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?

  • aturtlesdream@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    The place matters, don’t go to any sketchy places. I am not sure what qualifications/school exist in other counties but in Canada for insurance purposes massage therapists must be registered/licensed in order to recieve coverage. People who are registered are very very unlikely to jeopardize their career by breaking the law like that, not tomention it goes against everything we are taught. As an RMT myself it really makes me sad that this exists and sullies our industry and is brought up like a funny joke. Therapists should be asking for consent in order to work on any sensitive areas

  • DrSoap@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    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.

  • iegod@lemmy.zip
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    22 hours ago

    Look for places that do multiple types of services, and are focused on rehab. Sports therapy, physio, massage clinics are focused on treatment, not sexual stuff. Also look for registered therapists.

    so I get a sketchy strip mall massage

    Where do you live that you have to resort to this?

  • datavoid@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    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!

  • HubertManne@piefed.social
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    1 day ago

    You have to look at the place you go to. If it has drawn blinds and no view inside I would avoid it. I mean its kinda obvious really to me which ones are which when driving around. Do go to ones with therapeutic in the name and mentions certified. It honestly does not take much for therapeutic place to get guys looking for more. I had a female massage therapist friend and she was pissed because the guy changed the logo. Their name said therapeutic and the logo had a caduceus but it also had a silloute of a long haired face. The hair sorta waving in the breeze. Apparently that was enough to get an uptick in men who were looking for more.

  • _skj@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    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.
  • Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world
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    22 hours ago

    Even if you don’t partake in their services, just being there if there during a raid can get you caught up in legal trouble. You will be guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the laws as it’s a slam dunk case for most prosecutors if they take it to a jury trial.

    However, I do enjoy Asian forms of massage over most Western ones. I look for places that are either in a normal to high end enclosed shopping mall (not a strip mall) or do acupuncture.

    I try to stay away massage places in stand alone buildings or open strip malls. Massage places with websites that focus on female masseuses. Some say signage in red letters can indicate a tug joint. Generally any sign of these and I’ll look elsewhere. If I still get offered, I don’t come back.

  • TheDoozer@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    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.

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    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

  • HotDayBreeze@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    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.

  • bizarroland@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    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 by 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.

    • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      14 hours ago

      Wait like right up front? What I’m talking about is like 3/4 of the way through, after you’ve flipped over. Did you start face up? I always start face down.

      • bizarroland@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        I was going to turn face down when she showed up but she took a minute getting into the room so I was just waiting.

  • Zannsolo@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    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.

  • cynar@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    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.