Legalize prostitution?

[Rydia]

I never understood why prostitution was illegal. Shouldn't people have the right to get paid for sex? And why is it the government's business if they do so? How is it different from hooking up with a random person? And how is it any different from being a stripper (yes the sex part I know, by is it ok for a woman to get paid to take her clothes off but not to have sex?)?

I think that having prostitution is dangerous for the prostitutes. If they are raped or beaten by their pimp or client, they cannot report it. Why? Because prostitution is illegal and they will go to jail for confessing the rape.

Not all prostitutes work under a pimp nor are all low class women who were "forced" to work in the business. Some are middle class women who work from their house or brothels if they are in Nevada and they got into the business by choice.

If it's legalized, it can be regulated and government can require all prostitutes to get health exams every so often to help prevent STDs from spreading.


You can think that prostitution is gross, immoral, or whatever. But no one is forcing you to go to one.

 

[Roland_Deschain]

I find this topic intresting as I was the one who put out the thread about legalizing weed.

I think it should be legal sure. what you said has a valid point. I am living in china right now, and while it is illegal it is ignored completely and controlled by corrupt police. Yet I have been reading statistics saying that 10 percent of the overall business profits in big cities in china strive from prostitution. Now in a country with so many people that is a lot of money being passed around by just citizens of the residing country....that is good for the economy.

I am not saying it is ethical though, self esteem in countries is important and I dont personally think that prostitution is a good business market to stimulate the minds of the future generation, We dont want attractive good looking people to waste their talents because they think they can just get by with sex.

However it should be legal due to the reasons you mentioned, it is a personal choice and those who partake in it are not affecting those around them who do not partake in it. There is no second hand sluttyness. I am one of those people who believe that they can raise an intelligent child no matter what the scenario around them may be, as long as parents can do a good job parenting then they will have sensible logic to what is a smarter decision and what is not.

 

[Donald Trump]

I think the reason it's illegal is more social than anything else. It makes a commodity of love. Not that there's much love involved in the world's oldest profession. Prostitution isn't particularly illegal, everyone knows which areas and streets of town to go to find a whore.
There was a study made done not too long ago, which I may be able to find if pressed, that found that hookers with pimps were better off that ones without. They get protection, a guarantee of clients and I think they're better paid than prostitutes that just walk the streets.

We legalised prostitution here about 6 years ago, or something like that. It's worked well as far as I can tell. Some of the hookers do start at 3pm sometimes, which can be a bit much, especially if there's children around. But I don't have a problem with it at all.

 

[Valkyrur]

I can't really be bothered with it. As far as I can tell, even here, prostitution is legal - though the truth of which is a matter I've never bothered to ascertain. If I'm right about prostitution being legal here, then I must also add that I've never encountered a prostitute trying to solicit her services to me, nor have I seen any soliciting openly in public.

Which is fine by me. Here, we do have a well-known red light district, and these prostitutes seem to know that as well. So long they're out of sight, I suppose they're out of mind as well.

Prostitution can go on for all I care. Hell. One day I might patronize them? Who knows. But whatever. It's just a job, and if the prostitute herself is okay with this arrangement, then I've nothing to say.

 

[Demon]

The Christian moral view is generally to take care of one's body. To sell one's body in this way, kind of breaks that rule.

So, for religious reasons, I'd disagree.

 

[CassinoChips]

I never understood why prostitution was illegal. Shouldn't people have the right to get paid for sex? And why is it the government's business if they do so? How is it different from hooking up with a random person? And how is it any different from being a stripper (yes the sex part I know, by is it ok for a woman to get paid to take her clothes off but not to have sex?)?

Or an adult film actor, for that matter. It's literally the same thing, except there's a camera involved.

I think that having prostitution is dangerous for the prostitutes. If they are raped or beaten by their pimp or client, they cannot report it. Why? Because prostitution is illegal and they will go to jail for confessing the rape.

Not really. Rape is rape, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it. Though legalizing it and regulating it will make it much safer for the women involved.

Not all prostitutes work under a pimp nor are all low class women who were "forced" to work in the business. Some are middle class women who work from their house or brothels if they are in Nevada and they got into the business by choice.

If it's legalized, it can be regulated and government can require all prostitutes to get health exams every so often to help prevent STDs from spreading.

And we can tax the hell out of it and reduce the national deficit.

The Christian moral view is generally to take care of one's body. To sell one's body in this way, kind of breaks that rule.

So, for religious reasons, I'd disagree.

Happily, we live in a nation that separates religion from legislature. Or is supposed to, anyway. So we should remove religion from the discussion.

 

[Dr. Percival Cox]

I've always been rather curious about this myself. Coming from someone who doesn't fit into the category of attractive, I personally see nothing wrong with prostitution, seeing as how it's the way a good number of guys who look like me have sex on a regular basis. We live in a shallow society. Most people don't want to have intercourse (the empty, meaningless variety) with someone who's not "hot". So, paying money to have sex with someone who looks amazing when you don't seems pretty fair.

Shit, I'll be honest. If I had the money, I'd probably "rent" one as often as I could. I'm not trying to sound shallow, but it seems more practical than simply fucking someone you don't find physically appealing. I've seen guys lower their standards to a revolting level just because it meant that much to them to not be a virgin anymore. I find myself thinking, "Just get out a loan and do it with someone that you wouldn't deny that you knew if you saw them in a public place."

 

[Stoic Hero]

You can choose, oh Terrible Terry Tate, to remove religion from legislature, if you want. That is your choice, and choice is a beautiful thing. But don't deny someone else the same right. If I want to include religion in my politics, who are you to disapprove? If I believe prostitution is immoral, who can say otherwise?

Prostitution is wrong. Selling your body for money is unhealthy, immoral, and disgusting. That's my two cents.

 

[der Astronom]

No one's denying you the right to think what you want. What is happening, however, is that religion is not a good justification for anything. If you want it for personal beliefs, nobody's denying you that right. But the second you use religion to justify something, you're basically saying something is right just because you have faith that it is.

It's an unconvincing argument, and I hope people can see why.

 

[Donald Trump]

[/COLOR]

Or an adult film actor, for that matter. It's literally the same thing, except there's a camera involved.

It's not the same thing as the money is not paid by the person having sex, and all the participants are paid. Porn is also a massive industry so it has a lot of money to lobby, if it was necessary. And the consumer is some guy sitting at home. I see your point, that it's people being paid to have sex, but I don't think it is exactly the same thing.

Not really. Rape is rape, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it.

In an ideal worl perhaps. However this is not an ideal world
The police have their prejudices, and the amount of murdered prostitutes would suggest that the police don't give much of a fuck. I don't think reporting rape is going to reduce the likelihood of it happening, it's an occupational hazard.

So, paying money to have sex with someone who looks amazing when you don't seems pretty fair.

You're going to be in for a bit of a shock. Oddly enough there aren't prostitute scouts who go around seraching for beautiful women and asking them if they'd like to be whores. The women who are prostitues are quite likely to be junkies, ugly and old.

 

[unadulteratedawesome]

It's an unconvincing argument, and I hope people can see why.

I wish it were so. But if everyone was that reasonable, then religion wouldn't have polluted politics and legislation as much as it has in many countries.

Anything that is made illegal that there is a demand for will be made available by criminals. Even harmless things become dangerous when there's an unregulated, illegal underground controlling and selling them.

So if we made prostitution legal, what would happen? We could regulate it, which would reduce the risks of disease and violence against prostitutes (from pimps and clients alike). We would gut most of the illegal industry, as even lower costs for prostitutes from illegal pimps would be offset by the risks.

There's certainly a moral argument against it, but that is stupid, like most moral arguments. Does it cause harm? No. That's enough for it to be legalized for me.

Legalized prostitution allows brothels that screen prostitutes and clients alike for disease, provide contraceptives, a safe environment, panic buttons and legal accountability in the event of a rape or attempted rape, and allows women and men more control over their bodies rather than placing that control in the hands of a pimp.

And what exactly is immoral about prostitution? People fuck all the time simply for pleasure and most of the time both parties are fine with the arrangement. A person should be free to do with their body what they wish. I don't feel I'm being used or degraded when I'm paid for manual labor. Not quite the same, but someone is still paying me for use of my body.

 

[blakstang98]

I remember watching something where there were prostitutes talking about the prostitution being illegal and the dangers it put them in. Now these weren't typical hookers working the street corners, it was like one of those more formal, Heidi Fleiss brothel deals. They were arguing that because it is an illegal business, they couldn't receive a medical card or get insured check-ups. And to boot, if they were attacked in an unwanted way while doing their job, they couldn't call on the law to help them out, obviously.

Honestly, it does make sense, the way they presented their argument. I guess because it's mostly a skeevy business done with pimps and junkies, that it gets viewed in a negative light and they keep it illegal. I honestly don't care either way, so I could debate for or against, but it doesn't matter enough to me. I never paid for a prostitute, nor will I. But I would never judge someone who did or would.

 

[Stoic Hero]

No one's denying you the right to think what you want. What is happening, however, is that religion is not a good justification for anything. If you want it for personal beliefs, nobody's denying you that right. But the second you use religion to justify something, you're basically saying something is right just because you have faith that it is.

It's an unconvincing argument, and I hope people can see why.

What is a good justification for something? Because I would LOVE to hear any concrete proof you have that prostitution is good for the community.

Morals beget ethics, ethics beget laws, and laws keep control. Where you get your morals is your business, but mine come from a God I believe is fair and just. Yours may come from your parents, or from yourself, but ultimately you have no more importance than any of us. Because you have just as much faith in your own morals as anyone else.

 

[der Astronom]

And that's precisely the problem. Trying to argue for something in which only you hold to be true does not have to affect other people, nor does it necessarily apply to them; your personal beliefs are things you do for yourself, and for which you cannot expect other people to abide by or agree; we have rules and the law for things which apply to everyone because we think it will benefit society. Stuff that you base off of religion, for which not everyone is expected to believe does not benefit society; it only benefits the people who happen to agree with you.

For example, you claim your god is fair and just; if we're talking about the Christian god, I don't consider him fair and just. I don't consider giving people a scapegoat for responsibilities to be fair or just. And if you disagree and want to debate that further, you are welcome to do so in the religious debate section.

Instead of complaining that it's immoral because your god said so, you should try to argue from a perspective that is supported by evidence and reasoning.

 

[blakstang98]

This topic is starting to veer off into a more "morals" and a general "what I believe vs. what you believe, and how". Lets get back on topic with legalizing prostitution. Thank you.

 

[Doc Holliday]

What is a good justification for something? Because I would LOVE to hear any concrete proof you have that prostitution is good for the community.

Morals beget ethics, ethics beget laws, and laws keep control. Where you get your morals is your business, but mine come from a God I believe is fair and just. Yours may come from your parents, or from yourself, but ultimately you have no more importance than any of us. Because you have just as much faith in your own morals as anyone else.

Mine come from my rationality, not from faith; you base your morals on a being you have no evidence for, it is a good thing that Religion is not meant to intervene in legislation, if it were a great many reprehensible acts would be sanctioned and a great many perfectly normal acts would be forbidden.
Moreover my ethics come from my empathy, something which I'm yet to see a Religious person cite as a source of ethical truth. I don't like being stolen from, so I won't steal, unless under extenuating circumstances.

Also; wasn't Mary Magdalene a prostitute?

On topic; I have no problem with the idea of prostitution, it's more money into the economy and it's more people with jobs. I reckon you'd probably see that rape figure come down quite a bit, too. A woman has the right to do what she wills with her own body, yet she cannot sell her sex? But put a camera in front of it and call it porn and the government are fine with it; it makes them money, the porn industry being one of the biggest in America.

 

[Roland_Deschain]

Religion may not even be the real reason not to do it. You do not have to be a religious person to understand how to live noble lives. Stoic is correct in saying that prostitution is immoral, dimeaning to women, and sinply wrong....and you dont have to have any kind of religion to have the commen sense to see it. I only argue that it should be legal for the other reasons that have been mentioned previously. The thing is, making it legal has benifits, yet it also comes with social problems in a country like the U.S. I think it is one of those things that will be abused more and may shatter the idea of romance and the quality of women in general. All in all its up to each person to stay at least somewhat faithful to his beliefs if he or she can. Lets not sell our dignity and souls for convienence to easily.

 

[Channizard]

Why haven't they legalized prostitution? Because they can't tax it.

The government would make LOADS of money if they could find a way to tax sex, but how? The majority of these people operate from home. A lot of them, out of their own volition. (I know there's pimps and brothels, but beyond that.) It's all cash in hand (or gifts), there's no records or receipts. There's no button on the cash register to input a 12% tax on this woman's vagina useage.

There's no possible way to tax this because there's no way that they can watch every single prostitute and ensure that they're recording all their earnings come tax time. So if women get off by earning more, by not recording what they're earning (and they do, these women make a lot of money depending on their clients) then why would they? If what they earn, technically puts them in a larger tax bracket (and it would), then they get deducted more from it. And there's a good possibility that they wouldn't see that money come back to them in a tax return.

So why would these women report these earnings, if they'll get to keep more by not reporting it? Why would the Government legalize something if they can't find a technical way to tax and make money off of it? They wouldn't. It doesn't benefit them.

/thread

 

[coffeecup]

@Any Christian

I'm not a big Christianity buff, but I'm wondering how a Christian would respond to this argument. I'm just doing this for fun, so don't think I'm poking fun or making a contentious point to stir trouble.

Here goes:
Now one of the things that is inherently prized in Christian belief is the freedom of choice (aka free will). Without this, there is no justification for praising or condemning a person or really determining whether or not someone did right or wrong. Even in the birth of humanity with Adam and Eve, Eve was able to go against God's will and eat from the forbidden fruit, albeit with deception but all allowed by God). So this unique human condition doesn't come from wisdom or knowledge, but is an inherent part of us. And it was given to us by God. Despite being all-powerful and all-knowing, he decided to allow an individual to choose to do right/wrong instead of simply programming humans to do good. Why he did this is a big unknown, but it's something he did so it should be treasured. Right?

So if God's plan included creating humans with an ability to accept/reject moral precepts, why does it matter to the Christian whether or not prostitution (or really any other "immoral" act that isn't a mortal sin or codified in the Bible) to be legal so long as it's properly regulated. If the red light districts are isolated and its influence doesn't reach towards innocent children, whether or not a grown adult chooses to work/enjoy the industry seems to be an extension of that person's own uninhibited right given to him by God. Why should the laws inhibit an individual's ability to choose between his own conception of good and bad? If morality is a strong enough deterrent or justification, then it would seem that a Christian would be open to prostitution being legalized since it would have no effect on whether or not a proper adult would be able to exercise his ability to commit such acts. Since morality is wholly apart from legality when it comes to individual actions, a Christian would not commit prostitution whether or not it was legalized. It could arguably be even better to submit someone to the moral difficulty of entertaining a prostitute since it would only go to bolster and truly revel his moral leaning.

Like I said, so long as it's properly regulated (and assuming this is possible) would a Christian really have qualms about others choosing to work/enjoy prostitution? If divine judgment is inevitable, why do Christians concern themselves with the choices that other autonomous adults make? If God was open to this allowance, then why do Christians believe that it is alright to forcible close this particular avenue of individual choice?



Edit: Quick response to guy above me. There's a huge underground market as it is for the sex industry. If you bring this market into daylight, there's going to be incentives to streamline business practices (aka go from individual shops-> small business -> large business) like any other industry. Then it won't matter if a few workers get paid under the table to get around the IRS. The tax revenue isn't going to be from shanty hookers, it's going to be coming from established businesses.

 

[CassinoChips]

Also; wasn't Mary Magdalene a prostitute?

No.

If I want to include religion in my politics, who are you to disapprove?

Because as soon as you inject religion into law, and then force me to live under those laws, you're infringing on my Constitutional rights, which not only protects your freedom of religion, but my freedom from religion. In the case of prostitution's legality, logic shows that it is more beneficial to 1) the prostitute 2) the solicitor 3) the government to legalize prostitution. The only argument against prostitution comes from a religious standpoint, which is unconstitutional, and has no place in the legal sphere.

If I believe prostitution is immoral, who can say otherwise?

If I believe prostitution is amoral, who can say otherwise?