If you’re reading this, you’re savvy enough to navigate the internet and while that may not seem like much, consider all the people who call tech support hotlines each and every day asking where the ‘any” key is on their keyboard. It’s not an urban legend, people really do it. The world is overflowing with idiots and undoubtedly you’ve met a good number of them.

Somewhere along the lines, when it came to various nefarious activities, like paying for sex, people decided that perhaps law enforcement was also entirely peopled by idiots and sought to circumvent them via clever wordplay and subterfuge, hoping that we could all stay one step ahead of the man while enjoying the hobby. But be warned, friends. Cops are not all idiots. You may have met an idiot cop, and an idiot cop may have ticketed you for having a busted tail light, but believe that in the vice squad they know more about prostitution than any escort you’re ever going to meet and as such, you have only luck and proper planning to protect you from getting busted. Code words and coyness will get you sent to prison.

You may have seen a number of ads that offer services in exchange for “roses.” This cute bit of wordplay may make it seem like on the surface you’re pulling a fast one, but no one is buying it. In court, it’s very unlikely a jury would be confused at this point. This is why any ad offering services, either for cash, roses, gumdrops, copper bolts, lint, paint chips or otherwise all gets filed the same for the boys in blue. And all are fair game for sting operations and fake ads.

A recent article out of Santa Monica details how cops regularly peruse sites like Craigslist for just those sorts of ads, offering massages in exchanges for roses and simply show up to bust the girl at an arranged meeting spot. While some people feel confident hiding behind words or assuming if cops arrange a meet online it’s entrapment of some sort, the reality is it’s just not so. And whatever crafty methods of trying to outwit the cops people come up with, the cops soon catch on.

So what does all this mean? You should be afraid of all websites and cower at home with a bottle of lube, never engaging in the hobby or contacting a provider ever again? Fuck no. Life’s too short for that kind of shit. It means that, as in all things in life, you need to be careful and roll with the punches. The best thing you can do is be as aware as you can of what’s going on. You could try to pick up a girl off of Craigslist but you’re running a big risk as anyone could have put that ad there. A real provider, a cop or something else. The best thing for you and for all of us, is to make full use of sites like NaughtyReviews, read reviews and post your own after you have an experience so others know who can be trusted, who’s worth their time and who can recite poetry while receiving anal. This is all valuable information to help us all avoid trouble and have a good time.