Prostitution: Reality versus Perception

I know what many of you are thinking.  You're thinking gross, how could a guy do this?  Is he crazy?  What about his health, the threat of STD's?  I suspect I'm getting two trains of thought.  One is from female readers who probably think one of two things:

1.  This person is absolutely disgusting.
2.  Hmmm, interesting, because I worked as a prostitute to pay my way through university or because I'm a single mom and I need to feed my kids (or maybe you just like sex, but let's be honest, that's not a socially acceptable answer)

Now, if you're a male reader the  vast majority of you will say nothing, look at your spouse and agree with her on point 1 from above.  But, the reality is the vast majority of you have used the services of a hooker.  Perhaps you felt socially inadequate and your only means to be physical with a female was to hire one.  Perhaps you needed something your wife is unable to offer you sexually.  Perhaps you were at a bachelor party and it was available.  Perhaps you have sexual kinks that certain sex workers are able to fulfill (BSDM, etc).  Perhaps you were on a business trip and cloaked in anonymity you thought you would try it in your hotel room.  Perhaps you were single, home alone drinking and just had a sexual urge and you needed more than masturbation.

Whatever the reason, if you are male, there is a good chance you've paid for sex at one point in your life.  You know it.  I know it.  The common perception of "Johns" is that they are low life scum unable to form proper, loving relationships with women.  They view women as sexual objects.  They are the downtrodden scum of the world that live in bachelor apartments above porno stores in the bad area of town.  No such creature exists in the picture perfect world of suburbia.  If they are not low life scum, they they could only be a politician or a highly paid golfer.

 That's the perception of Johns.  The reality is that the men you see around you have probably been a john at some point.  Your boss at work, your professor at university, your brother, the nice guy that says good morning to you every day.  And yes, that also includes your husband.  It's fitting that a client of a prostitute would be called a "John" because John is such a common name.