Do you think prostitution should be made legal worldwide?

Absolutely

probably!

Yes, because maybe then, it might be less dangerous.

No, I'm against prostitution.

I think so. Why should it be illegal, it happens anyway. If it is controlled and can be safe for the prostitutes, why not?

I'm afraid that some countries might need a whole lot of evolution before this could be considered by them; I don't think that this is about to happen by any stretch of the imagination!

You can be against it all you want- it's still going to happen. Who do you think is at fault? The prostitute or the buyer of the service?

You can be against murder all you want to, that's still going to happen. I don't really think that the prostitutes should be punished. Just helped.

If that's what they want to do, why not? It would also make it easier to control.

Prostitution usually isn't by choice, is it?

Yes, on one condition: prostitutes ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE OVER 18.

Lots of prostitutes happen to love their line of work--they might be sex addicts and find that only that will quell their desire--and plus most of them make a lot of dough.

I really wouldn't know. But if it were legalised it would be a profession, kind of, and no one would get forced into doing it, there would be no point. Pimps who beat on their prostitutes would presumably not exist so there would be no one to hold them there if they didn't want to.

Only in certain countries. If there was a sovereign little place where no one really wanted it there, why should it be legal just because other countries thought it should be? I don't think its a good idea to say things should be legal "worldwide." That's putting our standards on other people.

I think that's a pretty idealized view of what would happen if it were legalized. It would probably be the same system, only legal. I'm sure there would still be plenty of pimps beating on prostitutes. Look at child labor.

I'm not arguing for or against legalizing prostitution; I really don't have an opinion on that.

Prostitution should be legal; pimping should not.

Yes.

Somehow I find that hard to believe. Many are forsed into it by pimps or just really really really need the money.

I don't know....I still kind of think that there would be pimps and stuff, but then there wouldn't even be a penalty.

Also, prostitution does spread lots of STD's really easily.

Not worldwide, no.

Uhhh, no. Of course not. This is just like that terrorist question. But I guess a survey is a survey.

I'm really not sure on this one. I used to live in an area where there was legal prostitution, and it didn't stop unsafe sex practices, it didn't stop underage prostitutes from working the streets and it didn't eliminate violence against prostitutes. I really can't see the point in legalising prostitution if those problems are not eliminated as part of the legalisation.

True, but there are documentaries and stories about sex workers who like their line of work. I've talked to a few. It's a bit disconcerting, but it takes all kinds to make a world.

Yeah, but there are also stories about ones who don't, and I've gone to speeches by them.

Yes, it should be legal.

Well, it would help prostitutes to avoid serving jail sentences / paying fines.

Some like doing something, some don't.
It's all about CHOICES. In places that decriminalise prostitution (that is, not just tolerate it), pimps are usually illegal. That puts the choice and power back into the hands of the women (or men) in question.

I could give you some speeches about some things *I* did for work that were horrific. Like pizza delivery, or working in three separate MCI cubicle farms *shudders*.

Sure, why not? It isn't technically illegal in Canada, but there are a lot of laws around it...

Yeah.... but if it doesn't improve their working conditions, is that such a great achievement?
(sorry, I might be missing your point here... it's Monday)

there is no worldwide government to make something legal. Making prostitution, or anything, legal world-wide would require instituting a legal system that I don't think would be appropriate.

I think prostitution should be made legal in any countries that desire it to be legal.

If what you're really asking is whether I'm opposed or in favor of legalized prostitution, I have moral issues with what seems to happen with many people who become involved in prostitution but not with the idea of prostitution itself. I would favor legalization because I think that prohibition usually makes things much worse.

Yes, I think it would still be a good achievement, in that prostitutes would not have criminal records and would not have to suffer consequences from the government for their work (on top of the occupational hazards of the trade that all ready exist).

Yes.

I see what you mean. One of the difficulties in Australia, where prostitution has been legalised is that it is only legal in registered brothels. Street work is not legal, and this is where more of the problems occur. It was thought that if brothels were legalised then less women and men would be working the street, but it hasn't turned out that way. Street work is a lot harder to regulate, so I'm not sure how that could be legalised in a way that's helpful.

It's a tricky issue. I hope that our experience in Australia will be helpful to the rest of the world.

YES!!!!!

lol Oh god, cubicles. I never want to have to work there. I guess if pimping is illegal while prostitution is not, it might be different.

Who is talking about punishment?

Procreating our species is natural, murdering our species is not.

It should only be legal in some countries. Each country consits of their own values and has their own system. It would be very difficult to expect the same way of looking at things and expect the same laws everywhere. Each contry, region, or ruling government should have their own set of laws each based on their surrounding, their past expirences, and their way of life.

Well, when something is illegal, and then somebody does that, they are typically punished for doing so...

Is prostitution really used for procreation?

Anyone who agrees with this ought to be set on fire and chained up in a unsanitary port-a-potty, you dirty nasties you.

Yes, I mean men pay for it through meals, gifts, concert tickets, jewelry etc. Why not cut the crap and make it a cash deal?

I dunno. I wouldn't like to see it legalized if it meant the prostitutes were in any danger. Hmmmmmmm *more thinking* It's a good job I dont have to make any decisions!

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm always glad I'm not some sort of political figure that needs to come up with solutions for these kind of problems.

No, but the act is natural. Did you know that our species is the only one that exists where the females attain orgasm too? The sexual act is much more complex than just making babies - why should there be any pleasure in the act when having a baby (when wanted) is the best time in your life in itself?
Woman are very different from men; they need it more than we do - that's a fact. If you're a woman and you can do it for fun, than why not do it to pay the bills?

I was eventually going to bring that point up!

I always felt a little cheap when going out with someone for the 1st time only to discover that I was really not interested. There's your date in front of you, wagging his tail looking like an excited puppy going out for a game of fetch; you can see his thoughts - "I just bought you this lovely dinner, I bought you an over priced single long stem rose, I took you for a ride in my fancy car, now are you going to fess up?"

I hated that kind of pressure so I started paying for my own meals - just in case!

I'll just stick to slagging them off for the decisions they make! Eurgh..who wants to go into politics anyway?

Not worldwide. I don't think every country is socially prepared to handle the prospect of legal prostitution.

Certainly not me.

I don't have a huge problem with that, it's just that you mentioned procreation, and the two really have nothing to do with each other.

Neither should be illegal in any case, except for rape.

This sounds terrible, but did you think that most guys wouldn't go through a really expensive meal and the whole dating thing if they could come right out, pay for a root, then go to a mates house for pizza and beers in front of the TV.

Naw, for most guys, it's all part of the chase! Guys like to eat in fancy restaurants too you know... Some would prefer just the wham-bam, thank you Mam and join their mates for a beer and brag about their exploits. One thing I can say about these guys though, there is no bull crap about their intentions!

Guys do enjoy a nice meal, but they enjoy it better if they have had sex with their partner *before* they go out to eat.....

Yeah! I like to get stuffed before I get stuffed too...

Me too!!!!!!!!!

You go girl!

It demeans everyone especially the prostitute. And I don't wanna hear any comments about choice or client manipulation.

Yes! YES! and yes!!!!! What a ridiculous idea that we are ever going to stop people from having sex!It would be far better to have it legitimized and take away the idea that it's 'nasty'and treat it like a service.There'd be a lot less crime if they did.

I tend to believe that the sex industries (even the less extreme ones than prostitution), are very sad things.
I tend to believe that they are something we would be better off without.

I do not believe that systematically we should ever create a situation where emotionally (psychologically?) damaged, weaker individuals are intentionally victimized by more powerful, sadistic, ones. Prostitution is a perfect example of this. So is much of what is going on in America's sex industry today, short of prostitution we have some very severe situations occuring which I don't care to detail. Clearly cases of someone being taken advantage of and intentionally HURT by another individual in a way that is only made possible by differences of emotional power. How is that any different than rape (a difference of physical power)? OR what is already considered rape under law... (a difference of political power).

On an individual basis, there will always be cases where one person will victimize another. A man will take advantage of a younger girl who needs a place to stay, whatever. I see it happen all the time.

Let us just prevent ourselves from legally mandating an efficient system by which this victimization can occur.

I believe in decriminalizing the behavior in so much as it isn't occuring "on the streets," (which, effectively has already been done...), but, if it is out in plain daylight then it needs to be criminal just to uphold the basic standards of a civilized society.

Generally I've heard "decriminalizing" used to mean "make it not a felony". I didn't think prostitution was a felony so it's already been decriminalized (if it was ever criminalized in the first place).

I apologize for the ambiguity of my terms. It's hard to explain what I mean when I say decriminalization, but... well... the simplest way to explain it is.

1) What you are doing is still illegal.
2) You can still be arrested for it, told to stop, referred to counseling, etc.
But
3) You can't be fined, imprisoned, etc. for the behavior.

Of course getting arrested usually involves at least a short period of imprisonment. Except for the harassment factor (which I think is basically what happens now most of the time), it seems like you're advocating keeping it illegal with basically no punishment. As a general policy that strikes me as unwise.

Why does it strike you as unwise? The goal is to make it JUST illegal enough that people make an attempt to hide it. What people do in private does fall under their personal freedoms... but let us not set up brothels in town square and sanction it.

Like the consumption of alcohol by 19 year olds in America. :). And the situation with Marijuana in Oregon.

I think we are better off as a whole when there's general respect for the law. Bad laws and laws which are widely violated lead to (deserved) disrespect. Thus, your proposal to have laws which you expect people to routinely violate seems to me a bad idea.

The two other examples you give of some drugs laws that are regularly ignored are also good examples of laws that are unwise. Those laws should not be unenforced, they should be eliminated. In fact, the only law worse, from this perspective, was the 55mph speed limit.

Those are some considerations, though, I would tend to believe that most people are capable of understanding that different laws are enforced with different vigor, without losing respect for the law en general. This is already the case, and unless you suggest doing away with it, we might as well use the current tendency to our advantage.

Prostitution should be made legal, but it should be like it is in Nevada. In the legal brothels there, the girls have to use condoms and must have a medical checkup every week. Also, they have the protection of being in the brothel