Why is prostitution illegal? (NSFW)

Sex was/is illegal outside the shackles of marriage.

Was. It isn’t any more. Adultery isn’t even illegal in half the states any more. So why isn’t prostitution legal by now? It’s just sex.

It’s not, if you film it.

Seriously, American laws are stupid.

Haha. Aren’t you inspired by my question? I think it’s illegal in many countries largely because of religion. Many religions see prostitution as bad apples that tarnish human’s souls, and it also happens that there are many religious country in the world. Legality only exist in several developed, liberal countries.

Prostitution should be made legal. We own our own body and freedom, and nobody can make our personal decision punishable by law when our actions don’t even affect those who judge us.

Was that your question? Sry @Unofficial_Member! But yes, it was.

Prudishness and insecurity—which are both inspired by and the inspiration for a lot of religious doctrine. Some people find it shocking and conclude that it must therefore be ungodly. Other people hear it is ungodly and therefore find it shocking. And the cycle of judgment continues (with the costs all too often falling disproportionately on the women involved).

Curious, isn’t it? I do not know about other nations but in the US it seems like a man before the mirror who forgets what he looks like the moment he turns away. De facto prostitution, paying your way to the sugar walls by way of dinner, theaters tickets, or drinks at the bar is totally fine, take out all aspects of courting, dating and romance, then everything falls apart. In a nation that more and more sees this world as just this world, I am surprised it is still a sexual hold out unless somehow people who do not want to be involved think those who do will make way more money than they do; even getting some of their cash. I guess you can call it the porn industry, but with some technical loopholes like the people getting paid to have sex with each other is for the viewer and they are not paying one another but from a 3rd party, that certainly makes if better. ~~ People do not want prostitution because it exposes sex as the commodity it is, and some people want to try and retain a bit of the specialness it is supposed to have.

It makes me laugh when you say “sex is a commodity,” like that’s something new!
There is nothing “special” about sex @HC. Not after the mystery wears off, when people grow up, about the age of 20. There is nothing spiritual about it. It’s just a sweaty, grunty, often fun, sometimes tedious, thing that grown ups do.

You said, …People do not want prostitution because it exposes sex as the commodity it is,...” Well, obviously someone wants prostitution! And always have. In every culture. It’s just sex, man. I don’t get why you think it’s so awe inspiring.

Strictly speaking under US law it isn’t. US federal law makes no prohibitions against prostitution. The states, however, can regulate it and every state prohibits it except Nevada.

But at any rate it’s de facto legal pretty much everywhere as long as you know how to word it (ie: escort services where you “are only paying for” accompaniment or a massage or whatever and anything else is “not implied and is a private matter between consenting adults”). So yeah, in a nutshell you can pay or charge for sex as long as you’re not explicitly exchanging money for sex.

Right. But why, @Darth_Algar?

Clearly the laws lag behind acceptable reality. It’s the nature of all laws regulating mores and behavior. When I was a kid, a cop could shoot a fleeing shoplifter in the back without fear of reprisals beyond troublesome paperwork.

And shoot unarmed student protesting at Kent State.

I think its illegal because the government cant tax it, if they cant make money off of it its illegal that’s why pot has been illegal for all these years.

@ottosarmy You have it backwards. If they legalized it they can tax it. The government can’t tax in now because it isn’t supposed to exist.

In the 4 states where recreational marijuana is finally legal they’re taxing the hell out of it.

So, would you like to rethink your answer?

@ottosarmy But that argument is circular. If it were legal, the government could tax it. So they have everything to gain by legalizing it.

EDIT: @Dutchess_III Jinx!

Hope he comes back @SavoirFaire!

@ottosarmy

They can’t tax it because it’s illegal. Same with pot. If it is legal it can be regulated and taxed. How much has the state of Colorado taken in tax revenues from the legal sale of marijuana? Close to $1,000,000,000 isn’t it?

Double jinx, guys!

In the UK it is legal. I think it is not legal if it is in a brothel. I really think it should be legal everywhere, there are just so many reasons why it should be.

Females in prostitution would be less likely to be abused, they would receive correct counselling regards STD’s and protection. They would also receive advice on how to structure their lives a little better and handle money. The list is endless. Like many in the sex industry, some are better at it, other’s suffer for it.

@Dutchess_III It makes me laugh when you say “sex is a commodity,” like that’s something new!
It is something rather new, and mostly found in industrialized nations, the US leading the way.

There is nothing “special” about sex @HC. Not after the mystery wears off, when people grow up, about the age of 20.
That is why it is a commodity, the specialness, the honor and reverence of it is being done away with, it use to be the highest level two people could communicate on, not just for anyone, now it is just one more thing on the punch list.

@Hypocrisy_Central Not only is treating sex like a commodity not at all new, it is basically as old as humanity itself. Prostitution is referred to as “the world’s oldest profession” for a reason.

@SavoirFaire Not only is treating sex like a commodity not at all new, it is basically as old as humanity itself.
Only for prostitutes and pimps because it was their product, John Q saw it different. Back in the day of a teen girl unwed became pregnant she disappeared to stay with some ”aunt” in middle America somewhere; it was not ”Oh how cute, you are going to have a baby”; they did not have shotgun wedding because it was a commodity to everyone.

@Hypocrisy_Central But it’s still not a commodity to everyone. So again, it’s unclear how you think things have changed. Sex has always been used in the ways it is used today. And it has always been held sacred by some people (sometimes literally, like with fertility cults). The only thing that has really changed is that freedom of expression has increased, meaning that society no longer drowns out or forcibly censors certain points of view. The world isn’t different, we’re just more aware of what it contains.

As if people haven’t been arraigning marriages based on power/prestige/wealth since forever. Yes, HC, sex is a commodity, and always has been.

Sex is a commodity “Only for prostitutes and pimps…”. Oh, HC. Do you not see the hypocrisy of that statement? With no demand there would be no supply. You should run for president on the Republican ticket.