Legalising prostitution

Well, it's certainly a thought-provoking article - I have to admit though that until I read this, I had never given the subject much thought at all.

I've just taken the trouble to read that article and yes, it is certainly thought provoking.
What a thoroughly horrible way to earn a living.
I gather that many of the girls have addictions so that's a double whammy - how can anyone want to live like that?
Touring these streets must be so depressing for anyone with a brain and feelings for the good of humanity.

Good for JB as ever telling it how it really is. And be always felt that this ‘legalisation’ was a real stain on the Netherlands. But I didn’t know about the tours until I read this article - how disgusting some people are.

I'm picking out one word which I saw written-----Abhorrent !

It may be abhorrent to decent women but there is a need for it. It isn't dubbed 'the oldest profession' for nothing. Every town has its red light district. I think it's much better to have it out in the open with everything done legally, than on shady street corners. It would also free up police to deal with real crime.

Ok RosieLeah would you like to be a sex worker, would you choose it as a way of life for one of your loved ones.

Most sex workers have experienced horrific abuse, often from a very early age. It isn't a lifestyle choice - it really isn't.

I fail to see why there is a 'need' for it. Seriously, why is it 'needed' ? Who decided that there should be a trade in sex? We really need to ask a lot of very basic questions. Why should anyone have to sell themselves and why do some people feel the need to 'buy' someone. Slavery is seen as vile...no one can defend slavery, what's the difference.
Just writing it off as the 'oldest' profession is not addressing the real facts. Surely that view is tied up in the historical invisibility of women. You were your father's possession until you married. If you did not marry you were invisible. If you had no income you 'sold' yourself...surely we must get away from that.
Banging on about legalising it and feeling a smug sense of liberality is avoiding the obvious. No one should have to sell themselves and no one should be able to buy another person. Sex should be freely given and enjoyed.....not paid for.

Everything done legally RL yeah right. I get the feeling you just like yanking our chains so I think from now on I won’t let that happen.

You lot just won't face reality, will you? Men need sex, it's a physical need. They also need variety. There's a sleazy side to life which you obviously prefer to turn a blind eye to. No Iam64, I could never bring myself to sell my body. I'd rather starve to death, but not all women have such self-respect. Honestly, talk about ostriches!

This topic and your reactions has shown just what sort of people you are. Living cosy little lives, divorced from reality. 'If I don't think about it, it doesn't exist'

Wind your neck in Rosie we are having a discussion, there is no need to be nasty and dismissive of others opinions. The drama Baptiste was revealing about the sordid reality of the Amsterdam red light district. The trafficking, drug dependency, slavery and imprisonment is ghastly and has no place in the modern world. As to the area being a tourist attraction; shame on those who do so, would they find it so entertaining if it was one of their dsughters sitting in the window?

Men need sex! Who says so? Why do they need it? Is it a life necessity, like water or oxygen? What happens if they do not have it....will they die, explode or go on the rampage?
I am quite happy to embrace all the variations on sex, although I'd prefer to see it as an act of love between two consenting adults. I am well aware that in today's world many see it almost as a recreational pastime but what it is not is an act that requires one person's servitude. No one has a right to sex even if it is viewed as simply an appetite that requires sating. Some people's appetites and tastes lead down very dark avenues ....can they just go and 'buy' what they want? We are human beings, given a choice as to how we lead our lives. Sometimes we just have to go without and learn to cope or perhaps seek help to understand ourselves better if we cannot. Just knowing that some poor soul can be bought to pander to our wishes makes for a very poor reflection on what it is to be human.

I think it's much better to have it out in the open with everything done legally

The point of the article is that when it is legal and out in the open, that INCREASES not decreases the illegal side of it. Women openly being displayed, sold and bought desensitises and increases appetite for younger or less willing or less autonomous prostitutes.

The legal side is feeding the illegal side. Not replacing it.

men need sex what a quaint old fashioned sentence Funny how I find myself quite divorced from most things RosieLeah says
Amsterdam s legalised prostitution doesn’t make it right it’s still seedy and the women are still horrible exploited HildaW very good post agree totally

why did prostitution rise in WW2, yes there were men from other countries here, but why did more women turn to prostitution

I'm all for having legal, clean, well managed places where women can provide their services as long as it is regularly inspected, accounts are audited, women pay tax and there are safeguards in place so that no-one is exploited.
There should also be regular medicals for the women and client photos and addresses checked. Data protection should be assured.
It's nothing new and should clean up the whole scene.

What man would give his home address ?

It's nothing new and should clean up the whole scene.

But it doesnt. That's the whole point.

The more visible and "acceptable" the sanitised legal end of porn and prostitution is, the more "porn sick" and desensitised young men become, fueling the market for the seedier illegal side of things.

More legalised brothels = more illegal brothels. Not less.

Normalising prostitution hurts women.

In places where there are legal brothels it accounts for a very small % of brothels.

Sex is an important part of life but not the most important part.
We must not ignore the fact thst there are men who like edgier sex than, perhaps, their partners are willing to indulge in.
Rather that they can find a person willing to perform riskier or more unusual sex than they kerb crawl and then murder after their desires are sated.

Some form of proven ID AnnieBach.

You've got your correlations backwards.

It is the ready availability of porn and prostitution which is causing the increased desire for "hard core" sex acts which young men are growing up believing is normal/common.

Using prostitutes causes this it doesnt cure it.

And young men are demanding and forcing "sex worker" style sex acts from their girlfiends/partners as a result.

You really do have it all backwards

Pros and cons of decriminalisating prostitution

notanan2
Porn is never going to be curbed and young men, under 16s, will always find a partner regardless of not being able to access prostitutes.
Pros don't mind dressing up to 'satisfy' fetishes. You and I may not want to do such things.
Some men will, regardless of marriage and children, be drawn to other women and better that his wants are met in a clean, well regulated place where he knows that he can find his requests met, than shell out for drinks etc in the hope of getting lucky in a bar after work.