There are websites where men looking for anonymous sex make lists of
good “cruising” spots across the USA. One example is squirt.org, “your neighborhood cruising guide”.
On this site (which has explicit photos), we notice that the Amazing.net
store is one of the two “cruising” locations listed for Kittery, Maine.
This listing has 56 comments, far more than the number two listing, the
I-95 Northbound Rest Area (11 comments). Amazing.net stores are owned by Capital Video Corporation, the company proposing to build a porn shop with viewing booths at 135 King Street.
When we search
squirt.org for cruising locations in Springfield, Massachusetts, 13
sites are listed. Number one for comments is Video Expo (68 comments).
This appears to be the same store as Amazing.net, since they share the
same address (486 Bridge Street).
Then we searched squirt.org
for cruising locations in Meriden, Connecticut. Four sites are listed.
Number one for comments is Amazing.net (79 comments). The other three
sites have no comments at all.
Finally we searched squirt.org
for cruising locations in Northampton. Four sites are listed. None of
these locations include Oh My or any existing bookstore, video store,
or entertainment establishment now in town.
According to the
Kittery police chief, adult video stores with viewing booths are often
high on these lists of cruising spots. This is not just the experience
of one town. We don’t want Northampton becoming nationally known as a
destination spot for unsafe sex. Northampton’s existing businesses that
offer lingerie and adult novelties do not pose the same risk, and our
proposed regulations are intended to leave them alone.
You seem to be implying that there is something sinister about “cruising.” You also seem to be implying that people who cruise engage in unsafe sex. Can you cite evidence that shows people who cruise engage in unsafe sex? And what is it about cruising that is harmful to a community?
Also, you mention that four locations in Northampton appear when you search for cruising spots here, but that these locations are not any existing bookstore or video shop already in existence. So, does this mean that you’re okay with cruising as long as it isn’t associated with a store on King Street?
The city of Cleveland found enough unsafe sex happening in peep show booths that they passed an ordinance last year requiring cameras in the booths to deter it. Here is the story.
More generally, our Impact of Porn category documents pervasive unsafe sex occuring at adult theaters and porn viewing booths, enough to motivate many cities to regulate them.
Elsewhere on NPN you’ll see reports that neighborhood residents have been harrassed and solicited for sex around adult businesses that show videos. It seems reasonable to suspect this is due at least in part to “cruisers” converging on the shop. Kittery, Maine residents complained about used condoms and other hazardous trash on their streets in the area of their Amazing.net store.
With respect to the subject of cruising in general, we are not interested in any blanket regulation of people’s sexual activity. We are concerned about crime, blight and risky behavior that have been known to occur around adult theaters and porn shops with viewing booths.
Well, I must say that I am interested in the post you wrote and the comments that have been posted.
I would like to give my 2cents…I mean every word in a friendly manner. So, if anything sounds rude, it totally was not meant to be, but was meant to be honest input from me.
you would find used condoms and trash on the streets without any relation to “cruisers” or viewing booths. Look around at the playgrounds in the cities, even small towns…trash, used condoms, beer bottles.
BTW, viewing booths are not the only place unsafe sex happens, School parking lots are widely known to have unsafe sex going on…also known as PARKING. The opposite of CRUISING. Any parking lot anywhere, really.
Hotels, Motels…known for unsafe sex.
The pre-owned car may have had unsafe sex in it prior to the current person owning it.
WE cannot save the world.
Churches and Schools have the same crimes, blight and risky behavior How many teachers have been known to “fall in love” with their students? Have sex with MINOR children? How about the “holiest” people whom we leave our children with?
Do we protest and shut down schools and churches also because crime, blight and risky behavior has happened?
There is nothing wrong with the businesses…its the people that visit and abuse it. Simply.
Not all the people that visit are the ones misusing the establishment, but the ones that do, are the ones you should be speaking of and shutting down.
I think that we should support ANY business and if anything, help them by giving input. If you feel that something is going on that is unacceptable with the community, you should give them a chance and talk to them. I am sure they would be more than happy to be part of the community as well and cooperate or atleast accomodate…regardless how edgy the business.
The point of secondary effects studies is to show that crime and blight disproportionately attend to adult enterprises, which they do. We do not claim that adult enterprises have a monopoly on all the problems you list, but that they often make unreasonable impositions on neighborhoods, and zoning is part of the answer.
We have made considerable efforts to engage with Capital Video in a public dialogue (example). Their outreach efforts to date have been unimpressive, and they are known to renege on their promises to the community (example). Other adult enterprises like VIP in Connecticut appear to have contempt for their neighbors.
Again, I understand your point…
quote
“We do not claim that adult enterprises have a monopoly on all the problems you list, but that they often make unreasonable impositions on neighborhoods, and zoning is part of the answer.”
unquote
Same thing with WALMARTS…but everyone chooses to spend their money there. I’m sure it will fizzle out and they will be able to do business without being harassed and the anti’s trying to form opinions for everyone else and let the pro’s or undecided’s decide for themselves.
Wouldn’t it be more proactive to ask them to be part of the community and and put some of that money into the community? Be a positive thinker and do something good about it. You’ll get more honey from bee.
I wish I could share your optimism about Capital Video’s reasonableness, but their long, sorry track record prevents me. The only thing I have seen them respect are zoning laws and health regulations, not the sentiments of communities. Kittery shows a good example of this.
Not to say that Wal-Mart is all good, but Capital Video is not Wal-Mart. I am reminded of this item from our FAQ:
FAQ: What’s the big deal? All businesses have their flaws. Why don’t you protest Dunkin’ Donuts or Wal-Mart?
This argument only makes sense if you consider a woman to be equivalent
to a sugary treat or a case of toilet paper. One can only imagine the
public outcry if Dunkin’ Donuts or Wal-Mart began referring to women as
“sluts”, “whores” or “a nasty bitch” in their sales literature, all
terms found at one time or another on Capital Video’s website, Amazing.net.
It is plausible to argue that the benefits of a Dunkin’ Donuts or a
Wal-Mart outweigh their problems. This is much more difficult in the
case of a Capital Video porn shop. We also observe that Dunkin’ Donuts
and Wal-Mart are much more responsive to public concerns than Capital
Video is. See, for example, their PR pages: Dunkin’ Donuts, Wal-Mart.
Another adult enterprise with crude insensitivity to residents is VIP of Connecticut. Here are quotes from VIP general manager Gary Porter:
“These people need to get real. They bought homes on the Berlin Turnpike… What did they expect?…”
“We’ll be helping the community, maybe not Berlin, but surrounding
communities,” Porter said jokingly, “community service is what we’re
all about.”
Sometimes businesspeople are indeed responsive to citizen concerns, but sometimes they’re not. Capital Video has gone so far as to curse at a citizen in City Council chambers.
Again, I understand what you are saying.
I understand that someone at walmart or D&D would not be called a bitch or slut…but that is what the movies do.
Certain words are meant for certain times and places. Bitch and Slut is for Adult Movies. I am not offended by that – AND IM A WOMAN!!! Don’t get me wrong, I would never tolerate being called that by someone for no reason. But if I was watching an adult movie, no I would not be offended. But it’s obvious that if for some reason you happened to be open-minded enough to watch an adult movie, you would be.
btw, are you male or female?
It’s all part of preference. You seem to be completely and utterly disgusted and against this. I am not. This store, I imagine sells adult toys as well? Why is that an outrage? Men have been jerking themselves off for centuries and its ok. But women had their clitoris’s cut off so they could not enjoy sex.
Men could sleep with other women and not have reprecussions but if women did it, they were called whores.
Let’s talk about commercials or movies on REGULAR TV. I can’t tell you how many times there is as much sex or pornographic relation on TV – not cable, TV.
Atleast if you go to that adult store, you have to be 18 or 21 years old. However, public tv doesnt restrict ages by requiring id. In my opinion, that is far more a crime.
Hey I want to know how you found this blog template from I want it!
Very convenient to have a link letting me share this post on Facebook
Very handy to have a link letting me share this story on Fb
Hey I want to know how you found this blog template from I love it!
That’s way the bestest asnwer so far!
i found a video that has this post data nearly word for word. is that your video?
i discovered a youtube video that has this post data almost word for word. is it your video?