"No luggage check-in = human trafficking" ?!!!!! Frightening similiarity...

[Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)
in General

Hey Folks~

I watched a documentary on spotting the signs of Human Trafficking and one of the "telltale signs" was for people to check in to a motel/hotel without luggage. Alarm bells went off in my head! lol

The reason I brought this here was because I couldn't help thinking that, for those of us who find a hotel room convenient for stress-free cuddle accommodation, maybe this is something we ought to hash out? It's probably obvious that a crabby, spoiled, outspoken broad like myself ISN'T being trafficked, but what if the hotel staff members have been trained to look for such things?

No, I'm not going to stop arranging cuddles in hotels because of it, but I would like to hear your thoughts on the possibly frightening similarity involved. Because Platonic Cuddling is still carving its place out in our society, this is the sort of thing that needs examination. I NEVER have luggage when I arrive for a cuddle, other than my glorious, fragrant Self! lol It concerns me that someone's training might see that as a red flag.

Personally, I believe any, all, and every person involved in the trafficking of human beings should face a full-on firing squad upon being convicted, but that's just me. I felt some kind of way, however, upon learning that this was a sign of such trafficking.

Thoughts?

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Comments

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod

    Don't worry about it. Well-trained hotel staff have been doing this for years. It is true that no luggage can be an indicator for people trafficking, but it's also an indicator for a million other things, of which cuddling is only one. It is also the case that the overall pattern of check in for cuddling doesn't look anything like the pattern for people trafficking.

    If staff are concerned, they will start enquiring in a very gentle way. All you have to do is recognise that they are trying to do something good, and just be open and honest. The situation will be resolved more or less instantly. Remember that you're not doing anything wrong

    The starting point for the hospitality industry is that as long as you don't damage anything or disturb other guests, what you want the room for is a private matter for you. Hotels exist to help us live our lives, not to pry into them. In my non-expert experience, most of the people who work in that industry care deeply about the privacy of their guests.

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    I soooo love reading you, @CuddleDuncan ! :) It's important, like you mention, that we in this lifestyle/ hobby ALWAYS walk in the assurance that we're not doing anything "wrong." I'm deeply GRATEFUL for this platonic, legitimate outlet for my very human need for contact. It's just that I'm constantly reminded that I live in the world with other people, and I am aware that Cuddling is still cutting out its space in our society..

    Fully support ALL of their efforts, as hotel staff, to ferret out and end ALL trafficking efforts, and I'm now adopting that perspective. Thanks for that! :)

    Very clear point on how transient lodging exists to help us live our lives, not pry into them. When most of what we, as a society, did was travel and vacation, that was all that was needed. Now, there are panels in floors, leading to underground tunnels, and tiny cameras in electrical outlets!!!!! I saw one video where someone stuck a bent wire under the door, trying to hook the lever and open it from inside!!! I sound like Chicken Little, probably, but there's no denying that our world has changed. My Life NEEDS Platonic Cuddling, and I want to have the hard conversations necessary for it to take its rightful place in our world!

    Maybe that's the answer, though? If hotel staff "gently question", to quietly educate them on what Cuddling is and is not?

    Thoughts?

  • WestsideMarcWestsideMarc

    This is a total non issue for us. Like @CuddleDuncan says there a million other reasons why people check in with no luggage, like maybe going back to their car for their luggage. Too many other real things to worry about in this world.
    Nothing to see here.

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    "Oh, hey, Umoja-- you needn't feel so concerned about this VERY REAL AND UNFORTUNATE SIMILARITY. It must have been an issue of concern, for you, since you brought it to the larger group. I hope others who may share similar concerns about the intricacies of Cuddling becoming mainstream, and the sometimes difficult conversations necessary, are encouraged to share THEIR thoughts, also, on this."

    Unblock me, you so-and-so, and we can fight in private!!! lol

  • Mike403Mike403

    You can reserve a hotel room to check in and out on the same day via dayuse.com. Obviously luggage won't be needed for people who aren't staying the night.

  • Mr_Cuddle_BearMr_Cuddle_Bear

    When travelling, I generally check into hotels without any of my luggage (unless I took a car service), go upstairs, use the restroom, turn the A/C on and then go back to the car for my stuff. I would imagine many other people have a similar routine.

    I believe hotel staff look for many other red flags in conjunction to this.

    I do tend to get self conscious when checking into a hotel with just my son (he has a very different complexion than I do). It was especially weird doing while visiting a foreign country where my wife is from and has a somewhat bad reputation when it comes to trafficking.

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    Furiously scribbling... "dayuse.com"! Thanks, @Mike403 ! Everything about the concept/ lifestyle of Cuddling is new (and wonderful) to me, so this is actually news I can use!!! :) Thanks!

    I think it's just that I, personally, don't want anything to harm or damage the possibility of growth for this very, very needed, new thing, this Platonic Cuddling. After seeing that, I was like, "No! This is a GOOD THING!!! I don't want to see an innocent, beautiful trend tanked by erroneous impressions!!"

  • Mike403Mike403

    I wouldn't mention "cuddling" to hotel staff. Too many people still don't know what that is and they think it's sex work no matter how you try to explain it to them.

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    @Mr_Cuddle_Bear I hear you. I had an issue a few years ago at an iHOP where they didn't think my daughter was my daughter (she's biracial). That is why I am hoping that woman who is suing Southwest takes them to the cleaners.

  • Midnight01Midnight01

    You are making this a WAY bigger deal than it has to be. You are letting your imagination run wild.

  • SideonSideon

    Marriott, Hilton, etc, all have mobile check in options. They bypass the front desk completely.

    As a former frequent flyer/consultant, there were countless times I and others checked in without luggage.

    Hotels and the airline industry do ongoing trainings on human trafficking.

    Now if only religious institutions would be more forthright and proactive. Clergy and ecclesiastical "leaders" don't report. I'm looking at you, Mormon Inc, and Catholic Churches.

  • [Deleted User]mkecuddles82 (deleted user)

    Jim Caviezel might bust in and arrest you!

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    This used to be a DISCUSSION BOARD. You know, where different people who held different views could come and DISCUSS topics?

    Okay, so some don't see this as an issue. Is that really a reason to bash a topic? What if it matters to me to try to be the best ambassador possible for this new, beautiful thing? What if there really ARE terrors happening in the world that we want to stay as far away from as possible? Why not be mindful of protecting, as much as possible, the perception of something that means a lot to people who enjoy Cuddling??

    I actually thought this would be a topic where we could consider the image/perception of this growing, awesome thing that some of us really love! Where we could kind of clarify our collective thinking or way of navigating social situations where Cuddling is involved.

    It's strangely telling, however, that only men are weighing in, making it sound like my concerns are somehow "silly" or unworthy of consideration. Umm hmm. Interesting...

    Okay. I was obviously wrong for voicing a legitimate concern here. Won't do it again. Not worth the bother..

  • BearBear

    I use a 2nd party booking app or loyalty app. So I don’t give it a second thought. Once or twice while visiting my 19 year old god son I was wondering what people thought. Yet he is taller then me.

    I’m actually going to see sound of freedom in a few minutes.

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    @Mr_Cuddle_Bear ~ Wow... That must have been really weird! Sad that you had to endure that..

    @WriterGF ~ Again... It's scary how crazy the world has become. I'm glad she has you to help her navigate it! :)

    @Mike403 ~ I see what you mean. I was using "Trucking Team" as a way to shield my Cuddle visits, and that usually got the staff past the whole "Ooooh... A Black woman and a White man checking in, together!!!!" mind freeze, on the occasions when our "tans" were different!! I don't openly share about Cuddling, usually, unless the other person mentions it. But being careful ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF IT is exactly what I was concerned about with my original post! Thanks for the insight...

    @Sideon~ WOOOOOoooooooo... SAY THAT VERY THING!!! That's as far as I can go, though, because religion causes me to produce HIVES!!! lololol!!!

  • supadupasupadupa

    Aren’t we told not to bring up politics, religion etc? And then if it’s brought up, we can flag, but then when it’s a moderator we can’t exactly flag it for fear of being banned/removed from the site. I’m not Catholic or Mormon but give me a break.

  • SideonSideon

    @supadupa - the topic is human trafficking. I brought up another source of human trafficking and sexual abuse, which is well documented in various religious institutions. I'm not spouting religion. I'm not dictating what others do or don't believe. I'm noting the bad actors that have been shielded via bankruptcies (running now in the billions) and the exhortation of clergy to not report to authorities.

    @supadupa - People don't get banned on forums for having an opinion. They get banned for egregious rule breaking, posting dick pics, or being repetitive (and duly warned) dicks. Get it?

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    @Sideon ~ that probably didn't really belong to your clearly worded, well-documented accounting of a very real problem. It probably belonged to my vitriolic response to religion... Sorry you had to field that! lol

    Whether or not anyone wants to realistically consider the often mistaken ideas that run rampant around Cuddling, it's still worth discussing. It IS an unusual thing, that shares weird similarities with other, frightening things that are happening in our world.

    Without getting lost or bogged down in semantics, could we just acknowledge that it's a worthwhile thing to at least CONSIDER that something so beautiful, so needed, could be confused with other, more vile things, because some have wrong notions about it? Or because some aspects of it seem to resemble other things?

  • TxTomTxTom

    We should all keep an eye out for victims of human trafficking.

    It doesn't require extra effort. It doesn't cost anything. It might save a life. It might be someone you know.

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)
    edited August 2023

    The documentary was painfully eye-opening for me. Mind reeling, wondering how in the hell is something this hateful is still allowed to happen?? I DEFINITELY AGREE with you @TxTom ~ I WILL keep an eye out for the signs that they gave in that documentary... If you see something, she said, SAY SOMETHING. I'm ALL ABOUT IT. For real.

    I posted this because I wanted to hear other members' thoughts on how we might keep Cuddling from being once again "clumped in with" some other thing. Some of the posters educated me about new technologies that allow check-ins that entirely bypass the front desk of hotels. Convenient for travellers, yes... But this wouldn't be the first time that a technology was used for more nefarious purposes, I don't care who wants to argue about it!

    Because all of my properties are already rented, and I can't host, it matters to me to keep my luggage-less check-ins OFF the radar of hotel staff. It alarmed me that something that I KNOW TO BE INNOCENT might be misconstrued as something so terrible.

    Cuddling is still too new to not be concerned about how others in society perceive it. I just thought we could discuss it LIKE RATIONAL PEOPLE.

    @TxTom ~ Reminder duly noted. Thank you!

  • Mike403Mike403

    I had a thread locked for being a "political post" because I posted about human rights violations in North Korea. I thought it was okay because I wasn't arguing my political beliefs and it wasn't going to start a flame war. Sometimes I'm unsure what is okay to post.

  • SideonSideon

    @Mike403 - make your posts. Have no doubt that if something is flagged, you'll know about it.

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)

    @Mike403 ~ While I understand your misgivings about what is okay/// not okay to post, please refrain from derailing the topic of this thread... The point of which is the sharing of RATIONAL THOUGHTS on the possibility that certain parts of the Cuddling Culture could be misconstrued, and about what we---as individual participants--- can do to prevent wrong perceptions among those who aren't (yet) participants in this new, wonderful hobby/ lifestyle..

  • Mike403Mike403

    @Umoja - Somebody brought up discussing whether it's okay to discuss politics, religion, etc... and I commented on that.

  • MonkeyNeedsAHugMonkeyNeedsAHug
    edited August 2023

    [Edited to remove mod-baiting.]

  • [Deleted User]Umoja (deleted user)
    edited August 2023

    Oh... It just sounded like the direction of your comment was taking the focus away from the topic of discussion, so I wanted to direct it back. It seemed like if you had a question about site rules, that you would have messaged a moderator instead of posting on a forum thread..

    It has become rather obvious that my concerns are my own, exclusively. I can certainly deal with that. However, I find it unfortunately short-sighted that Cuddle participants don't seem to be able to discuss the emerging topics surrounding this cool, new trend in a reasonable way. Cuddling is here to stay, hopefully, and I felt it was important to express what seemed to me a valid concern I had about how some aspects of its logistics might be perceived.

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    I have no problem with churches, as long as they're open-minded, accepting, and not trying to drag us back into the dark ages.

  • SideonSideon

    @MonkeyNeedsAHug - silly, silly. Very silly. That's not what I said at all. I said: "I'm noting the bad actors that have been shielded via bankruptcies (running now in the billions) and the exhortation of clergy to not report to authorities." Their existence and beliefs are not a crime, but their covering up sexual abuse and serial predators is.

  • Ironman294Ironman294

    I’m not sure why someone would look at a person checking in alone without luggage might be trafficking.
    Now if said person had someone much younger looking scared or nervous next to to them then perhaps. But people check into hotels alone all the time with little or minimal luggage.

  • Mike403Mike403

    Looks like this thread is being derailed even more about churches. No thread on this site has ever stayed on topic.

    Anyway, professional cuddling is what I'm concerned about. Somebody might throw me into a mental institution if they found out that I paid money to cuddle. :/

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