PROSTITUTION

JOEBIALEK · February 19, 2004

Referred to as the world's oldest "profession," prostitution is defined as the act or practice of selling oneself for sexual purposes. It is also defined as an unworthy use of a talent, quality, or the like, especially for personal gain. What's interesting is that the former is illegal in all states except Nevada while the latter has been morally and culturally accepted since the beginning of time. This begs the question: is there any difference between a street walker/escort and a person who uses their physical beauty to attain a lifestyle that others labor very hard to attain? Too often in our society we see evidence of the "trophy spouse"; a reward received by those who achieve success in business or entertainment. The marriage consists of a person who sees a beautiful spouse as something to obtain and a person who deliberately shops lifestyle by any sexual means necessary.

Some would argue that prostitution should be made legal so that (just as with drugs) it can be regulated by the state and become a source of revenue enhancement. Furthermore, sex between strangers would be safer since the government (as in Nevada) would require regular medical examinations to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The problem facing this country is that we haven't reconciled these two definitions thus creating the existence of a double standard. We are quick to arrest and condemn the street walker/escort but would never think to shun a sexual opportunist. In many ways, prostitution already is legal in our society. People pay to watch two people have sex with each other but yet cannot pay each other for sex. I recall two people comparing their lifestyles while waiting in line at the airport. One person told the other "the difference between you and me is that you pay for your sex with cash and I pay for it with dinners, clothing and jewelry". The problem with this country today is not that we are a nation of laws but rather a nation that continually contradicts itself when it comes to morality.

Andoreion · February 19, 2004

This is how it's done down here;

Prostitution has been legal in the Netherlands since January 1988, when it was defined as a legal profession. This legalised status allows prostitutes to have access to the social security system, since 1996 sex workers have paid income tax, and reforms in 1999 gave prostitution the same status as any other form of labour.

Prostitutes are not registered and are not required to get health checks. Pimping and facilitating prostitution is illegal, this also applies also to maintaining a brothel Sex club owners may not hire illegal immigrant prostitutes.

The age of consent is 16. This is also the minimum age for visiting a prostitute (not enforced) or acting in a 'soft' pornographic movie (enforced), whereas it is 18 for 'hard core' acting or prostitution work.

In 1994 the Dutch penal code was revised to increase the maximum sentence for trafficking from 5 to 6 years of imprisonment. In cases involving trafficking in children, the sentence is now ten years.

De Facto

The Brothel Act is seldom enforced as brothels advertise openly. Cities can regulate prostitution as they see fit and in practice often confine street prostitution to certain parts of town and impose conditions on brothels.

Women work in 'window brothels', on the streets and in clubs. Near the borders with Germany and Belgium there is street prostitution. In rural areas there are so-called 'sex farms', brothels which provides living quarters for the prostitutes. In urban areas window prostitution is the most frequent form. For example, in Amsterdam 75% of the 50 000 women in the sex industry work in the window brothels located in the red-light district known as the Wallen. In Rotterdam too, trafficked women work mostly in clubs and windows.

There is an interesting article on this at

http://www.unesco.org/courier/1998_12/uk/ethique/txt1.htm

Acriku · February 19, 2004

To give my personal opinion, I would disagree with the moral issue of prostitution because if done safely with protection (and an emergency after-night pill just-in-case) a prostitute is really just an entrepreneur using his/her body for business.

SurlyPIG · February 19, 2004

I'm against it. I think it cheapens the worth of the people involved and cheapens sex in general and what it should be. I can't imagine that anyone involved in either side of prostitution having a lot of respect for themselves.

Acriku · February 19, 2004

Surely you wouldn't impose your ideas of self-respect and values of sex into law?

SurlyPIG · February 19, 2004

Did I say I was?

thomas · February 19, 2004

hmm to have proper protection and to keep the prostitute clean she'd need weekly STD tests, a large supply of dental dams, condoms, and spemicide, and strict regulation.

Acriku · February 19, 2004

In other words, make a prostitution company to provide healthcare in those respects 8)

nemafakei · February 19, 2004

http://www.dune2k.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2840;sa=showPosts

Methinks we have some kind of bot. Posts, then doesn't reply. Rather annoying that it automatically assumes all boards are

US-centric... such is the shortsightedness as we may expect from such as do these things.

Kiyouta · February 19, 2004

Might be.

But whats the point of doing something like that? Surely even bots know what a Caps Lock key is ::)?

Gobalopper · February 19, 2004

Well in the error log he forgot his password twice so I'm thinking its just someone with too much time on his hands.

Anathema · February 20, 2004

http://www.dune2k.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2840;sa=showPosts
Methinks we have some kind of bot. Posts, then doesn't reply. Rather annoying that it automatically assumes all boards are
US-centric... such is the shortsightedness as we may expect from such as do these things.

If you google his post you will see that he does the same on just about every other forum out there.

I think it's more rude to present your point of view, and then leave, wich pretty much takes away the point of calling it a discussion board.

filecore · February 20, 2004

You know, I think we can narrow it down to a bot from Nevada - it's plugging a certain way of doing things that is not just Americocentric (meaning the USA, of course) but Nevadaventric within that.

Anyway, prostitution is not the oldest profession, or I would be a prostitute too. On the contrary, beyond even lawyers and drug smugglers, I am a member of the oldest and most repugnant profession of all - journalism!

filecore · February 20, 2004

I think it's more rude to present your point of view, and then leave, wich pretty much takes away the point of calling it a discussion board.

Well then again, it could be argued that it has stimulated a discussion here... so maybe that's its raison d'

Leto le Juste · February 20, 2004

In France even if it is not recognized as a normal work, the french administration ask to prostitutes to pay professionnal charges and taxes :O . It is bad for business because a lot of them don't pay ??? and when the Fisc (the administration which care of charges) control them :O it is very hard. :P

TMA_1 · February 20, 2004

I agree that it cheapens (thats not even a word, oh well.lol) sex. It is also a degradation of males and females.

That is my opinion, but I dont think it should be illegal, it is something that a person chooses to do, it is up to them I think, even if it is wrong in my opinion.

nemafakei · February 20, 2004

To cheapen is a perfectly good verb, like to blacken.

Naturally, I believe it's a horrible activity, for no fewer reasons than you find in the other threat as posted by Mr Bialek.

Leto le Juste · February 21, 2004

It is horrible but how profitable it is. ;D

Dante · February 21, 2004

If it were profitable less people would do it.

(Think about it, it does make sense).

Andrew · February 21, 2004

If it were profitable less people would do it.
(Think about it, it does make sense).

Actually more people would enter protitution if it were profitable.

Although most prostitutes do drugs etc and protitute because they need to feed their expensive habits. I think it would be interesting to see a clean person do it and make $$$ and then retire in 5 years.

Dante · February 21, 2004

Yeah, but then after they'd got the money they'd quit and use it to get an even better job with less risk etc. So fewer people would be doing it.

Leto le Juste · February 23, 2004

Perhaps because the market is close (don't forget there are people who control the prostituates and the market) and because every mens on earth are not interested (they are all fidels to their wives ???).

Nyarlathotep · February 27, 2004

Like said, it's legal in the Netherlands and I don't see why it shouldn't. Although I can't understand men and women choosing this profession though. There are enough other professions that would provide the same income IMO.

At least here in the Netherlands, it usually are foreign women who have this profession.

Dante · February 27, 2004

I'm not sure about the stastistics... but a lot of women/men/children are forced into it, especially those from poorer countries.

Nyarlathotep · February 27, 2004

I'm not sure about the stastistics... but a lot of women/men/children are forced into it, especially those from poorer countries.

I agree, but surely not all of them.

Sign In

PROSTITUTION

Recommended Posts

JOEBIALEK

Andoreion

Acriku

SurlyPIG

Acriku

SurlyPIG

thomas

Acriku

nemafakei

Kiyouta

Gobalopper

Anathema

filecore

filecore

Leto le Juste

TMA_1

nemafakei

Leto le Juste

Dante

Andrew

Dante

Leto le Juste

Nyarlathotep

Dante

Nyarlathotep

Join the conversation

Activity

Important Information