Poll: Prostitution

[HazukiHawkins]

We were debating this issue at schoool, and I thought it would make an interesting topic.
So, I would like to know what my fellow Escapists think of the whole issue.

Do you think that legalising prostitution would be a helpful way of getting rid of the criminal element? If not, why?

Also, what do you morally think of the whole prostitution concept?

The question in my mind is mainly whether it's reasonable to expect the customers of a brothel to treat the prostitutes with respect and, preferably, some degree of affection; also, should the prostitute be able to decline a customer at their discretion? Should there be a system for reporting bad customers who belittle, abuse or otherwise mistreat the prostitutes? If so, who manages and moderates this system?

I believe sex is best with love, but for a lot of people, I think sex with affection would work well enough while they're still looking for the right person. This however raises another question; would some people simply settle for sex with affection at a brothel every now and then, losing some of the spurring to go out and find their ideal partner and start a family? If so, would that be a bad thing, or could it be that some people would be better off not starting families, thereby reducing the earth's population excess without the need for sterilization, war, etc.?

The benefit of legalizing it would be that it could be cleaned up; it wouldn't have to be such a dirty, degrading thing... besides, practically every human being has sexual urges, and it seems unlikely that prostitution will ever go away... with that in mind, cleaning it up and instituting protective policies for the workers as well as rules for the clients may be the best any of us can hope to do in the issue.

In any case, I agree wholeheartedly that the topic is quite interesting.

 

[Ignignoct]

Do you think that legalising prostitution would be a helpful way of getting rid of the criminal element?

By a similar logic, if we legalised murder, then it would stop it being a crime.

Now, I'm not saying that murder and prostitution are are in the same league as each other, but I really don't believe that we should be encouraging it.

Murder has a victim. Legalized, regulated prostitution does not.

Good day, sir.

 

[Shycte]

Legalise it but "pimping" should be illegal.

That way prostiutes can go to the police if some douche tries to be there pimp and they won't have to fear getting in to problems with the law.

 

[Kogarian]

Prostitution should be legal; pimping should not.

I have no problem with it if the woman chooses to become a prostitute, but if someone else forces her into it, that's just... sick. It's third-party rape, in a way, if that makes any sense at all.

That was a good post. Not too many people think of it that way.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

EDIT: I take no responsibility for how much sense my argument makes - I never claimed it would be logical to anyone except myself.

Good, cos it didn't.

I didn't really expect it to.
It basically boils down to the fact that I hold whores in nothing but contempt and see them as less than human.
I'm not sure why - I wasn't raised that way, so I can only assume it's my nature.
Also, neat avatar.

I really can't bring myself to hate the whores. Now the pimps, don't get me started on the pimps.
They're basically slave traders, yet they're glorified as role models by all the gangsta rappers.

Thank you for the avatar comment, you're the second person today.

 

[Rascarin]

Do you think that legalising prostitution would be a helpful way of getting rid of the criminal element?

By a similar logic, if we legalised murder, then it would stop it being a crime.

Now, I'm not saying that murder and prostitution are are in the same league as each other, but I really don't believe that we should be encouraging it.

Murder has a victim. Legalized, regulated prostitution does not.

Good day, sir.

That's madam, thank you very much.

Besides, how the hell do you regulate prostitution? And you really think that a (example) 16 year old girl selling herself, risking pregnancy, STD's and goodness knows what isn't a victim? Of herself, if nobody else.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

Prostitution should be legal; pimping should not.

I have no problem with it if the woman chooses to become a prostitute, but if someone else forces her into it, that's just... sick. It's third-party rape, in a way, if that makes any sense at all.

That was a good post. Not too many people think of it that way.

Apparently 70% of the people on this thread think of it that way so...

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

Besides, how the hell do you regulate prostitution? And you really think that a (example) 16 year old girl selling herself, risking pregnancy, STD's and goodness knows what isn't a victim? Of herself, if nobody else.

It's already been done in loads of places, Germany, the Netherlands and Nevada to name a few.
And you can avoid STDs through routine health check ups and condom usage.

 

[HazukiHawkins]

Do you think that legalising prostitution would be a helpful way of getting rid of the criminal element?

By a similar logic, if we legalised murder, then it would stop it being a crime.

Now, I'm not saying that murder and prostitution are are in the same league as each other, but I really don't believe that we should be encouraging it.

Murder has a victim. Legalized, regulated prostitution does not.

Good day, sir.

Exactly. If prostitution must exist, and I doubt it could ever be persuaded to do otherwise, then it should at least be a bona fide profession with at least decent working conditions, not a desperate clandestine deal that ends up costing the prostitute their freedom, dignity and self-respect, to name but a few things.

 

[Ignignoct]

Do you think that legalising prostitution would be a helpful way of getting rid of the criminal element?

By a similar logic, if we legalised murder, then it would stop it being a crime.

Now, I'm not saying that murder and prostitution are are in the same league as each other, but I really don't believe that we should be encouraging it.

Murder has a victim. Legalized, regulated prostitution does not.

Good day, sir.

That's madam, thank you very much.

Besides, how the hell do you regulate prostitution? And you really think that a (example) 16 year old girl selling herself, risking pregnancy, STD's and goodness knows what isn't a victim? Of herself, if nobody else.

*clap-clap*

Pay attention to the conversation!

We're talking the Nevada brothel business model. Your argument died a few pages back.

 

[Taniquel]

Legalize it, let them buy a business license like every other business, and pay taxes. Then they would have all the physical protection (police) of any other business, which they should have anyway as human beings. They could get health insurance and set up store fronts. And they can be regulated by the HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Yes, exactally what I was going to say! By making it illegal, it is not stopping it, just making it more dangerous to those who are doing it. If we legalize it, then it can be regulated and taxed. And for those who think that legalizing it would be a moral downgrade to society; just because it is legal, doesn't mean you have to do it. People choose not to smoke cigarettes, even though it is legal.

 

[BrandMan211]

BESIDES, WE HAVE PORN. BE HAPPY, YES?

This is where I see a reason why it should be legalized. In porn, a woman can be paid to have sex on camera. So is the moral of the story that having sex for money is immoral if you're not being video taped doing it? I don't see any logic in that.

 

[Agayek]

That's madam, thank you very much.

Besides, how the hell do you regulate prostitution? And you really think that a (example) 16 year old girl selling herself, risking pregnancy, STD's and goodness knows what isn't a victim? Of herself, if nobody else.

The government does not exist to protect people from themselves. Hopefully more people will realize this soon and we can begin the process of breeding out the stupid from the human race.

If said 16 year old girl wants to be there and sell her body, no one (except her parents) has the right to say otherwise. Period. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you have the right or privilege to ban it.

 

[ajp1991105]

Id say we should legalize it and regulate it. Keep these girls clean. I mean hey maybe we could even have prostitute competitions to see whose the best whore. I think it'd make for some great television. I mean it would definately be more entertaining than Rock of love bus or as I call it, Whores on a bus.

 

[HazukiHawkins]

And you really think that a (example) 16 year old girl selling herself, risking pregnancy, STD's and goodness knows what isn't a victim? Of herself, if nobody else.

She's NOT "selling herself", she's selling companionship and intimate access to her body. Her heart and soul do not belong to the person she's sharing a bed with, and neither does her mind; but then, I don't suppose people who use expressions like that think much of a prostitute's heart, soul or mind, anyway...?

Besides, I'm pretty sure that a legalized brothel would require its prospective employees to have IDs, maybe have the employment interviews conducted by someone who could tell if a girl is really 16 and is using a fake one? Yes, I find that easy enough to imagine.

 

[BlackJack47]

Legalization means commercial use and also government controlled sex-for-hire, I'm not sure if that's what people who visit prostitutes want...do they just want sex or do they want the whole mental concept of having illegal sex.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

And you really think that a (example) 16 year old girl selling herself, risking pregnancy, STD's and goodness knows what isn't a victim? Of herself, if nobody else.

She's NOT "selling herself", she's selling companionship and intimate access to her body. Her heart and soul do not belong to the person she's sharing a bed with, and neither does her mind; but then, I don't suppose people who use expressions like that think much of a prostitute's heart, soul or mind, anyway...?

Besides, I'm pretty sure that a legalized brothel would require its prospective employees to have IDs, maybe have the employment interviews conducted by someone who could tell if a girl is really 16 and is using a fake one? Yes, I find that easy enough to imagine.

16 seems a bit too low for me.

 

[hippo24]

Being a pimp should be illegal.
Prostitution should be illegal if they're forced to do it, if it's their choice it should be allowed.

If they have STDS, then the guy should be smart enough to ask and make a rational decision.

What kind of idiot would have unprotected sex with a hooker anyway?

Condoms don't always protect against STDs.

Condoms don't protect the wearer fully in any scenario, it does not protect against genital ulcer diseases, only protects against certain HPVs effectively, and doesn't even offer full protection for sexual secretions.
They also do not protect against even a small percentage of common comunicable diseases which are risks to anyone that even touches other people, let alone has sex with them.
Condoms also don't protect against anything 5% of the time anyway because they often times fail even if used correctly and before expiration, so there really is no way to be fully protected.
Thats why on condom wrappers it says:

"latex condoms may reduce, but does not eliminate, the risk of pregnancy and the risk of catching or spreading HIV"

Condoms are for reducing the chances, not eliminating them

Also if were talking about people who are getting paid to have sex, then I think its safe to say their sex acts might involve more then just strictly vaginal intercourse with protection. So if they participate in something like anal sex, fellatio, cunillings, or any other alternative, then the risk only increases.