[Athens]

Prostitutes

This can be a touchy subject for some people. Me personally I see nothing wrong with it. In fact it is something that I think should be regulated, taxed and turned into a legitimate business.

The rest of the article can be found here http://brian.is.a.rootboy.net/articles.php

[MacGorilla]

Originally posted by Athens:
Prostitutes

This can be a touchy subject for some people. Me personally I see nothing wrong with it. In fact it is something that I think should be regulated, taxed and turned into a legitimate business.

The rest of the article can be found here http://brian.is.a.rootboy.net/articles.php

I am inclined to agree; like what the Netherlands does would be fine. Never happen in our puritan nation, however.

[Athens]

Originally posted by MacGorilla:
I am inclined to agree; like what the Netherlands does would be fine. Never happen in our puritan nation, however.

My biggest issue is what laws are for, they should be to protect people from the actions of others, be it other people or companies. Laws to protect people from themselves are stupid. I added another article about drugs which I wouldnt mind hearing your opinion on too http://brian.is.a.rootboy.net/forum/...ic.php?p=14#14

its based on the same ideas about what laws are for. Personally I see nothing wrong with people selling sex for money. Ifs there free choice. Because it will happen and always will its something that should just be regulated. Whats more important, stupid laws that do nothing really or regulation to make sure people dont get hurt and to limit the spread of diseases.

[Sherwin]

I largely don't care what other people do as long as it doesn't affect me.

But there's the tax question...
If it's to be legalised and taxed, how is the taxation to be sorted? Many people (myself included) wouldn't want their public services to be paid for using the taxation gained from what can be considered immoral gains. It's like blood money - it taints everyone in its path.

Address this issue and I don't have a problem with it.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
I largely don't care what other people do as long as it doesn't affect me.

But there's the tax question...
If it's to be legalised and taxed, how is the taxation to be sorted? Many people (myself included) wouldn't want their public services to be paid for using the taxation gained from what can be considered immoral gains. It's like blood money - it taints everyone in its path.

Address this issue and I don't have a problem with it.

how does tobaco, beer tax and gambling taxes fit in for moral money. And taxes on abortion operations. Immoral money is already in the system.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by Athens:
how does tobaco, beer tax and gambling taxes fit in for moral money. And taxes on abortion operations. Immoral money is already in the system.

The only thing immoral there is the gambling. And yep, that blood money should be separated.

[TETENAL]

Pecunia non olet.

[Salah al-Din]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
The only thing immoral there is the gambling. And yep, that blood money should be separated.

You make an interesting point but who should get to decide what is immoral?

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Salah al-Din:
You make an interesting point but who should get to decide what is immoral?

The people elect representatives who create laws based upon the people's wishes and determine what is moral for that particular country. At least in a democracy that's what happens.

I bet you were hoping for someone to say "God" weren't you? I suppose your reply would have been "Whose god?" But I could be wrong.

EDIT: ON TOPIC: I disagree with legalizing prostitution. It destroys lives. I would not want people soliciting sex in my town.

[Sven G]

(Sorry, double post.)

[Sven G]

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Pecunia non olet.

Olet, olet...

... But, sadly, most people don't realise that money often smells in a not too good way, really...

That said, of course prostitutes should be "legal" (even if they would not be "necessary", at least in a free society, which doesn't yet exist): but, first of all, they should be able to freely join the(ir) "profession" - which, sadly again, doesn't happen by any means, in today's context...

[ThinkInsane]

Originally posted by MacGorilla:
I am inclined to agree; like what the Netherlands does would be fine. Never happen in our puritan nation, however.

I guess you've never been to the part of our puritan nation called "Nevada" then.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
I guess you've never been to the part of our puritan nation called "Nevada" then.

LOL! Beat me to it! In Vegas myself right now- though not for any prostitution purposes. Actually it's not legal inside Vegas, but is legal a certain distance outside the city limits, and across the state.

[ThinkInsane]

Originally posted by Salah al-Din:
You make an interesting point but who should get to decide what is immoral?

Me

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Athens:
Prostitutes

This can be a touchy subject for some people. Me personally I see nothing wrong with it. In fact it is something that I think should be regulated, taxed and turned into a legitimate business.

The rest of the article can be found here http://brian.is.a.rootboy.net/articles.php

Feeling lonely? Got extra cash?

Really, I don't see the point, and find it a tad silly. There's so much free sex out there, why pay for it? Even when I wasn't involved with anyone in particular, all the way back to my teenage years, I never went more than a month without a shag (well, there was that 6 months where I conciously tried out celibacy, but it didn't pan out). I suppose I just find it difficult to imagine a man, or woman, who is so pitiful that they can't hook up with someone without putting up legal tender. If you have enough fortitude to solicit a professional, you have enough to ask a lady (or guy) if you can buy them a drink, to dance, or the tried and true "fancy a f**k?".

Now, I'm not saying prostitution should be illegal, it's just terribly sad and pathetic.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
Feeling lonely? Got extra cash?

Really, I don't see the point, and find it a tad silly. There's so much free sex out there, why pay for it?

Well said. But remember, there are some pretty pathetic people out there MacNStein.

[OldManMac]

Ain't that the truth.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
The people elect representatives who create laws based upon the people's wishes and determine what is moral for that particular country. At least in a democracy that's what happens.

I bet you were hoping for someone to say "God" weren't you? I suppose your reply would have been "Whose god?" But I could be wrong.

EDIT: ON TOPIC: I disagree with legalizing prostitution. It destroys lives. I would not want people soliciting sex in my town.

It destroys lives legal or illegal, but when its illegal there is more spread of STDs and more woman being hurt and a lost income source for the government.

[saab95]

Originally posted by Athens:
Prostitutes

This can be a touchy subject for some people. Me personally I see nothing wrong with it. In fact it is something that I think should be regulated, taxed and turned into a legitimate business.

The rest of the article can be found here http://brian.is.a.rootboy.net/articles.php

I believe it's already legal in Nevada.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Athens:
It destroys lives legal or illegal, but when its illegal there is more spread of STDs and more woman being hurt and a lost income source for the government.

And if legalized it will destroy more lives. And I am not talking about STDs.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
I guess you've never been to the part of our puritan nation called "Nevada" then.

Originally posted by saab95:
I believe it's already legal in Nevada.

[zigzag]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
I guess you've never been to the part of our puritan nation called "Nevada" then.

It's legal in, what, 2 counties in the middle of nowhere? Out of over 3,000? I'd say it's pretty reasonable to describe our nation as puritanical . . .

[ThinkInsane]

Originally posted by zigzag:
It's legal in, what, 2 counties in the middle of nowhere? Out of over 3,000? I'd say it's pretty reasonable to describe our nation as puritanical . . .

Actually, 2 seconds and a couple of key taps shows it's legal everywhere in the state with the exception of Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
And if legalized it will destroy more lives. And I am not talking about STDs.

I don't see how. People that make use of the services are going to legal or not.

[Athens]

No one is commenting on the second article I have in there about the War on Drugs. Canada is starting to move towards that direction already, specially here in Vancouver. I think for the general public that second article will have more impact on overall everything more so then hookers.

[zigzag]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
Actually, 2 seconds and a couple of key taps shows it's legal everywhere in the state with the exception of Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

Wow - you mean it's legal in Elko? How could I have overlooked such a leading indicator of American culture? This changes my whole perspective on the matter . . .

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Athens:
No one is commenting on the second article I have in there about the War on Drugs. Canada is starting to move towards that direction already, specially here in Vancouver. I think for the general public that second article will have more impact on overall everything more so then hookers.

I don't visit your site. It seems like spam the way you are always referring to your site. You want to up your hit counter, fine. But if you have something you want to say, say it here.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Athens:
I don't see how. People that make use of the services are going to legal or not.

If it is legalized, then people on the fence are going to think it's O.K. to do. They will be thinking, "Well, if the government made it legal, then I guess it can't be that bad."

I see it as a further eroding of a moral society to make sex and drugs legal.

The majority of the population doesn't want it or else it would already have happened.

Drug and sex addictions ruin enough lives.

[jbartone]

Originally posted by Athens:
No one is commenting on the second article I have in there about the War on Drugs. Canada is starting to move towards that direction already, specially here in Vancouver. I think for the general public that second article will have more impact on overall everything more so then hookers.

In the "example two" part, are you saying you want the government to use taxpayer money to bloody buy drugs and give them away to addicts!?

[Athens]

Originally posted by jbartone:
In the "example two" part, are you saying you want the government to use taxpayer money to bloody buy drugs and give them away to addicts!?

Pretty much ya

Taxpayer money can either go to policing costs and jail costs or towards the medical costs of a addiction. And of course private money from insurance and lost goods from the crimes that relate to the drugs would drop and the loss of life from victums that are robed and murdered to support the addictions.

[iDriveX]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
I largely don't care what other people do as long as it doesn't affect me.

But there's the tax question...
If it's to be legalised and taxed, how is the taxation to be sorted? Many people (myself included) wouldn't want their public services to be paid for using the taxation gained from what can be considered immoral gains. It's like blood money - it taints everyone in its path.

Address this issue and I don't have a problem with it.

My, and all tax dollars collected in the United States go to fund Capital Punishment. Even if you don't live in a state that has that form of punishment, there is still federal capital punishment. So at one point or another a portion of the taxes you pay have gone to put someone to death in the United States. So not only will some of the public works be funded by immoral gains, some of your money is going towards an immoral act.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally posted by zigzag:
Wow - you mean it's legal in Elko? How could I have overlooked such a leading indicator of American culture? This changes my whole perspective on the matter . . .

So hard up to get hookers, and such a strike-out with the opposite sex you can't drive a few miles outside of Vegas, Reno or Tahoe to get your kicks?

Like others, I personally can't understand how anyone could be so desperate and so unable to interact normally with the opposite sex to have to rely on prostitutes. And such sad desperation is nothing I'd in any way call 'culture'. Perhaps that's why the whole issue doesn’t exactly light any fire for me as some big 'crisis' that we need to legalize pronto.

But hey, as MacNStein and Kilbey pointed out, there are some pitiful guys out there that can't seem to get it any other way.

[Athens]

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
So hard up to get hookers, and such a strike-out with the opposite sex you can't drive a few miles outside of Vegas, Reno or Tahoe to get your kicks?

Like others, I personally can't understand how anyone could be so desperate and so unable to interact normally with the opposite sex to have to rely on prostitutes. And such sad desperation is nothing I'd in any way call 'culture'. Perhaps that's why the whole issue doesn’t exactly light any fire for me as some big 'crisis' that we need to legalize pronto.

But hey, as MacNStein and Kilbey pointed out, there are some pitiful guys out there that can't seem to get it any other way.

I work at a hotel in downtown Vancouver and I would guess that about 5 guests a night come back with hookers. And most of these guys are generally good looking guys too. My guess for some travellers a quick trick is all they are looking for while on the road. Others just enjoy the thrill of it and others are desperate. And some hookers are sooooo dam hot its hard to resist a night with them. But I guess the point is why should it be illegal, these woman are making a choice which is there god given right, I think laws should only be to protect people from others not themselves.

[iDriveX]

Ok since everyone is all weirded out by hookers. I'll be the first one to admit I've slept with one. It didn't have anything to do with me being retarded or desperate or pathetic. It had to do with the fact that I was in a strange city, didn't know anyone and was horny as hell. (Why didn't you just jack off to some Pay-Per-View porn then?) Cause I actually wanted to get laid. So instead of going down to a bar in the hotel and hoping to pick up someone, I called a professional, she came over, no strings attached, we did our thing, it was great, I paid her and the deal was done. I was happy, she was happy, and I went to bed.

[zigzag]

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
So hard up to get hookers, and such a strike-out with the opposite sex you can't drive a few miles outside of Vegas, Reno or Tahoe to get your kicks?

The issue I was trying to address was "puritanism." I don't think the fact that it's legal in a few outposts in Nevada refutes the contention that our country is puritanical about it.

Like others, I personally can't understand how anyone could be so desperate and so unable to interact normally with the opposite sex to have to rely on prostitutes. And such sad desperation is nothing I'd in any way call 'culture'. Perhaps that's why the whole issue doesn’t exactly light any fire for me as some big 'crisis' that we need to legalize pronto.

But hey, as MacNStein and Kilbey pointed out, there are some pitiful guys out there that can't seem to get it any other way.

I would bet that a solid percentage, perhaps even most, of the patrons are married men. When prostitution rings are busted, they invariably have to suppress the customer lists because so many prominent married men are on them. The guys in Heidi Fleiss' black book - say, Jack Nicholson - weren't merely pathetic, they just enjoyed an occasional shag with a professional (or, say, two professionals) with no strings attached.

I don't regard it as a cultural crisis either, but by the same token, I don't see why it alarms people the way it does. Regulate it and get it off the streets.

[OldManMac]

Legalize it, regulate it, and get it off the streets.

As to those who pass judgements on people they don't know, by calling them pathetic; there will always be those who make snap judgements on others when they know nothing about circumstances, and they will always make those judgements, based on their own insecurities.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by KarlG:
Legalize it, regulate it, and get it off the streets.

This is stupid talk. You think all the prostitutes will suddenly want to pay tax on their earnings?

[IceBreaker]

legalizing sin is wrong.

Just because people do it does not make it something that should be legal.

I'm not without sin, let me point that out, but in the end you do have to have standards and morals for society or else we will just end up being a sludgepit of immorality.

Thats just my own opinion.

[IceBreaker]

double post...

why can't I delete my unintended double posts? everytime I hit the delete now it never does it.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally posted by zigzag:
The issue I was trying to address was "puritanism." I don't think the fact that it's legal in a few outposts in Nevada refutes the contention that our country is puritanical about it.

Sorry, I think that’s silly. The country isn’t puritanical because a few strike-outs have to be inconvenienced a little by having to travel a little distance to hire someone in order to get laid. I’ve lived in this nation all my life, a good bit of it as a single guy, and know it’s just not all that hard to find unattached sex virtually anywhere you are if that’s your thing. (That is if you don’t have the appearance, and/or personality of Quasimodo).

Casting this as some issue of puritanism just strikes me as kind of a lost cause. It’s as though the argument is- hey, you’re trying to keep me from my only outlet to having sex! Well, first of all, I personally don’t really care that much if prostitution is legal or not, or if a person has to break the law, or be inconvenienced for two minutes to get it or not.

I suspect those that are so fired up to have it legal just want others to put a stamp of approval on it for them, and remove any negative social stigma, more than they really care about issues of it being ‘safer’ or ‘regulated’ or not. “Don’t judge me! Don’t call me sad and pathetic! This is my chosen lifestyle!” sort of thing. The subject has already devolved into this very thing.

Why does any guy care what another guy thinks is sad and pathetic? If anyone really wanted a test of patheticness, go up to a woman they’ve just met and tell HER about their need for prostitutes. Anyone think that’ll go over well? I think most guys have the inherent ability to know, that most women of any stripe wouldn’t exactly find that “Wonderful! Oh sure, you’re not a loser!” trait to be bragging about, whether it were legal or not. Is it because women are too puritanical? Or just that they can spot losers and creeps by their behavior?

I would bet that a solid percentage, perhaps even most, of the patrons are married men.

That somehow makes it any less pathetic to have to rely on prostitutes? How do you figure? I find that even more sad and loserly, and indicative of even bigger problems that just passing some law isn’t going to fix.

When prostitution rings are busted, they invariably have to suppress the customer lists because so many prominent married men are on them. The guys in Heidi Fleiss' black book - say, Jack Nicholson - weren't merely pathetic, they just enjoyed an occasional shag with a professional (or, say, two professionals) with no strings attached.

Again, I don’t really find that any less sad and pathetic. I guess because I personally have no illusions about freakin’ Hollywood types, celebrities or whoever somehow being more ‘together’ and less potential ‘losers’ than anyone else. A lot of them are just spoiled brats who of course would rather have everything the ‘easy’ way, rather than really work for it. (In the case of sex, that means have some actual social skills). Fast drugs, fast sex, fast addictions of every nature, fast marriages, fast divorces, and they usually have the wallets to support all the fast rehab later. Or they end up on "Where are they now?" Good for the celebs.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
This is stupid talk. You think all the prostitutes will suddenly want to pay tax on their earnings?

Oh yah, I'm sure they will want Uncle Sam taking 30% of their income

Legalizing prostitution legitimizes it as a profession. I don't want to live in a state that legitimizes a profession that creates a subculture. [For every one high end prostitute, I'll be more then happy to show you a few hundred low end ones]

Prostitution isn't like beer, tobacco and gambling IMHO.

[Zimphire]

Most of you couldn't get laid in a house full of blind prostitutes. I don't know why it concerns you.

[Simon X]

To quote a character in the film Reversal of Fortune about why Claus von Bulow visited a prostitute while married and with a misstress, "You know, there are some things even mistresses won't do."

Taxing it would also push the price up, and no one wants that, do they? Or could one claim the tax back?

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
Sorry, I think that’s silly. The country isn’t puritanical because a few strike-outs have to be inconvenienced a little by having to travel a little distance to hire someone in order to get laid. I’ve lived in this nation all my life, a good bit of it as a single guy, and know it’s just not all that hard to find unattached sex virtually anywhere you are if that’s your thing. (That is if you don’t have the appearance, and/or personality of Quasimodo).

Casting this as some issue of puritanism just strikes me as kind of a lost cause. It’s as though the argument is- hey, you’re trying to keep me from my only outlet to having sex! Well, first of all, I personally don’t really care that much if prostitution is legal or not, or if a person has to break the law, or be inconvenienced for two minutes to get it or not.

I suspect those that are so fired up to have it legal just want others to put a stamp of approval on it for them, and remove any negative social stigma, more than they really care about issues of it being ‘safer’ or ‘regulated’ or not. “Don’t judge me! Don’t call me sad and pathetic! This is my chosen lifestyle!” sort of thing. The subject has already devolved into this very thing.

Why does any guy care what another guy thinks is sad and pathetic? If anyone really wanted a test of patheticness, go up to a woman they’ve just met and tell HER about their need for prostitutes. Anyone think that’ll go over well? I think most guys have the inherent ability to know, that most women of any stripe wouldn’t exactly find that “Wonderful! Oh sure, you’re not a loser!” trait to be bragging about, whether it were legal or not. Is it because women are too puritanical? Or just that they can spot losers and creeps by their behavior?

That somehow makes it any less pathetic to have to rely on prostitutes? How do you figure? I find that even more sad and loserly, and indicative of even bigger problems that just passing some law isn’t going to fix.

Again, I don’t really find that any less sad and pathetic. I guess because I personally have no illusions about freakin’ Hollywood types, celebrities or whoever somehow being more ‘together’ and less potential ‘losers’ than anyone else. A lot of them are just spoiled brats who of course would rather have everything the ‘easy’ way, rather than really work for it. (In the case of sex, that means have some actual social skills). Fast drugs, fast sex, fast addictions of every nature, fast marriages, fast divorces, and they usually have the wallets to support all the fast rehab later. Or they end up on "Where are they now?" Good for the celebs.

An excellent well thought out post. I agree with 99% of what you wrote.

And I quoted it in it's entirety to emphasize the point.

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by iDriveX:
Ok since everyone is all weirded out by hookers. I'll be the first one to admit I've slept with one. It didn't have anything to do with me being retarded or desperate or pathetic. It had to do with the fact that I was in a strange city, didn't know anyone and was horny as hell. (Why didn't you just jack off to some Pay-Per-View porn then?) Cause I actually wanted to get laid. So instead of going down to a bar in the hotel and hoping to pick up someone, I called a professional, she came over, no strings attached, we did our thing, it was great, I paid her and the deal was done. I was happy, she was happy, and I went to bed.

A couple points here.

There was only one time that I've been on a trip (alone) and really wanted sex, it was Amsterdam several years ago. It's funny, in a city known for it's prostitution, I found free sex in a hash bar. It was a girl from Belgium who was there on holiday. I just said "hi", bought us a few drinks, we went dancing, had some laughs, and then went to my hotel for a few hours of intimacy (yes, we used condoms). Well, I suppose it wasn't exactly "free", I did pay about $50 for the drinks and entertainment (and $20 for the subsequent breakfast). But, it was much more exciting (and cheaper) than paying 200-$400 for an hour with a bored and "business-like" pro, and there still weren't any strings attached.

Now, I'm not saying (and have never said) that buying sex is "bad", or that it should be illegal, but I am wondering about the sad social/emotional state of individuals who require such services when free sex is so easily available. People out there are desperate to connect with someone, if you simply give them a smile and a friendly word, you'd have to beat them away with a stick.

As to those who pass judgements on people they don't know, by calling them pathetic; there will always be those who make snap judgements on others when they know nothing about circumstances, and they will always make those judgements, based on their own insecurities.

We all pass judgement. If we didn't, we wouldn't be able to make conscious decisions. Case in point, you're "passing judgement" on others by calling them insecure. If we could all just admit that everyone is critical of others, we may actually be able to come to a mutual understanding, even if we don't agree on the issues.

[zigzag]

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
Sorry, I think that’s silly. The country isn’t puritanical because a few strike-outs have to be inconvenienced a little by having to travel a little distance to hire someone in order to get laid. I’ve lived in this nation all my life, a good bit of it as a single guy, and know it’s just not all that hard to find unattached sex virtually anywhere you are if that’s your thing. (That is if you don’t have the appearance, and/or personality of Quasimodo).

Casting this as some issue of puritanism just strikes me as kind of a lost cause. It’s as though the argument is- hey, you’re trying to keep me from my only outlet to having sex! Well, first of all, I personally don’t really care that much if prostitution is legal or not, or if a person has to break the law, or be inconvenienced for two minutes to get it or not.

I suspect those that are so fired up to have it legal just want others to put a stamp of approval on it for them, and remove any negative social stigma, more than they really care about issues of it being ‘safer’ or ‘regulated’ or not. “Don’t judge me! Don’t call me sad and pathetic! This is my chosen lifestyle!” sort of thing. The subject has already devolved into this very thing.

Why does any guy care what another guy thinks is sad and pathetic? If anyone really wanted a test of patheticness, go up to a woman they’ve just met and tell HER about their need for prostitutes. Anyone think that’ll go over well? I think most guys have the inherent ability to know, that most women of any stripe wouldn’t exactly find that “Wonderful! Oh sure, you’re not a loser!” trait to be bragging about, whether it were legal or not. Is it because women are too puritanical? Or just that they can spot losers and creeps by their behavior?

That somehow makes it any less pathetic to have to rely on prostitutes? How do you figure? I find that even more sad and loserly, and indicative of even bigger problems that just passing some law isn’t going to fix.

Again, I don’t really find that any less sad and pathetic. I guess because I personally have no illusions about freakin’ Hollywood types, celebrities or whoever somehow being more ‘together’ and less potential ‘losers’ than anyone else. A lot of them are just spoiled brats who of course would rather have everything the ‘easy’ way, rather than really work for it. (In the case of sex, that means have some actual social skills). Fast drugs, fast sex, fast addictions of every nature, fast marriages, fast divorces, and they usually have the wallets to support all the fast rehab later. Or they end up on "Where are they now?" Good for the celebs.

It was posited that only losers who can't get sex any other way patronize prostitutes. I refuted that, not because I care about Hollywood celebrities, but because it was simply incorrect. Jack Nicholson is merely a prominent example - I can say from personal knowledge that conservative business and political leaders also do it, so you can spare us the usual "I hate liberal Hollywood types" rant.

I never said I was trying to fix anyone's emotional problems by making it legal, nor am I even trying to endorse the practice - I simply think it's counter-productive to criminalize it. That you could concoct a long-winded rant about liberal Hollywood types from that is rather remarkable.

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by Athens:
But I guess the point is why should it be illegal, these woman are making a choice which is there god given right, I think laws should only be to protect people from others not themselves.

As long as it is their choice, I would agree to that.

Nevertheless, in places where there is no opportunity to make a lot of money, unless you'd want to content yourself with waitressing wages...

There is also the greed issue; fast money, high wages makes a girl look quite sharp by magazine cover standards. That type of high life comes at a price, too often to their disadvantage. Pimps come in and take "care" of these women through their debts (related to drugs, often) and that makes an unsafe mix to the woman.

As Laurie Anderson said in one of her shows, why stop prostitution if it feeds the children of the prostitute? Misery comes by and some women, following bad choices have to live with tough consequences, hopeless.

I don't mind that it is legalized, but we need to ask ourselves if we cannot do something better for these women before they start to sell their bodies for sex. Then we can feel "ok" that it really is their choice to do so.

In the end, it is also our choice, because there is offer and demand.

By the way, I wonder how many women replied in this thread. We could quite a different (and welcome) point of view on this issue.

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by zigzag:
I never said I was trying to fix anyone's emotional problems by making it legal, nor am I even trying to endorse the practice - I simply think it's counter-productive to criminalize it. That you could concoct a long-winded rant about liberal Hollywood types from that is rather remarkable.

You have an interesting perspective. I only saw a small paragraph that made reference to "hollywood types", but you saw "a long-winded rant", and you added "liberal" to it... why is that? Last time I checked, there were some conservatives who support legalized prostitution (Jim Gibbons [R], Lisa Murkowski [R]), and some liberals who don't (Joe Lieberman [D], Jim Cooper [D]). That's just a couple, but there are hordes of other examples.

You're using misdirection and trying to turn a lifestyle discussion into a political debate, and coming from you, I don't find that "remarkable", just typical.

[Kilbey]

This thread has reminded me of an old joke:

A man walks into a bar, meets a woman, and asks if he can buy her a drink.

She says "Sure."

He then asks her if she'll sleep with him for a million dollars.

She gets all excited and says "Yes!"

He then asks her "Well, how about $100?"

She slaps him and says "What kind of woman do you think I am?"

His reply is "We already know what kind of woman you are now we're just haggling on a price."

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
This thread has reminded me of an old joke

IIRC, that was a Winston Churchill quote.