Do you support or oppose the legalization of prostitution?

[ingemann]

Of course I support it legalisation of prostitution, I'm anti-slavery.

[Virginiá]

Well, all forms of it should be criminalised with the tacit understanding that it will still go on in the shadows.

So basically what we have now?

Criminalizing vices does not work, and prostitution is arguably the dumbest vice to criminalize. I really wish this country would stop using the criminal justice system as a tool for enforcing other peoples morals

[Bojack Horseman]

Support with conditions. Legalizing prostitution is the quickest way to bust pimps and human trafficking rings IMO. Brothels should be regulated for health and safety regulations, but as it stands now, yes we should legalize prostitution.

[Cassius]

Well, all forms of it should be criminalised with the tacit understanding that it will still go on in the shadows.

So basically what we have now?

Criminalizing vices does not work, and prostitution is arguably the dumbest vice to criminalize. I really wish this country would stop using the criminal justice system as a tool for enforcing other peoples morals

But every single law, to a certain extent, is simply a reflection of one moral viewpoint or another. I mean, your view that prostitution should be decriminalised is in and of itself a moral judgement (I don't know how you view prostitution per se, but your statement indicates that you don't view it as being particularly morally heinous, which is of course a perfect valid viewpoint). Every law regulating everything from taxation levels to marriage and crime control to health policy ultimately stems from a moral judgement. Of course, you can argue as to whether a certain policy is moral or not, and as to whether it is practicable, but criticising people simpy for making and supporting laws based upon their sense of morality doesn't really stack up.

[Santander]

I know quite a bit about legalized prostitution in Hong Kong and Singapore from my time living in the region. Prostitution is much more prevalent in that part of the world than in the West. There are certainly advantages to legalization, but a major problem is that even countries with legal prostitution still have illegal prostitution industries that are actually bigger than the legal industries. For example, only permanent residents of HK and Singapore can be legal prostitutes in their respective countries, but they are expensive and come in limited... "varieties", so both countries have massive semi-underground industries of prostitutes from mainland China, Korea, Vietnam, Russia, Thailand, and other countries. The vast majority of these girls are 18+, but they still do not fall within the bounds of the regulated prostitution industry because they are legally foreign students or tourists. You will never be able to overcome this problem without granting work permits for foreign prostitutes, which is just a terrible idea.

With this in mind, I oppose legalization of prostitution, partly on moral grounds, but mostly for pragmatic reasons. I very much support reducing criminal penalties for prostitution, though.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I know quite a bit about legalized prostitution in Hong Kong and Singapore from my time living in the region.

Oh dear.  You didn't come across a fellow from Missouri in your travels by any chance, did you?

[Virginiá]

But every single law, to a certain extent, is simply a reflection of one moral viewpoint or another. I mean, your view that prostitution should be decriminalised is in and of itself a moral judgement (I don't know how you view prostitution per se, but your statement indicates that you don't view it as being particularly morally heinous, which is of course a perfect valid viewpoint). Every law regulating everything from taxation levels to marriage and crime control to health policy ultimately stems from a moral judgement. Of course, you can argue as to whether a certain policy is moral or not, and as to whether it is practicable, but criticising people simpy for making and supporting laws based upon their sense of morality doesn't really stack up.

I don't want to get too abstract here, but I was referring more to social values. Prostitution, drugs, etc. If I want to sleep with some guy on a whim, it's perfectly fine and legal. If I want to do it for money, suddenly it's illegal. That's such bs. What difference does it make? It's like, a long time ago, some people decided that sex needed to be pure and anyone who thought about genitals outside of wedlock should be shamed. That's their opinion on a completely natural act. They are trying to shape other people's reality for their own selfish reasons. Humans exist to reproduce, just like all other animals. What I want to do with my body is none of anyone's business and frankly no one should have a say in it. If I want to pump heroin into my veins 24/7 while bouncing up and down on some guy's junk in an alleyway for $50, that's my decision with my body. I don't get why people think they should have a say in that.

Now, from a partisan perspective, I can at least understand the desire to criminalize from liberals, who themselves are open to infringing on various rights when it suits them, but it's funny when it comes to conservatives who cry freedom this and freedom that, except when it comes to someone else's body and marriage. Then govt regulation is OK because they find the idea that people using their bodies as they please is icky and against God & their values, so criminalizing is their go-to option for enforcing their worldview.

If we want to talk about other vices & actions, I would have to go through them one-by-one, so I just addressed drugs & prostitution above

(btw i'm just venting, not throwing sh**t at you!)

With this in mind, I oppose legalization of prostitution, partly on moral grounds, but mostly for pragmatic reasons. I very much support reducing criminal penalties for prostitution, though.

Is it really fair to compare the prostitution industry of eastern Asia to the United States? They aren't quite the same.

[Santander]

With this in mind, I oppose legalization of prostitution, partly on moral grounds, but mostly for pragmatic reasons. I very much support reducing criminal penalties for prostitution, though.

Is it really fair to compare the prostitution industry of eastern Asia to the United States? They aren't quite the same.

The US and East Asia are different in many ways, but legalized prostitution, whether in Europe, Asia or Nevada, only cleans up the middle and high-end of the industry. The low-end of the industry, where the human trafficking, drugs, etc. is prevalent, relies on large numbers of prostitutes imported from other countries, mostly Central America and Asia in the case of the US. It is even more difficult for a country like the US to solve these problems through legalization, because you will always have wicked criminals who lure young women into the country through lies and intimidation. The same could be said about poor American women and street prostitution.

Legalization will only legitimize people like Charlie Sheen and Eliot Spitzer while leaving untouched the most vile criminal activity associated with prostitution. In every country where it exists, legal prostitution ends up just being way for society to feel good about itself for its purported pragmatism.

[Derpist]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

[Mercenary]

I oppose the service but support the legalization. Once again government has no right what consenting adults do in private.

[pho]

If pornography is legal, I find it hard to justify criminalizing prostitution.

Prostitution has far more health risks.

That said, option 2.

Pornography is produced by paying people to have sex. I don't see how the health risk is greater if the the commercial aspect is driven by private sexual gratification alone rather than the production of art for the sake of private sexual gratification.

[nclib]

If pornography is legal, I find it hard to justify criminalizing prostitution.

Prostitution has far more health risks.

That said, option 2.

Pornography is produced by paying people to have sex. I don't see how the health risk is greater if the the commercial aspect is driven by private sexual gratification alone rather than the production of art for the sake of private sexual gratification.

I was thinking of Playboy/Penthouse porn.

[Human]

Support, but the prostitution industry should be heavily regulated if legalized.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It depends what you mean by that.

[Sir Mohamed]

I support legalization under strong regulations. It should not take place in the dark as it is now. The women should earn a fair share and with it pay taxes and have access to health care. But strong regulations should be put in place to ensure that it’s voluntarily and that prevent human trafficking (inclusive tough punishment laws for abusers). I would also create programs to help women, who want to exit prostitution and get a new job. 

[White Trash]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

I'm not convinced he's wrong, but one man's modus ponens is another's modus tollens, et cetera.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

This man (doesn't)

[Famous Mortimer]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

I'm not convinced he's wrong, but one man's modus ponens is another's modus tollens, et cetera.

He's categorically wrong. Women most likely to have causal sex with a string of different dates are also the most likely to pay their own way on a date. If anyone is exchanging sex for money, it's conservative marriage minded woman who are trying to find a breadwinner.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

I'm not convinced he's wrong, but one man's modus ponens is another's modus tollens, et cetera.

He's categorically wrong. Women most likely to have causal sex with a string of different dates are also the most likely to pay their own way on a date. If anyone is exchanging sex for money, it's conservative marriage minded woman who are trying to find a breadwinner.

I'm not primarily thinking of money as the object of exchange here.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

I'm not convinced he's wrong, but one man's modus ponens is another's modus tollens, et cetera.

He's categorically wrong. Women most likely to have causal sex with a string of different dates are also the most likely to pay their own way on a date. If anyone is exchanging sex for money, it's conservative marriage minded woman who are trying to find a breadwinner.

I'm not primarily thinking of money as the object of exchange here.

What then? I'm genuinely curious.

[President Johnson]

I support legalization under strong regulations. It should not take place in the dark as it is now. The women should earn a fair share and with it pay taxes and have access to health care. But strong regulations should be put in place to ensure that it’s voluntarily and that prevent human trafficking (inclusive tough punishment laws for abusers). I would also create programs to help women, who want to exit prostitution and get a new job. 

Basicly this.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

I'm not convinced he's wrong, but one man's modus ponens is another's modus tollens, et cetera.

He's categorically wrong. Women most likely to have causal sex with a string of different dates are also the most likely to pay their own way on a date. If anyone is exchanging sex for money, it's conservative marriage minded woman who are trying to find a breadwinner.

I'm not primarily thinking of money as the object of exchange here.

What then? I'm genuinely curious.

Young people, at least in my part of the country, seem to actually date more, not less, than young people apparently used to, yet there's immense pressure to make a relationship sexual almost immediately, such that I have known couples where both partners actually want to wait but rush into sex anyway because each believes that the other expects them to put out. The sex--at least in relationships that I've seen, many of which have gone so disastrously as to destroy friend groups within weeks--becomes transactional in and of itself, being itself used as a form of currency to communicate social and emotional capital that can't be reliably communicated in other ways. It's, for once, less a casual sex thing than a 'people are constantly, more or less openly on the take from one another and use being in a sexual relationship as a means to 'pay back' forms of caring and gratitude that they don't know how to mediate any other way' thing. Which has some of the same fundamental moral problems with it as prostitution, although it's obviously not legally or sociologically equivalent. I'm sure this isn't what Derpist meant by his initial post, but I don't really care.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Support. Most of modern American heterosexual dating culture is glorified prostitution with a stifling Puritan/Victorian veneer anyways.

wat

I'm not convinced he's wrong, but one man's modus ponens is another's modus tollens, et cetera.

He's categorically wrong. Women most likely to have causal sex with a string of different dates are also the most likely to pay their own way on a date. If anyone is exchanging sex for money, it's conservative marriage minded woman who are trying to find a breadwinner.

I'm not primarily thinking of money as the object of exchange here.

What then? I'm genuinely curious.

Young people, at least in my part of the country, seem to actually date more, not less, than young people apparently used to, yet there's immense pressure to make a relationship sexual almost immediately, such that I have known couples where both partners actually want to wait but rush into sex anyway because each believes that the other expects them to put out. The sex--at least in relationships that I've seen, many of which have gone so disastrously as to destroy friend groups within weeks--becomes transactional in and of itself, being itself used as a form of currency to communicate social and emotional capital that can't be reliably communicated in other ways. It's, for once, less a casual sex thing than a 'people are constantly, more or less openly on the take from one another and use being in a sexual relationship as a means to 'pay back' forms of caring and gratitude that they don't know how to mediate any other way' thing. Which has some of the same fundamental moral problems with it as prostitution, although it's obviously not legally or sociologically equivalent. I'm sure this isn't what Derpist meant by his initial post, but I don't really care.

I see. I was vaguely aware of this sort of situations but I never imagined they could be so widespread. It's very concerning indeed - especially if, as I'd assume, this pressure weighs a lot more heavily on women.

I wonder if this problem is specific to the US or affects other Western countries as well. I don't know French dating culture any better than I do American, so it's hard to tell.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Support, because delegalization of prostitution serves no purpouse other than handing the business over to the pimps.