Sex

[blas87]

I already tried that route, Admin. It didn't work so well.

I still say violent crimes and underage girls involved are still going to happen myself.

[BigGiant]

I don't think legalizing would eliminate underage prostitution.

Here are some interesting links about the decriminalization of prostitution:


http://www.csun.edu/~psy453/prosti_y.htm

The most interesting of which (to me at least) is http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/swav/swav.html

The Sex Worker's Alliance of Vancouver. So these are the prostitutes themselves who's aims are:

Everyone has rights, regardless of what they do for a living. When prostitution is made a crime, sex workers are prevented from working together for greater security, organizing to improve working conditions, getting health and dental plans, and sharing and investing earnings. Laws prohibiting sex work force sex workers into an environment of crime where their rights are not protected. Factors that keep sex workers from getting help when they have been victimized are fear of being busted, outstanding warrants and the likelyhood of being treated as unreliable witnesses with no credibility. Decriminalization would provide sex workers with real protection from people who rob, rape, assault, and harass them.

[Ladeeda]

Okay, how about this one:

How does criminalizing prostitution prevent child prostitution, rape, and all those other things?

I have yet to see anyone claim that legalizing prostitution would prevent underage prostitution or child rape, so I move it's an irrelevant point. We are discussing what legalizing prostitution WILL prevent, or reduce. Those being STD spreads, rape of prostitutes, and murders.

Prostitutes are often victims of rape and murder because it's assumed, and often correct, that no one will miss them, and no one is keeping an eye on them. Legalization and regulation means someone has to keep an eye on them. Thus, if something happens, it's noticed.

[telecom_goddess]

Can you prove that it would decrease danger and human trafficking, the way you are all challenging me in my beliefs that it wouldn't make anything better?

I'm pretty certain there'd still be dirty pimps, violent or unstable clientel, and I'm sure there'd be some way of sneaking in underage girls or girls against their will.

And porn doesn't sneak in underage girls or girls against their will?

As for the decreased danger there's no concrete way to prove it right this second no it's not a scientific theory or anything. It's just logical.

ETA: I just want to make it clear that I am not assuming Blas is considering herself above anyone....

[BigGiant]

I will say that it will reduce underage prostitution.

It isn't like the reason that there are so many underage prostitutes is because there are masses of pedophiles in NYC....the reason is because they are easy to manipulate and coerce into prostitution.

If prostitution was legalized, I think you'd see less girls being coerced, because the demand for prostitutes in general would be filled with the 'legal' prostitutes. Sure, there would still be some, but I think their numbers would be greatly reduced.

And, consider that the men that frequent prostitutes would also want to make sure they were going to a legal prostitute so as not to get into legal trouble. I think you'd see a big decline in underage prostitution.

[Greenday]

Regarding underage prostitution - do you really think it will stop if we legalize prostitution? The lowlife perverts who are paying 13 year olds for sex will continue to do so even if there is a legal alternative.

I think it will lessen it. Definitely not completely get rid of it, but it will make the market a little smaller.

Most prostitutes these days that get raped or abused or ripped off by customers have no one to complain to. They obviously can't go to the cops. I'm pretty sure prostitutes are people to and just because their work in considered immoral by a lot of people doesn't mean that they shouldn't have rights too.

[ArenaBoy]

Legalizing prostitution would help make things safer for both parties and help end the US' tendency to be scared of sex.

[Hobbs]

and help end the US' tendency to be scared of sex.

I don't see how that would help actually. I don't see how it would hinder it, either. I also think it's negligent to merely point out the "US" as being "scared of sex." There are plenty of countries a lot more prudish than the US, yet we are constantly called out on it.

[telecom_goddess]

I don't see how that would help actually. I don't see how it would hinder it, either. I also think it's negligent to merely point out the "US" as being "scared of sex." There are plenty of countries a lot more prudish than the US, yet we are constantly called out on it.

The middle east maybe....

[Hobbs]

The middle east maybe....

South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, parts of the Pacific...

[blas87]

I will agree whole heartedly to that. In America, women do not have to be fully covered and we don't censor cleavage on TV.

[Andara Bledin]

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

Yeah, because prostitutes never use the money to pay for college.

Can you prove that it would decrease danger and human trafficking, the way you are all challenging me in my beliefs that it wouldn't make anything better?

It's not specifically proof, but here is a study from 2004. The conclusion contains, in part, this comment: "Given all of these problems, the analysis seems to support the hypothesis that the rape rate could be lowered if prostitution was more readily available."

Here is another paper, a pdf titled "Violence and Legalized Brothel Prostitution in Nevada." The summary at the beginning includes this statement: "The authors conclude by arguing that the legalization of prostitution brings a level of public scrutiny, official regulation, and bureaucratization to brothels that decreases the risk of these 3 types of systematic violence."

I'm pretty certain there'd still be dirty pimps, violent or unstable clientel, and I'm sure there'd be some way of sneaking in underage girls or girls against their will.

So, in your opinion, because we can't possible get rid of these things 100%, we should just not take any step to reduce their effects? By that reasoning, we should stop taking the flu shot and get rid of all of our vaccines because there's still polio and measels and mumps out there, so all are obviously not effective enough.

The criminalization of prostitution actively marginalizes all prostitutes which places them at higher risk to become victims of violent crime.

^-.-^

[Boozy]

How does criminalizing prostitution prevent child prostitution, rape, and all those other things?

Bolding is mine.

It doesn't.

I don't believe that something should be made illegal unless there's a compelling reason for it. An "ick" reaction is not a compelling reason.

I'd support legalization for regulatory purposes, and also because we should be taxing it. If I have to pay sales tax on my toilet paper and other items that the government does not consider a "necessity", then men can start paying taxes on their blowjobs.

[Tanasi]

A few years ago the local paper wrote a series of articles about the local "adult" business. A few girls interviewed were prostitues and they said they only had to turn 3 or 4 tricks a week to pay their way to UT. Several were strippers and 2 were "starred" in porno movies, with one of those saying with her specialization she only had to act in 4 movies a year to pay for college and she lived at home and she did those movies over the course of a week by flying to CA. What scared me was my daughters knew these girls.

[telecom_goddess]

A few years ago the local paper wrote a series of articles about the local "adult" business. A few girls interviewed were prostitues and they said they only had to turn 3 or 4 tricks a week to pay their way to UT. Several were strippers and 2 were "starred" in porno movies, with one of those saying with her specialization she only had to act in 4 movies a year to pay for college and she lived at home and she did those movies over the course of a week by flying to CA. What scared me was my daughters knew these girls.

Why does it scare you that they knew these girls? It's not like the girls were dragging them into the biz with them. Frankly I'm jealous that they can work that little and make that much money.