Should prostitution be legal?

[Adam]

I'm not sure where I stand on this issue and the reason for the thread is that I've been reading/hearing a lot about it recently. Partly because Sheffield where I live has a bit of a history in the sex trade which has had some pretty brutal stories where women are forced to have sex after false promises of a better life from places in eastern europe and asia.

On the one hand, if it was fully legal, fully licensed and a place where you can go to for sex without having to be underhand it would put these sex workers to earning more money rather than the pimps, they'd pay tax and should be more protected and secure than having to go underground - I don't think for one minute that every1s story is the same that leads 'em to this line of work.

On the other hand, if it was fully illegal (its kinda legal already in the UK), then the pimps can be handed sentences and rehabilitation of sex workers can be made. Making the workers criminals would deter workers from starting but would also make criminals of people who had no choice in the matter.

I've never paid for sex and doubt I ever will. Being male, I've thought about what it would be like but I wouldn't know what underhand seedy club or sauna I would need to visit to get it. But if it was in the yellow pages or advertised well, which it was clean, would it make more inclined to go? Probably. I'd probably be more likely to go also if I knew it was clean, well protected and made to sign a disclaimer on my actions there. If there was rules in place of how many clients you can see per day etc with a minimum amount of daily pay for workers would I think please both sets of parties but also it would encourage it. But then there is the issue, its pretty bold move by any government to go down. And I know women enjoy sex to so they'd also be a call for male prostitution. Which I know there is already but y'know, I think it'd be more of a male thing.

So what do you think?

[mikizee]

There is not one solid good argument for it to be illegal.

[saz]

i haven't really closely examined both sides of the issue, but i tend to lean towards legalizing prostitution, to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, more tax revenue etc.

[abbott]

the question is what should be illegal: if it hurts or destroys others or others property

prostitution should only be illegal if it is against the prostitutes will. otherwise mind your own fucking business.

[russhie]

I have a few issues with it. Boys seem to think it's an ok idea, but I don't - legalising it won't make it cleaner, or safer, or prevent women being sold into prostitution. Thinking it will seems a tad optimistic.

[Bob]

I have a few issues with it. Boys seem to think it's an ok idea, but I don't - legalising it won't make it cleaner, or safer, or prevent women being sold into prostitution. Thinking it will seems a tad optimistic.

it wouldn't solve the problems completely, no, but it would help a little, i'd think? OSHA would probably do a better job of looking out for sex workers' safety and weeding out the dangerous/diseased johns than the average pimp, and if it were legal, i'm sure many pimps would be driven out of business.

i mean, i'm not crazy about state-sanctioned prostitution; there are horrible levels of exploitation involved in the business, and it seems kind of shitty for the government to say "ok, yeah, we're cool with that being legal" but i mean, making it illegal doesn't really stop anything does it? it's kind of like drugs in that it's a bad thing for society, but banning it doesn't make it go away.

i don't know, i don't feel informed enough about the facts to feel comfortable having a strong opinion either way really. plus i'm a man, i shouldn't be having opinions about these things in the first place

[Nygel]

actually it would if legalized, i did a report and speech over it [kill two birds with one stone, BAM] and basically health is the highest concern and they would get tested weekly to make sure everything is safe. And the main part of it decreasing the selling into sex slavery is that with it being regulated then really no pimps would exist. Unless you consider the boss of the brothel a 'pimp', however pimps usually are abusive and do deal in the sex slavery. But with it being legal the ladies could easily file complaints/ call the cops, that sort of thing, much like if your boss at wherever you work did something wrong to you.

It'd be like any other business, sure some of the brothels could be bad and shady but the majority would be clean, well-upkept establishments that test their employees weekly and have regulated work hours and so on.

[Bob]

actually it would if legalized, i did a report and speech over it [kill two birds with one stone, BAM] and basically health is the highest concern and they would get tested weekly to make sure everything is safe. And the main part of it decreasing the selling into sex slavery is that with it being regulated then really no pimps would exist. Unless you consider the boss of the brothel a 'pimp', however pimps usually are abusive and do deal in the sex slavery. But with it being legal the ladies could easily file complaints/ call the cops, that sort of thing, much like if your boss at wherever you work did something wrong to you.

It'd be like any other business, sure some of the brothels could be bad and shady but the majority would be clean, well-upkept establishments that test their employees weekly and have regulated work hours and so on.

what about women that get shipped in from overseas, though (either willingly or not)? if they speak up, they get deported, and they just sold themselves into slavery to get away from the old country, so i doubt they'd find going back very pleasant.

i mean, i guess the problem would be alleviated to some extent, because if you put the system out in the open, fewer institutions are going to want to buy sex slaves, but i don't see that particular problem going away, even if it is legal.

i'm an expert on this because i watched season 2 of the wire

[Nygel]

what about women that get shipped in from overseas, though (either willingly or not)? if they speak up, they get deported, and they just sold themselves into slavery to get away from the old country, so i doubt they'd find going back very pleasant.

you can't stop backdoor shenanigans, unless we keep robots with guns that know the difference between an american and a commie.

[Documad]

I wrote a paper in favor of legalization over 20 years ago. :p