Prostitution Legalization: It's Time

[MadManInBlueBox]

Yes, I'm here to discuss the world's oldest profession, though I'm not about to get into the history of it. However, especially here in the U.S., we've always seemed to have this stigma about sex, even though we know it sells, and it sells hard. There are several reasons that the United States needs to stop pretending we're some puritanical society, and make a change that will actually have real-world effects: legalizing prostitution.

Let me be clear: I'm not talking about street prostitution. I do think that needs some level of regulation, if not outright banned. Without oversight, street prostitution is often underage and under protected women. Human trafficking thrives on secretive red-light districts. Diseases spread, and people and law enforcement die every year, either partaking in or trying to enforce these antiquated laws.

So what's the solution, you ask? Weren't you paying attention? Legal prostitution is the answer, but here's how we make it effective. Make it government sanctioned with common-sense, and maybe even a few complicated, laws. We can restrict it to 18 or 21; require both customer and provider to have frequent STD testing; require/encourage the same to utilize protecting and contraceptives; have a much safer working environment for the working girl/guy.

Now, what could we gain from this? A lot. The first bargaining chip we can bring to the table of the old, stuffy lawmakers who like to pretend they are in it to protect their constituents: money. Yes, like Colorado and Washington has learned with marijuana, it brings in the tax dollars. Millions could be raised. Personally, I wouldn't doubt that the sex and drug industry could take in billions for healthcare or education costs alone, or that crumbling infrastructure we keep hearing about. This kind of reform could change lives.

It would take most women and children off the streets in larger numbers than any human trafficking effort right now. Yea, there would still be some creeps out there looking for helpless children, and most certainly there would be women seeking themselves on fine black market at cheaper prices because of various reasons (maybe they couldn't meet a brothel health code), and maybe it would place these people in even darker holes to hide than before, but no system is perfect.

By and large, I believe prostitution needs to be legalized. I seriously doubt it will happen in my lifetime, but its time is coming. Once people stop pretending that there is some moral superiority between a waitress and a stripper, or model and a call-girl, we can begin the progress that can really change lives.

[SirRexington]

Bring back the Personals section to Craigslist!

Do i support the behavior or the career path sex workers have chosen as a source of income? No. Should I or anyone be able to regulate or illegalize the actions and decisions made by two (or more) individuals who voluntarily and consensually agreed to? No! How does one have the right or even manage to prevent people from having sex? They can't. It's not possible and it should not be.

If a man goes to a bar and buts a girl some drinks or is asked by a girl to buy her some drinks and they have sex later as a large portion of these encounters do, then how is that different from prostitution? You are paying for a woman who you are now engaging in a casual sex act with.
If I meet a girl at the library today and we start talking about books, this leads to erotic literature which leads to us deciding to act out that literature at her place, I pay for the gas that she used to take us home. Is that now illegal? How would you even be able to make such an interaction illegal? You can't regulate peoples sex life and their decisions.

Why are domination clubs, stripper bars and porn not illegal businesses? I'll tell you why. They are making money that goes to the government. Consenting adults deciding to meet for sex is tax free and doesn't have government intervention.
Amsterdam has actual sex shops where women have sex for money. They are legitimate businesses. Rape and violent crime there has dropped exponentially.

Regardless of whether I support or agree with the behavior or the career choice, people should be able to make decisions for themselves and with others as long as the actions don't negatively affect other people's basic rights.

[MadManInBlueBox]

I did miss that personals section

[MadManInBlueBox]

Do* miss

[Shezadi]

You are disgusting, make your mother, sister, wife and daughter prostitutes and live off their money. After all, women don't respect themselves nowadays and think they were made just to be sex objects for strangers. Strange how people are reluctant to get married at a young age but can be prostitutes at 18, can have one night stands and casual sex at the age of 18.
Funny how people can't have an arranged marriage but are happy to have friends, websites, and strangers recommending them whores.

"Boys and girls want attention, women and men demand respect."

“Girls are like apples... the best ones are at the top of the trees. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples that are on the ground that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think there is something wrong with them, when, in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree...”

So many people are illegitimate, adulterers and they only adultresses not virgins or respectable women.

Men go for women who don't respect themselves, go for rotten apples, whores, sluts, and hoes can't believe people try to make something immoral and disgusting sound professional.

[MadManInBlueBox]

I respect your opinion, however, I disagree. I'm not talking about forcing women into these roles, I'm talking about full-grown women making their own choices. You're making an assumption that no woman would choose this line of work if they had respect for themselves.

[JonDoe1985]

You're rather an intollerent perosn, aren't you? You sound like one of those religous zealots.

Getting married at 18 and making a descion to make a living with what nature gave them are two different things. So, no one is going to "make" anyone prostitute themselves, this would be a choice. After all, don't women have a choice on what to do with their bodies?

By the way, this applies to the rare, but existing male prostitute as well.

[monkeynutts]

You are definitely hanging high in that ol apple tree shedazi. But I see a few of his points as being relevant, particularly because prostitution is still happening in Muslim countries, although it's regulating sin, having eyes on people is important, because you Can't control human nature. It's a complicated argument.

[CubsterShura]

I understand your sentiment behind this but honestly the only way we can reduce prostitution, and especially illegal prostitution, is by helping women in need. Many women end up being prostitutes when her close people and neighbors were not willing to give them shelter when they needed it or did not offer them jobs when they asked for it. This happens in cases when women drop school early and get married at an early age to become traditional housewives, and later some kind of unfortunate event gets them divorced or widowed and they realize they have nowhere to go.

This is why it is very important for a woman to be able to sustain herself and be independent, This is a harsh world.

[MadManInBlueBox]

@CubsterShura As I stated in myTake, there are people, usually people of extreme religious vewpoints, that find the mere thought of sex disgusting unless it's between a man and a woman, and only if they are married. It's that demographic of people that oppose it. They are the ones that vote in the lawmakers that shun the very idea, despite the fact that there could be some life-saving benefits to it at the humanitarian level. For example, lately there's been an uptick in awareness of worldwide human trafficking, and many countries are attempting to fight it (at least on paper). What better way to do that then to rip into the profits of those doing it, and you rip into a smuggler's profits by taking away something that they can smuggle. But, then again, people of the United States like to think we are this holy society. The irony of it is, those same people will see a billboard with a woman, half-naked, selling beer, and even the women will be like, "oh, boys will be boys."

[monkeynutts]

@CubsterShura yeah cool, The best analogy I can describe to you is your sitting in your room and a big scarey spider walks up the wall, you choose one of these.
A) swat it with a broom, or blast it with a can of bug spray.
B) cover your eyes with your hands and pretend it is not there.
C) or what I would do it stick my right hand out and nudge it onto my hand and play with it for a few minutes then let it go do its thing in the cnr of the room. I truly do no fear the things that others fear. Live and let love, and live and let life. To me modern policing in America is disgraceful, (depending on state) it is the bug spray and swat the little people way of doing things. I personally believe that most hardliners Muslim countries are probably totally deluded to the amount of evil that takes place in their communities. They close their eyes and pretend that God will sort it out. In Australia, we are different, most people that come here can't resist becoming one of us.

[CubsterShura]

I don't support sex outside of marriage either. I always heavily discourage it. Prostitution has to be regulated to prevent exploitation and trafficking.

[MadManInBlueBox]

@CubsterShura And you're right to that belief, but that's still a person's choice, and I don't think any less of someone who waits for marriage or does it the first the first chance they get.

But my point wasn't about marriage and sex. It was just that the vast majority of people who fight prostitution are strongly religious.

[JonDoe1985]

Maybe you guys should have noticed the age of the origional opinion giver. She's like... 19. She's still got a very limited view of the world. Probably won't change much unless she get's a real-world awkening form her bubble, but it could explain a lot.

[monkeynutts]

@CubsterShura unfortunately your ideas only work in theory, heavy handed policing of the issue only makes matters worse, hardly ever catches the Real criminals, just. Gives underprivileged girls criminal records. You can't police drugs, prostitution, or gambling, anyone that says they do is full of crap. You guys have one of the most messed up societies in the world, and you don't have anyone else to blame but your selves.

[monkeynutts]

@CubsterShura sorry I thought you were American.

[JonDoe1985]

@monkeynutts Eh, just about everyone's society is screwed up. The US is just awkward, if not outright hypocritical.

[monkeynutts]

@JonDoe1985 if you guys can pull it together like the 1980's then you would be much more comfortable, a lot of you guys seem to do it tough. I'm by all classifications poor, I don't live outside my means eat a balance diet, pay minimal rent and like my job, I'm pretty easy to make happy.

[CubsterShura]

@monkeynutts wow just look at your language when I said I don't support sex outside of marriage. Well, what else could I except from your narrow mind that cannot be open to people with different opinions?

[monkeynutts]

@CubsterShura I don't really like arguments with teenage girls. I'de prefer we forget about it.

[CubsterShura]

@monkeynutts I don't like arguments with close-minded people either... forget it.

[Aaron-1992]

I agree. There are a lot of girls under 18 that are forced to be in the prostitution, by loverboys. They really think that he like her and manipulate her with a ''relationship''. Most of the prostitution is MANIPULATED. If they don't do it, than he wants to harm her friends or family. Thats why they say they want to do it. They are brainwashed by their pimp. There is nothing romantic about a whore. And don't you'd be angry if your sister was used and beaten up by those people?

Girls think love the same as sex. But mostly that not true. They don't have a right view of what real love is.

[MadManInBlueBox]

@Aaron-1992 that's why you regulate it. Make 21'minimum age for the legality. Like with the porn industry, they need absolute proof of your age, and even if they lose the record, they're in deep shit until they find it.

[Anonymous]

To be perfectly honest, it should be legalized. I don't participate in this, but I have heard stories from those who have. A lot of strip clubs these days, I know people who tell me it's so easy to get "serviced" in one, for example. It's sad and it's scary.

If prostitution isn't legalized and there aren't laws to regulate it, it becomes a hot mess like it is now. Prostitution should be legalized, because it will make it safer for all those involved, in my opinion.

If it was legalized and was regulated, it will make make government big bucks since sex sells.

If it was regulated, it would also cut down on sex trafficking, because people would then need permits to "sell their services". Those that don't have permits will be shut down.

If it was regulated, it would also cut down on STD transmission. It would force those who "sell their services" to get tested often and it would force those who partake in this activity to get tested before they can see a sex worker.

I feel like it would be a win all around. In the current state of prostitution there is no real regulation. People are doing it anyway, nobody is being held accountable, people aren't getting tested, etc.

[HereComesDrTran]

Escorts were my outlet. Now the government shut down backpage and Craigslist Personals.

I wasn't born a great man, so I became one.

I did excellent in school and outside of school to earn my great mind, played sports and exercised to earn my great body.

Developed a great personality brimming with charm, wit, and humor. Learned to play the guitar and speak 3 languages.

Applied myself in the workforce to earn $60k/year. Managed my finances responsibly and earned my own place and vehicles.

I've been told by several people that I'm 8+ in the looks department.

Yet NO women have ever shown ANY interest in me. And men risk jail/prison time and losing everything they have earned FOR EVEN ATTEMPTING to have a relationship with any woman!

I would LOVE the opportunity to approach women and show them a good time WITHOUT RISKING PRISON!!! But since I CAN'T and haven't been allowed to for 10 YEARS! This extreme hatred has built up inside me that I have so far kept hidden.

Ecorts, prostitutes, call girls, they were my way of getting my sexual needs met.

And you took that away from me. 😠

[oddwaffle]

Prostitution is a job like every other job. Sex work is work.

Still people likes to criminalize it for no reasons. Maybe to keep the poor people in check. If you are rich you wouldn't care that much. I mean if I was rich then I would "grab her by the pussy!" - just like rich old Trump.

I mean if you visit an escort and talk to her and she tells you that she was forced into this then do you report that to the police or keep your silence?

If what you do is illegal then you would shut up, see no evil, hear no evil. You just lose when you try to be a good guy.

Germany is doing great with it's legalized prostitution. Even Japan is doing fine. Only countries that outlaw prostitution that is having the problem.

[Nexovous]

This sounds great on paper. The thing is in practice it's way too much to regulate and ensure the rights of the people at hand whilst ensuring the legality of it all. The behind the scenes would more or less boast a great deal of illegal activity even if this was made legal to some extent. It is much simpler for this to remain a one night stand then to allow something like this. It's also something easily looked down on in our current age by most of society so it would make the government look bad to some degree.

[dano65]

It is high time to legalize prostitution. I'm not big on taxation, but as per the 10th Amendment, (states' rights) states can legalize and tax it. As per the 9th Amendment, no prostitute or john should be locked up in a cage if it is between consenting adults. It is all about why states lock people up when there is no victim. A loaded gun in my pocket should be my business if it is for self-defense. A kilo of weed in my home should be my concern only so long as I am high at home. Hell I don't even use it, but I might want to someday.

[coralee]

The only people the criminalization of prostitution hurts is the prostitutes. I have no qualms with people seeking a prostitute from ethical places a la the Bunny Ranch those are adult women who made a choice. I do have a problem with human sex trafficking but again the criminalization of prostitution only hurts the victims. People aren't going to seek help if their terrified their going to be arrested.

[MrCasanova]

It's easier said than done and not knocking down religion and most Christians; who go to Church, but they are the ones; will probably lobby against it, because they go, by the bible and believe that you shouldn't be a Prostitute in the first place; even though there was a Prostitute in the bible; who spoke with Jesus; Mary Magdalene. That story is for another post on here. Anyway, it is believe that society wants you to pay for sex, but you can't sell it. You have to go to the work of getting it, not easy either. In Church, you wait on your wife. Which I don't think is everyone's plan. Legalizing it will help, to prevent crimes.

[JonDoe1985]

You know, a lot of people seem to feel they are above people who work in the sex industry, but personally, I think they are jealous. I wish I could just wave my dick around and get paid. I wish someone would pay me to fuck me, or even just to have me do things for them they wouldn't normally get. Like you said, if it's done in the right way, it would have many benefits. It won't eliminate all the problems that comes with it, but it would be a step in the right direction. Not to mention, why is it the government can tell a grown man or woman what they can do with their bodies. I find it sad in this day and age we still have people in power that want competely control of our lives.

[Stalin69]

right lets have future generations grow up in a nation where we condone women and men selling their bodies for anything let alone material values like money, i swear what the hells next whats the next argument for ''sexual liberation'' where do we draw the line.

[Anonymous]

I like going to the legal "ranches" in Nevada occasionally. The ladies are well-screened, and have to have weekly medical exams. All sex is with condoms. Most of the women in those places are in their 30's or early 40's. It is highly regulated. I don't see why it isn't legal in more places around the US. There are only maybe around 20 of these ranches in the whole state of Nevada.

[MadManInBlueBox]

Just out of curiosity. do they ever ask you about your medical history? STDs in particular?

[Opinion Owner]

No, but they do "examine" you before any activity is allowed.

[Stalin69]

wow you have to travel all the way to a Nevada to potted pussy ranch to put your penis in some disgusting plum puckered pussy from some whores whore seen more cock then a porn hub webcam. wow you are sad

[MadManInBlueBox]

@Stalin69 No more sad than someone on a high horse. I mean, even Jesus loved prostitutes, from what I read. You're a very spiteful person.

[Stalin69]

you know stds like herpes can be dormant for years and can have occasional flares, just cause they get tested doesn't mean they dont or can't or have stds you fool.

[Stalin69]

stds like genital warts can still be contracted with a condom on because they usually aren't inside the woman's vagina and can be small enough a horny dude probably wouldn't notice.

[genericname85]

meh. couldn't care less to be honest. it's legal here and i guess it's fine for the reasons you mentioned (it being legal regulates it and takes the dark criminal stuff out of it). i still disagree with people fucking for money. it's their life though not mine, so not my problem.

[MadManInBlueBox]

Which is another lane point. It should be a person's choice.

[Pamina]

I wouldn't be so sure it won't happen in your life time. Legalization of gay marriage and marihuana happened/are happening very suddenly too in the US.

[MadManInBlueBox]

Yea, but it isn't really a hot topic right now. Get marriage has been a hot topic issue since at last the mid 90s. Aside from "Whores for Hillary", I haven't heard much about it elsewhere.

[Pamina]

That's true, no one really cares about prostitutes.

[MadManInBlueBox]

Which is sad. I read teasing about a town in Nevada that has a brothel. The women there are apparently treated with the let amount of dignity. There are city ordences that don't allow them to wear certain clothing when not in the brothel, they aren't allowed ought after sundown, or 6 pm, whichever comes first. Always threatened by the sheriff's and stuff. Things that are straight up unconstitutional. So, yes, hookers are not on anyone's minds.

[Pamina]

Even here in Europe, where prostitution is legal in many countries, prostitutes are still looked down on. Can't even imagine how it must be in the US.

[Stalin69]

your goddamn right no one gives a fuck about them, if my daughter or son were a prostitute after i spent years teaching them to love and respect themselves and their bodies i would fucking drown them while listening to the new god of war overture. whores who ''consensual y'' go into this ''job'' deserve everything they get, they are vile and disgusting things and they should be criticized and stigmatized, just because we legalized fags getting married and airing their finger fucked shit on television doesn't mean we say ''oh well why not allow young girls grow up in a nation where selling their bodies for cash is not only NOT stigmatized and illegal but hell even praised ad because its regulated its ok. oh why not let a brother and sister or mother and son or father and daughter either way consenting adults get married and be treated as everyone else or why not let the man who fucks his donkey or the woman who fucks her horse be free from social discrimination ''

[Stalin69]

no we have to draw the line somewhere.

[Pamina]

@Stalin69 You are the perfect example of what's wrong with this world. I genuinely hope you never have kids.

[LegateLanius]

Sex trafficking and prostitution are two different things. After legalizing prostitution in 2003, New Zealand found 'no incidence of human trafficking.' Moreover, legalization made it easier for sex workers to report abuse and for police to prosecute sex crimes.
Some people claim that prostitution threatens committed relationships, marriage, and the family. The argument is that the 'johns' who patronize prostitutes will have less incentive to enter stable relationships. But such an argument is unfounded. Committed relationships have intrinsic rewards to both men and women. Most people report that sex within a committed relationship is superior to casual sexual contact.
They should regulate it and legalize it.

[CubsterShura]

I actually support legalizing and REGULATING prostitution. It has to be maintained very well to avoid any kind of exploitation or trafficking. And also beware of young girls made grown up with growth hormones.

[MadManInBlueBox]

I agree. Regulation is the only way to keep it clean and safe for everyone involved. Of course, no system is ever perfect, but I think it's better than what we have now. It's like when they tried to prohibit alcohol in the 20s. All that did was line the pockets of criminals and smugglers. The same is true with prostitution.

[CubsterShura]

True. Prostitution IS legal here and somewhat regulated, but the corrupt government that we have... nope. So much illegal stuff happening and we can't do a thing about it.

[MadManInBlueBox]

That is too bad.

[Jager66]

Agreed. Prohibition doesn't work, all it does is feed organized crime and all the suffering that accompanies it.

Harm reduction should be the focus and that requires legalization and the changing peoples perceptions.

[John_Doesnt]

The reason it's illegal is because the average person can't be trusted to be responsible or fair. Women WILL be abused and taken advantage of. It will also increase the number of rape cases.
The average citizen is a selfish, stupid and compulsive person.

[MadManInBlueBox]

That's why you do it on a registered, controlled environment, like the favours Bunny Ranch. Sure, some will all get hurt, but it would put women in a way better position. The take cases will potentially lower.

[bijbee]

People think of themselves, a lot you can do. When we think of others we need to protect others a lot we can not do. One is called therefor selfish and the other one social. Social has become a bad name but is good. Selfish is do good for your self and others have to live with that who do not like that. That is for perverse and there are many but not all. So we must split the land into two pieces. Then the problem is solved. And I for sure move to America.

[Kuraj]

Cool, now show me how you are going to regulate the druggy whores who chose their career path specifically because it is easy money and currently are happily performing their jobs illegally.
These aren't exactly the kind of people who are eager to line up to pay taxes and legitimize their business.

Regulation has always been the number one problem with prostitution, that is why it is illegal while something like porn isn't.

[MadManInBlueBox]

I don't get how regulation is the "number one problem" in any stretch of the imagination. I think the problems that proceed with regulation (which there is no regulation in something that is almost completely illegal in the US) are human trafficking, drugs (as you mention), and violence.

Also, porn is very regulated. If it wasn't, you'd have people making it anyway, except without oversight requiring medical examinations, and proper age-restrictive requirements to protect children. Not bulletproof, but its there.

But to answer your question about regulating: Unless you're in a registered brothel, you're committing a crime. Like soliciting services where it's not wanted, or allowed by law. Just like any other law, you enforce through penalties. Because, as I already mentioned, there will be those who don't follow the rules, and they risk fines and jail time, not to mention the other risks of unprotected illegal activities.

[Dargil]

Prostitution should be decriminalized, regulated, licensed and taxed. In order to partition or from the criminal underworld, there should be random inspections and those operating in an unlicensed criminal underground should be prosecuted equally... provider and recipient. Especially where human trafficking is involved.

[JessForAdvice]

I think prostitution is looked at as dirty women etc. I think something needs to happen to make change that thought.
I would probably hire a young women to experiment with me and just have fun. But again it’s the dirty aspect of it, not knowing who they are etc

[DancingGirl]

I agree with you. Those girls are working for living like so many. Need society and legal to recognize them 👍

[Sabretooth]

they do recognize them

[Stalin69]

yea we recognize that thier whores when we find their cum stained bodies in the dumpster with their faces, fingers, teeth and tongues removed to prevent identification we do recognize that and its a shame but in the cases when one chooses this path i have no empathy at all and it was better they just die and rot then continue to be used as a cum stump by future clients. fuck em. the fact your a name speaks so high of who you are is amazingly accurate because you are truly a fucking girl, any self respecting woman wouldn't ever dream of selling her pussy for cash wow i can't believe im a year younger then you.

[Sabretooth]

that was more graphic than anything i'd say-but it's unfortunately true-everyday they're alive-is a day they need to get out of that life