Sex

[blas87]

I don't hate prostitutes themselves, nor do I think I'm better than any of them. Thanks for the support, Mytical and any others who actually have read what I've written clearly and haven't jumped to conclusions or falsely challenged me or just took nitpicking on this site to a whole new level.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

You still haven't explained why legal prostitution is a setback for the rights of women. If that is not what you intended to say: correct me. If that is what you intended to say: explain yourself, please.

How does legal prostitution jeopardize a woman's equality under law? In the workplace? or anywhere for that matter?

[blas87]

I don't think jeopardize is the right word for what all I'm about to say, but probably some.

Women have fought for years and years, to vote, to have whatever kind of job they want (even if it's not a typical "female" job), to make the same amount of money as men, on and on and on we go as the times go on.

Women started fighting for these rights because for far too long, we were considered slaves to our own bodies and the men in the world, we didn't have a right to speak against men, we didn't have a right to make our own money unless we privately sold our bodies for some man's pleasure. We had to carry a baby to term even if we were raped or it was fathered by someone in our own family who abused us. Women haven't even worn pants or worn their hair DOWN or had shorter styled hair for that long of a period of time, for that matter. We are thisclose to getting everything we have been fighting for, for years, and a few of you think it's a good idea to go back to women being toys for a man's pleasure?

If a woman truly wanted to, couldn't be persuaded otherwise, that's one thing. But it's better a young girl can go to school and be a doctor, be a lawyer, be a teacher, anything else, earn your own money without jeopardizing your self respect and your own self.

Besides even all that, it's bad enough that people cheat on their spouses. If I found out that my bf or future husband cheated on me and PAID a girl for it, I'd be through the roof, knowing there wouldn't be anything to be done about it if it were legalized. But I suppose that could be twisted and nitpicked as an angry scorned woman.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

How does legal prostitution make women into nothing but sex objects? Maybe some men would form that misconception, but not only are we NOT responsible for people's misconceptions, these misconceptions occur despite prostitution's illegal status. Women would still be entitled under law to equal opportunity and wages, have the same freedom of expression and religion, as well as equality under law.

Legalizing prostitution does not prevent anyone from going to school to be a doctor or lawyer or whatever they wish, it merely allows them the option to pursue this career instead. If that's what they want, that's their choice to make and the two are not mutually exclusive (legal prostitution vs. academic career)

Why should you be able to do anything about your bf cheating on you? He has not committed a crime by cheating on you, and if that's what you're upset about than you're already in the lurch and trying to 'get back' at him in some other way is nothing more than petty revenge.

Personal freedom takes priority over the likes and dislikes of the population. Whether you like it or not is inconsequential to whether or not it inflicts actual visceral damage. In the absence of any damage, there is no justification for prohibition.

[AdminAssistant]

If that's what they want, that's their choice to make and the two are not mutually exclusive (legal prostitution vs. academic career)

Why go to the bother of actually making something of yourself when you can fuck for a living?

[blas87]

There's always the age old hard place of girls and women who have turned to such ways of getting by, just because they were broke or just to buy diapers, just until a job opportunity came through......and years later, they were still prostituting themselves because they'd given up.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Why go to the bother of actually making something of yourself when you can fuck for a living?

Why go to the bother of actually making something of yourself if you can just wait tables for a living?

Both jobs are potentially degrading, much more difficult than they seem and don't, for most people, provide a sense of accomplishment. If this were true than there would be no doctors, lawyers, politicians, or the like because everyone would 'settle' for 'lesser' jobs...

I call shenanigans! Fetch me my through-the-internet whacking broom! (cookie for the reference)

There's always the age old hard place of girls and women who have turned to such ways of getting by, just because they were broke or just to buy diapers, just until a job opportunity came through......and years later, they were still prostituting themselves because they'd given up.

I can say the same thing for a lot of different jobs. Nevertheless, the inability of some people to get themselves out of a rut is no argument against the freedom of The People.

[blas87]

Waiting tables is only degrading to someone who has always been overly privileged or has never had to stand on their feet all day and work hard for a living.

That's not a very good comparison. A waitress does not need to have sex with the customers for their wages. Good people skills, multi-tasking skills, and thinking fast on your feet are skills for good tips.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

The skills involved are inconsequential. Some people find waiting tables degrading, some don't. Some people find being a prostitute degrading, some don't. You have no more right to decide what's degrading to someone in one instance as you do in the other.

Although you could say that people skills, and quick thinking are also good skills to have as a legal prostitute, at least, if you want to satisfy your customer, that is.

"Having sex" is not an inherently negative act. Therefore, whether or not one profession does or does not involve it doesn't matter. If you don't have a problem with having sex with people in return for money it's your right as a free person to do that if you want to.

[blas87]

Since you're so adament on this cause, I beg of you to explain to me how legalizing prositution would cut down on dirty abusive pimps and the more undesirable and dirty things about prostitution, like assault and murders of prostitutes, since this was brought up before as an argument why we should legalize it.

Money doesn't always equal class and decent people. You can glam it up like the Bunny Ranch, but you can't guarantee that there wouldn't be an owner of a place that like who wouldn't assault or try to rape one of his "ladies", nor could you guarantee that some clients wouldn't get a little carried away or have ulterior motives and kill, just like the way it already happens while it is illegal.

I'm not some prude who thinks of sex as a married thing that needs to be kept private. I just don't see the point in selling yourself for money. Your self respect is something you should never have to compromise for money. Twist this whatever way you want and call me whatever you want, claim I said whatever you want, but I will say that women who do things like that are lacking in self respect.

And by the by, since it's illegal in most places, it's not anyone's right to do that unless they are in an area where it is legal. It is not your legal right to sell yourself for money or have sex with someone for money unless you are in a place where it has been declared legal. So stop with the "Freedom of the People!" and "It's your rights!" when it really isn't.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Since you're so adament on this cause, I beg of you to explain to me how legalizing prositution would cut down on dirty abusive pimps and the more undesirable and dirty things about prostitution, like assault and murders of prostitutes, since this was brought up before as an argument why we should legalize it.

Alright, here I go.

Money doesn't always equal class and decent people. You can glam it up like the Bunny Ranch, but you can't guarantee that there wouldn't be an owner of a place that like who wouldn't assault or try to rape one of his "ladies", nor could you guarantee that some clients wouldn't get a little carried away or have ulterior motives and kill, just like the way it already happens while it is illegal.

Life has no guarantees, which is why illegal things happen. That said, the availability of a legal option would cut critically into the illegal market (as it represents a monopoly) ans since legal venues would be subject to regulation the workers would benefit from medical screening, secure facilities and the like*. Moreover, the fact that the workers aren't themselves committing a crime they would be able to avail themselves of all applicable emergency services without fear of prosecution, which is what prevents illegal prostitutes from availing themselves of this protection.

I'm not some prude who thinks of sex as a married thing that needs to be kept private. I just don't see the point in selling yourself for money. Your self respect is something you should never have to compromise for money. Twist this whatever way you want and call me whatever you want, claim I said whatever you want, but I will say that women who do things like that are lacking in self respect.

If you don't see the point, don't do it. But what constitutes self respect is an individual opinion upon which none of us have the right to impose. If a person does feel it's disrespectful of themselves to be a prostitute, than they shouldn't logically pursue that career. But there are plenty who don't, and they have the right to make their own decision based on their own opinions. You're free to judge them as being sluts or as having no self-esteem, but it would pay to remember that this judgment carries no weight in determining the freedoms of others.

And by the by, since it's illegal in most places, it's not anyone's right to do that unless they are in an area where it is legal. It is not your legal right to sell yourself for money or have sex with someone for money unless you are in a place where it has been declared legal. So stop with the "Freedom of the People!" and "It's your rights!" when it really isn't.

So we're only allowed to advocate for rights we already have, it's impossible to say that an unjustly restricted right should be restored? Nowhere have I said that it's legal everywhere, merely that I think it should be. It is about obtaining lost freedom, it is about our rights because people like me are trying to GET them restored. What you are in essence saying is "Because we don't have it now you can't say it would be."

It still stands that no one has the authority to restrict the rights of any persons without solid reasoning stemming from the clear and present damage to those who partake of that right as well as those around them. You have yet to demonstrate that the right to be a prostitute causes anything bad to happen, merely that bad things can happen to you, but this is true of every activity. Someone or something could cause you physical, psychological or emotional damage at any moment no matter what you're doing. But it's a lot less likely to happen if you have the means to protect yourself, something legality would provide in this instance.

[Tanasi]

Anyone who has every worked a job for money has in effect prostituted themselves. Just because you didn't have sex doesn't deny the prostituion you sold your time and your ability. Whore's are just being honest about it.

[Ladeeda]

Prostitution is a lot like abortion: it's going to happen, legal or not, and keeping it illegal only exacerbates the dangers.

Some seem to assume the only people who visit prostitutes are woman-hating perverts. How about men who can't find a girlfriend or lover due to say, some deformity, unattractiveness, shyness, or just a lousy personality? Or couples who want to spice up their sex life but avoid the potential emotional problems of getting a girlfriend? Or guys who want sex, but don't want a relationship and dislike the Pick Up Scene of one-night stands, and prefer the straightforward Money For Service approach?

If a woman (or man! There are male prostitutes, though they usually must cater to male clients) considers it a viable way of making money, why make it more dangerous with stigma and illegality? To them, it's not degrading. Just a job. Something they do to pay the bills.

And that's fine.

Some people consider different jobs degrading. Some people think Administrative positions are pathetic and degrading. That's all opinion.

As long as the person is a legal adult... it's not like they are hurting anyone (unless the client pays for that). And putting laws in that require protection just makes everyone safter.

[blas87]

Then the guys who are paying for it are losers for having to pay to get a girl's company or attention. Simply put.

There is no reason to sink to that level or use that as a valid excuse as to why it should be legal. Oh, because there are socially awkward or funny looking lonely guys out there, or because there are couples who want to try stuff. Fine. Do it the legal way. There are even websites for people who want to cheat, swingers, one night stands, etc.

Paying to get company or attention from someone. Wow. That's truly pathetic.

[telecom_goddess]

I gotta disagree with the "pathetic" comment. It's the oldest profession, this we all know. Why? If it's so pathetic why has it been around for thousands of years? Because there has always been and always will be a market for paid sex. It's human nature. If it was legal it would start getting safer for everyone involved.

Yeah there are swingers clubs, porn of all flavors in all media types, and whatnot around too, because SEX SELLS.

I really just don't see the problem between two consenting adults.