yelekam wrote:
Wolfram87 wrote:
Are we talking about any and all possible forms of legalized prostitution here, or did someone defend sexual slavery when I wasn't looking?
regardless, both are degrading, inhumane, and exploitive practices which should not be tolerated, and the pathetic figures who seek to treat other people as commodities deserve to be prohibited and punished for their transgressions.
I do not believe you can defend this position. Prostitution itself is separate from the exploitation, the inhumanity and the degredation that comes with it being illegal. Just like with prohibition of alcohol and the wonderfully successful war on drugs; when you make illegal something for which a great demand exists, you throw money into the hands of those who already have the means and the will to break the law in the name of profit. Just like more or less every thinking person understands that legalizing drugs would be a nightmare for organized crime, so too would a government-sanctioned option for those seeking the services of (not owning them as commodities) a courtesan. This in turn would free up money to fight the more horrific elements of organized crime such as child trafficking/prostitution and illegal weapon smuggling.
And you realize that one of (if not the) largest demographic who seek out prostitutes are people with disabilities, such as myself and myriad others on this site? Because they seek a modicum of physical intimacy and sexual release generally denied them through regular means. There's even some countries (Holland, I think) where doctors can prescribe visits to prostitutes as a means to improve physical and mental well being in disabled people.
Make no mistake, it should be regulated. The workers should be insured, have regular medical checkups and be able to choose their clients and what type of sex acts they're willing to engage in. Being a client should involve things like going through a vetting process and include a medical checkup, as well. But I do think a reasonably funtional system could be set up that would prevent exploitation of either party.
Admittedly, regulations would mean it wouldn't entirely kill the illegal market for it, but it would severely cripple the income of those who make their living targeting and exploiting those with no other recourse.
Also, there have been multiple societies in which various forms of prostitution was a profession held in fairly high regard.
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I'm bored out of my skull, let's play a different game. Let's pay a visit down below and cast the world in flame.