MoogleViper Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'm supportive of sex workers, Do you think it (prostitution) should be legalised? I do. I don't see what's wrong with it. And legalising it will allow prostitutes to do it in a safe, regulated environment where they can pay tax and don't have to hide what they do. Rather than the current system of people forced into prostitution, usually through drug addiction, working on the street, not knowing whether the next time they get in a car will be the last, and funding drug dealers/organised crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I agree completely with Moogle. Surely it is up to the individual what they wish to do with their body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 / that's an extreme view/example. No that's exactly what you said. I even quoted you and everything. But in all seriousness I'm sure it works out fine for some people... but you can't deny the stats that show the links between health, both mental and physical and poverty in relation to prostitution. Also if you really want to support sex workers then you should really stump up the cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tapedeck Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) I agree completely with Moogle. Surely it is up to the individual what they wish to do with their body. I see where you're coming from but for yourself and Moogle to suggest Prostitution could possibly be legalised is a strong proposal. I respect your opinions and feel that the crime issue Moogle states is an important observation. But wherever sex is sold - wouldn't violence ultimately occur? The individual may initially have the choice/power but when carnal desires are involved all kinds of control issues may arise. We'd have many young women going into prostitution too - let's face it, the sexualisation of young people is already a concern. That's a horrific thought in my opinion. Why would girls educate themselves past 15 when they may be ready to enter the world of prostitution? Could boys then 'apply' for a job from a younger age? These questions would arise and would be sickening. Also: if a young person asks mum & dad what they do for a job and they reply 'I sell my own body for something as shallow as a piece of paper so you can have a secure future'. What message does that send out? How low can the human race sink for monetary outcomes? Just my thoughts. Edited October 27, 2011 by tapedeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I see where you're coming from but for yourself and Moogle to suggest Prostitution could possibly be legalised is a strong proposal. I respect your opinions and feel that the crime issue Moogle states is an important observation. But wherever sex is sold - wouldn't violence ultimately occur? The individual may initially have the choice/power but when carnal desires are involved all kinds of control issues may arise. We'd have many young women going into prostitution too - let's face it, the sexualisation of young people is already a concern. That's a horrific thought in my opinion. Why would girls educate themselves past 15 when they may be ready to enter the world of prostitution? Could boys then 'apply' for a job from a younger age? These questions would arise and would be sickening. Also: if a young person asks mum & dad what they do for a job and they reply 'I sell my own body for something as shallow as a piece of paper so you can have a secure future'. What message does that send out? How low can the human race sink for monetary outcomes? Just my thoughts. Well, prostitution is legal in Denmark, so that has probably affected my opinion. However, I'd argue that the concerns you raise, while definitely valid, are all based on a view of sex that I'm not sure I agree with. First of all, living in a country where prostitution is legal, I don't see many young girls suddenly turning to prostitution (and setting the minimum age at 15 also seems extreme). To be honest, the way you express it seems like scaremongering to me, and it also raises my next question: Why is it necessarily a bad and shameful thing to have sex for money? How is it sinking low? To me that view is based on old, conservative, and in my eyes outdated ideas about sex and sexuality. Besides, is it not something that would solve itself, anyway? Those who feel like you do would obviously not do it (and I believe there are still plenty who feel that way), and the ones who don't wouldn't have a problem with it if they wanted to do it. I don't believe in forcing morals onto people, so it's not an argument I can agree with. Now, where I agree most with you is on the topic of the dangers: Is prostitution per definition an unhealthy lifestyle physically and/or mentally? Or is it entirely possible to have a professional, healthy and respectful sex industry? I don't know for sure, and it's also one of the things that people in Denmark discuss a lot, but going back to the views on sex, I'm struggling to see why it couldn't be possible. To me it seems like most, if not all of the problems normally associated with prostitution (brothels/pimps (which are, by the way, NOT legal in Denmark), crime, poverty, abuse, etc.) are a result of the very attitude towards the concept that many people like you have. When something is viewed as shameful and low, it almost doesn't matter if it's legal or not, because it becomes something that people do out of desperation, and where there's desperation there are always people who are ready to take advantage. Essentially it seems to me that the problems stem not from the concept itself, but from society's view on it. And that's why I support making prostitution into a respectable industry with optimal conditions for the workers and safeguards in place to make sure the problematic elements are eliminated. I'm fully aware this may be a naïve belief, but I can personally see it working. Still, I'm obviously very open for debate, though I feel I've said what I wanted to say on the topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnas Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Wouldn't people signing up for such a job be aware of the kind of clients they're going to be sleeping with, though? People choosing prostitution as their lifestyle wouldn't be sacrificing another career for that, because they never wanted/considered it in the first place. As for the violence issue, I'd assume job security would be a pressing issue in a legal job. And pimps wouldn't be shady thugs, they'd be ensuring a safe workplace. Then again, I'm just going from a few things I heard about the Netherlands, Dannyboy makes a better point than me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goafer Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 One problem I have with prostitution is that, like porn/modelling etc, it only lasts as long as the persons looks. Once they're old and tired, I imagine customers become fewer and farther between. Once they get to that stage, where do they go from there? They've probably been used to a high level of income, but once it's gone, have they prepared for other careers/jobs? If I had a daughter who wanted to be a model, I'd be supportive but I'd insist she planned for once the modelling career is over. If she wanted to do porn/prostitution I'd give the same advice, but I can't guarantee I'd be supportive. Mainly because I'd spend most of my time trying not to think of my daughter having sex and also because it would be weird for her to bring her dad to auditions. I wouldn't do the whole disowning thing though. It would just be the thing that everyone in the family thinks about, but never talks about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoogleViper Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I see where you're coming from but for yourself and Moogle to suggest Prostitution could possibly be legalised is a strong proposal. I respect your opinions and feel that the crime issue Moogle states is an important observation. But wherever sex is sold - wouldn't violence ultimately occur? The individual may initially have the choice/power but when carnal desires are involved all kinds of control issues may arise. We'd have many young women going into prostitution too - let's face it, the sexualisation of young people is already a concern. That's a horrific thought in my opinion. Why would girls educate themselves past 15 when they may be ready to enter the world of prostitution? Could boys then 'apply' for a job from a younger age? These questions would arise and would be sickening. Also: if a young person asks mum & dad what they do for a job and they reply 'I sell my own body for something as shallow as a piece of paper so you can have a secure future'. What message does that send out? How low can the human race sink for monetary outcomes? Just my thoughts. I agree with what dannyboy said so I won't repeat it. I'll add that obviously it would need to be regulated. You'd have to set the age at 18 (as it is for porn). Teenage prostitution is currently a problem. Young girls are often sex trafficked into prostitution. Whereas if it were legal, this would greatly reduce, as people aren't going to go illegally curb crawling when they can get it in a nice, safe, legal establishment. There's also the issues of STDs. Being regulated would mean that the prostitutes are checked regularly. I'm not saying that prostitution is the main cause for STDs but it would certainly reduce it, even if only slightly. And as for Goafer's point; yes it would only last up to a certain age, but so do many jobs. Think of sportsmen for example, many of them can't continue past 30, yet there isn't (as far as I'm aware) a huge problem regarding unemployed sportsmen. Frankly I only see benefits to legalising it, with the only problem being the (IMO) outdated view of sex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goafer Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 And as for Goafer's point; yes it would only last up to a certain age, but so do many jobs. Think of sportsmen for example, many of them can't continue past 30, yet there isn't (as far as I'm aware) a huge problem regarding unemployed sportsmen. No, but most of them are celebrities, even if it's just a minor one. There's always jobs for out of work celebrities. Plus out of work sportsmen can transfer their skills to other jobs. Sports teachers, physios etc. The same can't be said for out of work prostitutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 No, but most of them are celebrities, even if it's just a minor one. There's always jobs for out of work celebrities. Plus out of work sportsmen can transfer their skills to other jobs. Sports teachers, physios etc. The same can't be said for out of work prostitutes. If prostitution was a legal business then there would be the need for training possible new companions - not so much the act itself, but etiquette and legal jumbo so they are taught to know when their clients go too far. They could also be trained to make people feel better in ways other than sex (lots of important communication skills fir future jobs). Plus it could be done so that the companions have their own say over who they see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnus Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 So basically it'd be like on Firefly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flameboy Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 all i could think about when I read this was that at the end of the night the uglyiest guy pays to have sex with the most disgusting girl ever. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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