Poll:Should prostitution be legal in the US?

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: Haller

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Haller

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt


That is hardly the worlds oldest profession. Such a deceptive description. It's dirty. It's low. It's not a society that I want my children growing up in.

Too late.

Name one society in which protitution is not widespread. Just one.

No government, no matter how oppressive, has ever been able to stop it. And the only places in which disease and exploitation has been minimized are those places it has been legalized and taken out of the back alleys.

Besides, who are you to tell a person they can't do what they want with their own body? What's next, regulating what food they can eat?

Okay...I'm probably going to get majorly flamed for this/these statements but I don't care. You all seem to agree that prostitution has been a widespread problem all over the world for centuries, and you have a point in that line of thinking. There is however, a vital flaw in that theory. Murder has been a crime for centuries as well, why don't we legalize that..and arson, grand theft auto, and sexual assault in that case? They've all been happening for centuries...do any of you think legalizing those things will help in the slightest? Probably not. You might be thinking to yourselves..."Well who does prostitution hurt?" Prostitutes for one, families, children, wives, husbands. Imagine coming home to what you thought was a happy family and heard "I don't see what's wrong with it honey....prostitution is legal...I even bought one for the kids." Combating degredation by making it legal doesn't make it go away....it just makes you blind to it. Yeah...it is all over the place. But the fact that something is all around you doesn't mean you should give in to it.

Poor argument.

With the crimes of murder, arson, grand theft auto, sexual assault, etc., you have a clear victim who has been deprived of life, property, or been harmed in some fashion. With prostitution, the issue is morality; the victim is harder to define. You assume that all of American society is compartmentalized into families who would be destroyed were prostitution illegal, but reality is that there are many single adults who would partake of the services offered by prostitutes whose nonexistent "families" would not be hurt. There would also be many women who would willingly choose to be prostitutes who would benefit from the arrangement.

When you speak of "degredation", you simply wish to impose your own personal moral values on everyone else, when you have no right to do so.

There is pretty clear evidense that people suffer from prostitution...have you ever seen a happy prostitute? Did you ever hear a success story from a prostitute that involved them continuing to sell themselves? I sincerely doubt it. What about venareal disease? Legalizing something that spreads it is hardly going to help any. Sure, the government could regulate it...but that would involve more political influence in our daily lives, and no one wants that. Would you feel comfortable applying for a fornication liscense? Secondly....the family structure is a pretty large staple of American society so I don't feel wrong in any way shape or form for citing it in my argument. Lastly in response to your statement about "personal morality"; my morality is hardly personal. When you actually step back and look at it, you'll find that every person from every civilization holds themselves (though poorly at times) and others to a universal moral structure. You might say that that is due to socialization or some other aspect of social learning, but how is then that civilizations that were seperated by vast oceans centuries ago all held themselves to the same basic standards (don't murder, steal, rape, mock...the list goes on and on)? We're born knowing those standards, and some of unfortunately forget them after awhile. Or rebel by saying that morality is purely personal. The fact remains that we're all born knowing these rules of "fair play" as C.S. Lewis would put it.

wow. that was just a bunch of baseless assertions. neat!

You begin by stating that there's pretty clear evidence, and then go on to provide abunch of generalized anecdotal evidence (?). In point of fact, I've seen happy (and wealthy) prostitutes interviewed on tv before (books and such).

As far as morality goes, I'm afraid you're belief in the universality of YOUR morality is slightly niave. Different cultures have treated sexuality in vastly different ways.

Very true. Look at the Japanese and their attitude towards sex, for example. From all accounts, they're very open and accepting of it, including prostitution.

 

[Gulzakar]

Drive to Nevada, get yourself a fine Nevada woman!

heh


Over-tanned skin with leather-like texture, half burned cigarette hanging out of mouth, crispy hair, clothes that dont belong in any time period, and yes oh yes...all the diseases...I love Nevada.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Haller

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Haller

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt


That is hardly the worlds oldest profession. Such a deceptive description. It's dirty. It's low. It's not a society that I want my children growing up in.

Too late.

Name one society in which protitution is not widespread. Just one.

No government, no matter how oppressive, has ever been able to stop it. And the only places in which disease and exploitation has been minimized are those places it has been legalized and taken out of the back alleys.

Besides, who are you to tell a person they can't do what they want with their own body? What's next, regulating what food they can eat?

Okay...I'm probably going to get majorly flamed for this/these statements but I don't care. You all seem to agree that prostitution has been a widespread problem all over the world for centuries, and you have a point in that line of thinking. There is however, a vital flaw in that theory. Murder has been a crime for centuries as well, why don't we legalize that..and arson, grand theft auto, and sexual assault in that case? They've all been happening for centuries...do any of you think legalizing those things will help in the slightest? Probably not. You might be thinking to yourselves..."Well who does prostitution hurt?" Prostitutes for one, families, children, wives, husbands. Imagine coming home to what you thought was a happy family and heard "I don't see what's wrong with it honey....prostitution is legal...I even bought one for the kids." Combating degredation by making it legal doesn't make it go away....it just makes you blind to it. Yeah...it is all over the place. But the fact that something is all around you doesn't mean you should give in to it.

Poor argument.

With the crimes of murder, arson, grand theft auto, sexual assault, etc., you have a clear victim who has been deprived of life, property, or been harmed in some fashion. With prostitution, the issue is morality; the victim is harder to define. You assume that all of American society is compartmentalized into families who would be destroyed were prostitution illegal, but reality is that there are many single adults who would partake of the services offered by prostitutes whose nonexistent "families" would not be hurt. There would also be many women who would willingly choose to be prostitutes who would benefit from the arrangement.

When you speak of "degredation", you simply wish to impose your own personal moral values on everyone else, when you have no right to do so.

There is pretty clear evidense that people suffer from prostitution...have you ever seen a happy prostitute? Did you ever hear a success story from a prostitute that involved them continuing to sell themselves? I sincerely doubt it. What about venareal disease? Legalizing something that spreads it is hardly going to help any. Sure, the government could regulate it...but that would involve more political influence in our daily lives, and no one wants that. Would you feel comfortable applying for a fornication liscense? Secondly....the family structure is a pretty large staple of American society so I don't feel wrong in any way shape or form for citing it in my argument. Lastly in response to your statement about "personal morality"; my morality is hardly personal. When you actually step back and look at it, you'll find that every person from every civilization holds themselves (though poorly at times) and others to a universal moral structure. You might say that that is due to socialization or some other aspect of social learning, but how is then that civilizations that were seperated by vast oceans centuries ago all held themselves to the same basic standards (don't murder, steal, rape, mock...the list goes on and on)? We're born knowing those standards, and some of unfortunately forget them after awhile. Or rebel by saying that morality is purely personal. The fact remains that we're all born knowing these rules of "fair play" as C.S. Lewis would put it.

Time to deconstruct your paragraph:

You use the argument that because you have never seen a happy prostitute, such a thing must not exist. On the other hand, I believe that if the profession were deemed legal, and if a woman (or a man!) decided to become one by choice, that person would likely be happy in a job that fit their interests and expertise. Your argument is weak, because it's centered around only your life and your experience, as seen through the filter of your own morality.

"Sure, the government could regulate it...but that would involve more political influence in our daily lives, and no one wants that." There are many situations where government regulation is appropriate and desired. Some examples: OSHA (Making sure the workplace is as safe as possible.), FDC (Regulates our food and pharmaceutical industries.) Making a blanket statement that no one wants government interference, without backing up your position, is a poor argument.

Sure the family structure is a large part of American society. But it is not all of it.

Morality is relative to each society, and hardly universal. Some of it is based on the "golden rule" of treating others as you would yourself wish to be treated, and some of it is based on general fairness; crimes such as murder and theft are generally recognized as such because they clearly deprive people of life, limb, or property. Moral crimes such as prostitution are not on such firm ground, and if you look back through history have been legal as often as not. Look at Greek and Roman societies (which form the foundations of Western culture), along with contemporary societies in Europe. Morality in the United States is not universal to the rest of the world, nor does it reflect the world's past history.

As human beings, we are born with a clean slate, and morality is a learned behavior. One need simply look at Uday and Qusay Hussein as examples of what happens when moral rules are taught differently than what you consider to be "universal".

 

[Haller]

And I can assure you that there are many people in Japan that disapprove of such open sexual practices. It gets a bit tweaked from society to society....but the core of it remains the same. You've pointed out some good exceptions to the rule...but the rule still remains whether you like it or not.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: Haller
And I can assure you that there are many people in Japan that disapprove of such open sexual practices. It gets a bit tweaked from society to society....but the core of it remains the same. You've pointed out some good exceptions to the rule...but the rule still remains whether you like it or not.

err not really exceptions. we're talking about broad acceptance. To add to the list, prostitution was first institutionalized in ancient china. Sure there are always minorites who oppose status quo, but the point is that there is no "firm core".

 

[isaacmacdonald]

a little googling and I came up with:

Masturbation by men was seen as unhealthy and forbidden, for it was said to cause a complete loss of his
vital yang essence. Women could masturbate freely as they were said to have an unlimited yin. Medical texts only
warned women against masturbation with foreign objects which were believed to injure the womb and
internal sexual organs. Nocturnal emissions or 'wet dreams' that men had were seen as a health problem for men.

During this time, female homosexuality was widespread, but male homosexuality was rare. Male homosexuality was
forbidden because it was considered a complete loss of yang essence on the part of both men. Meanwhile, since
women were said to have an unlimited yin essence, there was no loss of yin in female homosexual relations.
Not until the Han dynasty did male homosexuality figures reach the same standard as among other societies.

At first, prostitution was accepted by the Chinese. Men thought that they could gain more yin from prostitutes
than from normal women. They believed that since such women had sex with so many men, that they had acquired more
yang essence from them, thus, they could give a patron more yang essence than he had lost. However, Chinese
medicine began to identify prostitutes with many diseases at an early stage in human history and they began
warning men against them.

Sexuality in ancient china was a bit different than in contemporary america. But more to the point, note that societal acceptance swung the other way when it was discovered that diseases were more readily transmited with promescuity. It's kind of like incest. The interest part is that morality is formulated here based on pragmatism, as it probably has been in most cultures.

The problem is that in this case, it is less pragmatic to continue to keep prostitution unregulated because that's what's ultimately causing greater material harm to the population.

 

[edmundoab]

since in Holland prostitution is considered an occupation,
I don't see why America cannot see it that way...

YES
to make it legal, and like I agree to alot of people.
they should have to go for regular STD check ups and health test before being approved by the government...

 

[alocurto]

Let the government regulate it and tax the sh!t out of it. I think we can get rid of the national debt on a good Friday night! :beer:

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
No... they spread disease and fornication. It's just plain frikkin sick anyway.

Yeah, but prostitution is going to happen anyway no matter what you do. People will always want sex and other people will always need money and be willing to do almost anything about it. If it were legal and regulated, you'd be able to keep the spread of STDs in check to an extent and you'd also take away the pimp's power to abuse the women who work for him or his ability to keep them on a "leash" via drug addiction. Everyone wins.

EVERYTHING that is illegal is going to happen anyway.

So we should just get rid of the law and government and let anarchy take over, right?

shut up. you probably haven't ever left your little hick town have you? Go to Amsterdam and see what it's like before you start spewing more BS.

Come on, be civil.

And yeah, I've been to amsterdam... walked and stayed in the red light district. I can understand how most people here can say that since it happens we might as well legalize it, but having walked by the blocks and blocks of prostitution I can't say I agree.

Seriously, the women stand in these little rooms with a glass window in their bikinis and guys walk by, take their pick and go in... it's like a freakin pet store or some crap. It totally degrades women, and makes me sick... but that's just me... I personally feel that sexual morality is something that is important, but of course that's just my opinion.

While keeping prostitution illegal won't rid the US of it, legalizing it certainly is not the answer... I cannot understand how people defend the point that the only reason people break the law is because it is illegal.

But anyways, weed is legal in Amsterdam, and other drugs are in excess, but that doesn't mean that the streets are safe because there are no drugs lords or the like... While my friends and I never found ourselves in much physical danger, a few people "tried' to rob us, and we were offered speed, ecstacy and cocaine in excess of 100 times per night... and I swear that is no exaggeration. It even came to the point where people would shove drugs into your hand and face they were so desperate for a "sale"...

But, since others brought up drugs in Amsterdam, I thought I would bring it up too... so, my answer to the posed question is a resounding "no".

 

[Trevelyan]

Also, another point on this:

Some of you are saying that since we cannot control prostitution by making it illegal, making it legal will "take it out of the back alleys".. and that we could control the spread of STDS...

Well, let me ask you this: If those who prositute themselves pay no heed to the laws forbidding prostitution, what makes you think they will respect the regulations the US government would have to impose?

There will still be "unlicensed prostitution"... there will still be the spread of STDS... there will still be shady prostitution in the back alleys... only now, it would also be on the main streets.

I think our society will only allow so much immorality to exist before there is a severre opposition to it. Don't worry, though, I hardly expect many of you guys with pent up sexual desire and too much blood diverted from the brain to agree with me.

 

[BladeWalker]

If the US should ever decide about the legality of prostitution, I think women should make that decision.

 

[MithShrike]

Originally posted by: conjur
Ayup.

Make them acquire a license and undergo regularly scheduled tests for STDs.

Then, perhaps, there would be a bit less crime and, wow, imagine this, fewer cases of STDs being spread!

Yep.

 

[MithShrike]

Oops.

 

[MithShrike]

I wonder when they will fix the multi-post glitch.

 

[godspeedx]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
No. It breeds a horrid society full of scumbags.

 

[godspeedx]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
No. It breeds a horrid society full of scumbags.

Keeping it illegal is what's doing that.

People not respecting the law and having control over themselves is what's doing that

And that's ever going to change?

Turning your back on the 'oldest profession' won't make it go away.

Legalize it.
Regulate it.

Then disease will be reduced as well as crime and free up police to pursue other criminals...those, perhaps, of the more violent type. Or...maybe they can go flag down some idiot drivers.

That is hardly the worlds oldest profession. Such a deceptive description. It's dirty. It's low. It's not a society that I want my children growing up in.

Well...you best setup a colony on the moon, then, as it's never going away. I suppose you, in your cordoned-off little utopia, have never heard that phrase?

So you've come to the conclusion that it's never going away. Then the right thing to do would be to legalize it and make it even more of a problem?

 

[godspeedx]

Originally posted by: BladeWalker
If the US should ever decide about the legality of prostitution, I think women should make that decision.

?

 

[Ocuflox]

i dont see any prostitutes responding to this thread

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
I agree with you. It would also be nice to have a poll of people here who are raising younger, developing children if they believe it should be legalized. I know this is a board where people gather and try to share intellectual debates, but c'mon.

Where I come from, if people were asked what they thought about legalizing prostitution... people would look at you like you were an idiot. It's a little easier to understand when people on here explain the pros/cons, but really, I don't know if people don't care about this like this in California or any other state, but this topic would never leak its way into Northern Kentucky.

It's funny you should mention Northern Kentucky. Before Las Vegas was born, Newport Kentucky was the prostitution "capital" of the US. I believe the hottest spot was Monmouth Street, though my memory of it is a bit fuzzy. (for those who have no idea where that is, it's an extension of Cincinnati,Ohio, would actually be a contiguous part of Cincinnati except that a river intersects as the boundary between the two states.)

 

[Haller]

Originally posted by: BladeWalker
If the US should ever decide about the legality of prostitution, I think women should make that decision.

lol....How democratic of you.

 

[knightc2]

Can I get a Hell Yeah! It would drive down prices too with all the competition. :beer:
I have a friend that was a pimp for a while. He would be back in the game if it was legalized.

 

[cain]

yeah sure, make it legal. then tax the hookers like 50%.

 

[Red Dawn]

Well women wouldn't want it legal as they already have a tough time getting a date for Saturday Night

 

[cain]

hell, legalized or not. you can find them everyone in magazines, under the title Personal: Roleplay. i.e. New York Magazine. they are just prostitutes who want to charge exorbitant prices. but i guess yeah, i agree with knighttc2, prices will go down as supply increases.. yeah, sort of.

 

[mindless1]

Currently the poll is 23% (US Citizens) against legalizing prostitution. Considering that the majority of members are young males, I'm surprised that this figure is so high. Perhaps the poll should've had more choices, such as:

Yes, Male, Single
Yes, Male, In serious relationship
No, " , "
" , Female, "
I am 4 yr. old, what's a prostitute?
Only if it's FAR.