Darth Wong wrote:
Facing reality, prostitution is pathetic for both the prostitutes and the johns. But that doesn't mean it's immoral; it's just pathetic. And there are plenty of people in this world who are, well, pathetic. Those people won't disappear if you outlaw prostitution.
You know, you actually made me run to the dictionary to see what the real definition of the word 'pathetic' is. When I thought about it I realized that it's such a commonly used word, but I think it's been a little more shaded towards a more negative meaning then it's actual definition.
As per some of the definition below:
pa·thet·ic (p-thtk) also pa·thet·i·cal (--kl)
adj.
1. Arousing or capable of arousing sympathetic sadness and compassion: "The old, rather shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic" John Galsworthy.
2. Arousing or capable of arousing scornful pity.
pa·theti·cal·ly adv.
Synonyms: pathetic, pitiful, pitiable, piteous, lamentable
These adjectives describe what inspires or deserves pity. Something pathetic elicits sympathetic sadness and compassion: "a most earnest . . . entreaty, addressed to you in the most pathetic tones of the voice so dear to you" Charles Dickens.
Both pitiful and pitiable apply to what is touchingly sad: "She told a most pitiful story" Samuel Butler. "The emperor had been in a state of pitiable vacillation" William Hickling Prescott.
misfortunate, piteous, hapless, miserable, poor, pitiable, pitiful, wretched
unfortunate - not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune; "an unfortunate turn of events"; "an unfortunate decision"; "unfortunate investments"; "an unfortunate night for all concerned"
2. pathetic - inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
pitiable, pitiful
contemptible - deserving of contempt or scorn
3. pathetic - inspiring scornful pity; "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett
ridiculous, silly
undignified - lacking dignity
It seems that it originally was used more commonly in the sympathetic sense, where as now when using it in reference to a person it seems to denote a total loser.
So in relation to what you said Mike, I'm curious to how you find the prostitutes and johns pathetic. I'm not saying I disagree with you mind you, I'm truly ambivalent.
I'm somewhat indifferent to the issue in the first place, and even though a part of me has an ego that would be upset at the idea of HAVING to pay for sex, I could see some people simply wanting no muss - no fuss fun, and in some cases might want a "professional" that really knows how to get it on. Actually I know a couple of people personally that do not have to pay for sex as they are both more then reasonably attractive, well off enough and so forth, but have so partaked for their own individual reasons.
In cases such as these, do you have a different opinion regarding it?
You have to realize that most Christian "moral values" behaviour is not really about "protecting" anyone; it's about their desire to send a continual stream of messages of condemnation towards people whose existence offends them. - Darth Wong alias Mike Wong
"There is nothing wrong with being ignorant. However, there is something very wrong with not choosing to exchange ignorance for knowledge when the opportunity presents itself."