Do you have an opinion on prostitution?

Dumb pothead said:
I wouldnt want my sister/mother/girlfriend/friend to become coal miners either.
But you'd consider it a better and an "honest" work.
Dumb pothead said:
Not wanting to marry a prostitute has nothing to do with thinking it should be legal or not.
That's your choice, but I "suspect" it has something to do with men not wanting their women having had more "experiences" than them.

Look, most prostitutes are poor creatures: they've been treated so
badly, that you'd hardly imagine; that's why some/many of them are on drugs. The highest percentage among them(at least 90-95%), was forced into prostitution and guess at what age....

Assuming you had a cousin, that had all that happened to her, wouldn't you wanted for her to "get out" and find somebody to love her? Would you reject that option for her?

I'm not saying that I'd be fascinating for having a wife that went through prostitution, but, neither can I reject a small posibility for that to happen; it's against the way I think.
 
IglooDude said:
Would either of you (Akka or DP) say there's a difference between prostitution and exotic dancing (a.k.a. stripping)? And would either of you marry a stripper?
Well, yes, I see a difference, though I also see a kind of connection.

And I think I could marry a stripper. But she would probably have to stop stripping :p

And, and DP : speaking of "preconcieved notions of what Im saying", don't mix "shameful" with "evil". I don't say prostitutes are evil. I say they do a work that ashame themselves. You don't see any prostitutes proudly saying she's one, and rarely one saying it flatly/casually.
The fact is, socially and psychologically, prostitution is shameful, because (hopefully) having sex is considered intimate, and a bit more than just "using your body".

Whatever the amount of theorycraft, sex is something apart, that just can't be treated like regular use of workforce.
 
cgannon64 said:
Maybe its my steady movie diet, but does anyone else think prostitutes are almost enslaved?

They may join the profession by their own choice, but can they leave it by their own choice?
Well said, mate. Prostitutes are humans and not some Mars-creatures: they deserve respect, as any other human does.

If you want an honest anwser, I'll tell you that the majority of them can't "walk away" any time they want(anyone who thinks otherwise, hasn't a clue about reality). Prostitutes are treated like slaves; the irony is that the Western and supposed "civilized" countries, are keep to ignore this huge problem about prostitution: slavery.
 
The problem is, prostitutes are often slaves of circumstances, and not really someone in particular (not talking about actively forced prostitution, of course).
It's often simply dire situation, that forces a woman to sell her body simply because she has no other options left.
And when you're this down, it's usually quite hard to get back on track.
 
King Alexander, what? Who cares if women have more experience? I couldnt care less.

I'll say this one more time for everyones benefit:

The many problems associated with prostitution stem from the fact that its seen as a shameful, immoral profession. Its practioners are stigmatised, sidelined and relegated to the margins of society. If it was legal and people got over their sexual hang ups, many of the ills associated with prostitution would disapear.
 
Dumb pothead said:
Akka, I suggest you put aside your preconcieved notions of what Im saying, and acually read my posts. I said that I wouldnt marry a coalminer either.

What reality am I denying? Im perfectly aware that many women have suffered working as prostitutes. Alot of that stems from opinions like yours that what they do is shameful, so theyre stigmatized and treated as outcasts and not respected. If it was legalised and destigmatised many of the problems associated with prostitution would disapear.
If prostitution was made legal, would prostitutes have as much right to protection from the government and their employers from poor working conditions as a chimney sweep, toilet cleaner, bin man or coal miner? Could prostitutes unionise and pressure they're employers for better wages, better working conditions, dental plans (or a keg of duff), paid holidays, etc? I don't think it's as simple as decriminalising prostitution, since criminals would still be in charge of the whole industry.
 
What a poor-written article. A complete show of ignorance.

Really amazed.

It portraits 'tolerance zones' as unsafe.

Simple plain facts say that they are the safest in my city! (The Hague).

I live 200 metres from one of the three red-light areas in The HAgue. And there is a chique brothel on the square I live on (owner has 1930 Maserati :) ).

It is a plain and simple conslusion I draw: IT IS SAFE.

I guess there is fear for the un-known.....
 
King Alexander said:
Well said, mate. Prostitutes are humans and not some Mars-creatures: they deserve respect, as any other human does.

If you want an honest anwser, I'll tell you that the majority of them can't "walk away" any time they want(anyone who thinks otherwise, hasn't a clue about reality). Prostitutes are treated like slaves; the irony is that the Western and supposed "civilized" countries, are keep to ignore this huge problem about prostitution: slavery.

Do you have a link to this reality that I could look at, then? Since I haven't hung out with prostitutes and am not in law enforcement I'm not as familiar with that particular reality first-hand...
 
Akka, everyone on this planet is a slave of circumstance. So some women are forced into that line of work because they have no other option, should we then take away this final option from them, because it displeases some people? Many people are forced into certain lines of work which they dont enjoy. The only difference between those occupations and prostitution are oldfashioned attitudes about morality that originated with religions. Religions being institutions which by and large are terrified of womens sexuality.
 
Mise said:
If prostitution was made legal, would prostitutes have as much right to protection from the government and their employers from poor working conditions as a chimney sweep, toilet cleaner, bin man or coal miner? Could prostitutes unionise and pressure they're employers for better wages, better working conditions, dental plans (or a keg of duff), paid holidays, etc? I don't think it's as simple as decriminalising prostitution, since criminals would still be in charge of the whole industry.

I think the answer to your first two questions is "yes". Certainly part of the leverage that pimps have on their prostitutes is the prostitutes have a difficult time going to the police, similar to a drug dealer going to the police claiming that their marijuana has been stolen. Legalization may not help much, but it sure wouldn't hurt.
 
Mise said:
If prostitution was made legal, would prostitutes have as much right to protection from the government and their employers from poor working conditions as a chimney sweep, toilet cleaner, bin man or coal miner? Could prostitutes unionise and pressure they're employers for better wages, better working conditions, dental plans (or a keg of duff), paid holidays, etc? I don't think it's as simple as decriminalising prostitution, since criminals would still be in charge of the whole industry.

Take a look at he fact here in NL, and talk again!

Most prostitutes work as entrepeneurs themselves. Not per se for an employer. If so, compare this employer to an insecurance agent.

Believe me: there are many non-criminal people running sex businesses here.
 
Mise said:
If prostitution was made legal, would prostitutes have as much right to protection from the government and their employers from poor working conditions as a chimney sweep, toilet cleaner, bin man or coal miner? Could prostitutes unionise and pressure they're employers for better wages, better working conditions, dental plans (or a keg of duff), paid holidays, etc? I don't think it's as simple as decriminalising prostitution, since criminals would still be in charge of the whole industry.
I see no reason why prostitution shouldnt be treated as any other occupation.
 
King Alexander said:
Well said, mate. Prostitutes are humans and not some Mars-creatures: they deserve respect, as any other human does.

If you want an honest anwser, I'll tell you that the majority of them can't "walk away" any time they want(anyone who thinks otherwise, hasn't a clue about reality). Prostitutes are treated like slaves; the irony is that the Western and supposed "civilized" countries, are keep to ignore this huge problem about prostitution: slavery.

With illegal prostitution, yes, slavery is undeniably a major problem. Slavery doesn't necessarily mean chains and handcuffs, but threats like "If you leave, we'll beat you up" (or worse) kind of thing.

But I doubt the legalized brothels in Nevada have problems with any kind of 'slavery'. I think how much the government regulates them (keeps an eye on them) could be one of many factors.
 
Dumb pothead said:
King Alexander, what? Who cares if women have more experience? I couldnt care less.
Ok, I "take it back", then :D I know a lot of men who would care, though.
Dumb pothead said:
I'll say this one more time for everyones benefit:

The many problems associated with prostitution stem from the fact that its seen as a shameful, immoral profession. Its practioners are stigmatised, sidelined and relegated to the margins of society.
I agree; the majority of the society thinks that way.
Then again I'd ask: what makes people stigmatise prostitution so much? The laws? Hardly; the laws make something legal or illegal. It is their religious moral(luckily, not all have their moral based on religion :D ).
 
Mise said:
I don't think it's as simple as decriminalising prostitution, since criminals would still be in charge of the whole industry.
You would have to make it a state run business, appropriate as the governent is used to taking us for a ride.
 
Dumb pothead said:
Akka, everyone on this planet [...] which by and large are terrified of womens sexuality.

For the third times, I don't talk about the legality of prostitution. For the record, I would prefer it to be legal, to make it at least more regulated and less prone to abuse.

My point is simply that sex is NOT a service, a merchandise, or something as casual as workforce.
As such, any paid service for sex, will always be looked down upon. Sex is, sociallly and psychologically, something strictly consensual and reserved to intimacy, pleasure, and love/relationship.
Putting sex out of this context of intimacy, goes against our social/psychological values, and as such bring shame to the one doing it. Be it being a prostitute, a porn actress, walking nude in the street or dressing "as a whore".
Prostitution adds another layer of shame by also making a person somehow like a merchandize.

I don't blame the prostitutes. I just say I'm against prostitution because of these points.
 
King Alexander said:
Then again I'd ask: what makes people stigmatise prostitution so much? The laws? Hardly; the laws make something legal or illegal. It is their religious moral(luckily, not all have their moral based on religion :D ).
From my previous post:

The only difference between those occupations and prostitution are old fashioned attitudes about morality that originated with religions. Religions being institutions which by and large are terrified of womens sexuality. Are societ was shaped by religion, whether we as individuals adhere to these religions is besides the point.
 
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