Prostitution

Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
Should prostitution be legalized?

Erik Bates | July 28, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
Why, is the more important question. What are your reasons for saying yes?

Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
I agree with Erik for 1 reason. If prostitution were legalized, the chances of customers contracting STDs is less. In countries, where it is legal, the prostitutes must get tested at least once a week. If they don't, they lose their license.

Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
I never understood how they work that - since AIDS testing isn't immediate. But yes, and all clients would be required to wear a condom, or they'd get thrown out. Also less chance of the women being killed, etc.

But. Should we really be legitimizing this method of income for poor women?

Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
Psychological analysis too? If it is a way for people to get off of welfare and be able to support themselves, I say why not.?

Robert Phillips | July 28, 2004
Prostitution is deeply damaging to the woman who offer themselves up as sex objects. I don't see the value in legalization. By making something legal we are condoning it as a culture and as a people. No I don't think it should be legalized, but decriminalized yes...Safety is everything and counseling to the woman is important, whether they choose to stay as prostitues or move on. On the other hand our culture is way to uptight about sex in general. It all needs to be done with mutual respect and honor.

Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
It isn't a way for people to get off welfare - I imagine that most prostitutes stay prostitutes once they start.

I can't wait to hear from the women on this board on this.

Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
Apparently, the women who are "offering themselves up as sex objects" don't see it that way. They see it as good money. Selling their body for sex can be a good way for them to make income. If a women's best (and only) skill is sucking dick, why should she be suffer for getting a job just because she can't type 65 wpm?

And think of the income the government can make? They can tax the hell out of it! :)

Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
That's a very negative way to look at it - you would rather your sister or mother or cousin, down on their luck, instead of managing to have a job, any job, would become a prostitute, because it's good money? A lot of women are taken into prostitution by pimps when they are very very young, certainly underage, and many find it impossible to leave.

Legalizing it would definitely impose age limits, which would be good.

Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
I'm just having fun playing devil's advocate. I'm not that big of a male chauvenist pig. Wanted to rile some people up? hehehehe

Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
Sigh, never mind.

Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
Hehehehe, Though my idea of taxing the hell out of prostitution might make the conservatives like the idea...

Erik Bates | July 28, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
I think I've been too heavy with the topics on TC these past few days, so I'm going to stop posting for awhile. I like serious discussion, but obviously not everyone does. Let's just keep the women-negative comments down, please? Some basic respect. I guess I should know better than to post something like this and expect real dialogue.

It's just making me feel like people will see me as this touchy person, and I'm really not. I guess I just was getting different vibes from this forum than what it really is. So I'm going to stop posting for awhile and see how it is with everyone else's posts. It's not Anna Tragic, after all.

Robert Phillips | July 28, 2004
Think of your own daughter (or wife) as a prostitute.

Studies do seem to indicate that a very good portion of the woman who make the "choice" of prostitution were in fact sexually abused as children. Why condone as a culture something that results from a very evil and despicable act.

Robert Phillips | July 28, 2004
I should also say that it is totally and completely absurd to EVER say any humans "best (and only) skill is sucking dick". It is never true. Even though you may not completely be a "chauvenist pig" you are almost completely one.

Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
I was being sarcastic.. as in not serious.. I don't agree with prostitution, I said it as a joke. But, it would be better to legalize it, and monitor it, then let these women catch disease after disease, get beat up by their pimps/clients, and have to hang around the "worst areas in town". There are certain places in this country where there is legal prostitution. The "Bunny Ranch" in Nevada is a perfect example. If things are run like the way they run things there, it would be a much better industry.

Anna Gregoline | July 28, 2004
Sarcastic or not, joke or not, it is putting women down, and I hate to see it. A lot of sexism thrives on things like "just joking."

Melissa Erin | July 28, 2004
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Scott Horowitz | July 28, 2004
It just dawned on me what we have neglected to mention. I'm sure there are men who get paid to have sex with women... gigalos, escorts, etc. Everyone seems to concentrate on the fact that the women are the ones being victimized. What would it take for a man to do this? Legalized prostitution should include men as well, if they chose to do it

And I make 1 little comment about taxes, geeze, I found it funny. At least I appreciate my humor!!!

Melissa Erin | July 29, 2004
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Melissa Erin | July 29, 2004
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Scott Hardie | July 29, 2004
Yes, legalize it, when it's between consenting, disease-free adults. Their right to engage in an activity that does no one harm, brings him satisfaction and brings her income, outweighs our cultural pride. Pimping and other forms of coersion amount to slavery and must be kept illegal, and European-style licensing can minimize the spread of disease. Hell, we could even give them psychological evaluations to determine mental competency before granting the license. I'm with Scott (whose nickname I will not reveal here) on the argument that prostitution is much safer for all parties if it's legalized, in much the same way that legalized, closely-regulated abortion is preferable to back alleys and wire hangers.

There isn't good money in prostitution for all but a few, however. Most prostitutes could work a shift at McDonald's and earn more money by the end.

I don't mean to put you on the spot, Bob, but I question your statement that by legalizing something, we condone it. Does that mean that the purpose of law is to prevent things we consider ugly? There's a mountain of first amendment case history that would contradict that. Most Americans despise alcoholism, obesity, obscenity, and cigarette smoking, but we still allow ourselves to engage in these nasty habits by free will, so I fail to see how voluntary prostitution is over the same line.

Melissa Erin | July 29, 2004
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Scott Hardie | July 29, 2004
Anna: Don't quit! Some of us like what you're doing with all these new discussion topics. TC needs a shot in the arm every now and then.

Anna Gregoline | July 29, 2004
Ok, cause I have literally a list of about 100 new topics. I was planning to introduce a few a day until I run out. I'll try to mix it up with some light ones though.

Scott Horowitz | July 29, 2004
Yes, more topics introduced so I can ostracize myself furthur from everyone.....hehehehe

Melissa Erin | July 29, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | July 29, 2004
Scott H. asked "Does that mean that the purpose of law is to prevent things we consider ugly?"

I would say the purpose of law is to prevent things we consider abhorent - rape, murder, stealing, etc. We might despise alcoholism, but that's free will to engage in it - we draw the line at people driving with it, because it infringes on others.

Erik Bates | July 29, 2004
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Erik Bates | July 29, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | July 29, 2004
That's interesting - I'll have to think about that one.

Anthony Lewis | July 30, 2004
Prostitution may as well be legal. If you ask me, prostitutes are smart. They do for money, what a majority of women do for dinner and drinks. Some women are prostitutes because they want to be, not because they have to be.

Scott, I strongly disagree with the notion that a prostitute would make more money at McDonalds than out on the street. It's simple math. If you make $7 per hour at Mickey Ds on fries, and lucky enough to work 40 hours a week, you'll make $240 for the week. If you're on the street and give blows for $20 each, and have 5 customers a night, 5 nights a week...$500. And the government doesn't have to know about one penny of it. Knowing that a competent prostitute can make $500 in one night...

I think you can see the draw for a person who feels like they have no other choice.

Scott Hardie | July 31, 2004
I wouldn't say you're wrong, Anthony, but our estimates do differ. I wouldn't figure $20 per, or five customers on most nights. But I haven't hired a prostitute or been one, so what the hell do I know? :-)

Anthony Lewis | July 31, 2004
$20 is usually the going rate. And if they can only get five customers a night, they are either lazy, ugly, or a combination of both.

Don't ask me why I know. :-)

However, if you know of someone charging less...

Nah...forget it.