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...

FioFio - I'm with you. Normal men don't think it is normal to visit prostitutes. (certainly none of the men I know).

ChukkyPig - maybe the Press Complaints Commission could help: www.pcc.org.uk/ I'd be happy to complain too, though I don't live in London.

Ah, didn't see your last. I still think it would be worth mailing them about it.

Or how about contacting a (female?) journo from one of the broadsheets about it? Or Germaine Greer?

Polly Toynbee from the Guradian might be a good journalist to email.
I have a lot of respect for her. I emailed her once after she wrote a wonderful piece and I got a good reply.
She's very influential - even amongst Tories. much morse so than Germaine Greer or Julie Butchill type people.

The sheer existence of punternet is revoltingly depressing. It makes me want to commit violence tbh.

Chukky, maybe you should think about finding out who is in charge of distributing this rag and complain to them? The premises managers at the tube/train stations, for example, might be the people to target.

Julie Bindell (also writes for Guardian) is very good on prostitution.

the londonpaper is part of news international. it's a mind-numbingly stupid publication. agree that contacting a journo would be a good idea, especially someone who works outside of news int (not that should make a difference but you never know).

So his argument, essentially, is 'modern women have standards: I'm not meeting them?'

Ahem.

He doesn't come across as someone I'd shag (for free). And I've been quite liberal with my favours in the past.

This kind of thing actually makes me physically sick.

i find it incredible that men who are plainly too odd to attract a woman 'for free' still have the bloody nerve to blame the women they meet for not fancying them, do they not have mirrors? do they not notice when people glaze over while they are talking? do they really not notice that they bore us rigid?

why will they not acknowledge that if you have to pay for sex it is because you are too disgusting to warrant the attention of the majority of women ie. the ones who have sex for free because they like it!

I doubt there's anywhere to complain to. After all every newspaper has "an angle" don't they?

"why will they not acknowledge that if you have to pay for sex it is because you are too disgusting to warrant the attention of the majority of women ie. the ones who have sex for free because they like it!"

Sad to say jesuswhatnext..there are lots of 'normal' men who use prostitutes. Believe me I find that fact as depressing as you probably do, but it does happen.

You will get the too ugly/weird/odd to attract women types but there are plenty 'attractive' (quote marks used advisedly) blokes who use prostitutes because under the surface they think it's OK.

The bloke I was talking abour earlier..he was good looking, young...but he was fucked up and his attitude to women stank. Charming on the surface but underneath...

This is an interesting topic and one that I find horrific.

I have spoken to male friends who have admitted visiting prostitutes and I do find it horrific TBH - the stories you hear about trafficked women etc are just appalling. But yes normal men do it.

A massive brothel has just opened up near my workplace! Women in the window etc. It's right next to the arch for Morrison's which says "Please call again!" in the Morrison's branding - it's weird, because the arch frames the brothel which is 10 foot behind it, so it looks like a Morrison's brothel...

Anyway, that's by the by. Normal men DO use prostitutes and we will all know men who have done so, horrible though the thought is.

the thing is janos, you found out about your friend as you got to know him, as will any other woman, friend or potential partner, and their reaction will most likly be the same as yours. he may look 'normal' but clearly isn't - normal men view women with respect, kindness and as equals.
i think you will find that women haters do eventually end up having to pay for sex for the simple reason that they are 'odd'

Well if the article writer was paying £200 an hour it is far more likely that the sex worker he saw was not trafficked and working in the industry of her own free will.
Not all sex workers are victims of trafficking, nor are all sex workers' customers abusive or repulsive.
I can't say I think much of the article writer though: the sex workers he uses probably roll their eyes when he phones to make a booking - 'oh, here's whiny-bollocks again, still, he doesn't want anal and he comes fairly quickly and doesn't try to haggle for a discount'. I should imagine it's his whining that puts women off wanting to date him or have sex with him free of charge, rather than his physical appearance.

The thought of a Morrison's brothel did make me smirk...oh dear.

I agree wholheartedly smallwhitecat that men who use prostitutes have a bad attitude to women.

I must take a photo of the Morrison's brother

It's quite funny

mp - i wonder if they do BOGOFs

I very much agree jesuswhatnext, which is why I use quote marks around normal and attractive. I mean they seem nice and normal on the surface - until you get to know them.

Could you complain to Boris?