Planning for pleasure: Time patterns in the use of internet forums of female sex workers' clients in Germany

The purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal usage of seven sex workers' clients' (johns') German Internet forums. Data covering the years 2008 to 2010 and showing monthly, daily and hourly usage were gained through different log file analysis tools. Three different focus groups discussed the results. One focus group was made up by users of johns' forums, one group by female sex workers and another one by social workers. Data analysis revealed that johns frequent their web-forums mostly on late Monday afternoons, preferably between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. According to the focus groups' discussions, this distinct time frame appears to be substantially based on the johns' intention to plan their activities in commercial sex.