Is prostitution inherently wrong?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

I don't mean in practice, or in any specific situation.


Is the practice of exchanging sexual favors for money inherently wrong?

[Book Lover]

1. The shitty position

of woman in society is wrong. A mature adult woman who freely works as a sex worker and can accept only those clients she chooses is not wrong. It is not a frequent occurrence either.

[Loonman]

2. You don't pay somebody to get laid

All it takes is a little effort.

You pay so they'll leave when the act is done.

[bahrbearian]

13. With all the Money I've shelled out, my wife should be on the Moon.

[southerngirlwriter]

3. Depends.

What is marriage (in many cases)? I recently talked to an 84 year old woman about this. She said that marriage is strictly an economic arrangement -- it's prostitution with a state seal of approval. I don't think that's true 100% of the time, but in many cases, it is.

This doesn't mean that I like the idea of people standing on street corners trading $20 bills for blow jobs.

:shrug:

[elfwitch]

6. people standing on street corners trading $20 bills for blow jobs

If they choose to do that for money and the person receiving the service pays for it, who is harmed?

What if the guy's wife flatly refuses to do this particular thing for him? Is it worse for him to go pay someone to do it or to force his wife to do it instead?

[LynneSin]

15. I almost agree with that...

....but then there is the thought of diseases. Sure, the wife may refuse to give certain sexual favors so the husband goes out and pays someone else to do it. What happens if he brings home a disease and gives it back to the wife?

I mean, condoms/dental dams will prevent some diseases but not all of them.

Personally, I like how they have it setup in Nevada, where it's legal and the girls are required to get tested. But then that raises the price to a higher level that some men might not be able to afford.

It's just a lose/lose situation all around.

[elfwitch]

16. I guess it is the price of doing business...

If one sexual partner is not willing to do something for the other, then they run the risk of having their partner seek that service elsewhere. Something simple like a BJ shouldn't be the thing to send some man off in to the "arms" of a prostitute but...

Or, what if you are in to some kinky weird stuff? Maybe you don't expect your regular partner to be in to that. There are many valid reasons why someone would seek the services of a professional sex worker.

[southerngirlwriter]

21. I didn't say it should be illegal, just that I don't like it.

I don't like what it does to the woman's heart and mind and soul who stands on the street corner doing that. I really don't like how it affects her daughters when she goes home that night.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. In your original post

you said "people standing on street corners trading $20 bills for blow jobs"

now it sounds like you are only talking about women... clarification?

[southerngirlwriter]

25. ..............

I was expressing ambivalence in my original post. I did not anticipate an argument or having to parse every sentence.

I don't know what the fuck I meant. I have been on DU long enough to know that that's not good enough; someone will be offended and there will be an uproar.

I should've stayed in bed today. Sigh.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. Umm

I meant nothing hostile, negative or critical by my post. I wasn't offended by what you said, and I didn't mean to make you feel like you are engaged in an argument.

I hope you decide it was worth getting up after all....

[southerngirlwriter]

28. It's not you.

nt

[Book Lover]

23. What about the ones who arent on the corner?

There are sex workers who place ads, make appointments by phone, and will only accept as clients those men she finds clean and safe. What about them?

[elfwitch]

4. I figure it is a victimless crime...

If the person providing the service is willingly offering services and the customer needs those services, I see no problem with it. Two consenting adults interacting in a business situation to exchange money for services.

It becomes a problem when the service provider is forced (by a pimp, an addition, etc.) to provide these services against her will. But if you are forcing somebody to do something against their will, in many cases, it is criminal regardless of what the act being forced upon the person is.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. inherently?

Um (girlfriend is watching)... yes.

:)

[Mrs. Venation]

7. Selling Sex Is Not Inherently Wrong

as long as the vendor is not forced to do so, and as long as the vendor is of legal age.

I think if prostitution was made legal in every state, and regulated, there would be fewer cases of STDs, and greater protection for the sex workers. The USA's general attitude toward all things sexual is, IMHO, inherently wrong. The urge for sexual activity is natural; to banish acting on that urge in a consensual way is unnatural.

[aquart]

8. Is eating inherently wrong?

What an amazingly stupid question. The practice of selling sex is "the oldest profession," remember? It's here. It ain't going noplace. Debating the morality is simply ridiculous.

You want to talk about making it safer, that's a discussion in the real world.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Thanks for calling it 'an amazingly stupid question'

It's always nice to hear your opinion... :eyes:


I would point out though, that you've used a flawed analogy.

"Is eating wrong" would be analogous to "Is sex wrong"

"Is selling food wrong" would be analogous to "Is prostitution wrong"


But I will pass on the opportunity to label your post as 'stupid' or 'ridiculous' :hi:

[Commendatori]

9. No

What two consenting adults do is not the government's business.

[blackcat77]

11. Theoretically no, in reality yes.

Probably 99% of prostitutes are kept in virtual slavery. They're in the business because of desperation, not choice.

[camero]

12. Prostitution

It seems to go on more in capitalistic societies where money seems to trump all. We sell everything and I mean everything. Still I don't think it should be illegal. It's kind of hypocritical to have a society where money is god and then say to those who are left out that they don't deserve to have even fake intimacy.

Maybe someday we'll find a way where money is not a part of individual relationships at all. I'm dreaming of course.

[camero]

34. I really shoudn't be surprised that noone replied

It's easier to rant about who is doing what and why than to question the basic assumptions of society I guess.

[slackmaster]

14. Criminalization of prostitution leads to victimization of prostitutes

I say it's no more "wrong" than massage for pay or manicures for pay or hair braiding for pay.

The problem is implementation in a society that gives a wink and a nod to prostitution as a way of dealing with mens' excessive sexual energy while pretending to adhere to an arbitrary moral code in which all sexual expression is supposed to be suppressed.

The prostitutes in counties in Nevada where it's legal and regulated are doing quite well.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Exactly

[Taverner]

39. yep....nothing to add...you said it all

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. no not at all

i own this body and have a right to do with it as i please so long as it does not infringe on you

[truthspeaker]

18. Inherently, no. Usually, yes.

In practice it usually victimizes vulnerable women, IMHO.

[khashka]

20. I was a sex worker

a prostitute. It was the best job I ever had. And I know that's not true for everyone. That's why I still work with Coyote and other prostitute's unions.

Their are people who take it seriously and we make a big deal about disease, etc. You know, uh, when I'm fucking some guy, I'm most concerned with his wife and his family. Yeah, that sounds good, but it's true.

The prostitution problem is a legal problem. Fix the laws and we won't be forced to be criminals. We can't get help when we need it and we can't do our jobs well.

[radwriter0555]

29. Men criminalize prostitution because it's the one thing where WE, as women

have the ultimate control.

I think a woman who has the sense to sell the one product that men will indeed die for, is the smart woman, who has control of her life.

Men can't stand that.

[Guaranteed]

41. Men criminalize it, eh?

You know that women have 52% of the population AND they can vote, right?

[noiretextatique]

51. that 52% of the population didn't always have the right to vote

speaks volumes about why things are the way they are.

[JVS]

50. "the one product that men will indeed die for"

You are really over-estimating the value of that product.

[UnAmericanJoe]

24. As a VERY infrequent participant in this realm

I would say no.
The women that I met were all incredibly bright, attractive, and professional. They were very well-adjusted and had their heads on straight. Many were putting themselves through school by doing it.

Of course that was more the professional escort industry. Streetwalking prostitutes are a WHOLE other ballgame. They are almost always out there doing that for one reason, to get money for a fix. They live pretty horrible lives I would imagine. (and both men AND women find themselves in this position)

[NightTrain]

27. I'm bisexual. When I want sex, I buy it!

:evilgrin:

[JohnKleeb]

31. thats buysexual

[hunter]

52. Ironic. Funny.

BTW I voted "other" in this poll, because I think if you are buying or selling sex, something else is probably wrong or broken. It's not the mere act of buying or selling sex that is wrong, but something else.

There are lots of things besides sex that that are indicators of serious social or ethical problems when money is being used as the primary "lubricant."

[Skittles]

30. if by "wrong" you mean disgusting and dehumanizing

absolutely yes.

But should it be illegal? Absolutely not.

[chicaloca]

36. my feelings exactly....

Prostitutes are hurt infinitely more when their work is illegal. I have no problems with sex workers/prostitutes themselves, but I _do_ find johns (or, um, janes?) disgusting and repugnant.

[roguevalley]

32. If it was your daughter/son being a prostitute, then the story changes.

It relegates people to being utinsels for other people.
Its a form of slavery in my mind.

[geniph]

33. Only if we view sex as somehow inherently shameful

then, by extension, of course making your living by selling it is shameful. On the other hand, if sex is regarded as a natural, healthy, normal part of life (and don't kid yourself, this society doesn't believe that for a second), then selling sex is a perfectly acceptable way to make a living, no different from selling your time to make hamburgers, or sell shoes, or cut hair.

"When sex is outlawed, then only outlaws will sell sex."

Making prostitutes criminals creates a whole underclass of desperate men and women who are easily exploited by the unscrupulous. Note I do not say only women are exploited - those of you generalizing about prostitution and women are forgetting all those desperate young men who are also selling themselves on streetcorners. Their lives are often even worse, as many of their clients resent their own desires to have sex with young men, and take it out on the sex worker.

[Deja Q]

35. It's the crux of capitalism (and libertarianism too!)

n/t

[IronLionZion]

37. partners/spouses can be more expensive than prostitutes

there's nothing wrong with the world's oldest profession. Regulations need to be in place to combat AIDS and STD's though.

[jpgray]

38. Another poll about the music industry?

:D

[Van Helsing]

40. I think it is.

There's other work for women to do instead of selling their body off for sex and blow jobs. There's other jobs to do--like working at a fast food joint or something. Even that's better than prostitiution.

[High Sierra Buck]

42. Question; What is the going rate for a good hooker these days?

Just kinda curious? I've heard tales of up to thousands of dollars, but then on cops TV show, I see them getting busted for like $20 hookers, of course they look pretty damn nasty too! Is there a base rate of pay? Do they get overtime? Is it by the hour? all night?
Do they get tips??

There has to be someone in the know on this subjectB-)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

46. Try google

it's got the answer to everything.

[kodi]

43. it has the potential to be spiritually degrading.

but each of us is different.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

44. I voted "no" because it is inherently sex

The money part is the bad.

[SarahB]

45. That's kind of subjective

I support the right of a woman to do as she chooses with her body and if she wants to perform a sexual act and get paid for it, it should be her legal right to do so.

That being said, that for me, there have been times in which I've "thought" I could get into the concept of casual sex, but for my own individual self, I don't think it's possible really. I need a fairly strong level of emotional intimacy before I could feel comfortable with physical intimacy.

That being said, while I don't believe it's inherently wrong, it would be for me personally.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

47. It's wrong for me...

But not necessarily for someone else.

I would neither buy nor sell sex for myself; and I doubt if I could love a man who did either.

On the other hand, as long as the business is conducted between consenting adults only, I think it should be legal.

[Blue-Jay]

48. I voted "No", but I'll add a caveat.

If you're cheating on someone then yes, it's wrong to hire a professional.

Otherwise, I don't see an inherent "wrongness" about it. It might be ill-advised, if proper health precautions aren't taken though.

[prolesunited]

54. So, what you are saying

If you're cheating on someone, it's best to go with amateurs? :P

[Blue-Jay]

55. Exactly correct!

nyah!

[MrSlayer]

49. World's oldest profession.

And I have no problem with it. It should be legalized and regulated.

[Nikia]

53. For the most part

I think it is damaging to any romantantic/sexual relationships that the customer or the prostitute have or might have in the future. It turns people into just sex objects to be used and thrown away. One might argue that many hookups in bars are about that too, but at least in a bar, such things are truly consentual (as opposed to having sex with anyone who will pay) and usually do involve some sort of interaction beyond "This is what I want. How much do you charge?"
It is also wrong because it spreads diseases.
I am not sure if it should be legal or not. I think that it is wrong though and tend to think less of people who are prostitutes or do use their services(especially if they are cheating on an SO).

[Padraig18]

56. I'm quite libertarian in my views on it, gambling and drugs...

'Consensual vice' crimes are perhaps the most ridiculous concepts since 'sacrilege'... :shrug:

[elperromagico]

57. It's not wrong, but it is unexciting.

It's much more fun to see a woman grow to desire me over a period of time than simply give her cash and watch her bend over.

But that's just me. Thrill of the hunt, I suppose... :P