Prostitution in the Federation
- Thread starter Takomaguy
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Well, of course I don't KNOW it. As far as I know prostitution was never directly addressed in an episode. But given the nature of a Federation that values the free will etc., I don't see how it couldn't be illegal.
(Additionally there's a scene in DS9's "Paradise" which rather suggests that 24th century people are appalled at the mere thought of prostitution [Sisko's reaction on Cassandra's offer].)
(Additionally there's a scene in DS9's "Paradise" which rather suggests that 24th century people are appalled at the mere thought of prostitution [Sisko's reaction on Cassandra's offer].)
That's a thought. Of course, you ARE talking about THE SISKO. Officer, gentleman, prophet, he would of course be offended at such a suggestion. But think back to Mudd on another post. He had a rap sheet that did not include pimping/pandering. Look at Pike's secret fantasy pimping green Orion slave women. Remember when Kira and the Chief tried to brake out the hero of Bajor? The chief pretended he was pimping Kira.
And NOBODY is going to tell me that Quark was not pimping the D'Abbo girls!!!!
Which doesn't exactly rule out the whole thing as illegal.
What on earth makes you think that all forms of prostitution are automatically coercive or in any other way violates a person's free will?
GodThingFormerly
A Different Kind of Asshole
From TOS to DS9, was prostitution legal?
It was definitely implied to be so on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet and Argelius II.
TGT
From TOS to DS9, was prostitution legal?
It was definitely implied to be so on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet and Argelius II.
And Risa.
About the Dabo girls: I seem to remember at least one ep where one of them complains that Quark had claimed that sex *with him* was part of their contract. Nothing about doing it with customers, though. A Dabo girl just has to charm the customer so they'll spend money at the gambling table. They're not whores.
From TOS to DS9, was prostitution legal?
It was definitely implied to be so on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet and Argelius II.
And Risa.
About the Dabo girls: I seem to remember at least one ep where one of them complains that Quark had claimed that sex *with him* was part of their contract. Nothing about doing it with customers, though. A Dabo girl just has to charm the customer so they'll spend money at the gambling table. They're not whores.
Well....
Let me see if I got you straight. You're saying that Quark taught his Dabo hoes to break those cats for all their latinum and not give up the stuff. The say the Game is to play and not get played. If that's true, Quark was the Pimp King.
A
Amaris
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My guess is that there's no Federation Law that says "Prostitution is legal" or "Prostitution is Illegal" since each culture no doubt has different views on prostitution. In some systems it might be legal, while in others it might be illegal.
Yeah, of course you're right. But I also wrote "etc."The thing is, I just can't imagine the Federation to consider prostitution legal. Call me naive, but that's just the way I imagine it.
Au contraire. Not naive, just parochial. In a strict sense, prostitution is just a term our cuture uses to provide a meaning around an trade of money for sex. When stripped of our social, religious, or cultural biases, we are talking about people entering into the market place and exchanging currency for a service.
The Federation is a free market based economy. Perhaps the Federation exists to protect and promote free trade. Perhaps they believe that free trade among planets promotes peace and stability. If yes, everything could be for sale and for trade. Now on some planets prostitution could be illegal or immoral. On others...
Then there is the issue of space. How would an instellar government regulate something like sex for sale in space? This would not only be difficult, but expensive. This would/could bleed resources away from other Federtion priorities. In this environment, prostitution could be an immoral, frowned upon acitivity, but not illegal. On the other hand, given disease concerns, prostitution could be legal and regulated.
Ever been to Amsterdam?
Yeah, of course you're right. But I also wrote "etc."
The way I see it, prostitution in the Federation -- assuming that most of the Federation species have sexual psychologies similar to ours, anyway -- is probably less common than it is in today's world because no one would go into it out of necessity. However, I can't imagine that a society based upon the principles of freedom and self-determination would make prostitution illegal, and I rather imagine that anyone who does go into it does so either because they genuinely like having sex with many different people and/or for reasons of extreme profit. (I'm one of those types who thinks the Federation does have money and a form of capitalism that ensures people work if they want wealth and luxuries, just that this exists alongside a socialism whereni the the basic necessities of healthy living are guaranteed -- free food, water, housing, medical care, etc.)
Yeah, of course you're right. But I also wrote "etc."
The way I see it, prostitution in the Federation -- assuming that most of the Federation species have sexual psychologies similar to ours, anyway -- is probably less common than it is in today's world because no one would go into it out of necessity. However, I can't imagine that a society based upon the principles of freedom and self-determination would make prostitution illegal, and I rather imagine that anyone who does go into it does so either because they genuinely like having sex with many different people and/or for reasons of extreme profit. (I'm one of those types who thinks the Federation does have money and a form of capitalism that ensures people work if they want wealth and luxuries, just that this exists alongside a socialism whereni the the basic necessities of healthy living are guaranteed -- free food, water, housing, medical care, etc.)
Yeah, but the one does not necessarily rule out, or include the other. Yeah, I agree the Federation has some kind of currency, or medium of exchange. In TOS, the talked of "credits," which could have been some kind of pay for Star Fleet. This would make sense, too! If Spock had to buy strings for his instrument, having to do currency exchange would be a pain in the ass. He pulls out some kind of plastic and charges it.
But I digress.
I think they have free universal healthcare as well as free education. According to Picard, people work because they want to, but who knows what work is in the 23rd/24th centuries. Work could be studying for a PhD, teaching, commanding a starship, or snoggin somebody's sausage.
Also capitalism is probabaly not the same there as here. No way in hell the United Federation of Planets would allow no bid contracts, or corporations writing legislation for the Federation Council. Remember the CEO they thawed on TNG? The guy freaked becuase he didn't know what he would do in the 24h century. If things were business as usual, he could have cared less.
Naw, I think they'd have prostitution. But the way it would be regraded would be different depending on where it was practiced, or by whom.
Think about it. Kirk knew Eve was a ho. He didn't seemed repulsed when she approached him. And no one is going to tell me that on some remote mining colony, where housing a family would be difficult, that prostitutes would be bot in high demand and socially exceptable. You also can't tell me that Quark did have did not provide female companionship to the Nagus!
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