# Say hello to Markus, America's first legal gigolo **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419 "2010-01-25T20:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/21 "2010-01-26T02:45:29Z")
> [@](#): > > …he created a dustup after telling Details Magazine that his pioneering role in the sex business was “just the same” as civil rights icon Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus. Well, I can see why he didn’t look for a more cerebral career. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/22 "2010-01-26T02:52:09Z")
Frankly, I think he looks like a throw back to a Neanderthal. I dunno, maybe that’s insulting to Neanderthals. He is skeevy, plain and simple. Blech. He also seems about as smart as a box of rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/23 "2010-01-26T11:04:49Z")
I love that after one interview, he is denied from speaking to the press. If I was gonna have to pay for it, I’d want someone who wouldn’t remind me every second that I’m having to pay for it. A short, overly muscled idiot would pretty much ruin any desire I had. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/24 "2010-01-26T11:22:31Z")
Ehem… the term is _Man-whore_. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/25 "2010-01-26T11:35:15Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > I thought there was no such thing as a “former Marine”—? “former” is an acceptable term. “ex” is not - unless said Marine received an “other than honourable” discharge, a Marine is always a Marine. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/26 "2010-01-26T13:31:21Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > If you read for comprehension, you’ll see that I made the distinction that when the clientele is not one’s favored gender, you’ve already compartmentalized it as a non-sexual experience. It’s just a job, like scooping elephant poo or digging a ditch. It’s harder to do that when the client is your preferred gender. What on earth do you think it is for female prostitutes? There is no love lost on their “clients”. > [@](#): > > IANAE, I’m reporting what the male escorts I know have told me. To a man, the straight ones are more comfortable working with men. It more clearly delineates the line between work and pleasure. Fair enough–I don’t have a problem with escorts just considering it a job or being more comfortable with one client over another. > [@](#): > > And the fact that almost any chick can get laid if she wants too–guys are a lot easier to pick up and take home than women are–it seems not entirely impossible to me that the women who have no alternative to hiring an escort are probably the, uh, more aesthetically challenged than men who can’t get laid. Uh huh. See below. > [@](#): > > Most men will fuck anything; most women not so much. That creates an imbalance in the marketplace, if you will. Do the math. Well, if most men will fuck anything, than these “horrors” don’t have anything to worry about… It makes no sense. What I’m trying to point out is the disconnect between male and female prostitutes–the attitude toward them and their clientele. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/27 "2010-01-26T13:36:19Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > What on earth do you think it is for female prostitutes? There is no love lost on their “clients”. You’re picking a fight where there is none. I’m not comparing male escorts to female escorts. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/28 "2010-01-26T16:20:52Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You’re picking a fight where there is none. I’m not comparing male escorts to female escorts. Yikes–I’m not even picking a fight. I’m not comparing male escorts to females, either, I’m pointing out the double standard that exists in this thread. If men-any men, all men, no matter their hygiene, looks, sexual proclivities etc-- can frequent whores and no one seems to mind or find it (or the whores) “horrifying”, why does this standard not apply to women frequenting male gigolos is my point. I don’t get why ugly, nasty women (whatever those terms may describe; I’m sure we all have our own standards of ugly, nasty, “horrifying” women–and men) cannot do the same as all the “horrifying” males out there. I feel no sympathy for the gigolo/ prostitute (except in the most basic sense) that they are doomed to fuck an undesirable person. That is the job they have. I was also pointing out your illogic: if most men will fuck anything, then the beauty or lack thereof regarding the female client is irrelevant. RE the link in the OP, the guy is horrifying to me–physically repulsive. But he may be just the thing for someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/29 "2010-01-26T16:50:07Z")
He has what you would call a “mesomorph” build. Muscular, but also stocky, and to the average person, somewhat ill-proportioned. That’s his natural build. His legs do not fit his upper body - his thighs and calves need way more development to pull off that muscular look. His face is a little too babyish for most people and it doesn’t fit with his body well; his ink also doesn’t help. Multiple small tattoos in scattered locations on the body generally don’t look good - I think you should either get no tattoos, or be sleeved and have the designs of the ink flow together. If you do have only a few tattoos, in different places, they should at least be artistic, which this guy’s ink isn’t. He’s also wearing stupid, unflattering shorts in that picture. In general, his look is just not very good. His “look” is very much out right now. Rugged, lean and tough is back in style - someone who looked like Viggo Mortensen, Garret Dillahunt, David R. Snell or Daniel Craig would be more popular with women than this blockhead. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/30 "2010-01-26T18:41:08Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I was also pointing out your illogic: if most men will fuck anything, then the beauty or lack thereof regarding the female client is irrelevant. I think part of the situation is the “motivation” behind being on either end of the transaction. The client is horny and maybe especially turned on by going to prostitutes. The provider wants to make a living. (Sure, some may find it arousing in and of itself, but I’ll wager good money that this is not as common.) A horny guy looking for a prostitute may not have the usual standards in looks, especially if his budget isn’t enough to pay for a really hot gal. In fact, finding a more “skanky” looking woman may turn him on if that’s his kink; it could be a power thing or whatever. Plus, guys who can’t perform with the level of prostitute that they can afford will probably stop going, so that problem solves itself. The prostitute wants to make a living. A woman doesn’t really need to be attracted in any way to her client. The guy might be satisfied with substandard acting of the “oh baby you make me hot” kind, and some lube will make up for what the body doesn’t. If condoms are required, lubed are usually the standard drugstore variety, so that helps. A male prostitute is under more pressure. He’s got to get it up, probably get off, and may have to try for more than once. Sex with a stranger can be enough pressure for a regular guy without those kind of demands, and then if you factor in that the guy may find the target of his attentions totally unfavorable, that causes even more trouble for his performance. Side note - if you’re going to a legal brothel, you’re already paying way more than you would for someone on the street, so you’re going to expect at least decent looks and hygiene standards. As for the dude in the linked article - the photo is undated, and he’s no longer in the Marines and was even homeless for a short time. He might have lost a lot of the ‘excess’ muscle bulk in the meantime, depending on when that photo was taken, and thus might fit more current attractiveness standards more closely than he did in that photo. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/31 "2010-01-26T19:15:23Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Women don’t tend to hire escorts at anywhere near the rate that men do. My knowledge of the sex industry is scant, so I fell compelled to ask - is escort synonymous with prostitute nowadays? I always thought that an escort was supposed to be just that - someone you paid to go to a party with you. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/32 "2010-01-26T19:24:20Z")
Unfortunately, years of experience taught me that it’s that kind of guy who gets all the success on dating sites ; bulky, muscly, and stupid-looking. But of course, I expected a male prostitute to not look like that ; rather a copy of, say, Rocco Siffredi (body-shape-wise - not especially for the size of what-you-know). ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/33 "2010-01-26T19:46:02Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You’re picking a fight where there is none. I’m not comparing male escorts to female escorts. I wonder Why it is you can’t start a post with “If you read for comprehension” without the other person responding negatively? You’re like David Banner - trouble just \*finds \*you. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/34 "2010-01-26T19:50:19Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Yikes–I’m not even picking a fight. I’m not comparing male escorts to females, either, I’m pointing out the double standard that exists in this thread. > > If men-any men, all men, no matter their hygiene, looks, sexual proclivities etc-- can frequent whores and no one seems to mind or find it (or the whores) “horrifying”, why does this standard not apply to women frequenting male gigolos is my point. Again, you’re creating offense where there is none. No one has said that a female escort finds her clients any less distasteful. Only you. No one has said anything remotely like what you’re taking issue with. You have created, out of a mistaken inference–essentially out of whole cloth–a double standard that has not been expressed anywhere in this thread. Certainly not by me, on whom you are focusing your umbrage. Please reread. Feel free to ask for clarification, but if you must take exception to something, please limit it to something I said, not something you snatched fully formed out of your own imagination. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/35 "2010-01-26T19:56:53Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > My knowledge of the sex industry is scant, so I fell compelled to ask - is escort synonymous with prostitute nowadays? I always thought that an escort was supposed to be just that - someone you paid to go to a party with you. 99% of “escort” agencies are fronts for sex workers. “Prostitute” has a pejorative ring to it. The sex workers I know, both male and female, refer to themselves as escorts or sex workers. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/36 "2010-01-26T20:06:29Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > I thought there was no such thing as a “former Marine”—? No, there’s no such thing as an “ex-Marine”. “Former” is the preferred adjective, actually. > [@lissener](#): > > In any case, while the dork in the linked article may not say in a public interview that he’ll take male clients, trust me. The dude takes male clients. My thoughts exactly. > [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > My knowledge of the sex industry is scant, so I fell compelled to ask - is escort synonymous with prostitute nowadays? I always thought that an escort was supposed to be just that - someone you paid to go to a party with you. From what I’ve read/heard/seen, it’s not synonymous per se. It’s just that a lot of escorts find it a profitable side business. I’m pretty sure the escort’s company sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil. If they’re not getting a cut, they don’t want to open themselves up to legal prosecution from “knowing too much.” ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/37 "2010-01-26T20:13:49Z")
Wow. Dude looks _dumb_. Do Not Want. Overly-muscled or built guys don’t really do it for me, but I might hit that provided he didn’t look so stupid. Seriously, it looks like he doesn’t even know his name. Poor misguided tot. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/38 "2010-01-26T20:25:11Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Wow. Dude looks _dumb_. Do Not Want. > > Overly-muscled or built guys don’t really do it for me, but I might hit that provided he didn’t look so stupid. Seriously, it looks like he doesn’t even know his name. Poor misguided tot. I agree. In reality, he may be really nice, but he looks dumb as a box of rocks, a real guido of a guy. His body proportions are not appealing to me, but I can appreciate someone who takes care of himself - he does appear in the picture to be clean, body cared for and in reasonable health. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/39 "2010-01-26T21:37:21Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Again, you’re creating offense where there is none. No one has said that a female escort finds her clients any less distasteful. Only you. No one has said anything remotely like what you’re taking issue with. You have created, out of a mistaken inference–essentially out of whole cloth–a double standard that has not been expressed anywhere in this thread. Certainly not by me, on whom you are focusing your umbrage. Please reread. Feel free to ask for clarification, but if you must take exception to something, please limit it to something I said, not something you snatched fully formed out of your own imagination. I’m not creating offense–I’m asking a question. Why is it that female clients for man whores are “horrifying”, yet men who use female escorts are not? I have not created a double standard–it exists, at least in this thread. I have no idea what disparities exist in RL regarding women using gigolos vs men using prostitutes. The attitude in this thread is “female clients are horrors, and straight male prostitutes end up with male clients because they can’t handle the horror.” I am puzzled by this POV because I truly doubt that most hookers find their male clientele attractive. I haven’t taken umbrage in the least. I am (again) puzzled by the assurance posited by you (and others) in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419/40 "2010-01-26T21:41:11Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I’m not creating offense–I’m asking a question. Why is it that female clients for man whores are “horrifying”, yet men who use female escorts are not? I don’t know. You should ask someone who expressed that opinion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-markus-americas-first-legal-gigolo/526419.md?page=3)