The greens and prostitutes

[IceBeing]

Be gentle as I am new to thinking about this.

I found the Natalie Bennett's comments on decriminalising prostitution pretty persuasive - what am I missing?

She basically said that sex workers would like this policy (having contributed to it) and that research from other countries indicated it was the way forward.

"I also find the quote "No-one has the power to make you feel inferior without your consent" to be bloody offensive." So do I. It minimises people's experiences. It is victim blaming and it hands the power right back to the abuser.

It's a bit like a jargonised way of saying " sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"

Which was always a load of crap.

Otherwise, we've basically established we're on the same page.

Not if you believe that people in some way consent to abuse...

It's a bit like a jargonised way of saying " sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"

Which was always a load of crap.

This says it well.....

If a political party talked about legalising slavery, they would be insane.

Political parties who want legalised sexwork aren't talking about legalising slavery.

You do realize jurisdictions that allow prostitution only do so between consenting adults and still ban crimes like trafficking and exploitation of underage persons etc?

Yes, we realise that.

You do realise that the poster who mentioned that was referencing the point that things which once seemed unthinkable to ban would now be unthinkable to reintroduce?

wuzzio read through the rest of the thread - there are lengthy discussions about whether consent is meaningful when it is in exchange for money, as well as the fact that trafficking increases under legalisation/decriminalisation and is arguably an essential component of prostitution that cannot be removed without abolishing the whole industry.

(and the "do you realise" is a bit patronising... most of the contributors on here are very well informed on this issue)

I may be wrong, rosie, but I'm not sure wuzzio is interested in informing him/herself fully on what's already been discussed.

benefit of the doubt (while bracing myself for some pimp apologist nonsense!)

"about whether consent is meaningful when it is in exchange for money"

Shouldn't that be up to the adult prostitutes to decide for themselves, instead of others deciding for them?

Perhaps you would not consider consent to be valid if a man were to pay you for sex, but you don't speak for every woman on the planet.

"most of the contributors on here are very well informed on this issue"

How many years experience do the contributors on here have selling sexual services if I may ask?

How many years' experience of selling sexual services do you have, wuzzio? What about of buying them?

If you RTFT, you will note that there is an experienced prostitute posting, Again, perhaps you would like to review what's already been discussed?

wuzzio.... out of interest, do you own a dog?

Sorry, gotta be done.

I'm sorry but I feel this is complete and utter nonsense.

I remain in strong contrast to the collective radical but antagonistic feminist views. From a radical yet balanced feminist perspective, "man hating" does not neutralise nor promote solutions it only serves to accelerate more hatred, repels people from contributing to a debate and contradicts / regresses the initial movement from reaching postive change. In visionary terms a "vicious circle" comes to mind.

I am not an LD, drug rehabilitation, or mental health support worker but I do have close relations to people in these fields and lines of work. My career lies in senior level talent acquisition, I believe that the notion "no one can make you feel inferior" from a career focussed perspective to be true and progressive, I have seen many inspirational positive changes in my line of work and life experiences. For anyone to dismiss my views as "crap" and to attribute a "sticks and stones" analogy only serves to highlight callous motives and narrow mindsets incapable of adapting to change.

Make of that what you will - My intentions are good. I have learnt alot from this debate up until the last few pages, however my energy is clearly better focussed elsewhere. Have fun with your thesaurus, i'm out :)

Pandora, Buffy wasn't talking to you...

Anyway, I believe that the notion "no one can make you feel inferior" from a career focussed perspective to be true and progressive - I didn't take your original post to be only about career, if that is how you meant it?

Pan..... I'm sure your intentions are good. I'm sorry you find being disagreed with by people with expertise in the subject difficult. Not sure where you got the man hating from, however, if it was my posts, I fear you're so far off centre it really is laughable.

Enjoy your career. It sounds like it's rewarding for you. It doesn't make you correct in your assumptions about outcomes of abuse.

And I'm not a radical feminist.

"No-one has the power to make you feel inferior without your consent"

No, cannot agree with that. You're basically saying it's the victim's fault.

I'd also like to take issue with that point. And the associated 'take yourself out of the equation'. Let's start with two words, pand0ra: child abuse. How does that match up?

"No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent" is utterly offensive to those of us who suffer mental health problems, whatever the context.

If Prostitution became illegal how would that affect pornography production.

Is there a difference between a third party paying two other people money to have sex. Rather than the two parties themselves exchanging money.

Mengog, are you speaking philosophically or practically?

I have to go, so just quickly in case you look in later: the child grows up, damaged. There's no escape, no options for children. Even assuming they can see it well enough to clear out once they're adult (if you know abuse you know that that's not necessarily likely to happen for some time), their wholemindset is damaged. They carry on, as best they can. Might get sucked into drugs and drink. Or prostitution. Many go on to abusive relationships. All incurring more damage. And so on and on it can go.

I'm glad for you (and even more for myself) if you've managed to get to a patch of clear water with nothing going wrong where you can stop and reflect. Many people will never get that, or the patches are too small and far apart. Don't dismiss them so flippantly. Perhaps you just got off lighter than others did.

A bit of both.