I know this is gonna sound like the “Where exactly, so I can avoid it” meme, but I’m sincerely trying to avoid it.

I am pretty physically active, and get massage every six months or so. I have a massage therapist I usually go to, but every once in a while it’s an emergency and my go-to is booked up, so I get a sketchy strip mall massage.

About half the time it ends with a happy ending attempt. Not that I’m against the concept, but I refuse to pay for sexual contact on principle. Also that cuts into the time spent on the actual massage I came in for, and pressures me into a huge tip for something I don’t actually want.

At the same time, I don’t want to assume. It seems pretty rude to start off with “I know you’re gonna wanna give me a handjob but I’m not interested”. So is there some kind of standard “initiation” ritual that I can turn down when it comes up?

  • datavoid@sh.itjust.works
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    51 分钟前

    Like 15 years ago a friend randomly showed me a website called tugmap. I asked what the fuck was wrong with him, but in retrospect something like that might be exactly what you need!

  • _skj@lemmy.world
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    2 小时前

    The happy ending places are usually pretty easy to spot from reviews or their website if they have one. A few indicators:

    • The images they post online are just attractive women possibly giving massages. The focus is on the person giving the massage, instead of general relaxing imagery.
    • Reviews are split down the middle between 5 stars with no details and 1 stars complaining about short, half-assed massages and requests for tips before the massage ends
    • The building itself has all the windows covered and very little advertising except for a sign to reassure clients they have the right door.
  • Crackhappy@lemmy.world
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    1 小时前

    I’m in a similar spot. The best massage for me involves a lot more pressure than most people need. I’m 195cm, 120 kilos (biiig guy) and almost no place has what I need, in my area. Rails on the ceiling so they can walk on my back. It allows them to crack my spine a little and provide enough pressure to break up the knots I get in my lower spine due to scar tissue from a surgery I had years ago.

    The only place that has those rails is the local rub and tug. I just explicitly tell them at the start “no happy ending”. Most of the ladies speak enough English to get it. And they’re fine with not doing it, I always give a good tip anyway.

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
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    4 小时前

    I think it’s a wink, then a nod, then asking (if you are a male) “can you please rub my penis until I ejaculate?”. /s

  • DrSoap@lemmy.world
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    7 小时前

    So I get massages a lot. I’m a lady but its a pet peeve to hear someone getting tugged off in the next room. I’m not rich so I often go to places that run specials or discounts. I figured it out. Its a rub and tug place if they have curtains in the windows and it’s a straight massage place if you can see into the waiting room. People aren’t embarrassed to be seen waiting for a massage. They are not as excited for you to be seeing them go into a happy ending place.

  • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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    4 小时前

    Don’t go to strip malls.

    Go to a high end gym or similar, a place that has an actual license it could lose.

  • cynar@lemmy.world
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    6 小时前

    Depending what you want it for, but a sports massage is possibly a good option.

    I’ve had a few for work related muscle tension issues. It’s a different mentality to the massage parlours. It’s also a lot more effective at problem solving, rather than feel good relaxing.

  • TheDoozer@lemmy.world
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    12 小时前

    So this probably doesn’t help (except to back other people’s experiences), but there was an asian massage place across from the place I got oil changes and tire swap/rotations (as stud to normal and back). I went there a couple times (first was weird about tipping, but I figured it was a communication issue), got comfortable with it, and the third time the lady put her hand on my junk and just raised her eyebrows. I slowly shook my head, and she went back to a regular massage. That was the last time I went there.

    My wife was actually super upset. Not at me, but for me, saying I had been sexually assaulted. I had to explain that while technically that might be true, I was not in a position of vulnerability, she was just doing her thing (and I was clearly in the wrong place), and I get to define my own experience.

  • Zannsolo@lemmy.world
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    16 小时前

    I’ve only had it offered one time and it was at a placey MIL suggested when I was in town. I usually go to cheaper Asian massage places too.

    So towards the end of the massage she tapped my dick through the towel and said you like? I said no and couldn’t wait to tell my MIL where she sent me.

    My FIL went there for science after and confirmed my story and says he also said no but I have doubts.

  • HotDayBreeze@lemmy.world
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    16 小时前

    There’s some clear clues on which venues are happy ending parlors.

    • Avoid places with completely curtained windows. At least the lobby area should be visible to the public.

    • Seek out places that refer to “massage therapists”. Avoid “masseuse” or “massage parlor”.

    • The “crystal healing” “sound bath” hippy dippy places might try to sell you mushrooms but they are less likely to grab your dick.

    • Avoid cash only places, they are trying to hide paper trails. Even if you’re paying out of pocket, any place that accepts insurance isn’t offering a “secret menu” .

    • Low stated prices might mean they get by on big handy-based tips. They’re cheap for a reason. Medium priced places are just charging for normal services.

    • Check what kind of person is in their online reviews. If it’s a middle aged man talking about how beautiful the “girls” are, skip. If it’s a Karen complaining about how they used CBD oil, it’s probably fine.

    • Strip malls in general seem to attract this business niche, too. I’m not sure why.

    If you’re normally comfortable getting a massage naked, consider keeping your underwear on for your first visit with a new practitioner.

  • bedwyr@piefed.ca
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    13 小时前

    I remember a medium sized city nearby did a sting on some asian massage parlours. The undercover cops had a strict fidelity to their burden of proof and as such wanted to make sure they had enough evidence for their case and as such returned I forget, half a dozen or more times for handies.

    They got mocked pretty hard for it. It’s odd though, they are hands off on escorts and parlours usually idk why they went after these ones. They pushed all the street prostitutes off of the main roads on the side roads, while higher class ones will conspicuously work downtown on occasions, even right outside the police station.

    • DrSoap@lemmy.world
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      7 小时前

      Someone somewhere is getting bribed. That’s all it is. You pay for the blind eye. You pay to have your competitors picked up. We had a lot of Hispanic ones in nyc closed because migrant families needed to make money asap but the Asian ones not 10 blocks away are untouched. I don’t think that is a coincidence and its upsetting that they pick and choose. There is no other reason I can think of as to why.

  • moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com
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    14 小时前

    About half the time it ends with a happy ending attempt.

    Wait, what?

    You tell us: what is that like. How do they offer? Is it verbal? What do they say or do?

  • bizarroland@lemmy.world
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    18 小时前

    I get a non-happy ending massage about once every three to six months, just depending on whenever the tension has built up enough.

    I tried out a new place that was just called Thai Massage that I literally pass to buy every day on my way home from work and when I walked in I had sketch vibes right from the beginning.

    I figured, what the heck? I don’t know. The place does look a little rundown, but it was $60 for an hour, and they required that I pay in cash, and that should have been my clue to turn around and leave.

    But I said fuck it, I actually had the cash on hand, so I paid the $60 up front and stripped down to my undies and laid there on the bed and the lady walked in and she was a relatively attractive 50-ish year old Thai lady and she just laid her hands directly on my genitals and said, “You like?”

    I quickly told her, no thank you, I just wanted a regular massage.

    She gave me a very lackluster regular massage that only took like 35 minutes.

    Disappointing all the way around probably should have taken the hand job instead, honestly.