Prostitution.

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No, I don't think one is like the other. However, just because one thing happens doesn't mean the people who want to do it should be deprived of it.

Why? Is it that much more important for a rich person to be able to buy sex than it is for vulnerable people to be protected from exploitation?

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As far as violence in porn, those are things called fetishes. Both parties are willing and I don't think those should be banned. Unless you're talking someone violently raping someone else who's not consenting then of course that should be banned. However, when it's consensual, why on Earth should it be banned?

Can somebody really consent to their limbs being cut off on camera? Or being strangled to death? Because that's the kind of violent porn that's currently legal in many countries.

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I don't see the point. I don't think we should make prostitution illegal because some people choose to abuse the system. Otherwise we should make everything illegal because people take advantage of things all the time.

It's not just some people, it's the overwhelming majority of people who run the system.

Mr W. H.:

Can somebody really consent to their limbs being cut off on camera? Or being strangled to death? Because that's the kind of violent porn that's currently legal in many countries.

That's murder, whether you've given content or not or whether it's filmed or not. Snuff films aren't legal, as far as I know, in... well... a lot of places at all, if anywhere.

Mr W. H.:

Why? Is it that much more important for a rich person to be able to buy sex than it is for vulnerable people to be protected from exploitation

And how do you know they're vulnerable? What if they WANT to do it? If they're an adult and choose to do something they should not be deprived of that. Unless it's illegal and last time I checked having sex isn't illegal. I don't think rather or not they're getting paid should make a difference. It's a service, just like any other service.

Mr W. H.:

Can somebody really consent to their limbs being cut off on camera? Or being strangled to death? Because that's the kind of violent porn that's currently legal in many countries.

I wasn't referring to porn that could potentially be murder, obviously.

I'm guessing you missed the part of my post that I added. That's okay, I'll post it again.

Jewel Nicole:

I also don't understand how anyone can be in favor of banning prostitution but not pornography when the two are one in the same except one is being recorded. Both are being paid to have sex and that's prostitution. If they are two consenting adults who are willing to pay for sex/get paid for sex, there should be absolutely no issue.

And again, you didn't answer my question. You said awhile back that the camera makes all the difference, do you feel that if prostitutes recorded themselves with their clients that it would be acceptable?

Mr W. H.:

Isn't the sufferance of thousands of people a tiny bit more important than your career plans?

So what you're saying is that you think people should not be allowed to do the jobs they want because it's unsafe? Well, I would think the obvious choice would clearly be to make it safer. What's wrong with making it safer?

What I think, It should be illegal to do underage prostitution. Anyone older than 19 can do whatever the hell they want. It's really their choice to become a fuck hole. Though, most under aged people have no choice. And it pisses me off some of the time.

That's a really derogatory term to use. Why not tell us how you really feel? [/sarcasm]

IMO- Regulating and taxing prostitution would somewhat solve the problem of underage/forced prostitutes. I can't see laws made that would be for the betterment of people oppressing women, but laws restricting their ability to harm prostitutes would be awesome. Protecting the women who choose that lifestyle is a goal that should be fought for, and giving more power and protection to the women who don't choose that lifestyle but are forced to by someone else/their life situation, would make their lot in life much better.

InspirasiGirl:

Anyone older than 19 can do whatever the hell they want. It's really their choice to become a fuck hole.

I agree that it should be down to choice but I don't really think it's appropriate to refer to prostitutes like that. If they've made a choice to do it, I think they have the right not to be referred to disdainfully.

Really if they're adults I don't care...it's another way to make money, and honestly as long as men are dumb enough to pay for something they could get for free, why not?

Making the job safer is a far better option. I mean, let's get real, it's not going to be stopped in a hurry. It's not as if you can stop it. People will sell themselves for sex and there's nothing you can do to completely stop it. Thus, why not make it safe for these men and woman to do their job?

God Eat God:

Really if they're adults I don't care...it's another way to make money, and honestly as long as men are dumb enough to pay for something they could get for free, why not?

Women pay for sex, too.

God Eat God:

and honestly as long as men are dumb enough to pay for something they could get for free, why not?

I think some people just like the idea of paying for sex because of the taboo-ness of it, still. Esp. in countries where it may not be legal. Also, I've heard some of my guy friends (I use the word 'friends' loosely, actually) say that it's sometimes easier to pay for a hooker than it is to go through the process of picking up a woman, and / or dating her, and then maybe getting sex if she likes him enough. It's not a sentiment I agree with (I certainly wouldn't want to date a man who sees hookers regularly), but there you go. Some men probably find prostitutes easier.

dru for a day.:

Women pay for sex, too.

Very true..I think we fail to remember the women because it tends to be mostly men who do.

veronika:

Some men probably find prostitutes easier.

I wouldn't say "some men" really. If a man is out only for sex, a prostitute is easier.

I find prostitution a disgusting profession, no offense to anyone that happens to work in that field. I think it's absolutely revolting to give away your body as if it had no worth; maybe it's because I'm still a virgin, but I think a body is a precious thing that's supposed to be saved for one person, for one lifetime.

HOWEVER. I do think it should be legal. I don't think it's the government's job to determine what is and isn't allowed simply based on morality. If a woman or a man wants to sell themselves for money, I say they should be ABLE to do it. I'm not saying it's RIGHT, I just believe it shouldn't be against the law because it's one person's decision whether they want to lead that lifestyle or not.

It's the same thing as I feel about abortion. I find that it's gross, and wrong, and immoral, BUT that it should be legal because its a personal decision to live that way.

just peachy.:

I find prostitution a disgusting profession, no offense to anyone that happens to work in that field. I think it's absolutely revolting to give away your body as if it had no worth; maybe it's because I'm still a virgin, but I think a body is a precious thing that's supposed to be saved for one person, for one lifetime.

HOWEVER. I do think it should be legal. I don't think it's the government's job to determine what is and isn't allowed simply based on morality. If a woman or a man wants to sell themselves for money, I say they should be ABLE to do it. I'm not saying it's RIGHT, I just believe it shouldn't be against the law because it's one person's decision whether they want to lead that lifestyle or not.

It's the same thing as I feel about abortion. I find that it's gross, and wrong, and immoral, BUT that it should be legal because its a personal decision to live that way.

I wouldn't be surprised if most prostitutes shared your opinion. It is disgusting, and dangerous and the fact is that it's usually not a career choice. Some people, such as higher end prostitutes might choose to do it, but most don't. It's forced upon them.

In my country (it's probably similar in in the USA,UK etc) women become prostitues because it's their only way of getting money. The 'care' system isn't great here, and children are kicked out of their orphanages aged 16 with little or no financial assistance. Begging is okay, but doesn't bring in much money. What else are they meant to do? They get into the cycle of selling their body, feeling terrible, then taking drugs which are meant to make them feel better, getting addicted and having to sell their body again in order to buy more drugs. I personally find it really sad.

I haven't looked into it in great depth but from what I've learnt, I've formed the opinion that prostitution should be legalised. I think it would benefit society because it would (apparently) help with law enforcement; limit the spread of HIV/AIDS; brothel owners could be held accountable; prostitutes would be protected by the law (it would be unlawful for them to be abused); there could be a minimum age to stop young people from being exploited... That's all I can remember right now.

Xsoteria:

I wouldn't say "some men" really. If a man is out only for sex, a prostitute is easier.

Technically it's "easier" but that doesn't mean for every man it is actually easier. Not all men, like women, like the idea of prostitutes, and for some it could be against their morals. They might recognise it as being technically easier, but that doesn't mean they'll do it.

Lekka:

I wouldn't be surprised if most prostitutes shared your opinion. It is disgusting, and dangerous and the fact is that it's usually not a career choice. Some people, such as higher end prostitutes might choose to do it, but most don't. It's forced upon them.

I REALLY agree with this. A lot of people seem to forget that it's a comparatively small number of prostitutes who actually choose to do it and get to have a say in what happens to their body.

[Note, I am starting at zero since I am completely unable to sift through +40 pages of discussion. It wouldn't change my opinions any way so it doesn't matter.]

To answer the original question.
Yes, it should absolutely be legal. I personally find the practice to be abhorrent, but I respect the free choice of others to partake of it. My biggest problem is that because it is not legal, the black market that grows from the underground trade of humans is enhanced by the demand for an outlawed "product".
{aside}
I call it a product and not an act because when placed into a context such as this, it loses its meaning as a loving and emotional act. I do not in anyway mean to diminish the importance of a healthy, monogamous(or polygamous) relationship for sexual exploration.
{aside}
However, consider that if laws were made to regulate the practice and protect the workers, there would be a serious problem for the slavers, since there would be stringent monitoring of all business. There would be no way to coerce the women because they would not be allowed to be on any kind of drug, they would have to be in contact with a "case worker" of sorts, registered, insured, medically examined at regular intervals and generally looked after like every other worker in (country name here). As I have read, the methods used to "control" illegal sex workers include:Drugs, mental and physical isolation and abuse, financial extortion and holding family hostage. By regulating everything, the feasibility of these practices is dramatically limited.

Also, by legalizing prostitution, the numbers of sex workers would decrease because the job would become one of choice, not slavery. I can't really imagine that many women willingly being prostitutes, not for very long at least. It would also empower women, men too...

I mean how well is the whole illegal thing working out? Right now there are women who are being beaten, raped, addicted to drugs, bought, sold, killed and maimed, all because this profession is kept in the shadows. Money is made when things like that are illegal. Look at the prohibition, the mafia became a true force to be reckoned with because of that. The war on drugs isn't fairing any better either. The cartels are fantastically powerful, and very damn difficult to up root--nearing impossible.

I wonder why?

Could it be because they have an infinite supply of money resulting from the illicit trade of contraband. Maybe since they are the only game in town and have no oversight they can run unchecked while they make obscene profits that aren't payed as taxes?

Similarly, because there are no controls on the industry, secondary markets arise. Specifically the slave trade. If all prostitutes had to be legal citizens, show no signs of duress and have their blood tested regularly, how would a slaver control her?

Koumori_the_knight:

I call it a product and not an act because when placed into a context such as this, it loses its meaning as a loving and emotional act. I do not in anyway mean to diminish the importance of a healthy, monogamous(or polygamous) relationship for sexual exploration.

I'm sorry, but I need to make a point that sex for individuals who are not prostitutes isn't always a "loving emotional" act. Sex, for some people, is simply sex. And as someone who views sex as simply sex, I would have to say that prostitutes not having "loving emotional" sex doesn't shock me nor does it turn sex into a product and not an act for me. When I have a nonpaid one night stand, I'm not participating in a product exchange; I'm engaging in a sexual act.

dru is dead.:

Koumori_the_knight:

I call it a product and not an act because when placed into a context such as this, it loses its meaning as a loving and emotional act. I do not in anyway mean to diminish the importance of a healthy, monogamous(or polygamous) relationship for sexual exploration.

I'm sorry, but I need to make a point that sex for individuals who are not prostitutes isn't always a "loving emotional" act. Sex, for some people, is simply sex. And as someone who views sex as simply sex, I would have to say that prostitutes not having "loving emotional" sex doesn't shock me nor does it turn sex into a product and not an act for me. When I have a nonpaid one night stand, I'm not participating in a product exchange; I'm engaging in a sexual act.

You aren't being paid, nor are you trading goods, so it can't be compared. What makes a product a product is compensation for services rendered, be it fabrication or sexual co-operation. When you have a one night stand, in my opinion, all you are doing is enjoying sex for the sake of sex, which of it self is not harmful or negative.
However this is just semantics, I only included that disclaimer for the very morally ridged and those who are beholden to the "abstinence before marriage" dogma.
I fully realize that for some people sex is just sex, I--to a certain limited degree--am one of those people. That is a very different discussion, though, and it has no bearing on whether or not people should be able to sell sex and be afforded legal protection against abuse and exploitation.

^
I wasn't saying it was. But you made it sound like the reason it was a "product" was because it was devoid of emotion and I felt the need to comment on that.