledges that if he is scammed it will hurt - but he is not heavily invested in it just yet - and is here looking for alternatives and support - not for accusations.

Ya know Mark - the fact that Frank is so forthcoming about his temperance towards prostitutes, I also find a positive quality. It is those who choose to stand in judgement on his position that I find distasteful. This, after someone comes on to make the ridiculous accusation in the first place.

Tell me Mark, do you believe that Stevo is correct and that "model" is simply a euphamism for "prostitute"?? I do not believe I have mis-stated (or exaggerated) Stevo's accusation in the slightest.

Having said all that - I do agree that there are a few indicators that would give me pause. I simply don't believe it is necessary to put the guy on the defensive to make the point. Fortunately, he also seems to have a pretty good outlook on all of this - and doesn't take the accusations too hard.

FWIW

- Dan

[Stevo]

... in response to Undisputed Scammer Capital . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

Dan Said:

"Tell me Mark, do you believe that Stevo is correct and that "model" is simply a euphamism for "prostitute"?? I do not believe I have mis-stated (or exaggerated) Stevo's accusation in the slightest."

Yes, Dan, you did mis-state what I said.  I never said model=prostitute.  The Russian women I've met said model=prostitute.  Please don't put words in my mouth.

I certainly believe that there are plenty of legitimate models in Russia...I wrote to several when I was looking for a wife.  However, the fact that RW make the claim that I reported above, means to me that one should be extra wary when pursuing a 'model' (as opposed to a doctor, for example).

Bottom line:  There are probably more prostitutes who list their profession as 'model' than list their profession as 'doctor'.  What's the percentage?  I don't know.  But when RW laugh when they hear you are writing to a 'model', it concerns me.  That's all.

Stevo

[Frank O]

... in response to Undisputed Scammer Capital . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

Hey guys I'm all right don't worry bout me.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Undisputed Scammer Capital . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

[This message has been edited by MarkInTx]

That I edited my post and took that out (about the Scammer capital location...) I did this, actually, before I read your post. Opinions vary, obviously... So I dropped it.

As for what Steve said, yes I do think you are implying something that Steve didn't mean, and didn't say... What he said was:

"Every RW that i've talked to has said that the occupation of 'model' is just a euphemism for prostitute. Now I didn't say this, OK?"

He is not calling Frank's girl a prostitute. He is simply relaying information he has heard. He goes on to say:

"there must be SOME truth to this 'legend', so be very careful."

Again, he is not saying that she is or that she isn't... only that if it is such a widely held belief, there must be a reason for that, and he urges caution.

Again, you don't know Steve's experience. He said EVERY RW he met. That may have been 2 or that may have been twenty or more. But either way, if EVERY one he met said something, it is not insignificant (for him). And it's not out of line to say something.

If twenty people came up to you and said: "Any time you see a rainbow sticker on someone's car, it means they are gay..." What would you think? I would think that there must be some reason for that.

Does that mean that if you see a rainbow sticker that the perosn is gay? Maybe not. But you can't discount the fact that 100% of the people you talked to thought so... so there probably IS a reason for the belief.

So, I think you did over-state and over-react to what Steve originally said, yes.

If he had said: "Hey Frank! Your girlfriend's nothing more than a prostitute!" Then yes... I think that would have been too much.

Or even if he said something like Oh... say... "Hey Frank? You think your girl's a model? hahaha... all that means is that you and the enterprise have nothing in comman fella!"

Then I would think he was being tacky.

But Steve didn't say any of those things. He simply said, "Frank, I have heard this... I am not saying it is true... but enough people told me it that I would be careful if I were you..."

That doesn't strike me as "a fire-storm" or an accuasation... It strikes me as simply well-intentioned advice.

But, I guess I'm not surprised that you couldn't tell the difference...

[Dan]

... in response to You'll note..., posted by MarkInTx on Oct 6, 2002

That it is pretty shaky position to come on the board and say (to use your example Mark); "Any time you see a rainbow sticker on someone's car, it means they are gay..." - and then follow that with the equivalent of "But don't shoot me - I am not accountable, I am ONLY relaying what I've heard!"

Seems a pretty cowardly position - or one intended to cause a stir and later shed accountability for it (at least, TRY to shed accountability).

Are you Mark - or are you NOT - accountable for what you write on this board?

Do you think others should be?

What strikes YOU as well-intended advice - strikes me as a group of nincompoops seeking evening entertainment by trying to raise issues where it is likely none exist.

And you again choose to misquote me with your comment (in quotations) about a "fire-storm." I never said that - in spite of your assertion to the contrary.

But then, it doesn't surprise me that you cannot see these differences.

Oh - and Mark - it seems you're still in pain over LP's Enterprise remark. You may want to talk to someone about that.

- Dan

[robobond]

... in response to Yes, I'll Note. . . , posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

here we go.... another food fight... I gotta find another restaurant to eat in...

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Yes, I'll Note. . . , posted by robobond on Oct 6, 2002

I'm done...

[LP]

... in response to Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

...Pretty funny. I thought one of reasons most guys went looking in the FSU was because of beauty.

Seems logical if a country has lots of beauties it would stand that they get offered modeling oppurtunities on the street. Happens here too. Whats not logical are the responses of some people.

Frank: As well as studying these girls you'll do well to study the various types of guys involved in this also. Some are operating a few cents short of a dime.

[Zink]

... in response to Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

Jenya, my first love in Russia had some experiences with the modelling business in Volgograd. She was tall and incredibly attractive so she did get offers to model. I don't have copies of her professional photos but I saw quite a few.

She said you had to be very, very careful which agencies you trusted. The pay wasn't great to begin with. One of the photographers took photos of the girls and then carefully attached them to nude models bodies and sold them to local porn magazines. Another had hidden cameras in the change rooms and also sold the photos. Another sold the photos to internet marriage agencies. Quite often the girls were never paid or even aware of what was going on. Many of the agencies make the girls pay for the photos and then offer to buy the good ones.

And then there were all the standard problems with being a woman in Russia. The men want sex for favours. I think it must have been even worse if you were a model. Not a glamorous or easy way to make a living. But all models aren't prostitutes any more than a woman in Russia who has a job must have slept with the boss to get it. But then I'm dating a Russian dancer who works in Korea, so what do I know about it.

[Frank O]

... in response to Re: Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by Zink on Oct 6, 2002

LOL!!! Just kidding man. But I agree on the modeling thing. I just got a couple weeks ago a letter from bride.ru & there was my girl. Naturally I called & asked her & she had no idea. I decided to call to HEAR her reaction not write because you can think before you answer. She then asked me where it was. I gave her the profile # etc. I think VEGA itself did that. When I wrote her I saw her in absoluteagency (YIKES!!! LOL!)  & when I got the response from her it was through VEGA so I wondered how the heck did vega get in this & where did they come from? So now I believe it was them doing it. She also recently came out AGAIN on absolute. When I go over there if we jive I'm going to go through MY OWN interpretor & cut Vega off. Also I believe I read once about a web page that has a scam/blacklist of girls. They decided to send a "FAKE" profie to absoluteagency with a pretty girls pic. One reputed ALREADY to be a scam in order to see the results. They said from what I can remember they got 90 RESPONSES THE FIRST DAY!!! Now you guys can figure out the #'s of $$'s involved in such a scam for an agency. Makes some sense & is pretty logical. Anyways just my opinion and EVERYNE IS ENTITLED TO MY OPINION.

[Jack]

... in response to Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

And don't forget Dan, poor Frank doesn't stand a chance with his future bride, whoever she is, due to the city he lives in!!

[Frank O]

... in response to Re: Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by Jack on Oct 6, 2002

I've really got it bad man. LOL!!

[KenC]

... in response to Feeding Frenzy . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 6, 2002

Frank (and others),
Like the USA, there are many semi-legit modeling agencies/schools in the FSU that are more than willing to take a young girls money in exchange for feeding her dreams of becoming a model. Even though the spendable income is no where near as large there as it is here, the agencies/schools are still quite popular because of the FSU women awareness of fashion.
-
Lena, my wife, attended one of these schools and actually did some print work for a cosmetics store in her city. She also was approached by the agency to do some "modeling" in a foreign country. After a "Yeah, right" reply, she left the "modeling" agency. The agency owner tried to convince her that even if she had to do more than "modeling" that it would be a great assignment. Now, Lena has always been a sharpe girl and didn't fall for her BS, but how many others did?
KenC