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JOEBIALEK · Feb 27, 2004, 06:44 pm

Referred to as the world's oldest "profession," prostitution is defined as the act or practice of selling oneself for sexual purposes. It is also defined as an unworthy use of a talent, quality, or the like, especially for personal gain. What's interesting is that the former is illegal in all states except Nevada while the latter has been morally and culturally accepted since the beginning of time. This begs the question: is there any difference between a street walker/escort and a person who uses their physical beauty to attain a lifestyle that others labor very hard to attain? Too often in our society we see evidence of the "trophy spouse"; a reward received by those who achieve success in business or entertainment. The marriage consists of a person who sees a beautiful spouse as something to obtain and a person who deliberately shops lifestyle by any sexual means necessary.

Some would argue that prostitution should be made legal so that (just as with drugs) it can be regulated by the state and become a source of revenue enhancement. Furthermore, sex between strangers would be safer since the government (as in Nevada) would require regular medical examinations to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The problem facing this country is that we haven't reconciled these two definitions thus creating the existence of a double standard. We are quick to arrest and condemn the street walker/escort but would never think to shun a sexual opportunist. In many ways, prostitution already is legal in our society. People pay to watch two people have sex with each other but yet cannot pay each other for sex. I recall two people comparing their lifestyles while waiting in line at the airport. One person told the other "the difference between you and me is that you pay for your sex with cash and I pay for it with dinners, clothing and jewelry". The problem with this country today is not that we are a nation of laws but rather a nation that continually contradicts itself when it comes to morality.

james? · Feb 27, 2004, 06:48 pm

Great points made. I'd agree that morally, we are a nation of double-standards.

Mia · Feb 27, 2004, 07:08 pm

What about the "professional girlfriends"? Women who are kept as mistresses by one man after another. The man (usually married) keeps her in an apartment, pays for her car and clothes and other expenses, and in turn she has sex with him and/or escorts him when and where he wants. But no one gets arrested....

commonsense · Feb 27, 2004, 09:13 pm

Please think about the pandora's box of social evils you unleash....

When you advocate TAXING everything!

tman_ndsu08 · Feb 27, 2004, 10:37 pm

The world turns because of supply and demand. You could argue that this is what life is about.

People need and want stuff and others supply it for a fee.

Prostitution is this exact thing and no less legitimate than any other business.

Trying to stop it is a joke anyway...people have tried...the demand is too great.

darwinist · Feb 28, 2004, 06:21 am

PROSTITUTION

Well here in the Netherlands, prostitution is legal. The best effects of this that i can see are, that this country has a very low 'rape' problem. It is almost unheard of here. Plus the women get free health checks and condoms. There tested, etc. Anyone who wants too, can go along a have sex. In the UK and USA, you can pay to have sex. But then your money is going towards, drugs, gangs, pimps and under world crime. In the United States, they tried to ban the drinking of beer and spirits. Did this work? Of course not. You had one of the most famous criminals, running a 'speak easy'. He was so good at it, that they could only arrest him on Tax evasion. When is the United States going to learn this lesson and apply it too prostitution and drug?

Which brings me too my second point. That is of Freedom. Prostitution is the most honest version of Sex for Money. It is a very clear contrat. A mistress is breaking the 'civil' contrat of marriage. So not very honest. Plus the basic freedom, that i understand is. That you can do what you like, as long as you not hurting anyone else by doing that. With Prostitution, your not hurting anyone else. In fact the opposite, you are giving them pleasure.

Double Standards are all too often, these days. When will common sense, come to life?

Double Standards include:-

Can have sex at 16, but can't watch anyone having sex till 18. So when your 16 and 17, does this mean you have to wear a blind fold, while having sex?

Can at 16, join the army. But can't vote till 18, to vote against the government who is taking you to war which you disagree with.

Impenitent · Feb 28, 2004, 09:47 am

blindfolds only if you are kinky... :)

Mia · Feb 28, 2004, 12:44 pm

17 is the age of consent for sex. 18 for marriage.

dotcoma · Feb 28, 2004, 02:27 pm

Darwinist is on to something. But I still think it's gross.

Feb 28, 2004, 03:43 pm

Mia, the age of consent varies with each state.. some are as low as 13, others as high as 19..

Darwinist,
NIce post. Not only was a huge criminal class created by alcohol prohibition, but it also resulted in the Kennedys.. oh wait I already mentioned the criminal class!

If it were not for the unfortunate tradition of puritanism in the US there might just be a chance that some sexual freedom might be allowed.. but I doubt that the US will get past that history any time soon. And as you note, the powers that be have not leaerned anything from history.

commonsense · Feb 28, 2004, 04:48 pm

Hans Brinker,
You misunderstood my comment. I would appreciate you enlightening me on your country's immigration policies, social homogeneity, and population, etc, because of course it works well for you.
Its just that here in the U.S. which is attached to the third world and has essentially open borders, is geographically huge and sectionalized culturally and artificially, so "taxing" anything only equals essentially robbing "functional" intact families of human and material resources to raise their children to feed corruption, bureaucrats and cops.

Leopard · Feb 28, 2004, 04:59 pm

darwinist,
you make a mistake - the health checks and condoms are not 'free' - you paid for them and at a cost probably higher than if you did so without the government acting as a greedy middleman.

but, overall, you post is good

michael

Mia · Feb 28, 2004, 06:36 pm

It's hard to argue with that logic - it's exactly what I believe. Freedom is doing what you want if it doesn't infringe on others. It's hard to apply it to this but maybe I have to if I really believe that!

What I get stuck on is I think it does create somewhat of a deterrant being illegal and I like any deterrants to this. I know it will always go on but there are those that refrain due to illegality......it's the same with drugs for me.

I know for a fact more would do them and more often if it weren't for drug testing at work, etc.

Tough choices.

Feb 27, 2004, 07:08 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Mia Retired Posts: 7,312	What about the "professional girlfriends"? Women who are kept as mistresses by one man after another. The man (usually married) keeps her in an apartment, pays for her car and clothes and other expenses, and in turn she has sex with him and/or escorts him when and where he wants. But no one gets arrested.... "...with like-minded people one cannot discuss. With like-minded people one can only participate in a church service, and you know how I feel about church services." Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Feb 27, 2004, 09:13 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
commonsense Igneous Magma Posts: 333	Please think about the pandora's box of social evils you unleash.... When you advocate TAXING everything! The Porcupine is a great symbol. READ THOMAS PAINE, "RIGHTS OF MAN" TO A KID

Feb 28, 2004, 06:21 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
darwinist Igneous Magma Location: Netherlands Posts: 200	PROSTITUTION Well here in the Netherlands, prostitution is legal. The best effects of this that i can see are, that this country has a very low 'rape' problem. It is almost unheard of here. Plus the women get free health checks and condoms. There tested, etc. Anyone who wants too, can go along a have sex. In the UK and USA, you can pay to have sex. But then your money is going towards, drugs, gangs, pimps and under world crime. In the United States, they tried to ban the drinking of beer and spirits. Did this work? Of course not. You had one of the most famous criminals, running a 'speak easy'. He was so good at it, that they could only arrest him on Tax evasion. When is the United States going to learn this lesson and apply it too prostitution and drug? Which brings me too my second point. That is of Freedom. Prostitution is the most honest version of Sex for Money. It is a very clear contrat. A mistress is breaking the 'civil' contrat of marriage. So not very honest. Plus the basic freedom, that i understand is. That you can do what you like, as long as you not hurting anyone else by doing that. With Prostitution, your not hurting anyone else. In fact the opposite, you are giving them pleasure. Double Standards are all too often, these days. When will common sense, come to life? Double Standards include:- Can have sex at 16, but can't watch anyone having sex till 18. So when your 16 and 17, does this mean you have to wear a blind fold, while having sex? Can at 16, join the army. But can't vote till 18, to vote against the government who is taking you to war which you disagree with. What goes 'up', must come 'down', unless it goes around and round.

Feb 28, 2004, 09:47 am	#7 (permalink) (top)
Impenitent Hot Lava Posts: 1,859	blindfolds only if you are kinky... :) "I really like this jacket, but the sleeves are much too long..." insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results...

Feb 28, 2004, 12:44 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
Mia Retired Posts: 7,312	17 is the age of consent for sex. 18 for marriage. "...with like-minded people one cannot discuss. With like-minded people one can only participate in a church service, and you know how I feel about church services." Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Feb 27, 2004, 06:44 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
JOEBIALEK Molten Ash Posts: 39	Referred to as the world's oldest "profession," prostitution is defined as the act or practice of selling oneself for sexual purposes. It is also defined as an unworthy use of a talent, quality, or the like, especially for personal gain. What's interesting is that the former is illegal in all states except Nevada while the latter has been morally and culturally accepted since the beginning of time. This begs the question: is there any difference between a street walker/escort and a person who uses their physical beauty to attain a lifestyle that others labor very hard to attain? Too often in our society we see evidence of the "trophy spouse"; a reward received by those who achieve success in business or entertainment. The marriage consists of a person who sees a beautiful spouse as something to obtain and a person who deliberately shops lifestyle by any sexual means necessary. Some would argue that prostitution should be made legal so that (just as with drugs) it can be regulated by the state and become a source of revenue enhancement. Furthermore, sex between strangers would be safer since the government (as in Nevada) would require regular medical examinations to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The problem facing this country is that we haven't reconciled these two definitions thus creating the existence of a double standard. We are quick to arrest and condemn the street walker/escort but would never think to shun a sexual opportunist. In many ways, prostitution already is legal in our society. People pay to watch two people have sex with each other but yet cannot pay each other for sex. I recall two people comparing their lifestyles while waiting in line at the airport. One person told the other "the difference between you and me is that you pay for your sex with cash and I pay for it with dinners, clothing and jewelry". The problem with this country today is not that we are a nation of laws but rather a nation that continually contradicts itself when it comes to morality.

Feb 27, 2004, 06:48 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
james? Molten Ash Location: Minnesota Posts: 84	Great points made. I'd agree that morally, we are a nation of double-standards.

Feb 27, 2004, 10:37 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
tman_ndsu08 BANNED Posts: 5,021	The world turns because of supply and demand. You could argue that this is what life is about. People need and want stuff and others supply it for a fee. Prostitution is this exact thing and no less legitimate than any other business. Trying to stop it is a joke anyway...people have tried...the demand is too great.

Feb 28, 2004, 02:27 pm	#9 (permalink) (top)
dotcoma Volcanic Erupter Posts: 3,154	Darwinist is on to something. But I still think it's gross.

Feb 28, 2004, 03:43 pm	#10 (permalink) (top)
Lightbearer Guest Posts: n/a	Mia, the age of consent varies with each state.. some are as low as 13, others as high as 19.. Darwinist, NIce post. Not only was a huge criminal class created by alcohol prohibition, but it also resulted in the Kennedys.. oh wait I already mentioned the criminal class! If it were not for the unfortunate tradition of puritanism in the US there might just be a chance that some sexual freedom might be allowed.. but I doubt that the US will get past that history any time soon. And as you note, the powers that be have not leaerned anything from history.

Feb 28, 2004, 04:48 pm	#11 (permalink) (top)
commonsense Igneous Magma Posts: 333	Hans Brinker, You misunderstood my comment. I would appreciate you enlightening me on your country's immigration policies, social homogeneity, and population, etc, because of course it works well for you. Its just that here in the U.S. which is attached to the third world and has essentially open borders, is geographically huge and sectionalized culturally and artificially, so "taxing" anything only equals essentially robbing "functional" intact families of human and material resources to raise their children to feed corruption, bureaucrats and cops. The Porcupine is a great symbol. READ THOMAS PAINE, "RIGHTS OF MAN" TO A KID

Feb 28, 2004, 04:59 pm	#12 (permalink) (top)
Leopard Propertarian Posts: 568	darwinist, you make a mistake - the health checks and condoms are not 'free' - you paid for them and at a cost probably higher than if you did so without the government acting as a greedy middleman. but, overall, you post is good michael Take on the responsibility to be free

Feb 28, 2004, 06:36 pm	#13 (permalink) (top)
Mia Retired Posts: 7,312	It's hard to argue with that logic - it's exactly what I believe. Freedom is doing what you want if it doesn't infringe on others. It's hard to apply it to this but maybe I have to if I really believe that! What I get stuck on is I think it does create somewhat of a deterrant being illegal and I like any deterrants to this. I know it will always go on but there are those that refrain due to illegality......it's the same with drugs for me. I know for a fact more would do them and more often if it weren't for drug testing at work, etc. Tough choices. "...with like-minded people one cannot discuss. With like-minded people one can only participate in a church service, and you know how I feel about church services." Ayaan Hirsi Ali