So I went to a strip club the other day...

[Aerodyamic]

Myself and several friends were (ad still are, as far as I know) considered regulars at a local peeler-joint. We never paid cover, got staff prices on booze, and generally had a good time. We never acted like assholes to the girls, never treated them like they were hookers, and realized that those girls aren't just piece of meat on sale. I don't think any of us ever 'expected' any of the strippers to go home with us, so maybe we were flagged as 'safe'.

I don't go regularly anymore, but that's largely because I have more pressing financial concerns, currently.

 

[Chester41585]

I've been to strip clubs. I enjoy them!

 

[Dogstile]

Aw cute! Someone hasn't learned about the powerful influence of money in the free market! /tickle

Gee thanks, Hubert.
I still fail to see how the fact that more money equals more money renders my point invalid.

Nobody is forcing anyone to become strippers. From my own experience, it's women and men who are quite narcissistic, or getting there, who love the way they look and the attention they get from it.

Strippers make $50,000 a year almost as a baseline. A full-time minimum wage job pays ~$15,000 a year. Even stepping up from the minimum wage, with some type of non-technical four year degree, you'll be hard pressed to find a job with a starting annual salary in excess of $30,000.

If you don't recognize the enormous financial pressure at work here, I don't know what to tell you.

Factor in young children or college tuition, and sometimes these women don't have much of a choice; the difference in quality of life is so extreme that it can easily corrode, override, or otherwise influence their personal morals. These pressures act on an almost biological level, preying on desires for security and even our base survival instinct.

There are definitely women who love to strip and wouldn't do anything else for a living. There are far more who entered the profession, and remain there, for purely financial reasons. They would do anything else if they could, but they put on a smile and try to convince themselves that it's good work because it's the extreme path of least resistance - as society at large has defined things.

Children or college tuition? I'd say they've made their choice by having kids. If they had kids, they made there own bed and they can lay in it.

Besides, I know just as many people who work in the fast food industry and HATE it but they stay for the money. Is that any different?

 

[manic_depressive13]

The topic does have an unnecessarily harsh put down of people who don't approve (both the extreme cases and the general uncomfortable-ness response) or side with the opening post. Some people like the atmosphere, some don't and some object to the whole idea at all. I've hated similar scenarios when I've felt uneasy about a scenario in real life, only to have my objections quashed under a hoard of back slaps and grins that seem to say "Don't ruin our fun too, just go along with the rest of us"

But we've all an opinion that should be respected, so lets go easy on those who get offended by it. It's only how they honestly feel about the subject at hand here, which I find is a tad too much info anyway in the general sense, even though on the plus side it has bought up a slightly interest morality debate in some areas.
You make a post like this and you will have both sides of the fence in equal measure. Be prepared for that in future ^_-

Fair enough. I just feel that topics like this should be handled with a certain sensitivity, and I feel the OP lacked that. Therefore, I tend to sympathise with those who were offended by it, even if I don't necessarily agree with them.

 

[The Warden]

That's cool, but the part about being tied up and ice cubes was kind of disturbing.

 

[Snowalker]

The way I see this is, if the woman is willing to get up there and strip naked and make money, I'm not going to feel sorry for her. Its her choice, no need in feeling bad for some one who has made their mind up. This is silly saying that this is objectifying women, its not like the women are forced in anyway to do this.

 

[Mr.Petey]

The topic does have an unnecessarily harsh put down of people who don't approve (both the extreme cases and the general uncomfortable-ness response) or side with the opening post. Some people like the atmosphere, some don't and some object to the whole idea at all. I've hated similar scenarios when I've felt uneasy about a scenario in real life, only to have my objections quashed under a hoard of back slaps and grins that seem to say "Don't ruin our fun too, just go along with the rest of us"

But we've all an opinion that should be respected, so lets go easy on those who get offended by it. It's only how they honestly feel about the subject at hand here, which I find is a tad too much info anyway in the general sense, even though on the plus side it has bought up a slightly interest morality debate in some areas.
You make a post like this and you will have both sides of the fence in equal measure. Be prepared for that in future ^_-

Fair enough. I just feel that topics like this should be handled with a certain sensitivity, and I feel the OP lacked that. Therefore, I tend to sympathise with those who were offended by it, even if I don't necessarily agree with them.

Oh nah same here precisely, sorry if my grammar got a lil' muddled. I meant to say I completely agree with every aspect you said too, especially that quoted part...mebbe I should stuck with that heh *facepalm*

 

[Nerdygamer89]

Some pretty maladjusted people in this thread. If the strippers were kidnapped and forced to get naked at knifepoint, sure - objectification. If they are there voluntarily and making a salary that puts many business class salaries to shame? Not objectification. In fact, that's more like empowerment in my mind. Stop being brainwashed by the feminazis into believing that women are frail little flowers that must be protected from everything - they are capable human beings just like any man, and I bet you don't complain about male strip clubs, now do you? THAT is real feminism, and true equality, my friends.

All that being said, I wouldn't go to a strip club alone, but with friends? Sure.

 

[Jeronus]

I want to go, but I hear it is expensive. I am extremely cheap and would probably get kicked out for looking too long. I still want to go when I have enough money to blow.

 

[Jeronus]

It was my 22nd bday and my friend thought they would take me to a strip club. It was my first time in a strip club... and it was amazing!

It was just so much fun, what a laugh we had indeed.

There was also a little surprise for me as well because it was my birthday...I was called on stage, tied up & blindfolded, loads of ice was then put down my pants and then my ass was caned and signed with a permanent marker

Anyway, what a laugh that was...

Would you/have you been to a strip club?

How much did you spend on that trip and how long did you stay? I have never been and these questions bug me all the time.

 

[Mucinex-D]

Personally I think its disgusting, and I find the fact that you're bragging about it even more disgusting

Sorry i guess we know how to have fun.

Do you think the strippers were having 'fun'? Do you think they feel good about themselves? I mean hey, if you have fun by demeaning and objectifying woman then well theres not much I can say. But really, next time think about how your actions make others feel.

Well they don't have to work there.. I would become a male stripper just so I can feel pretty, and I wouldn't feel demeaned at all. To each his/her own opinion though, you have yours and I respect that.

OT: I have never been to one and I doubt I ever will, it's not a moral thing I just don't see the point... hookers are much cheaper...
I kid.

 

[Meoith]

I never bothered, because I didn't feel it was worth the money.I never bothered, because I didn't feel it was worth the money.

Ditto

Its only worth it if ones really desperate or a chump .

Giving the females money for them to like you is bit of a blow to ones self worth as far as im concerned, one gets more of buzz out of life..real life that is not bs stip clubs, if a female is actually into you because she is really crazy about you(not what your wallet contains which is fn pathetic).

 

[Zero-Vash]

I would most likely go just to say I have been to one. Had some friends try to get me to go once but I had a girlfriend at the time so I just hung out with her so I could do more than just look ;-)

 

[Vrex360]

I did. It was referred to as a 'gentleman's club' but it was the same basic thing. I was going there for a Bachelor party and I had a fun night given that it was my first time going to places like that. It's wierd though because it wasn't how I pictured it, the women weren't depressed drug addicts, rather they were charming and polite and generally the whole theme of the place wasn't overly sleazy though a bit of sleaze was still present.

Still, I don't make a habit of it, I've gone to a strip club a grand total of twice in my life, but as it stands it's not as bad as people claim it to be.

 

[Nylarathotep]

I never bothered, because I didn't feel it was worth the money.I never bothered, because I didn't feel it was worth the money.

Ditto

Its only worth it if ones really desperate or a chump .

Giving the females money for them to like you is bit of a blow to ones self worth as far as im concerned, one gets more of buzz out of life..real life that is not bs stip clubs, if a female is actually into you because she is really crazy about you(not what your wallet contains which is fn pathetic).

Wow. The maturity and world-weariness expressed in that post was staggering- displaying all the understanding of how strip clubs work with minimal excess waffling.

Condensed, saturated sarcasm aside- it's a business transaction, not some kind of one-sided fantasy love-scandal.

 

[SturmDolch]

I want to go just to see what it's like. I mean, if I ever want to write a story or something and I need a strip club in it, I won't have a clue what to right about except what I've seen in movies.

Of course, all of my friends are too timid to go, and what in the world would I tell my parents I'm doing anyways? "Mom, I'm going to a club." "What's it called?" "BOOTYLICIOUS!"

I think I'll just end up going with my girlfriend when I've moved out and all. As I said, just to see what it's like. I'm curious.

 

[Dogstile]

I never bothered, because I didn't feel it was worth the money.I never bothered, because I didn't feel it was worth the money.

Ditto

Its only worth it if ones really desperate or a chump .

Giving the females money for them to like you is bit of a blow to ones self worth as far as im concerned, one gets more of buzz out of life..real life that is not bs stip clubs, if a female is actually into you because she is really crazy about you(not what your wallet contains which is fn pathetic).

You're assuming strip clubs are not real life? Good one, you're not being judgemental at all.

 

[Tribalism]

Ignoring a handful of posters who need to re-assess their views on certain aspects in life, this thread has had quite a controlled discussion about the industry. Personally, I've never been to one (and equally, it's not my sort of scene since I'm very shy about that sort of stuff) but I can't demonise people for wanting to go to or frequenting strip clubs. I imagine for the right sort of person, be it customer or stripper, a night there can be very enjoyable and a good way to spend/earn cash, respectively. I don't envy nor resent you, OP. If you enjoyed yourself, then that's all that matters (and without trying to sound like a "white knight" of sorts, people should accept this and back off with claims that he's destroying women's image/pride) since it was your birthday you were celebrating. If strip clubs really were something incredibly shameful or abusive to women, they would either have no customers or be shut down for the own good of the women involved.

 

[Requx]

I would totally do it if its fun. Morales are just a way to make other people not do something fun so your no the only one left out.

 

[AgentNein]

Yeah, no. I don't go to strip clubs cuz strip clubs tend to be pretty gross. And the people who attend them tend to be pretty gross. Yes I'm passing judgment here, get over it, because that's something that tends to happen when you express your views to others.

I've got no hangups with sex or nudity, they're actually pretty neat. I do feel however that in a society that still struggles with serious issues of sexism, places that promote the objectification of women are sort of an issue. I can't get behind them on an ethical level.

I don't believe they should be outlawed, nothing of the sort. In a capitalist society a woman, or man should be allowed to do whatever the hell they want with their bodies that's not causing harm to another unwitting person. I just wouldn't be caught dead in one of those places.