thelondonpaper - apparently visiting prostitutes is a perfectly normal thing to do...

[ChukkyPig]

Yesterday they ran a piece in the "columnist" section where people can send stories in.

It was a piece by "john" who basically justified his use of prositutes on the grounds that modern women are awful and won't look at him so what's he supposed to do.

here

I was a bit but thought, never mind, the letters page tomorrow will be full of letters picking holes in the piece.

Today the letters page was crammed with responses to the article, ALL of which said that it was sad the guy was so lonely, it was understandable that he used prostitutes, that it was fine these days, and that anyway modern women are shallow bitches so what do they expect men to do.

I was a bit shocked TBH that the paper didn't print a single letter mentioning exploitation, trafficing, that women aren't awful and what's he on about etc but no.

Anyway the paper had picked this as a "hot topic" so I go online expecting to see some anti-prostitution comments. But there aren't! One person (out of about 30) mentions trafficing/coercion but that's it. The rest of the responses are sympathetic and understanding, mostly saying that there are decent women out there.

Where's the moral outrage? I know it's a rag but this is bizarre all the same.

I have posted a comment but oddly it hasn't appeared yet - maybe it's being moderated - or maybe for some reason they are only displaying sympathetic responses.

I am having an outraged moment - please feel free to join me...

And - do publications have to give a balanced view on their letters pages? or are they allowed to just print one point of view? Guessing the latter...

Visiting prostitutes is only perfectly normal if you're a sad, pathetic man who is completely intimidated by modern women.

and/or who can't otherwise get laid due to obnoxious smell/attitude/looks etc

I totally agree but expecting anything decent or even half-witted from that two bit rag is not wise. It's a newspaper for people who don't actually like reading. Those hideous comment pieces are just designed to get a response. Ridiculous.

and who has a totally misoginistic view of women and views them solely as sex objects

Nope, don't think so. Men hardly visit prostitutes because they are emotionally mature and balanced people.

what? Fooling myself to think that men should not be able to buy women for sex and that women's bodies are not a comodity?

(the men, that is)

he sounds like a needy prat

I never said that normal men don't visit prostitutes. And I think its a bloody sad reflection on men that they do.

A male friend of mine admitted to sleeping with prostitutes when we were out for a drink, I have to say I called him a wanker, ranted abit about trafficked women and walked out on him.

Having spoken to him since and don't ever want to.

I have no problem with the concept of prostitution but it is such a terrible trade in this country (and around the world), if it were legalised, unionised and carefully monitored I won't mind (as much) but the likelihood is that he is sleeping with a women who was either trafficked/cohersed/raised in care.

I know that some prositutes have happily choosen their career and fair do's to them. But many havent ....rant over....

Oh, thelondonpaper is such a filthy RAG [spit]

One in ten arrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

you would not believe the stuff men write about the prostitutes they visit

this site is not for the faint-hearted, it contains 'field reports' in every town up and down the country

www.punternet.com

It also had a section on what vocabulary is used in sex - I used it in a demo on a sex therapy course

oh yeah, and I've just looked at it and it has a forum where they talked about the article

My comment about the article has still not appeared - while a few more people saying how much they sympathise have.

The reason this pisses me off so much is that it is a free newspaper which schoolchildren etc pick up and read on the tube - much more so than any paid for paper.

And while I understand paying for a paper which has the same views as you, to present an argument that using prostitutes is fine and dandy is surely not right when it is a paper handed out to and read by children.

Really do they not have to present responses on both sides ? I can't believe that everyone who's written in has been sympathetic.

Can I complain to anyone - press standards or something?

I just think it's out of order.

I do share your outrage ChukkyPig (not familiar with this paper though).

One in ten?

Sadly, I am not surprised. It is somewhat depressing and says a lot about the way many men view women, I think. I 'saw' a man briefly who told me about his use of prostitutes and he was...lets say not a nice person.

Won't read the article because I know it will make me angry.

And punternet...woah. Not even gonna go there.

That must have been some depressing reading, Lauriecake.

Puntersnet - arghgh
but am ever so slightly impressed that they had a section about reporting trafficked/underage women. (but still jesus how horrendous is that site)

Surprise surprise they still haven't put my comment up. Plenty of new other ones though with much sympathy for poor old john.

Can I report them for unbalanced journalism or something? Really I have no idea if they are allowed to just print one side - does anyone know?

I saw the article and responses too. Disgusting. It is shocking they haven't put your comment on chukkypig.

noonooki I think you were quite right to deal with your friend as you did. We can't tlet these men (1in 10 help!) thib
nk it's 'ok'. It isn't It isn't even when the women aren't trafficed etc but when men know that the prositute most probably has been coerced it is absolutley outrageous. I feel sick thinking about it.
Punter-net - can't look at it at work so may later if am feeling brave.

The comments thing is just weird - I can't imagine I'm the only person who has posted and anti-prostitution comment - yet none have been published.

That means they are actively screening out any comments which raise the immorality of using prostitutes.

Which can only mean that the paper has a vested interest in promoting prostitution, which is bizarre.

For a paper handed out to children this is just so wrong.

Really does anyone know if I can complain and if so who to?

Just checked out the press complaints commission code of practice and there's nothing in there which would cover this.

It's all to do with privacy etc.

So as far as I can see a paper could write an article called "all women are bitches and deserve a kicking" with lots of responses agreeing that this is indeed what women need and that would be within the code.