• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

what should be done about prostitution?

  • Thread starter Thread starter FallingPianos
  • Start date Start date

What should be done about prostitution?


  • Total voters
    42
I'm waiting for the feminists to start claiming that the legalization of prostitution is a pro-woman's health issue.

pro-woman's health issue in what sense?

people opposed and for the legalization of prostitution both consider themselves to be feminists.
 
Far as I'm concerned, it needs to remain illegal on both the supply side and the demand side, and there needs to be better programs to keep people (especially kids) from falling into whoring and better programs to get them back out again.

I'd say "harsher penalties and more enforcement", but it wouldn't change that the customer's just going to get off with a wink and the whore's just going to have to work harder to pay her fines.
 
if basic decency and respect is paying for sex, then yes, you always pay.

Never had much luck with that "basic decency and respect" thing. I've always paid in public embarrassment and the loss of any small furry animals that had the misfortune of being around.
 
pro-woman's health issue in what sense?

people opposed and for the legalization of prostitution both consider themselves to be feminists.

Oh I don't know. I could speculate, but I've learned to wait for those who would actually make the argument to speak without my telling them what I'm prepared to argue against.
 
Oh I don't know. I could speculate, but I've learned to wait for those who would actually make the argument to speak without my telling them what I'm prepared to argue against.

I mean, are you talking about feminists claiming that legalizing and regulating prostitution would improve womans health by insuring that prostitutes get health care, or feminists claiming that its a womans health issue because it would destroy any protection that prostitutes currently have?

basically, do you mean an issue in the sense that it would help, or in the sense that it would hurt?
 
if basic decency and respect is paying for sex, then yes, you always pay.

if you're too cheap to treat your partner like a human being, you give them (or their pimp) cash.
has nothing to do with respect or treating women decent
nature of the beast unfortunately

why is divorce so expensive?



because its worth it :lol:
 
I mean, are you talking about feminists claiming that legalizing and regulating prostitution would improve womans health by insuring that prostitutes get health care, or feminists claiming that its a womans health issue because it would destroy any protection that prostitutes currently have?

basically, do you mean an issue in the sense that it would help, or in the sense that it would hurt?

Oh.
I meant that it would be argued that the legalization of prostitution would be a good thing for women's health.
 
I can't seem to access the list of who voted for what, so for the record, I voted for:
  • Selling sexual services should be illegal,
  • Buying sexual services should be illegal,
  • More services should be available to help people escape prostitution,
  • Current laws against pimping and using prostitutes need to be more heavily enforced,
  • There should be heavier penalties for pimps and johns.
 
Oh.
I meant that it would be argued that the legalization of prostitution would be a good thing for women's health.

A lot of feminists claim that pornography empowers women, so it wouldn't be a far jump. I don't have a position on that because I haven't researched it.
 
I can't seem to access the list of who voted for what, so for the record, I voted for:
  • Selling sexual services should be illegal,
  • Buying sexual services should be illegal,
  • More services should be available to help people escape prostitution,
  • Current laws against pimping and using prostitutes need to be more heavily enforced,
  • There should be heavier penalties for pimps and johns.

I could see it, and it says that you voted for those things.
 
Never had much luck with that "basic decency and respect" thing. I've always paid in public embarrassment and the loss of any small furry animals that had the misfortune of being around.

That's why you should use gerbils instead of hamsters; you can pull them back out by the tail once you're done with them.



......................
..................
...................
................... what? :wassat1:
 
Can you say "supply and demand" ? Goood...I knew you could. yes boys and girls this is a basic driving factor of our economy. As long as there is a demand for prostitution there will be someone willing to supply it.

No matter how morally opposed we may be to the practice, only a naive fool would think it's going to go away no matter what laws are made and enforced. Think prohibition here. All the laws do is make it hazardous for the women involved. If you explore the issue without emotion and look to the models where it's legal and where it is not it is undeniable that the women in legal settings have a better life than those in an illegal setting. Any statements to the contrary are either pure speculation or emotional pleas against the morality of the practice.

I think we can all agree that the majority of women in this situation are victims, however it is also evident that criminalizing the practice makes the lives of these women worse. Don't get me wrong....making it legal will not make it a safe, rewarding and healthy profession. It will however be safer, more fiscally supportive of the women (instead of the pimps) and healthier (yeeesh ..just think of the health insurance premiums for this one :shock:)

I think both society and the women in question would benefit from the legalization.
 
Legalize and regulate it?

How?


A good thing for womens health? You mean a crack/meth addicted prostitues health? What's that going to change for them? A suggested stint or two in rehab? And on whose $$?

Seriously...someone give me a business plan on how this would help or change anything? And then tell me how this would make the "business" of prostitution better for ANYONE?
 
Legalize and regulate it?

How?


A good thing for womens health? You mean a crack/meth addicted prostitues health? What's that going to change for them? A suggested stint or two in rehab? And on whose $$?

Seriously...someone give me a business plan on how this would help or change anything? And then tell me how this would make the "business" of prostitution better for ANYONE?

use the Netherlands and Nevada as references for the business plan..... Oh I specifically didn't say it would stop all the problems, but keeping it illegal isn't either. I'm saying illegal is worse than legal.

We probably spend more in trying to control it as illegal than we would sweeping up after it as legal. Just like prohibition. Plus it would become a source of income.
 
Can you say "supply and demand" ? Goood...I knew you could. yes boys and girls this is a basic driving factor of our economy. As long as there is a demand for prostitution there will be someone willing to supply it.

No matter how morally opposed we may be to the practice, only a naive fool would think it's going to go away no matter what laws are made and enforced. Think prohibition here. All the laws do is make it hazardous for the women involved. If you explore the issue without emotion and look to the models where it's legal and where it is not it is undeniable that the women in legal settings have a better life than those in an illegal setting. Any statements to the contrary are either pure speculation or emotional pleas against the morality of the practice.

I think we can all agree that the majority of women in this situation are victims, however it is also evident that criminalizing the practice makes the lives of these women worse. Don't get me wrong....making it legal will not make it a safe, rewarding and healthy profession. It will however be safer, more fiscally supportive of the women (instead of the pimps) and healthier (yeeesh ..just think of the health insurance premiums for this one :shock:)

I think both society and the women in question would benefit from the legalization.

what i've read is that even where its legal and regulated, there is still a high amount of illegal prostitution that happens, because it's cheaper, and a lot of customers don't want to use condoms.
 
what i've read is that even where its legal and regulated, there is still a high amount of illegal prostitution that happens, because it's cheaper, and a lot of customers don't want to use condoms.

Again.. I didn't say it would solve all the problems, but it would help alleviate them. Please let me make it clear. I really ...really...really dislike prostitution. I have a recurring nightmare because of it.

My opinion is based on what I think would be best for the women .... not a desire for easily accessible sex toys , nor even a desire to jab at the ridiculous right. My argument is based on the observation that legalization would be the thing making their lives better and make it easier to step away from the profession.
 
Can you say "supply and demand" ? Goood...I knew you could. yes boys and girls this is a basic driving factor of our economy. As long as there is a demand for prostitution there will be someone willing to supply it.

Just because there's a market for a service, does not mean that society ought to tolerate it being sold.
 
Just because there's a market for a service, does not mean that society ought to tolerate it being sold.

why shouldn't society tolerate business transactions between consenting adults? (devil's advocate)


really...though.. with that thought why should we tolerate the consumption of alcohol?
 
Again.. I didn't say it would solve all the problems, but it would help alleviate them. Please let me make it clear. I really ...really...really dislike prostitution. I have a recurring nightmare because of it.

My opinion is based on what I think would be best for the women .... not a desire for easily accessible sex toys , nor even a desire to jab at the ridiculous right. My argument is based on the observation that legalization would be the thing making their lives better and make it easier to step away from the profession.

I agree it it would be an improvement over the current situation, I'm just saying that its insufficient.

the only people that regulation really helps are those that dont really need it.

regulation will do nothing to help those that are being forced into prostitution.
 
I agree it it would be an improvement over the current situation, I'm just saying that its insufficient.

the only people that regulation really helps are those that dont really need it.

regulation will do nothing to help those that are being forced into prostitution.

agreed... people wanting underage girls would still acquire them illegally, but if just one girl is spared because johns go to a legal alternative... then it would be worth it.

We don't live in a perfect world.....there is no perfect solution.
 
Psychologically, legalizing prostitution does nothing for the prostitute. It tells him/her that, now, he/she cannot hide, he/she is a prostitute, one who sells him/herself for money. Since few prostitutes decide that this is what they want to do...most fall into the job, the legalization of prostitution and, therefore, the individual's recognition that this is what they are, further destroys one's self worth, which has been already impacted by some of the reasons that they became a prostitute in the first place.

I'll post more information and linked data, tomorrow, if I don't get baraged with work
 
Psychologically, legalizing prostitution does nothing for the prostitute. It tells him/her that, now, he/she cannot hide, he/she is a prostitute, one who sells him/herself for money. Since few prostitutes decide that this is what they want to do...most fall into the job, the legalization of prostitution and, therefore, the individual's recognition that this is what they are, further destroys one's self worth, which has been already impacted by some of the reasons that they became a prostitute in the first place.

I'll post more information and linked data, tomorrow, if I don't get baraged with work

the pimps and johns have already done that. legalizing it wouldnt make any difference. the difference it would make is that s/he would no longer have to fear being arrested for seeking help or reporting a rape, and without a criminal record it will be easier for her/him to find employment.
 
the pimps and johns have already done that. legalizing it wouldnt make any difference.

I beg to differ. It makes it legitimate in the prostitute's head. This is now officially what he/she is.

the difference it would make is that s/he would no longer have to fear being arrested for seeking help or reporting a rape, and without a criminal record it will be easier for her/him to find employment.


Though I wouldn't decriminalize it, I would allow sex workers to be allowed to seek psychological/social assistance if coming forward, on their own. This is a major difficulty with stopping this very difficult and damaging life. And as far as employment, I don't think putting 'Prostitute' on a resume will garner you that Wall Street job, whether it's criminal or not.
 
as far as employment, I don't think putting 'Prostitute' on a resume will garner you that Wall Street job, whether it's criminal or not.

I'm not saying it should go on their resume. just that it shouldn't go on their criminal record.
 
Just because there's a market for a service, does not mean that society ought to tolerate it being sold.

Seems like a pretty good reason to me. Prohibition just creates a black market, it doesn't eliminate the problem. So you've got to ask yourself, is it more important to implement draconian laws just so that society doesn't appear to "tolerate" it (even though society created the market in the first place), or is it more important to help make the conditions as acceptable as possible?

I think it's important to note that in places where it's legal, the HIV rate among legal prostitutes is much lower than in areas where prostitution is illegal. Also, legalization almost entirely eliminates the reason for the existence of pimps.
 
Back
Top Bottom