Poll: Prostitution should it be legal?

[ilikepie59]

I reckon legal, but no billboards or TV ads.

 

[cobra_ky]

Forget I ever spoke then. Too many of these fucking threads on this forum. The subject is far too sensitive for discussion on a gaming forum.

Ok. I didn't mean to dissuade discussion on the topic, but given how contentious these threads get i don't blame your for not wanting to get involved.

 

[an874]

To quote George Carlin, "If selling is legal, and fucking is legal, why is it illegal to sell fucking?"

 

[Coffeemaker]

I use to think it should be legal, then after I did a criminology assignment on it I changed my mind. Now I think it should be legal for the prostitutes themselves, but should be illegal for both pimps and customers.

 

[Kryzantine]

The second consideration is drugs. Where there's prostitutes, there's drugs. You've got the street hookers, they've got the street drugs. You got the brothels, you got the party drugs. The two simply go hand-in-hand. Allowing prostitution while trying to keep drugs illegal is nigh impossible - the girls might use, the guys mostly use. This is one of the reasons the US has kept prostitution officially illegal, but informally semi-legal.

I'm going to go ahead and put this under "correlation, not causation". The reason that prostitutes often have drugs is not because they are prostitutes. It probably has more to do with them being illegal, and being around people who manage illegal businesses. It's like with pot: pot is a "gateway drug" not because it's a drug (otherwise you could easily apply it to booze) but because it's ILLEGAL.

Your point being? Because this is exactly what I'm saying, the two go hand-in-hand. You're not disproving anything.

The third consideration is that prostitution is one of the few low-level crimes left. The police keep prostitutes around, especially in crime riddled neighbourhoods, because they're usually poor, young people who can't afford to spend time in jail. They can serve two uses. The first is that they know the neighbourhood they work in really well, and they hear a lot of things. The second is the probability that prostitutes may be open to the actual criminal underworld itself, and they're easy to push. If the police want to know the street rumor, or if they want to make a push on a local drug dealer, the first people they go to are prostitutes, because they know a lot.

So...? Prostutition should be illegal because... it helps the cops? Bad argument. Also, proof that this isn't just, well, hollywood's picture of reality? You're painting this bizarre picture that the average prostitute is, well, a spy for the police. Never mind that they still get arrested from time to time. Never mind that it's kind of a ridiculous idea overall. I just can't see this, I'm sorry. Evidence?

Actually, if anyone is painting a picture here, it would be you. In no way did I say prostitutes work as spies for the police. They can and do function as informants, some of them. Some of them will be arrested. In fact, part of my whole point is that this activity is limited to certain areas, in that prostitutes will be targetted by the cops in some areas and ignored in others. If anything, the only picture I'm "painting" is that there exists red light districts in areas where prostitution is technically illegal. I'm a photographer, not a painter, BTW.

 

[robinkom]

I like how the Carlin quote is popping up with alternate wording after I said it first. I don't recall how many times he rehashed that joke on different HBO specials or albums, but the one I said is the one I heard... but I can't remember which one it was from.

As George Carlin once said, "Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. WHY ISN'T SELLING FUCKING LEGAL!?"

Got another quote for whoever mentioned illegal narcotics in their prostitution arguments.

"All illegal narcotics are medicinal... if used as directed. Boredom is a disease worse than cancer." --Doug Stanhope

(Not that I have an argument, I just skimmed over the walls of text so I thought I'd mention that one.)

 

[Tyson765]

I personal feel that if people look at the risks involved in any activity whether it be Joining the army, Taking drugs or prostitution and everything in between be it legal or not its their own, educated decision.
I mean for christ's sake they are Intelligent adults and can make decisions for themselves and don't need a government telling what they are and not prepared for as long as it hurts no one but themselves.

 

[Jake Martinez]

Legalized prostitution reduces violence against women, drug use, crime and helps protect the public health by reducing cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

Illegal prostitution puts women in jail for supporting themselves and their families.

In either case, prostitution will happen. There's a reason why they call it the worlds oldest profession.

The choice seems pretty obvious to me.

 

[C95J]

I fully believe that people have the sole right to do whatever they want with their own bodies, as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.

So yes, I do think prostitution should be legal.

 

[Kroxile]

I think it should because its a woman's choice to do whatever the hell she wants with her body and nobody (save a husband, child, or a parent if still a minor) should have any say otherwise.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

As long as it's regulated.

 

[Sangreal Gothcraft]

Don't want STD's running rampant, i say Nay..

 

[kelevra]

No street walking. Licenced brothels only. Must have security. Regular government checkups to ensure the girls are not being forced into it, are using proper protection and are not all drug fucked. Monthly STD tests.

As long as those rules are followed to ensure both their and the customers safety then there is absolutely no reason not to allow it.

Agreed.

 

[Dragonclaw]

There has clearly always been a demand and a supply And its already legal to have sex for money as long as you do it on camera for comercial use. I see no reason not to regulate it and legitimize it. Allow it to be conducted ONLY in the safety of a brothel. Have brothels zoned so they can only be in certain areas, license the workers, require frequent check ups and safe sex practices. Anyone who catches something permanent is blacklisted.

It gets streetwalkers out of neigborhoods, eliminates pimps, and gets rid of the human trafficing for the sex trade. I see no downside...will more people cheat on their spouses? I really doubt that the numbers would increase. A relationship that is going to end because of legal prostitution was already in some pretty big trouble. Just like in any relationship rules about that sort of thing need to be set early on.

 

[KezzieZ]

I think so, but only if it's regulated. You know, checking that people are consenting, having health screenings, etc.

If someone wants to pay for sex and another wants to charge for sex, then it's not my personal problem, but I think there should be standards like any other business.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

No street walking. Licenced brothels only. Must have security. Regular government checkups to ensure the girls are not being forced into it, are using proper protection and are not all drug fucked. Monthly STD tests.

As long as those rules are followed to ensure both their and the customers safety then there is absolutely no reason not to allow it.

You have brought up the most logical statement in this thread. It should be legal, but only if it's proven to be safe. I myself have sworn never to actually go to a prostitute, but I realise how important one can be to the everyday man and woman.

EDIT: Also OP, I understand WHY there is a poll for being sick and sexist, but people do know that there are Male Prostitutes as well right? There's nothing really sexist about that >.>

 

[Arehexes]

As long as it follows the system of where the brothels workers get regular STD tests and require the customers to have a recent STD test, and the workers use condemns and keep a clean environment then I'm ok with it.

 

[Jacob.pederson]

When I saw the Poll result Over 80% people believe that prostitution should be legalized. My hope on humanity was crushed. :<

And my hope in humanity was uplifted

Seriously though, prostitution is never going to be a "good" thing, but since it's also not going anywhere . . . better to legalize it and offer some kind of protection than to force it underground were the truly horrific things will happen.

In fact, those that are against legal prostitution, are indirectly supporting exactly the kinds of rape and degradation that happen when prostitution is illegal.

 

[Sandytimeman]

I say yes, and it has nothing to do with the fact I'm a lonely nerd! But honestly its legal in Neveda, US but only in certain brothels. I think it should be kinda a universal thing. It's safer for everyone and less stupid cases clogging up the court and jail.

I mean, you are telling me that there are women right now who's ideal job is getting paid to have sex.... That is something I just don't believe.

Are you suggesting that someone wouldn't want to do an enjoyable activity as a career path. Honestly can you explain the difference between a Porn Star having sex for money on film and a Legal Hooker working in a brothel having sex for money?

 

[v3n0mat3]

Brothels only. We need to be rid of the illega street walkers. Then we can really help stop violent crimes, drug trafficking, the spread of diseases, and other such things. Besides, It's a service. Big deal. It's not even biblically forbidden, so there's no reason not to have prostitution, in any sense.