WHAT'S UP WITH PROSTITUTION????

[PJ]

Ok, I'd like a discussion about the possible decriminalization or legalization of prostitution.

[Maxwell]

100% for legalization. Seems silly pornography is legal but prostitution is not.

[Sopranos Republican]

100% for legalization. Seems silly pornography is legal but prostitution is not.

[MadmanMotley]

100% for legalization. Seems silly pornography is legal but prostitution is not.

[Goldwater]

100% for legalization. Seems silly pornography is legal but prostitution is not.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=796_1298566954

That being established, I think there ought to be strict health standards in place. [/moderate hero]

[Del Tachi]

If it was to be legalized, I would like to see local municipalities have the right to regulate it through zoning ordinances.  Prostitutes would only be allowed to conduct their business in certain "red-light" districts as determined by city governments. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Prostitution should be legal with little to no restrictions.  Disease prevention is up to the whore and the client, nor do I care about "confusing" children. 

[dead0man]

Prostitution should be legal with little to no restrictions.  Disease prevention is up to the whore and the client, nor do I care about "confusing" children. 

Agreed, though there probably should be some location restrictions.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Here is a short description from a British organisation working with prostitutes, but there is a ton of research out there if you care to enlighten yourself.

Psychological Impact:

Most psychologists believe the long-term psychological harm resulting from prostitution is comparable to that from rape or domestic violence, 76% of those involved in prostitution experience some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The core experiences of violence and psychological trauma associated with prostitution are disempowerment and disconnection with others. Internally these experiences often cause a ‘split’ between the mind, body and spirit.

Individuals involved in prostitution often develop complex coping mechanisms and rituals to minimise their pain and brokenness:
 Dissociative disorders (e.g. disconnection, distancing)
 Anxiety disorders (e.g. fixation, memory loss, panic attacks, flashbacks)
 Substance abuse (leading to long term addiction and mental illness)
 Sleeping disorders – oversleeping, insomnia
 Depression
 Self harm
 Eating Disorders
 Obsessive-compulsive behaviour

[Vosem]

Prostitution should be legal, both for its status as a "victimless" crime, and so that the government can set rules and regulations to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the symptoms politicus described. When it's illegal, everyone loses.

[Link]

Prostitution should be legal with little to no restrictions.  Disease prevention is up to the whore and the client, nor do I care about "confusing" children. 

I was wondering how long it would take the thread to go off the rails.

Ever heard of PUBLIC health?

[traininthedistance]

It should be, to borrow a phrase, "safe, legal, and rare".

I would be in favor of regulations in the interest of public health and workplace safety, foremost among them mandating condom usage and frequent STD testing.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Prostitution should be legal with little to no restrictions.  Disease prevention is up to the whore and the client, nor do I care about "confusing" children.  

I was wondering how long it would take the thread to go off the rails.

Ever heard of PUBLIC health?

What's wrong with the word "whore"?  Are you assuming I meant it was a woman, Mr. Fascist?

And what does a private prostitution exchange have to do with public health?  If we allowed it, we could probably get free STD scans for the prostitutes to help ensure safety.  A prostitute has no interest in passing an STD onto a customer, anyway.  They're probably going to lose that customer, for one.  Secondly, the infected client is probably going to respond to their itchy, burning genitals with less than friendly discourse.  

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Prostitution should be legal with little to no restrictions.  Disease prevention is up to the whore and the client, nor do I care about "confusing" children.  

Agreed, though there probably should be some location restrictions.

Why?!  They won't be able to "set up shop" anywhere they are not wanted, we can let public outcry take care of that.  At the same time, I'd hate to see a prostitute arrested for courting interested parties at the local park late at night and then be thrown in the slammer by some prudish policeman.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The Nordics do it best as usual; illegal, but only the client gets prosecuted with anything.

[Anti Democrat Democrat Club]

I don't know much about it, but my Aussie friend sings the praises of hookers all the time, so I guess the Aussie model would work (as long as it's well-regulated).

[Dr. Cynic]

I think it should be legal, but to prevent STD's, prostitutes should get medical checkups and have a license to prevent any possibility of passing it onto a client. I'd rather also before clients visit prostitutes that they have STD check ups as well to prevent giving a healthy prostitute a disease.

Once those precautions are taken, I see no reason why it shouldn't be legal.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Nordics do it best as usual; illegal, but only the client gets prosecuted with anything.

Indeed.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Prostitution should be legal, both for its status as a "victimless" crime, and so that the government can set rules and regulations to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the symptoms politicus described. When it's illegal, everyone loses.

The "symptoms politicus described" are a direct consequence of selling your body out for money - not a side-effect that can be dealt with through regulation.

[Ebowed]

Prostitution should be legal, both for its status as a "victimless" crime, and so that the government can set rules and regulations to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the symptoms politicus described. When it's illegal, everyone loses.

The "symptoms politicus described" are a direct consequence of selling your body out for money - not a side-effect that can be dealt with through regulation.

They can, however, be dealt with through a more sexually open culture which in turn reduces the demand for prostitution.

Shouldn't everyone be getting tested for STI's, not just prostitutes?

I take issue with the phrase 'selling [ones'] body out for money' as if it is somehow more degrading than selling anything else for money - money is inherently dirty, as those who profit do so at the expense of those who toil.  What makes sex any worse to sell than jewelery?

[Antonio the Sixth]

What makes it different is pretty obvious and I don't especially want to get back to a discussion we've already had thousand times. I can only say that the fact so many people don't get the difference infinitely depresses me.

[DC Al Fine]

Prostitution should be legal, both for its status as a "victimless" crime, and so that the government can set rules and regulations to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the symptoms politicus described. When it's illegal, everyone loses.

The "symptoms politicus described" are a direct consequence of selling your body out for money - not a side-effect that can be dealt with through regulation.

They can, however, be dealt with through a more sexually open culture which in turn reduces the demand for prostitution.

Shouldn't everyone be getting tested for STI's, not just prostitutes?

I take issue with the phrase 'selling [ones'] body out for money' as if it is somehow more degrading than selling anything else for money - money is inherently dirty, as those who profit do so at the expense of those who toil.  What makes sex any worse to sell than jewelery?

Sex is a much more significant part of part of the human experience, so selling one's body has a much stronger effect on one's mental health than selling a shiny piece of metal for more than what you paid for it.

As California Tony said, there are issues with prostitution that cannot be solved through regulation and STI tests. By all mean, you can think it should be legal, but please don't act like sex is some commodity like pork bellies. It is a deeply emotional and complicated thing.

[Cory]

It should be legal and regulated. Every serious person knows this.

[opebo]

Here is a short description from a British organisation working with prostitutes, but there is a ton of research out there if you care to enlighten yourself.

Psychological Impact:

Most psychologists believe the long-term psychological harm resulting from prostitution is comparable to that from rape or domestic violence, 76% of those involved in prostitution experience some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The core experiences of violence and psychological trauma associated with prostitution are disempowerment and disconnection with others. Internally these experiences often cause a ‘split’ between the mind, body and spirit.

Individuals involved in prostitution often develop complex coping mechanisms and rituals to minimise their pain and brokenness:
 Dissociative disorders (e.g. disconnection, distancing)
 Anxiety disorders (e.g. fixation, memory loss, panic attacks, flashbacks)
 Substance abuse (leading to long term addiction and mental illness)
 Sleeping disorders – oversleeping, insomnia
 Depression
 Self harm
 Eating Disorders
 Obsessive-compulsive behaviour

So?  All that is true of any toil.  Toils are miserable.