[Pitarou]

Your friend's experience is not inconsistent with the article. The article makes it clear that most only earn a little, but a tiny elite can earn big money:

> By the minute, newbies might charge under a dollar; a typical PSO might charge two dollars; and the rare star with a strong brand might charge $50.

At $50/minute, it would take less than 35 hours to earn $100k!

[fragola]

I'm assuming the "rare star with a strong brand" is someone famous outside of the PSO cottage industry (i.e. in films or something).

The whole thing reads like someone trying to sell you on a shady MLM.

[JBReefer]

I got the opposite impression - that it's an exploitative industry that preys on the needy. Anton is someone to want to help, not somebody who's situation is enviable, at least to my mind.

[gozur88]

>I got the opposite impression - that it's an exploitative industry that preys on the needy.

I'm curious what you mean by that. By "needy" do you mean the people answering the phones, or the people calling?

[mattzito]

Couldn't it be for both, to a certain degree? Obviously not universally, but there has to be some percentage of both PSOs and callers who are weak and vulnerable and being exploited.

I think this is true of sex work in general, particularly because (at least in the US) sex workers tend to be marginalized.