Prostitution

[Stormbringer]

So, is it immoral? If you come from a culture where sexuality is repressed, suppressed and otherwise not expressed, then it is definitely immoral. Otherwise it's no less moral than any other expensive vice, like tobacco, alcohol, or crack-cocaine. But, is it right, or prudent? No, not likely.

You're missing one of the key points here. Sex, unlike booze and drugs, doesn't harm the participants. So assuming that effective STD screening and birth control is in effective there is no harm. Legal and safe prostitution is an activity that, unless you're an uptight prude, is harmless. Simply basing the argument on old moral codes isn't a good or defensible reason.

[Lord Pounder]

Why not, men are forced to pay for it one way or another, cut out the middle man and go see a professional.

[Setzer]

I object to it on moral grounds, and I feel it just helps spread STDs.

[Master of Ossus]

People also say that people who have sex with prostitutes are losers and idiots, because they can't get sex from someone else who doesn't sell it, but what about someone who simply wants more variety in thier sexual diet- sex with another partner? Would any of you have sex with a prostitute or be one yourself?

I don't consider going to a prostitute an acceptable method of gaining "more variety." It's just cheating on someone you care about. A better dillema would be what would happen if someone were absent a girlfriend, at the moment.

[Darth Wong]

I hate these people who scream that prostitution is immoral. It's your body and they have no business in telling you what to do or not to do with your body.

By that logic it's ok to kill yourself with narcotics, or commit suicide, etc.

Only if you have established that some objective harm is done by prostitution. Justify that assumption before assailing anyone else's logic with blatantly false analogies. STD's? That's what condoms are for, and they are a risk with all forms of sex; this does not mean sex itself is immoral.

[Darth Wong]

I object to it on moral grounds, and I feel it just helps spread STDs.

Please quote your justification for saying it is immoral.

Please cite your sources for your claim that the spread of STD's is accelerated by prostitution. See example of Germany, where prostitution is legal yet they have experienced no wave of STD's and in fact, their rate of sexual assault is only one quarter that of the US.

[Darth Wong]

I do hope everyone has considered prostitution in countries like those in southeastern Asia when they stated their opinions.

I do hope that you learn the meaning of "hasty generalization" someday, Shinova. See example of Germany.

[InnerBrat]

I personally think that prostitutes need and deserve the protection of the law to protect them against slavery and rape, and lesser crimes such as theft.

So yes, I thnk it should be legal.

[Master of Ossus]

Please cite your sources for your claim that the spread of STD's is accelerated by prostitution. See example of Germany, where prostitution is legal yet they have experienced no wave of STD's and in fact, their rate of sexual assault is only one quarter that of the US.

A better statement, I think, would have been that it CAN increase the speed at which STD's are spread. When one considers that in Thailand about half of the prostitutes have AIDS or HIV, there is clearly a problem going on--particularly since one of Thailand's largest exports is sex. I'm not sure that this actually has increased the spread of the disease, as Thailand is one of the few remaining "sex positive" societies in the world, but it likely has not helped. Similar things are true in some parts of Africa, where the AIDS rate is appalling, though this cannot be directly and completely attributed to prostitution.

[Darth Wong]

Obviously, prostitution won't RETARD the spread of STD's, but it will only accelerate it under certain societal conditions (namely, rank ignorance). So by that token, prostitution should be legal in enlightened societies, and illegal in Texas

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

So, is it immoral? If you come from a culture where sexuality is repressed, suppressed and otherwise not expressed, then it is definitely immoral. Otherwise it's no less moral than any other expensive vice, like tobacco, alcohol, or crack-cocaine. But, is it right, or prudent? No, not likely.

You're missing one of the key points here. Sex, unlike booze and drugs, doesn't harm the participants. So assuming that effective STD screening and birth control is in effective there is no harm. Legal and safe prostitution is an activity that, unless you're an uptight prude, is harmless. Simply basing the argument on old moral codes isn't a good or defensible reason.

The problem is that you can't guarantee effective STD screening and birth control unless you visit a reputable "house of ill-repute." The only way prostitution could possibly be considered truly "safe" is to fully legalize it and bring it under government regulation, or else, set up some private organization that would act as prostitution's equivalent to the Bar Association or the AMA. Of course, one could argue that alcohol is legal, and regulated, but you're right, sex is not nearly as harmful as alcohol. (One can argue that it's not harmful at all, unless one happens to visit a prostitute while engaged or married . . . without your current partner's consent. Then it can be pretty damned harmful. )

[Darth Wong]

The problem is that you can't guarantee effective STD screening and birth control unless you visit a reputable "house of ill-repute." The only way prostitution could possibly be considered truly "safe" is to fully legalize it and bring it under government regulation, or else, set up some private organization that would act as prostitution's equivalent to the Bar Association or the AMA. Of course, one could argue that alcohol is legal, and regulated, but you're right, sex is not nearly as harmful as alcohol. (One can argue that it's not harmful at all, unless one happens to visit a prostitute while engaged or married . . . without your current partner's consent. Then it can be pretty damned harmful. )

Since this thread is about the morality of legalizing prostitution, you cannot use the dangers of unlicensed, illegal prostitution (as opposed to licensed, regulated prostitution) as evidence, unless you're trying to say that prostitution should be legalized.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

The problem is that you can't guarantee effective STD screening and birth control unless you visit a reputable "house of ill-repute." The only way prostitution could possibly be considered truly "safe" is to fully legalize it and bring it under government regulation, or else, set up some private organization that would act as prostitution's equivalent to the Bar Association or the AMA. Of course, one could argue that alcohol is legal, and regulated, but you're right, sex is not nearly as harmful as alcohol. (One can argue that it's not harmful at all, unless one happens to visit a prostitute while engaged or married . . . without your current partner's consent. Then it can be pretty damned harmful. :lol: )

Since this thread is about the morality of legalizing prostitution, you cannot use the dangers of unlicensed, illegal prostitution (as opposed to licensed, regulated prostitution) as evidence, unless you're trying to say that prostitution should be legalized.

I'm saying it should be legalized and regulated. It is arguably immoral to allow people to harm themselves by visiting unlicensed, unregulated, and illegal prostitutes. So, by that metric, yes, prostitution should be legalized.

[Morning Star]

I hate these people who scream that prostitution is immoral. It's your body and they have no business in telling you what to do or not to do with your body.

By that logic it's ok to kill yourself with narcotics, or commit suicide, etc.

Yep, as long as you are of free mind, body and will to do so.

[Shinova]

I hate these people who scream that prostitution is immoral. It's your body and they have no business in telling you what to do or not to do with your body.

By that logic it's ok to kill yourself with narcotics, or commit suicide, etc.

Yep, as long as you are of free mind, body and will to do so.

And as long as you don't drag others down with you.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

I like the way it is here in Denmark.

To prostitute oneself is legal.
Being a pimp is seen as slavery and is therefore illegal.

Basically if you want to sell your own body go right ahead. If you want to sell someone else's body it is illegal.

I like that attitude. Maybe I'll move to Denmark... Now about those atrocious TAXES!

[ArmorPierce]

I'm packing up for my move to Nevada

[Lord Pounder]

The other thing is if we have legal prosies we might get some standards. Half the street walkers i have seen (on my way home drunk from the pub i might add) are rough to say the least.

[Keevan_Colton]

Rant:
Immoral is such an intresting thing.
Where does 'moral' authority derive from?
Most would say, "The Greater Good" but that i think it wrong. By the logic of TGG the world would be best as a total democracy, which is THE WORST kind of government imaginable. It means if this is very good for 51 people and ends up killing 49 then its great and moral etc.
What gives anyone the right and the power to decided what others can and cannot do when it does not directly impinge upon them.
Things done for the benifit of 'society as a whole' are things that really need to be looked at carefully, because there is always a price to pay for everything. Even physics grasps this in the various conservations, momentum, energy etc....everything has a cost.
The question is, do you have right to tell others what they cannot do when it has no direct effect on you?
This is why i find non-judeo-christian religions far less objectionable.....
When was the last time you heard of buddhist terrorists or wiccan extremists blowing things up?
/Rant.

Anyway, I say it isnt immoral....
"Make love and be merry....for tommorow you may catch some disgusting skin disease"

Keevan

[Keevan_Colton]

Obviously, prostitution won't RETARD the spread of STD's, but it will only accelerate it under certain societal conditions (namely, rank ignorance). So by that token, prostitution should be legal in enlightened societies, and illegal in Texas

A quick glance at the bush clan makes me wonder if requiring some people to be neutered for the 'greater good' might be a wonderful idea.....

Keevan.

[C.S.Strowbridge]

I remember watching the West Wing when that one Woman said all prostitution is at least partially coerced, 'cause no one grows up dreaming to be a prostitute.'

Well you know what, I didn't grow up dreaming of being a computer jockey either. Does that mean we should outlaw that.

Prostitution should be legalize and heavily regulated.

[kojikun]

I think Georgy Bush would say this about the subject..

"Prostitutionation is an afrontery to family moralness."

Haha. My philosophy: Your body, do with it what you want. If others don't like it, too bad.

[kojikun]

heres a question: how is prostitution different from a someone marrying for money? Because its with one person? I see no difference. Dating as a whole is prostitution: You have to PAY to take the other person out so you can be with them, and even then its not guaranteed nor are you sure to derive pleasure. Infact, dating is WORSE for the person paying the prostitution is.

[Damaramu]

Ahhhh....good timing on this topic.

My girlfriends best friend was just hired by a "relaxation club" here in Houston.

On the record, it's for massages and lounging with pretty girls. Off the record, it's a brothel.

Our friend makes damn good money ($900 in about 2 days), and it's all "tax free".

They even have a website, complete with prices (ex. $40 entrance fee, $160 for 30 minutes).

I had problems with her doing this at first (being a concerned friend), but I soon changed my mind and said "Fuck it. If she's happy and it's safe, what's the harm?"

Oh...and in case you're wondering why the place (a mere 10 minute drive from my place) hadn't been raided by HPD....a few of the customers are cops.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Ahhhh....good timing on this topic.

My girlfriends best friend was just hired by a "relaxation club" here in Houston.

On the record, it's for massages and lounging with pretty girls. Off the record, it's a brothel.

Our friend makes damn good money ($900 in about 2 days), and it's all "tax free".

They even have a website, complete with prices (ex. $40 entrance fee, $160 for 30 minutes).

I had problems with her doing this at first (being a concerned friend), but I soon changed my mind and said "Fuck it. If she's happy and it's safe, what's the harm?"

Oh...and in case you're wondering why the place (a mere 10 minute drive from my place) hadn't been raided by HPD....a few of the customers are cops.

You know, to be blunt, I hope that place is cleaned out by the cops with Internal Affairs comes down on those dirty ones. Just because laws are stupid, wrong-headed, and idiotic, does not mean breaking them - Especially in a fashion which encourages police corruption, which is one of the most dangerous things in the world for a society to endure.

As for prostitution its self: I am all for legalizing it. There are dangers in doing so, but they do not remotely match the dangers of keeping it illegal, and that's enough for me.

But, again, I cannot support breaking existing laws in such a fashion that encourages police corruption.