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The surprise outcome of Craigslist's new restrictions on its Erotic Services category? Clients are reporting that it's easier than ever to sort out the legitimate ads — women you can hire and meet with in person, today — from the telewank webcam girls and phone sex companies posing as escorts.

Says MiaGood on MyPinkBook, a forum for Bay Area working girls:

Now CL will allow you to post 3 ads per account — per 2 day period, they just changed it from 5 to 3 today now. A customer of mine who is a math expert says that there are over 50 percent fewer ads on CL now than there were pre-phone verification days. 1 month ago, ads were on page 1 for only 10 minutes, no it is 30 + minutes. So there is more visibility for your ads. So CL wants even further cuts in ad #'s. Now there may be about 1/3 less ads with the cut to 3 posts max. But that will also encourage pimps to get new phones and more accounts.

Clients are no longer snared by spammy ads that tease with the possibility of sex but don't pan out. Instead, they're being led right to the real women they can pay for a date right now. In adversity, Craigslist yet again finds a way to deliver.

(Photo courtesy of Tatum Reed, available by advance booking in San Francisco)