Legalization as a solution to the problem of prostitution?

Prostitution Czar....that would be interesting on my business card! Originally Posted by Chica Chaser

Might be a lot of competition for that job.

Can you please elaborate? Who are the amateurs and why are you better than them?
I've never heard that term used to describe a group of sex workers. Please elaborate Angel. Originally Posted by Naomi4u

It doesn't describe sex workers at all; it describes non-sex workers. That's Maggie McNeill's tongue-in-cheek term for girls who don't charge; a professional is paid for work, an amateur isn't.

Maggie had a column (http://maggiemcneill.wordpress.com/2.../dirty-whores/) where she showed that the STI rates in promiscuous non-prostitutes (amateurs) are as much as 160x that of escorts, yet we're the ones who get blamed for the diseases they spread.

Angel is right again. Props girl! Originally Posted by London Rayne

Thank you, sweetie!

The problem is politicians are either too lazy, too dumb, or both. They lump all of prostitution into a one-size-fits-all box. I think all of us are opposed to human trafficking, forced prostitution, child prostitution, and the like. The problem is those are only one segment of the prostitution situation. While this clearly fits into the "it's a bad thing" category, there are other prostitute segments that aren't a "bad thing". What goes on between hobbyists and truly independent providers (dare I say entrepreneurs) is not bad and in some case quite positive. Sure, there are some gray areas-- streetwalkers and BP only girls, but those can be easily dealt with. I think terms like legalization and decriminalization (what ever that means) are too interchangeable. What we need are laws that go after the bad aspects of prostitution while leaving alone the rest of the industry. I really like what Canada has. Essentially, they could care less if a girl advertises and discretely comes to the clients location for a little rumble in the hay. On the other hand, Canada does consider incall locations as (bawdy houses) from where it is illegal to operate. And it makes sense. Neighbors don't want to live next door to someone who has strange people coming and going at all hours of the day. LE focuses their activities on the bad actors and leaves the rest of the folks alone. Gives one a reason to break out into a chorus of Oh Canada.

I agree. Originally Posted by Shayla

I agree with anything Shayla says.

I'm with not legalizing either.
Grass and ass needs to remain as is.
We guys and gals would lose our
bad boy/gal status. We would be
reduced to being really diabolical
in order to be seen as naughty.

It's a money grab.
The only problem with the profession
is that the govt wants it's cut.

I'm for legalization because then providers would have to get tested just left STD clinic yesterday not good. So far all cureable but the provders don't seem to want to get help??? Think there afraid of knowing.

Uh........I really do hope you inform the ladies that you've been with so they can go and get tested and get themselves treated. As I said before, most ladies that do this and treat it as a business do get tested and take extra measures to stay safe. I guess ummm.....you should look for those ladies perhaps ? I do hope you get whatever it is taken care of.

hand not legalize yet still require protection and testing sort of like asking a bank robber to register his gun or a forgerer to keep his signature on file with the government. kinda to have it both ways. that being said they do give clean needle exchanges to illegal drug users hence maybe your idea has some merit.

This topic has been beaten to death. I hope this industry is never legalized. It will only make things worse than it is now. I am for decriminalization. Women shouldn't go to jail for having sex for money. Our body, our choice. I would also hope that along with decriminilization there would be a way to somehow require sex workers to carry protection and get tested every 3/6 months. Originally Posted by Naomi4u

I'm for legalization because then providers would have to get tested just left STD clinic yesterday not good. So far all cureable but the provders don't seem to want to get help??? Think there afraid of knowing. Originally Posted by b2pop

Uh........I really do hope you inform the ladies that you've been with so they can go and get tested and get themselves treated. As I said before, most ladies that do this and treat it as a business do get tested and take extra measures to stay safe. I guess ummm.....you should look for those ladies perhaps ? I do hope you get whatever it is taken care of. Originally Posted by Naomi4u

+1 (to Naomi)

This one won't last long if it turns into another STD/BB thread. We have beat that one to death. Stick to the OP topic please.

Legalization as a solution to the problem of prostitution?

How much longer can this last anyway?

Legalization is not going to happen. Decriminalization is not going to happen.

The audience all agrees this should not be a matter for government and there are only a few spins within the audience, excepting for that one guy who wants to be a "bad boy" and would then be required to find a new naughty hobby.

This isn't like alcohol when T-totalers succeeded in banning it only to reinstate it soon after. Nope, this topic regards what many consider to be a profession against which to campaign, thus as the oldest profession, it is also the oldest campaign.

Hypocrisy? Sure. The clergy over centuries, as well as politicians, have visited in private with courtesans of both high and low caliber, as they do today, then have ranted against the hobby in public.

Legalization would actually make more sense because it would be much easier to out the traffickers and child-sex traders. Legitimate, licensed, high-quality courtesans would quickly win over the business of clients from the low-end providers, and would be able to report instances of abuse or trafficking without any concerns for having drawn attention to themselves.

But will any of that, or any other logical argument made in this thread, make any difference?

Nope.

I really think it's a double standard that you can pay women to have sex, fim them, and sell it to the public as pornography but you can't do it in the privacy of BCD? The "moral ethic" that use to justify why it's punishable is flawed.
However, with the great amount of black market that is involved in the industry I wouldn't support legalization of it either.
On the other hand, prostitution is a multi million dollar business. Legalizing Prostitution would be the economic stimulus this country needs.

I don't think many of you realize what you're saying when you push for making this legal. I will just stand with Angel and say that's not the end all be all solution. Who wants rules and regulations? Do you want to cut your rates in half, because that's exactly what would happen by making it legal. Taking away only the criminal element and leaving the govt. out of it, is key for us to maintain our identity and our pay grade.

I'll have to disagree with London. Other places where it is legal have not had a "pay cut" occur for the truly professional courtesan. Pricing levels have remained approximately the same in the Caribbean as well as European locations where it has been legalized, and the truly professional ladies can command, and receive, premium compensation. The only ones who would need fear a reduction in income would be the ones who were not good providers.

But again, it is a moot point.