Lets talk about rates....

There is a lovely young woman on bluesky whose response to a post got me wanting to discuss my perspective concerning rates. I'm not sure what the conversation was that she had had, but within her response she mentioned that an escort was privileged..... This somewhat irked me as I've been called a "privileged" escort over the years. Here's where I take issue with that term. No one knows what any escort has gone through, or is going through in order to ply their services. No one knows why they offer the services they do, why they work at all, and why they charge as they do....So to determine that anyone is more privileged than another is a bit presumptuous imo, and I dislike labels, especially those used within this industry. You certainly cannot determine a person's status based on what they charge....nor the quality of service they provide. I believe that we all get to decide as independent escorts what we feel our time is worth. I also believe that there are many who decide based on what others in their area are charging. and will therefore charge less, they are competitors. Meaning, if many ladies in their area are charging 300 hrly, they'll charge 250, more or less, to compete, this I don't think well of, I find it underhanded. You also have those ladies, like myself, who set their rates according to the times.....Meaning as everything else rises, so must our rates to keep up. I suppose some might then say, since I and others have the ability to do this, then we're considered privileged....To them I say, I've worked many years and saved, I made choices in order to be in a position where I can now choose my clients and what I expect them to now pay. Being able to do this wasn't/isn't privilege, it was years of hard work, putting up with lots of abuse, doing without, and other things I have spoken about, and things I will never speak about. I believe a lot of where we end up, a lot of what we have, is because of choices we've made and make. You also have a sector of people in this industry who will charge whatever a client is willing to pay....These people are usually struggling with mental health issues and or drug issues, often both. I feel for anyone who is in that position and struggling. Clients are often the cruelest to them. However my perspectives aren't concerning them. I'm not an escort advocate, nor a psychologist. I don't have the ability nor the knowledge to rescue anyone. I certainly have compassion, yet I'm not going to bite my tongue to save someone's feeling. I speak openly and frankly about this industry. My opinions are based from my experiences and conclusions made because of those experiences. I'm not working to set any example, although I have tried to do that in the past. Which I learned only earns you trouble, but I digress.... I work now to benefit myself.....my needs, desires, and wants and I speak not to hurt anyone, or even to flatter, I simply state what I believe and have experienced throughout my many years in this industry. Back to rates.... It's my belief that anyone who is charging below 300 an hour in 2026 is typically a high volume escort. I'd say even those at 300 an hour are high volume and nothing wrong with being high volume, I worked years looking for volume over quality and if and when I tour I seek volume also, to a certain extent, lol...... I believe those who charge 400 and above are charging as such to attract higher quality clients and charging as such because they want to see fewer clients. Although this isn't a foolproof way of doing so. Bad/unfavorable clients also have more money to spend. I do feel those ladies who are undercharging, meaning those who offer cheaper rates, or 15/20/45 min sessions set themselves up for more abuse, more problems, and having to deal with more unfavorable clients. Hagglers and the nefarious seldom contact ladies who charge a higher rate. Be that known, there are pros and cons to working at all levels of rates. So I've learned over the years. But imo, in 2026, I don't understand why any attractive, intelligent, grounded escort would charge less than 300 hourly, other than to compete....Which again, I find is underhanded and unnecessary. Clients will pay what they have to if they want to see you!! In fact back when I had agencies I always charged more than the other agencies as an encouragement for others to follow suit. I've always been bothered with the competitive aspect of this industry. I've always felt that we should want to help one another. To share clients, not hoard them, uplift one another and not demean. Albeit as long as you're not being attacked, or lied about. Then you should defend yourself......I have always felt that if a client wanted to see me he would, regardless of who else was working and what they charged. I have never charged a rate to under cut another or offered services just to attract certain men. Although in my early review board days I felt forced into offering bare blowjobs. Many then were aggressive and bullies towards those of us who believed in covered bj's only....Clearly I have changed, lol. But not because of pressure, because I truly enjoy some of my regular clients...and thanks to having a great relationship with my doctor have come to understand the risks involved with oral covered and uncovered. Risks are also something we all get to decide....and should be able to decide without judgement. It always bothered me when I'd read about one escort demeaning another because of the services they offered. Lets face it, we're so harshly judged by society in general it's almost appalling to be judged by our own peers, and I feel it's just another way some unkind escorts try to make themselves feel better than...In the end there will always be a varied amount of differing rates and differing reasons why they are being offered. We can all have opinions on that subject, but wouldn't it be nice if we more more "community" like on this particular subject..... and before we label a person, perhaps we should want get to know their story...