Misc Poll: Should Prostitution be Legalized?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

All right. I think I see the logic in this now.

I do still want to say one thing, though. Even if prostitution itself were to become legal across the board, finding out that one's *spouse* solicited a prostitute should be immediate grounds for divorce. If it already is, then I highly approve, of course.

(If the offended person wants one, of course. Some couples might be able to work that out. I don't think I could. If I was married and I found out that my wife solicited the services of a house of ill repute, I'd assume that meant that she didn't want ME, so I'd kick her ass to the curb)

 

[SilentP]

I do still want to say one thing, though. Even if prostitution itself were to become legal across the board, finding out that one's *spouse* solicited a prostitute should be immediate grounds for divorce. If it already is, then I highly approve, of course.

Well, I can't see how it'd be any different to having a regular affair with someone they know or just randomly met, which would also be grounds for a divorce, so no need to legisilate that. I don't think the 'honouring' part for each other requires defining who you have an affair with.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I do still want to say one thing, though. Even if prostitution itself were to become legal across the board, finding out that one's *spouse* solicited a prostitute should be immediate grounds for divorce. If it already is, then I highly approve, of course.

Of course it would grounds for a divorce, just like an affair. Why would you assume otherwise?

(If the offended person wants one, of course. Some couples might be able to work that out. I don't think I could. If I was married and I found out that my wife solicited the services of a house of ill repute, I'd assume that meant that she didn't want ME, so I'd kick her ass to the curb)

While I'd still be hurt, I'd be more concerned with her falling in love with someone else than just going elsewhere for sex. An unfulfilling sex-life at home or a purely sexual attraction to another person is a lot easier to work-out than your spouse falling in love with someone else. Though I think it's possible to recover from either situation, depending on the couple.

 

[Captain Ice]

I do still want to say one thing, though. Even if prostitution itself were to become legal across the board, finding out that one's *spouse* solicited a prostitute should be immediate grounds for divorce. If it already is, then I highly approve, of course.

As well it should be unless one is in an open marriage or has already given their blessing. Though from the way you word it here, you make it sound like it would be grounds for divorce if they came to you and told you they'd procured the services of one 2 years before they met you, but had not told you yet. If that's the case, then no it should not be grounds for divorce. Marriage counseling maybe...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Of course it would grounds for a divorce, just like an affair. Why would you assume otherwise?

Just being thorough. Never having been through 1) law school or 2) a divorce myself, I don't know what exactly is grounds for one.

Though from the way you word it here, you make it sound like it would be grounds for divorce if they came to you and told you they'd procured the services of one 2 years before they met you, but had not told you yet.

No, I didn't mean to imply that.

 

[Cakes488]

Of course it should be legal. Whoring and weeding should both be legal. Been goin on since the beginning of time and nothing....short of castrating all men would stop it. As I'm sure others have said, it also takes time away from the cops to pursue actual criminals. Legalizing prostitution would also empower the whores and they could have more control over thier "career".

 

[Red Ranger]

Without prohibition, it would be much worse.

Yep, prohibition did a bang-up job with alcohol and drugs. Wiped those problems right out in a heartbeat.

I'm going to lay this down straight. Nerds on the internet might not think that prostitution is a big deal, but the vast sum of America doesn't want prostitutes walking through safe neighborhoods that have little children playing in them, and they don't want prostitutes walking back and forth infront of the grocery store that the family visits all the time.

Thanks for laying it out straight by insulting people who disagree with you while simultaneously projecting your own opinion on the vast majority of Americans. Way to make your point.

I don't doubt that a majority of Americans in certain parts of the country disagree with legalizing prostitution or marijuana use (for another example), but it's not quite the overwhelming majority across the entire country that you make it out to be, nor do most people use your convoluted reasoning to support their viewpoint.

I've been all over Nevada, where prostitution is legalized (outside certain counties), and for the life of me I can't recall ever seeing a prostitute (legal or not) working a residential neighborhood or the front of a grocery store. Especially not in the middle of the day when *gasp* THE CHILDREN *gasp* might see them. Turns out, even when legal, people generally don't want to be seen soliciting a prostitute in broad daylight in their own neighborhood or the grocery store they frequent.

Besides which, when people advocate for legalized prostitution, I would imagine most of them are assuming a brothel-type system instead of just a pimp and a prostitute on the streets where abuse would be rampant and regulation damn near impossible.

QFT!

Strong buy! I think Joshua Howard needs to stop wearing tight briefs and shift to boxers so his balls can breathe. It'll help you, Josh, really! I voted "yes" and echo Locutus' sentiments on how to regulate prostitution. America needs to stop being so damn prudish.

Of course it should be legal. Whoring and weeding should both be legal. Been goin on since the beginning of time and nothing....short of castrating all men would stop it. As I'm sure others have said, it also takes time away from the cops to pursue actual criminals. Legalizing prostitution would also empower the whores and they could have more control over thier "career".

"Whoring and weeding!" Hilarious! Could be a third party -- the whores 'n' weeds platform.

Red Rum!

 

[Davros]

Legalization will bring much needed regulation.

 

[StarTrek1701]

Only hot women should be given the legalization to whore their bodies out!

 

[Data Holmes]

Only hot women should be given the legalization to whore their bodies out!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I'm going to lay this down straight. Nerds on the internet might not think that prostitution is a big deal, but the vast sum of America doesn't want prostitutes walking through safe neighborhoods that have little children playing in them, and they don't want prostitutes walking back and forth infront of the grocery store that the family visits all the time. Private property should be as free as the wild west... but while in public, there are certain things that we as a society won't tolerate. Prostitution is one of those things, and that is why the law exists.

I vote nay.

This.

 

[sidious618]

I'm going to lay this down straight. Nerds on the internet might not think that prostitution is a big deal, but the vast sum of America doesn't want prostitutes walking through safe neighborhoods that have little children playing in them, and they don't want prostitutes walking back and forth infront of the grocery store that the family visits all the time. Private property should be as free as the wild west... but while in public, there are certain things that we as a society won't tolerate. Prostitution is one of those things, and that is why the law exists.

I vote nay.

This.

You'd have a point if legalizing prostitution meant that any of this would happen. It wouldn't. It would get the prostitutes OFF the streets and into heavily regulated brothels.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Actually, if you look at the situation in Nevada, you have no guarantee that the illegal sort of prostitution will stop. Hell, Nevada even has a problem with child prostitution, despite all of the regulation. Even the supposedly regulated brothels have major problems. For instance, despite the pretense of a licensed brothel, many of the women working in these brothels are controlled by outside pimps and this is ignored by the brothel owners.

This is a good sum-up of a lot of issues that would have to be addressed in order to "make it work"--though I think this would be a hell of a lot more trouble than it's worth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada

And that doesn't even BEGIN to address the fundamental immorality of prostitution not just in the religious/theological sense, but what it does to the way we regard people to reduce their sexuality to something to be bought and sold. Objectification, whether it be of women OR of men (in the case of gigolos) is not something that we ought to be doing to each other.

Anyway, I'm going to call it a night--but I would suggest people not be misled by these numbers. As others have mentioned, this is far from scientific and representative sample of the population at large.

 

[Daneel]

Anyway, I'm going to call it a night--but I would suggest people not be misled by these numbers. As others have mentioned, this is far from scientific and representative sample of the population at large.

True -- we Trek fans, in general, are usually ahead of the curve.

As for the problems in the prostitution industry, I don't think anyone here is claiming that legalization and regulation will make them all quickly and permanently disappear, but it would go a long way making things better and safer, IMO.

 

[Captain Ice]

Strong buy! I think Joshua Howard needs to stop wearing tight briefs and shift to boxers so his balls can breathe. It'll help you, Josh, really! I voted "yes" and echo Locutus' sentiments on how to regulate prostitution. America needs to stop being so damn prudish.

Let's leave personal attacks and comments like this OUT of this discussion. This kind of trolling is not conducive to a civil discussion at all and will only result in escalation, retaliation, etc. Knock it off.

 

[Cakes488]

Yep, prohibition did a bang-up job with alcohol and drugs. Wiped those problems right out in a heartbeat.

Thanks for laying it out straight by insulting people who disagree with you while simultaneously projecting your own opinion on the vast majority of Americans. Way to make your point.

I don't doubt that a majority of Americans in certain parts of the country disagree with legalizing prostitution or marijuana use (for another example), but it's not quite the overwhelming majority across the entire country that you make it out to be, nor do most people use your convoluted reasoning to support their viewpoint.

I've been all over Nevada, where prostitution is legalized (outside certain counties), and for the life of me I can't recall ever seeing a prostitute (legal or not) working a residential neighborhood or the front of a grocery store. Especially not in the middle of the day when *gasp* THE CHILDREN *gasp* might see them. Turns out, even when legal, people generally don't want to be seen soliciting a prostitute in broad daylight in their own neighborhood or the grocery store they frequent.

Besides which, when people advocate for legalized prostitution, I would imagine most of them are assuming a brothel-type system instead of just a pimp and a prostitute on the streets where abuse would be rampant and regulation damn near impossible.

QFT!

Strong buy! I think Joshua Howard needs to stop wearing tight briefs and shift to boxers so his balls can breathe. It'll help you, Josh, really! I voted "yes" and echo Locutus' sentiments on how to regulate prostitution. America needs to stop being so damn prudish.

Of course it should be legal. Whoring and weeding should both be legal. Been goin on since the beginning of time and nothing....short of castrating all men would stop it. As I'm sure others have said, it also takes time away from the cops to pursue actual criminals. Legalizing prostitution would also empower the whores and they could have more control over thier "career".

"Whoring and weeding!" Hilarious! Could be a third party -- the whores 'n' weeds platform.

Red Rum!

Yeah babydoll!!!!!!!! It's time to reinvent the "Green Party"

 

[StarryEyed]

...And that doesn't even BEGIN to address the fundamental immorality of prostitution not just in the religious/theological sense, but what it does to the way we regard people to reduce their sexuality to something to be bought and sold. Objectification, whether it be of women OR of men (in the case of gigolos) is not something that we ought to be doing to each other.

Actually, you would have a hard time making the case that prostitution is immoral outside of a religious context. What goes on between consenting adults is no one else's business.

No victim, no immorality.