Prostitution

[Lynden1000]

As long as it involves consenting adults, I see no reason for it to be illegal, regardless of what I might think about it personally.

 

[Eudaimonist]

As long as it involves consenting adults, I see no reason for it to be illegal, regardless of what I might think about it personally.

Yes, I have to agree with that.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[PassionFruit]

I've wondered about this myself. However, I believe that there are issues involved when it comes to sex worker rights. I think it's important to think about how sex workers are treated within these industries. If prostitution were legal, how can we make sure sex workers aren't being exploited by their pimps? Sometimes I think when the discussion of legalization of prostitution comes up, many people never seem to questions these aspects.

 

[Domenico]

Prostitution is legal here, and by and large it has improved safety for prostitutes, especially those who are underage. It means that prostitues can complain of being raped and beaten (which happens distressingly often) and they are more likely to work in safe brothels than out on the street.

It should be noted that it hasnt solved all the problems inherant in prostitution - drug use is rampant, and with increased visibility of prostitutes means crazy people who have real problems with prostitution have committed some acts of real violence against them. (There have been at least two instances of protitutes being run over by cars as they solicited on the footpath.)

 

[PassionFruit]

Prostitution is legal here, and by and large it has improved safety for prostitutes, especially those who are underage. It means that prostitues can complain of being raped and beaten (which happens distressingly often) and they are more likely to work in safe brothels than out on the street.

It should be noted that it hasnt solved all the problems inherant in prostitution - drug use is rampant, and with increased visibility of prostitutes means crazy people who have real problems with prostitution have committed some acts of real violence against them. (There have been at least two instances of protitutes being run over by cars as they solicited on the footpath.)

Yeah, that's what I'm concerned about. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that when it comes to issues like this, I don't usually hear much of an uproar about how to prevent these things from occurring. Is it because people just think that "oh their sex workers, that comes with the territory, they went into the business, they don't deserve rights, etc."

 

[Velo Princesse]

I would be in favor of legalizing prostitution if for no other reason than to protect the prostitutes from abusive johns and violent pimps.

 

[scjohnson1973]

I think there is enough STD's out there. I think it would only get worse especially for the younger generation.

 

[Velo Princesse]

I think there is enough STD's out there. I think it would only get worse especially for the younger generation.

I disagree. If prostitution were legal, like in Nevada, there would be legal establishments that would have to maintain licenses and health standards just like any other business. In Nevada, for example, the prostitutes have to be tested every x-amount of months for STDs to ensure that they are not spreading diseases.

From Wikipedia:

Since 1986, when mandatory testing began, not a single brothel prostitute has ever tested positive for HIV. The mandatory condom law was passed in 1988. A study conducted in 1995 in two brothels found that condom use in the brothels was consistent and sexually transmitted diseases were accordingly absent.

 

[sbvera13]

I've wondered about this myself. However, I believe that there are issues involved when it comes to sex worker rights. I think it's important to think about how sex workers are treated within these industries. If prostitution were legal, how can we make sure sex workers aren't being exploited by their pimps? Sometimes I think when the discussion of legalization of prostitution comes up, many people never seem to questions these aspects.

That's where you're dead wrong. How can we make sure sex workers are not exploited? By making it legal so they have the protection of the law. It's the illegality of prostition that allows for the very exploitation that you describe. Penn & Teller did an excellent episode on this subject, interviewing actual workers from those few Nevada areas that prostitution is legal. Guess what they found?

I couldn't find any videos online from the episode but here is the official site. Link Warning: Language

http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/prevepisodes.do?episodeid=s4/prostitution

Season 4, Episode 2: Prostitution

Everyone knows that prostitution is practiced throughout the land. Where it is legal - in only a few Nevada counties, prostitution is vigorously regulated and monitored by the State of Nevada Health Department. The women submit to compulsory medical tests for STDs. No one is forced to work as a prostitute. Pimps don't exist. HIV has never been detected. The women earn regular paychecks and tips. Some even get vacation and sick days. And they pay taxes! It's BULL**** that it's illegal for two consenting adults to have sex with each other!

Instead of not discussing these aspects, as you say, it is in fact these very issues that make us WANT it legalized; to protect those people that practice it. I don't care if it's moral or not, the plain fact it always has existed and always will, and it's our duty to show compassion to those people (whether we agree with them or not) by giving them every possible protection under the law. Love thy neighbor; even if you are Christian and feel that prostitution is immoral it is your divine commandment to show compassion for the people that practice it. Keeping it illegal only aids in the evil and exploitation, in the same way keeping drugs illegal does nothing but make criminals rich.

 

[garrett1415]

I don't think prostitution should be illegal. If anything legalized prostitution would reduce rape cases.

 

[Velo Princesse]

I don't think prostitution should be illegal. If anything legalized prostitution would reduce rape cases.

Do you think? I was under the impression that rape isn't really about sex. Rather, it is about power.

 

[RavenPoe]

If it were legalized, it would be far easier to regulate condom use and prevent STDs.

 

[Washington]

I am in favor of legalizing and regulating prostitution

I would like to hear other people's input on the idea of legalizing prostitution or why it should be kept criminal.

Count me in.

 

[gwenmead]

Legalize and regulate. (I'm really glad someone mentioned Penn & Teller's show on the subject - I highly recommend a viewing of it.) Let it be a legal transaction between consenting adults, subject to regular licensing with health requirements (STD checks, mainly), and taxed like any other income.

I sure have a few inconsiderate jerks in my own past. I would love to have been able to bill them for services rendered. I'd love to be able to see adults (men or women) able to sell their sexual services without fear of prosecution, if they so wished.

 

[Velo Princesse]

I sure have a few inconsiderate jerks in my own past. I would love to have been able to bill them for services rendered.

I think I know some of those guys! I mean, we should get SOMETHING out of it, right?!?! LOL

 

[quatona]

I don't think prostitution should be illegal. If anything legalized prostitution would reduce rape cases.

Please explain.

 

[cantata]

Do you think? I was under the impression that rape isn't really about sex. Rather, it is about power.

This is correct, but it would be easier for prostitutes to press rape charges if their activities were above the law. It would also be easier to protect them from dangerous clients if they could form unions, have shares in their own brothels &c.

 

[trunks2k]

This is correct, but it would be easier for prostitutes to press rape charges if their activities were above the law. It would also be easier to protect them from dangerous clients if they could form unions, have shares in their own brothels &c.

<Hysteria>

But if prostitutes are more easily able to report rape, then that means rapists will chose other targets more vulnerable than prostitutes, like our children! WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!!!!!!!

</Hysteria>

 

[cantata]

<Hysteria>

But if prostitutes are more easily able to report rape, then that means rapists will chose other targets more vulnerable than prostitutes, like our children! WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!!!!!!!

</Hysteria>

*snort*

 

[Verv]

In South Korea prostitution is de facto legal.

The notion of protecting prostitutes is kind of funny to me.

In my experience, if you protect them from disease and violent attackers you are still missing something...

In a nation with legalized prostitution the quickest thing in the world that strips a woman of her dignity is putting her in a position where being a prostitute is a viable option.

Impoverished girls who do not do well in school, to get a better life, selling their body is probably one of the saddest things in the world.

Prostitution is wrong for the simple reason that it is people monetizing their animal urges and profiting off of human lust. In the end, both parties are indefinitely harmed.

Prostitution destroys marriages; prostitution destroys dignity; prostitution lessens the worth of love. Prostitution becomes a disease to men and to women.

Of course, I do not believe in legislating morality in the United States. I do not legislate my personal morality.

However, in south Korea it should be categorically outlawed.

When selling your body becomes a viable option for a woman laid off from work and in a desperate monetary bind we've set our society up for failure. I dislike welfare but I like it more than prostitution.

I like it more than young, unmarried women from poor families with little further education being forced by economic destitution into this terrible lifestyle.