Now Magazine: Article on a Massage Parlour Experience

[Murzy]

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/naked_city.php

The link references the current issue, so it may only be valid until Wednesday.

I thought this was funny. Regular visitors to MP's may prefer to not read it

 

[Rubix]

A very informative article, I am disgusted that a guy, any guy would go to a parlour smelling like that!

Sure glad, I know how to use personal hygene........

 

[SmiLeY!!! <33]

It's actually a pretty entertaining review - am I just plain wrong for wanting to know how to see this "Shira"? *lol*... yeah, probably...

Does anyone else smell 51 Elm in this?

The only pet peeve it reminds me of is that I NEVER, NEVER like to pay while I'm naked... makes me feel somewhat humiliated... deflates the illusion that it's not all about cash...

 

[SERENDIPITIST]

Typical NOW crap.

 

[Margaret 003]

Yeah, i read the article the other day and thought to myself, oh here we go, another poor young dear trapped working in the massage parlour story.

And yep, that's exactly what it was.

It's been done over and over and over.

Who knows if it's even true.

If there are underage girls working there then bust the joint, and fine her parents for doing a lousy job of raising the girl.

I find it very ironic that the back pages of NOW are filled with every kind of sex for sale ad imaginable. It's kind of the pot calling the kettle black now isn't it?

If NOW feels some sort of social responsibility to the poor helpless trapped girls slaving in the rub and tug, perhaps they should put their money where their mouth is and stop running ads for the sex industry.

I find it very hard to believe that the woman running this nameless MP let a reporter into her midst.

Lauren Kirshner the author uses just about every tired cliche that any first year journalism student can think up to make copy.

Just more judgemental drivel

 

[Damon A]

I agree Airboss.

This girl, if she indeed exists, is most likely some kid who wants all the 17 year old wants - trendy clothes, cell phones, accessories, money to spend.

She could just as well work at McDonalds then for 7 bucks an hour, but she has chosen to make about 100 an hour instead.

I am sure that the good folks at NOW would say, "You don't know what this poor little girl's situation is. She has been thrown out on the street by her evil no good parents who used to tell her what to do and how to behave. They imposed totally unrealistic limitations on what she could do and who she could associate with, when she had to be home, and now, given no choice, has turned to the sex industry."

Puhleeze.

If this girl makes the trek from ajax every day as the article mentions then 2 things come to mind. 1. She still lives with her parents, probably in some nice affluent suburb, 2. That's a long way to go back and forth so obviously it's worth the trek.

The article paints the picture of MP clients as fat smelly old men with buck teeth. It would be interesting to know this girl's real story, and i don't mean what she has to say about, rather what her parents would say about it if they knew.

It would be an interesting article if they wrote about facts, instead of making it a drama.

 

[b8ee1]

I'm willing to bet decent money that the writer of this article has never actually been in a massage parlour. I know a lot of writers and this looks like something they'd do in a class given such and such a time limit and a certain theme to write about. it's not even very well done, to dramatic, very little that completes the images to make you believe them.

 

[MF. Lif]

I find the article repulsive. It is simply the writer's ploy to portrait her imaginary "victim" in a melodramatic way to seek cheap sentiental sympathy without a trace of factual basis.

The article is full of old cliche and sterotype, such as the chinese lady owner, underage girl from the sub-urb and creepy guy in search for libido release. It only serves to reflect the limited understand and background of the writer.

I do not deny the fact that the scenario exists but the girl is likely some one from rural eastern europe of asia or south america. The creepy guy exists but I would say 90% of us do not fit that image. We are not only good looking reputable guys, we are potent sex machines!!! MEOW!!!

It is articles like this in print that distort every sense of reality. I would not mind seeing an aritcle on either a success story (some MP put herself through school, got married and start a "regular" life, I know at least one) or a true victim (like some immigration scam, I also know at least one) but this one, please, save some trees...

meow

 

[neko_chaness]

Tripe. Drivel. But funny because its so obviously an opinion piece as a opposed to a report.


The Lauren makes here point so bluntly there isn't even a semblence of legitimate journalism left.

But put that story to music and have the MPA shoot the client at the end and it would qualify as a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song. (Yes I am a Nick Cave fan but at times he does the same thing, he likes to beat you on the head with point just so can really feel it.)

 

[Steel city]

A quick Google search shows that Lauren Kirshner seems to be a music critic, not a social analyst. (and not a very good music critic, by the looks of it)

Feel free to draw your own conclusions .... now.

 

[Jeanmarie]

and based on her article, a failed novelist

 

[shabba]

True gramage, although she's a far better "novelist" than she is "journalist"...

The really scary thing is that she probably thinks she's done a good piece of hard-hitting, investigative reporting. Probably waiting by the phone for the call from the Pulitzer people....lol

later,
h4p

 

[anonimitie]

Thanks h4p, best laugh I've had all night.

 

[Rahh-Harr]

it's to bad Eye puts no effort into it's theatre listings, if it did I could avoid Now altogther (this propaganda piece has me a little pissed off), as it is I still have to pick it up

 

[Pompal 09.]

The article does smell of 51 Elm, although I haven't been recently. There was a bit of a shakeup a few months back (I think it was in January) at 51 Elm. All the girls disappeared, they shut down for a couple of weeks, and re-opened with new girls. Weird.

 

[Mom of 4]

Gramage here is the e-mail addy for editorial dept. Be sure to tell them you are a student of theatre etc... Universty Students' point of view are very important to eye: eye@eye

 

[piscesram30]

There have been a few changes in ownership at 51 Elm St. in past few months. The current ownership is not Oriental nor do they have any Oriental staff there. Stay tunned for their new website to arrive soon.