Funny that this thread gets put up... You may recall my moaning earlier in the week about getting no bookings from having my number up. Well I got one, he was a bit of a text pest but I decided I was being too snobby. Turned out to be the first negative experience I had, he pushed an extra half hour out of me, deliberately obscuring my watch and holding me down so that I can't get up (this was also in a basement so I couldn't get out easily or text my security buddy until I got out). It wasn't violent or forceful or anything, just very very obvious that he was taking advantage of my naivety and awkwardness/politeness and knowing that I'd be really reluctant to say "right, time's up now". I am definitely far too strict, I have different rules from you Fabulassie but very much just as strict if not moreso - I will put the phone down the minute they ask if I'm English or "really" 18 for example, as those bloody piss me off. After last night, I don't regret a single booking that I've rejected. I genuinely would have rather not turned up at all and got ?0 than a ?120 that should have been ?180 and without feeling degraded and used.
In conclusion, I definitely share your worries re: being strict and grumpy! I think I just got unlucky really, but for now I'm going to continue as I am.
See, what I see here - if I apply it to myself - is: "text pest" = "red flag." There was something pushy and off about the guy. That absolutely sends alarm bells ringing and I become nervous. Nervous is bad.
However, asking if I'm whatever nationality or really my age (I don't necessarily get asked that in the same way, but there may be similar equivalents that annoy me) would be the sort of thing I'm trying to address. I know you're sensitive about your age and nationality but there could be perfectly innocent and understandable reasons they ask. Maybe less so on the age thing - why are they so fixated on that? Are they worried you're underage or are they determined to book as young as legally able to or do they just assume everyone is lying? I have to say that I'm relieved to be much older as I think guys who are focused on booking teens can be a bit ... I don't know. Shouldn't generalise... let's just leave it at saying that you get a lot less shit when you're in your 40's. 
"It gets better." LOL
But I think you've said (was that you?) that your nationality is a bit of an issue as you have a birth certificate from a foreign country but an English accent from living here since you were very young. I think it would be OK to just say "Well, I'm a citizen of _____ but I've lived in England since I was two years old, so I've got an English accent, an English education, and I may as well be English as far as my cultural norms are concerned." I do think they may have legitimate concerns about young girls from foreign countries and that answer should quell all of them. And the bigoted twats will still show their twattiness in other ways that you can screen out. I hope I'm making sense.
I get asked if I'm XXX even though all my marketing introduces me first thing as an "XXXX MILF" - I think, can't you fucking read? But I try not to let it bug me. My accent is very strong even after living here many years.
Is this maybe more of a burn out issue than a being too picky issue? I know if I've been busy one day, the next day they all get on my fucking nerves! Yes I totally get what you're saying about those calls 'Are you XXXX'? I feel like saying 'Nah, I was just lying when I wrote my profile, ha ha ha aren't I funny?'
I guess what I'm getting at is, the things you've described often annoy me (actually usually annoy me) too, but if we've been having a break/days off, we can normally handle them a little better than if we've been busy/are tired/are sick of all men?
Maybe you just need a bit of a break - can be easier said than done I know.
I totally agree with your principle though, the middle aged businessman is my ideal client too. Unfortunately though I'd soon starve if I turned everyone else away
Topic: Trying to be *less* picky (Read 12173 times)