Reasons to go to professional sex workers instead of getting it "for free" from a civilian:

1. they may be willing do things you can't expect a random stranger/hookup/officemate to be willing to try

2. they won't expect a relationship to develop and won't threaten to out you for leaving them.

3. they know what they're doing and make the crime worth the danger. going to a pro sex worker is like going to a pro masseuse, pro personal trainer, pro physician- they are paid to do it because they are trained, skilled and experienced.

4. their job is illegal, they have no more interest in getting this made public than you do

5. you pick the time, date, place, activities and conditions. they don't like it, you find another one. easy as pie and no hurt feelings.

6. you're less likely to have a pissed off husband or boyfriend come after you for "getting with their woman"

7. they're likely more physically attractive than the women spitzer might meet in his office or could reasonably be expected to chat with in public without arousing suspicion. odds are much better she is shaven to his tastes and will arrive wearing seductive lingerie. you can't normally expect that of partners.

8. the power element- money brings influence and self-gratification, buying sex is an act of exerting that power.

need more reasons?

I still don't see the "power" thing. It seems to me, being able to knock off a piece based on one's charisma and charm and displayed power--alpha male signifiers all--is much more a power trip than having to (over) pay a woman to touch your genitals. Women know their power chiefly lies in their ability to reject men. The ony power issue that truly comes into play vis-a-vis prostitutes is the concommitant loss of a woman's theoretyical power over a sex-seeking man's psyche.

As Sinatra once said, "You don't pay a hooker for sex, you pay her to leave." At least I think it was Sinatra.

Spitzer is from a wealthy enough family that he's probably never had any trouble getting it "for free".

Yes, this is entirely right. Rosa's letter suggesting there is an internet alternative misses the point entirely. With an unpaid internet partner you are subject to the potential for blackmail for years. They are not only possibly a loose cannon, they are more likely than not to turn out to be one. Even casual encounters over the internet often lead to recriminations, especially from women who feel rejected if they are not called again. With a pro, there is the incentive not to go public, as it is tantamount to confessing to a crime.

Yes, it IS more of a power trip. Undeniably. But it's still more likely -- MUCH more likely -- to lead to eventual disclosure. The most important element of the whole adventure, far more than any element of the sex, is the fear of disclosure. Here, the prostitute has no competition.

Right. So power needs to be taken off the list. Everything else is spot on.

Besides, I know of low-end prosrtutes who operate out of an "adult book store" whose "live sexy shows" can pro-rate out to $900 an hour (most "shows" go 15 to 20 minutes). This is pretty much all-inclusive: fellatio and intercourse with a condom, unprotected cunnilingus and (depending on the girl) analingus if the john is willing to risk picking up an STD, maybe open-mouthed kissing, again, dependingh on the girl. Some of these women are rather fetching but quite a few are rather homely. Half the money goes to the house which is, I understand, mob-linked.

Hell, an average visit to a "champagne room" where, as Chris Rock tells, there is no sex (not strictly true, but the girl is running a big risk if she permits it) can cost 3, 4 or 5 hundred bucks an hour.

So Spitzer's cash outlay is not so amazing.

I understand quite well why he would pay for it. For such a high profile job, its money well spent, as a way to keep it quiet. However, its the amount I don't get. I think that's just plain narcissism. I mean its like not slightly above women aren't good enough or anything.

Client confidentiality is big reason. A good prostitution business will swear their ppl to secrecy to guarantee repeat business - like lawyers, bankers, journos etc

With an affair you can't guarantee that it won't get out (eg. Monica).

PS: Why are we assuming that Ms. Spitzer was not aware or did not consented to this? She could be like the wives and gfs of pro athletes, "Only if you're on the road and hookers only ...."

Yes Ms. Spitzer very well might have known about it. I personally know couples who are in long term committed relationships and the female partner has told the husband that if he feels the need to have extramarital sex, to please have it with a prostitute and be safe (use condom, for the authors of XX). Of course all these couples are either continental Europeans or South Americans.

I total agree that paying for sex with a stranger is a lot easier and less complicated then dealing with personal relationships. But has anyone stopped to think that if the man was paying for someone to watch his kids then paying his wife $4300 for two hours of sex he might not have to go through all this trouble. She would have all the money she needs to keep herself in tip top shape and looking good (she is not that bad looking in the first place). I understand the girl is beautiful but in the end a hole is a hole is a hole...I know if my husband/boyfriend/lover was laying out that kind of money for two hours of sex, I would quit my job and school and be on call too...Maybe I'm strange but I would rather pay someone I love to shower me with attention and have great sex with me whenever I desire.