What do you guys think about reinstating VIP merbites?

[chowzilla]

Understand, this is purely from a client's perspective. I understand this does affect the industry and the girls.

I came across another forum just like merb (vbulletin platform), they had some "VIP" or "Senior" members. These members can roam/read/post/reply wherever they wanted. Anyone else, have the same ability except they cannot view the content of certain threads.
My suggestion: Non vetted members, simply cannot view the contents of the review threads, however they can post their review still. Until they post a certain amount, example 20 reviews, then the reviews are no longer hidden for that person.

-encourages more honest reviews, because they cannot base it off of other people's opinions
-gives back some of the market purchasing power back to the clients.
-reduces the unbalance between popular and unpopular girls (doesn't mean if you are unpopular, you are no good, you are just simply not getting the same kind of exposure)
-gives a better chance to rising stars
-gems will be more common, because they need to stand out somehow.
-girls will care more about their reviews, thus service remains more consistent
-reduces the inflation of the industry
-reduces the amount of HDHs in the industry who don't necessarily belong in that category.
-returns value to indies who have worked their way up to HDH.
-brings more value to reviews
-brings in more reviews overall
-reduces shills a little bit because they will be more obvious
-new members can still find okay guidance through 411, SPs of the year thread, number of pages that the review thread has, PM-ing veterans
-adds more value to senior merbites, therefore more sharing of gems
-most importantly - discourages lurkers who inflate the popular girls. (@ popular girls, you will still get fully booked, lurkers are not the ones making your success)
-reduces stupid questions in the 411

I'm just shooting an idea, that I've been thinking over for a while. By no means do I know all the consequences of doing this.
I realize some girls will get negatively affected by this, but I believe those girls can balance it out with the use and rise of social media.
I am 100% not posting this for my own benefit, I am posting this for the overall industry.
We are still privileged here in Montreal, however that privilege, feels like its slipping away. I feel like in the next couple years, we're gonna be a watered down version of the US's pathetic hobbying industry.

Agency girls, tougher beginning but if you are good, you should have no problems, you will have better quality clients as well.
Indy girls, you remain exclusive. Your competition is only yourself, you don't have to worry about other girls who put in only half as much work as you but charge just as much as you.
Merbites, I think we all agree, this only helps us. Maybe not new members, but hey nothing is free in life.
Mods, im ready for the smackdown. No ill intention here, just a suggestion.

i could be completely wrong.

 

[Fradi]

I don’t think having a special status is the way to go.
Nobody is better than anybody else, in fact I think some get a little too comfortable with their favourite agency and I take their reviews with a grain of salt.
I think most people are smart enough to figure out which review is way too exaggerated and the guy is bragging only about being a stud and if they can’t make sense out of some well it is only money they will learn when they lose out a few times.
After you spend a little time reading some reviews it doesn’t take long to know which ones you can trust and who has similar tastes to you.
It is definitely not a way to encourage new members.
Yes there is a problem with reviews because negative ones get attacked by a drove of white knights and if you post positive reviews especially more than one on the same provider then you get accused of shilling.
Sometimes you get to the point of is it worth my time writing one at all, I can just as easily send an email to the lady ( which I do anyway) thanking her for an amazing time or simply not see her again if the experience was not to my liking.

I would like to see ladies being allowed to answer and comment on their reviews a bit more, that is definitely not only interesting but says a lot about the character of the lady and what to expect from her in a session. Sometimes just a few lines in her words will tell you all you need to know about that SP whether you want to see her or not.

 

[chowzilla]

I don’t think having a special status is the way to go.
Nobody is better than anybody else, in fact I think some get a little too comfortable with their favourite agency and I take their reviews with a grain of salt.
I think most people are smart enough to figure out which review is way too exaggerated and the guy is bragging only about being a stud and if they can’t make sense out of some well it is only money they will learn when they lose out a few times.
After you spend a little time reading some reviews it doesn’t take long to know which ones you can trust and who has similar tastes to you.
It is definitely not a way to encourage new members.
Yes there is a problem with reviews because negative ones get attacked by a drove of white knights and if you post positive reviews especially more than one on the same provider then you get accused of shilling.
Sometimes you get to the point of is it worth my time writing one at all, I can just as easily send an email to the lady ( which I do anyway) thanking her for an amazing time or simply not see her again if the experience was not to my liking.

I would like to see ladies being allowed to answer and comment on their reviews a bit more, that is definitely not only interesting but says a lot about the character of the lady and what to expect from her in a session. Sometimes just a few lines in her words will tell you all you need to know about that SP whether you want to see her or not.

very fair

could you explain me the benefit of having new members who don't contribute aka lurkers? honest question.

 

[LeafsSuck]

Chow is right. Too many lurkers benefiting from our info and not providing any info.

 

[Fradi]

Depends what you mean by contribute.
There are many members some that have been here for over 15-20years who don’t write reviews anymore but they contribute in other threads and their views are interesting and I like reading their posts.
If you mean strictly reviews then to us members who don’t write reviews don’t contribute directly but obviously the larger the membership the more ladies will advertise here to reach a large client base.
I don’t want to guess the amount of people here that see escorts that also write reviews and overall how much business SP actually receive from Merb members but I doubt it exceeds 10-15% of their overall clientele , which is still sizeable and well worth them advertising here.

 

[chowzilla]

Chow is right. Too many lurkers benefiting from our info and not providing any info.

Thus over inflating the popular girls, making popular girls disappear, and less popular girls left in the dark.

I know the inflation of popular girls, accelerates their career, but cmon... what about us? They are already/still making very very very very good salaries.

 

[Fradi]

Thus over inflating the popular girls, making popular girls disappear, and less popular girls left in the dark.

I know the inflation of popular girls, accelerates their career, but cmon... what about us? They are already/still making very very very very good salaries.

I agree with you however this is the natural evolution, as girls get popular they increase their prices and I don’t begrudge that most have earned it, and the less popular girls disappearing well there is a reason they are less popular and maybe it is good that they disappear instead of earning more and more unfavourable reviews.

Yes some make very good salaries, just like some of us who are good at what we do also make good salaries that is the way it should be. Luckily there are always many new and gorgeous girls entering this profession and we are lucky in Montreal and get to choose from the best in North America and so far still at a reasonable price.

 

[chowzilla]

Depends what you mean by contribute.
There are many members some that have been here for over 15-20years who don’t write reviews anymore but they contribute in other threads and their views are interesting and I like reading their posts.
If you mean strictly reviews then to us members who don’t write reviews don’t contribute directly but obviously the larger the membership the more ladies will advertise here to reach a large client base.
I don’t want to guess the amount of people here that see escorts that also write reviews and overall how much business SP actually receive from Merb members but I doubt it exceeds 10-15% of their overall clientele , which is still sizeable and well worth them advertising here.

strictly reviews. If you did your so called 20 reviews, you can stop there if you want. you did your part. I think it should be more than 20 LOL but wtv.
I have to agree with you with the client base on MERB attracting more advertisers, however MERB is the only platform that has top advertisers PLUS legit reviews! Who wouldn't want to get their source from MERB? Could you survive on those humpchies comments at the bottom of the ad?

 

[chowzilla]

I agree with you however this is the natural evolution, as girls get popular they increase their prices and I don’t begrudge that most have earned it, and the less popular girls disappearing well there is a reason they are less popular and maybe it is good that they disappear instead of earning more and more unfavourable reviews.

Yes some make very good salaries, just like some of us who are good at what we do also make good salaries that is the way it should be. Luckily there are always many new and gorgeous girls entering this profession and we are lucky in Montreal and get to choose from the best in North America and so far still at a reasonable price.

100% in agreement. I just mean that, in a further sense that...
popular girls, instead of having an SP career of only 1 year, gets extended to 2 or 3 years. I know its triple the amount of time, but a career shouldn't be that quick imo.
less popular girls, who are not good who disappear, yes natural selection, they get Darwin'ed.
However there is a slew of girls who are less popular who are clearly good, but rarely get discovered because all the lurkers are going to popular girls. And clients who do see her, don't review because they are not encouraged to, honestly whats the point anymore.
I remember at the beginning I contributed to MERB because there was a sense of community, I give, you give. I remember around 2012, it was like a brotherhood of givers... it was awesome.

 

[Fradi]

Chow,
I agree with you that Merb is a great platform, I will always be grateful for stumbling on to hear 3 years ago.
It allowed me to meet a number of fabulous women some of whom I have been seeing ever since.

Honestly now I think I could survive without any web sight. I have enough contacts among the ladies themselves who are more than willing to provide contacts with their friends and there is a whole new world of Twitter out there also.
Having said that Merb is definitely a valuable source of information and also a place for exchanging ideas and establishing a sense of community and belonging.

 

[Julia Sky]

I'm not really ok with this idea.

>> Not every client is rich. To some clients, having to write 20 reviews could mean waiting 2 years before being able to read others' reviews. That means 2 years of taking chances and potentially losing money on subpar meetings - because you weren't able to read reviews.It really advantages the rich, even though they're the ones who can afford a subpar meeting more easily than the client who would need 2 years to see 20 escorts.

>> On the other hand, this could bring even more fake reviews. How many clients are going to post fake reviews just to get to that 20 review goal and be done with it?


Now letme break down some (not all) of the points you brought up :

encourages more honest reviews, because they cannot base it off of other people's opinions
Maybe. On the other hand, as I said above, it could very well encourage more fake reviews.

gives back some of the market purchasing power back to the clients.
I fail to see how?

gives a better chance to rising stars
How so?

gems will be more common, because they need to stand out somehow.
Most of us "gems" (yeah throwing flowers at myself, but also at my fellow sex workers haha) were giving great service before even hearing about review boards, this doesn't correlate.

girls will care more about their reviews, thus service remains more consistent
You may be right, but personally I fail to see how "half of these guys can't even read my reviews" would be a motivation for a girl to do better (?)

reduces the inflation of the industry / reduces the amount of HDHs in the industry who don't necessarily belong in that category / returns value to indies who have worked their way up to HDH.
How so?

brings more value to reviews
Because less people can read them? Sure, I guess. But my earlier point about fake reviews stands here too.

brings in more reviews overall
Yeah, and how many fake ones?

reduces shills a little bit because they will be more obvious
I don't think they're going to be more obvious? To most people it'll be the same level of obvious, as for the others, they won't be able to read the reviews which means less people to potentially call out shill.

adds more value to senior merbites, therefore more sharing of gems
What makes you think being called "a senior merbite" would make one more prone to sharing gems?

most importantly - discourages lurkers who inflate the popular girls
Fun fact : merb constitutes a small percentage of clients, and the amount of times we meet a client from merb has zero (0) impact on whether or not we increase our rates.

reduces stupid questions in the 411
Hm? More guys who can't read reviews = more questions in 411 section, no?

Not trying to sound rude or anything, I'm just genuinely confused about most of your points. Haha! Not really fond of this idea. P.s after all, you've met me and did not write a review Chowzilla. (lol, just teasing here)

 

[sene5hos]

There are always 2 sides to a medal, and both sides have their good points.

Indeed in my other life, I interacted with less fortunate members who told me to have confidence in me and asked me my opinion on such or such masseuses, because the money was problematic.

On the other side there are the lurkers who benefit from our reviews.

Also some lurkers ask me without hello, without thank you, without any politeness of the advice, and well to those there I don't answer. If the guy comes in and explains his approach to me, I answer him by telling him to do a review.

 

[Fradi]

Fradi, I'm sure you mean well, but your philosophy of not reviewing your negative experiences is helping nobody and is defeating the purpose of this platform. I think we should absolutely review our negative experiences because these are arguably more important than the dozens of positive reviews that flood the review section.

So far I have not had a negative experience perhaps it is due to the fact that I do a lot of research before I see someone the other is that I don’t see many, I tend to repeat with a half a dozen and now especially with the Covid I see my ATF exclusively
Perhaps I am just lucky or maybe I treat them well enough to the point where they return that.
I would report anything that is a bait and switch or a danger to the community or even a blatantly negative experience.
Something borderline probably not especially if she has good reviews as I could be the problem so why spoil her reputation.

I don’t believe special status for Merbites serves any purpose other than inflating your own ego.Sort of like all the fabulous orgasms Merbites constantly gives SP.
Your first time poster may have way more experience at this than any of you he could be new to the city or just new to Merb.
He could have hobbied all over the world for all you know.
If you don’t like someone’s review or don’t trust it, it is simple, click on the next post, nobody is forcing you to read that review or to act on what it says.
We are all big boys and hopefully have enough sense to make our own decisions.If you don’t the only thing you are going to lose hopefully is a couple of hundred bucks you spent on one session, life is full of learning experiences and sometimes you only learn if it costs you something.
I don’t get an extra thrill at seeing my handle in red lettering as a VIP.

 

[sene5hos]

So far I have not had a negative experience perhaps it is due to the fact that I do a lot of research before I see someone the other is that I don’t see many, I tend to repeat with a half a dozen and now especially with the Covid I see my ATF exclusively
Perhaps I am just lucky or maybe I treat them well enough to the point where they return that.
I would report anything that is a bait and switch or a danger to the community or even a blatantly negative experience.
Something borderline probably not especially if she has good reviews as I could be the problem so why spoil her reputation.

I don’t believe special status for Merbites serves any purpose other than inflating your own ego.Sort of like all the fabulous orgasms Merbites constantly gives SP.
Your first time poster may have way more experience at this than any of you he could be new to the city or just new to Merb.
He could have hobbied all over the world for all you know.
If you don’t like someone’s review or don’t trust it, it is simple, click on the next post, nobody is forcing you to read that review or to act on what it says.
We are all big boys and hopefully have enough sense to make our own decisions.If you don’t the only thing you are going to lose hopefully is a couple of hundred bucks you spent on one session, life is full of learning experiences and sometimes you only learn if it costs you something.
I don’t get an extra thrill at seeing my Handel in Red lettering as a VIP.

I totally agree with you

 

[luvdozer]

I think it is terrible idea. As an out of town person, It was years before I did 20 full on reviews. As a visitor from out of town first in the early 2000s and then again in the 20teens, I was utterly reliant on MERB reviews and it saved me tons of horrible choices on my short visits. I tried to express my gratitude to MERB by reviewing virtually every girl I see when I come to town. Even if you set the threshold much lower, you are destroying the whole point of the review board community by withholding reviews from new entrants and people who dont hobby often

I really dont understand this obsession with lurkers and the idea that people are "getting the benefit" of the experience of people who post reviews. Who cares? If it bothers you that much then don't post reviews. I just find it baffling. The one thing we all have in common is a love of attractive prostitutes who provide good service. No matter how frequently or infrequently we hobby, it is nice to be able to have at least some information before making what can be a semi-blind choice in booking a new girl. Are you really injured if someone benefits from your review and doesnt contribute in turn? It's life.

I also dont understand the idea that overly positive reviews are some sort of problem. First of all, if you hobbied in some US cities, you would realize how awesome even the mediocre Montreal girls are. Second, escort reviews are not college admissions - we dont need to spend all kinds of time and energy trying to objectively rank one escort versus another. It all comes down to personal taste anyway. 4 or 5 pages of relatively detailed reviews gives any reader a reasonably good idea of what to expect.

This website has been a godsend to anyone who sees escorts in Montreal - whether it be regularly or occasionally. It's openness is its greatest feature. It doesn't need to be fixed.

 

[luvdozer]

I think the goal is to create a more potent and robust platform for reviews.

There is not another forum anywhere in the world that has a similar level of extensive reviews and participating escorts and agencies. This forum has been robust and potent for years - restricting access to reviews and creating i-am-so-important member status will dilute the great value that his site has offered for nearly two decades.

 

[The Nature Boy]

[...] There are too many lurkers, leeches, and parasites and they all STINK GOD DAMN IT! Get rid of them all!!!

Make the minimum of reviews submitted to @ least one a year.

Also expose all the bullshit accounts.

 

[Richard111]

There is not another forum anywhere in the world that has a similar level of extensive reviews and participating escorts and agencies. This forum has been robust and potent for years - restricting access to reviews and creating i-am-so-important member status will dilute the great value that his site has offered for nearly two decades.

I think it is terrible idea. As an out of town person, It was years before I did 20 full on reviews. As a visitor from out of town first in the early 2000s and then again in the 20teens, I was utterly reliant on MERB reviews and it saved me tons of horrible choices on my short visits. I tried to express my gratitude to MERB by reviewing virtually every girl I see when I come to town. Even if you set the threshold much lower, you are destroying the whole point of the review board community by withholding reviews from new entrants and people who dont hobby often

I really dont understand this obsession with lurkers and the idea that people are "getting the benefit" of the experience of people who post reviews. Who cares? If it bothers you that much then don't post reviews. I just find it baffling. The one thing we all have in common is a love of attractive prostitutes who provide good service. No matter how frequently or infrequently we hobby, it is nice to be able to have at least some information before making what can be a semi-blind choice in booking a new girl. Are you really injured if someone benefits from your review and doesnt contribute in turn? It's life.

I also dont understand the idea that overly positive reviews are some sort of problem. First of all, if you hobbied in some US cities, you would realize how awesome even the mediocre Montreal girls are. Second, escort reviews are not college admissions - we dont need to spend all kinds of time and energy trying to objectively rank one escort versus another. It all comes down to personal taste anyway. 4 or 5 pages of relatively detailed reviews gives any reader a reasonably good idea of what to expect.

This website has been a godsend to anyone who sees escorts in Montreal - whether it be regularly or occasionally. It's openness is its greatest feature. It doesn't need to be fixed.

Thanks luvdozer , I completely agree. I visit Montreal very seldom . I use MERB to plan my very limited down time . I meet well reviewed ladies , I don't review them since I have little to add to their reputation .
I don't think a 1/2 page blow by blow soft porn account helps any one , but it may inflate the reviewer's ego.
I do e mail the ladies to thank them for the great time they gave me.I usually get an appreciative reply
Does this make me a " lurker " ?
Richard 111

 

[The Nature Boy]

[...]

Yes I absolutely think this is being a lurker. I say this as respectfully as possible. Not trying to be rude, sarcastic or unwelcoming. Actually to the contrary I welcome you to share your experiences with the people you meet or contribute some relevant info to this forum. Reviews can be even as simple “ saw provider A and it’s same as all above, she was awesome.” Is welcomed. One of my fav reviewers does that a lot. No one said it has to be blow by blow. Even a “saw provider X and in line with all the reviews above she’s awesome, i agree her BBBJ is amazing.” Takes two min. No one is asking people to review every girl, but some sort of contribution to the community instead of repeated posts asking questions like some do is welcome.

I’m not directing this comment to you, but [...] if someone hasn’t contributed in one way shape or form to this forum in a year by posting any relevant info, they shouldn’t be allowed to see reviews on girls. There’s plenty of sections to contribute, doesn’t have to be a review.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I think some of you do not understand what MERB VIP status was on this board and this thread is full of completely revisionist history so I have to post the actual history. VIP status was based on a financial contribution to the then Fred Zed (who passed away some years ago). I was a VIP member of MERB for many years and it was based on a financial contribution made around 16-17 years ago. The idea behind it was fundraising and to give those who contributed their name in a different color (RED VS GREEN). At the time it was instituted in 2003 or 2004 which none of you seem to remember very well, FZ was soliciting donations due to the costs of running the board. Because at the time there were not that many advertisers nor were there Indies posting and advertising as they are now. Indies like Julia Sky posting did not exist, the board was members only and either all clients or escorts or pimps posing as clients. There were a few agency advertisers and Sweet Montreal was one of the first (yes, the notorious bait ad switch operation). There were no indy advertisers. None. I think most were on TBD at the time if you remember what that was. Shilling was rampant and not well controlled and the senior members policed as much as the Mods. FZ had started MERB as a project after successfully starting TERB and did not know if it would succeed, but at that time the advertising base was not what it is now. So the pitch he made was give me something and I will give you something. At that time myself, Special K and some others all contributed because we believed that the board needed the financial support. Everything else posted in this thread about post count, reviews etc. is bullshit, nonsense, and ego-stroking in lieu of masturbation of the dick. As many others have said, IT IS NOT NEEDED NOW. IT WAS NEEDED THEN. The board was a start up and what does a start up need, duh, financing. The Board is no longer a start up.

One of the biggest perks of VIP status was you got extra PM storage space, as I recall. The other perk was handle in RED. All of the VIP members were basically stockholders who did not have actual shares in the company. We bought stock in the company and were repaid with membership perks rather than shares.

Giving someone a different status because of post count or reviews makes no sense to me. The board already has mechanisms for calculating positive reactions to certain posters. If someone with low post count or low number of reviews posts a review, you view it with a grain of salt. Common sense should teach one to do this. If not, the board is not in the business of teaching common sense to those who need such instruction.