Isn't it about time that we followed some of our European neighbours and acknowledged that prostitution has always and will always go on by legalising it.

I can see nothing but benefits from such a move.

It would be in controlled areas. The girls would be properly employed rather than been at the mercy of pimps.

Regular health screening could be demanded thereby reducing the risk of disease.

And the state should be happy because it would be able to tax the prostitutes income. German auditors have recently estimated that taxing the income of prostitutes there would bring in £1.3 billion per year.

Any thoughts?

I totally agree with you on this, Mo.

Isn't Mr Blair a supposed devout Christian.
And isn't prostitution against the Christian faith?

After all the UK is a 'for want of a better word' a prodominently ''Christian'' country?

And therefore I highly doubt Mr Blair would legalise it.
However I can see your taxation benefit points and the safety of the girls involved.

I doubt it would stop pimps all together.
Some use terror tactics to keep girls working for them.

However it would give the girls a choice I suppose.

only argumet wot if u r a pagan

will they have no smoking rooms in these brothels:loopy:

or how about no poking rooms:P

Originally posted by panda79
will they have no smoking rooms in these brothels:loopy:

I doubt it.

Presumably 'shag' tobacco would be allowed?

At least the tarts would be paying their share of income tax.

Originally posted by Mo
Isn't it about time that we followed some of our European neighbours and acknowledged that prostitution has always and will always go on by legalising it.

I can see nothing but benefits from such a move.

It would be in controlled areas. The girls would be properly employed rather than been at the mercy of pimps.

Regular health screening could be demanded thereby reducing the risk of disease.

And the state should be happy because it would be able to tax the prostitutes income. German auditors have recently estimated that taxing the income of prostitutes there would bring in £1.3 billion per year.

Any thoughts?

I agree, prostitution is the oldest profession and it will always be there, so why not recognise it, in fact it has always been used by the people who rule us : I.E. politicians, barristers, lawyers, High Court Judges, Cardinals, most of the Church Hierarchy are sexual perverts anyway, they preach and practice double standards.

I had a conversation about this with the Sheffield police who have to manage these things, and interestingly they weren't in favour of toleration zones and the like. It's quite trendy for politicians and the like, but after hearing the Police's view, I can see big problems, and not just quick fix solutions that haven't been thought through.

After listening to both sides I wonder if it's too late. Other nations have had a different cultural attitude for many years, and we lost our similar attitude 80/90/100 years ago through public moral prurience.

Where would you establish brothels in Sheffield?
Who will run them?
Who will police them?

Originally posted by halevan
it has always been used by the people who rule us : I.E. politicians, barristers, lawyers, High Court Judges, Cardinals, most of the Church Hierarchy are sexual perverts anyway, they preach and practice double standards.
I suppose you know this from first-hand knowledge do you?

Originally posted by Tony
.

Where would you establish brothels in Sheffield?
Who will run them?
Who will police them?

I have thought abou these things and here goes;

They would have to be located away from residential areas and schools. A good place in Sheffield would perhaps be down the Don Valley, alongside other 'leisure activities'.

Anybody could set up one I guess, so long as they followed the rules and weren't criminals, though it may be easier to administer if they were nationalised.

They would be policed in the same way that other areas of employment are. Workers would not be paid under the minimum wage and would be entitled to proper paid holidays etc. Medical checks up would need to be undertaken on a regular basis in order for the brothel to continue in business.

That's what I thought too Mo, but I'm not so sure now.

However, would you want to work in an area full of brothels?

I also think that they would inevitably attract the less salubrious operators.

And who is to say that girls would not still be pressured into it through drugs?

At least at the moment there is a clear line.

Originally posted by Tony
That's what I thought too Mo, but I'm not so sure now.

However, would you want to work in an area full of brothels?

I also think that they would inevitably attract the less salubrious operators.

And who is to say that girls would not still be pressured into it through drugs?

At least at the moment there is a clear line.


I take your point but I bet it's not much fun living or working in areas where girls are street walking now. It's not much fun for residents to have to collect used condoms out of their gardens either.

I don't suppose that the majority of girls/blokes turn into prostitues by choice. There is some form pressure coming in for them to have to resort to such means of making a living.

Lets face it most if not all of these sauna places are brothels by another name so lets have it all above board :D

I think they should be legalised. I take you point, Tony, about their location. But as things stand, people already have to work and live in areas where prostitutes operate. At least if they were legal it would be easier for others to choose whether they lived or worked nearby.

I agree with you that the 'workers' would still be vulnerable to exploitation. But they would have more protection if they were legalised, ie the same protection that other workers have. There may also be more options for self-employment, rather than working for pimps.

I can understand the idea of legalising it because it would be taxable which it should be. However, I am not comfortable with this been seen as a possible career choice for girls leaving school.

I think I agree with the spirit of your comment. However, I would say it would better as a choice than a necessity to feed drug addiction, which is how I think most girls get into it.

*personal opinion* yes I think it ought to be legalised.

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Isn't Mr Blair a supposed devout Christian.
And isn't prostitution against the Christian faith?
After all the UK is a 'for want of a better word' a prodominently ''Christian'' country?
And therefore I highly doubt Mr Blair would legalise it.

Mr Blair had no scruples about taking substantial funds from Richard Desmond, publisher of Asian Babes, Over 40 and an even more explicit adult TV company (so I am told!) I have no moral objection to these publications but clearly neither has Tony.
It's also not very Christian to bomb civilians and oversee their torture and sexual abuse.
My point being that T.B.'s own personal interpretation of Christianity shouldn't see him having any problem with licensed Brothels.

That's all well and true and I agree with you for the most part. And I also think they should be legalised.

I'm just pointing out why I think (at least while Tony is in power) this won't happen.

Yes, they should be legalised.
(But would that put up prices beyond some peoples reach?:o)

Hopefully you will realise that I wasn't having a dig at you earlier but trying to expose Bliars hypocrisy on such matters?

I don't think it ever will happen, and I don't think it ever should happen.

I agree with some of the rationale, but IMO prostitution isn't right.

that's a moral objection though. Why should anyones moral objections to something be translated into law?

Why shouldn't it be legalised? It's a victimless crime that happens anyway. Legalisation will provide better regulations, healthcare and less violence from pimps and clients.

Creating pornography is legal, and that's just a loophole for legal prostitution.


Susie, going for £35

I am very much in favour of legalising brothels. I think its the safest thing for both the girls and punters to be in a controlled, relatively safe and regulated environment.

For me possibly the strongest argument in favour of legalisation came on Sunday evening when driving hope I passed a girl who looked no older than mid to late teens, wearing minimal clothing and a look of desperation standing on a street corner in the rain - anything that can alleviate that sort of dangerous and degrading situation can only be a good thing...

Originally posted by Cyclone
that's a moral objection though. Why should anyones moral objections to something be translated into law?
They shouldn't.

My post was pretty irellavent really wasn't it.... :loopy:

But having said that, there's a lot of good reasons for legalising a lot of things. Doesn't mean that it'll ever happen though.

twasn't irrelevant, you're entitled to an opinion, and a moral objection to prostitution is valid.
But i'd hope that you'd then reason out that since it goes on anyway, better to bring it within the law and regulate and control it rather than crimilasing it.

I don't smoke cannabis and never will, but I'd like to see it legalised.

It may go on anyway, but I don't think it should. Perhaps stricter policing should be employed.

As for legalising things in general, the reason I generally object to the legalisation of cannabis is because I think that if it was legal then I would probably do it more often. Knowing what I'm like, more often would turn into every day, which would turn into every hour and it would probably turn into a dependency. I already smoke and probably already have a mild alcohol dependency which I could do with addressing at some point in the future.

I simply cannot cope with temptation, and I feel that laws are there to keep me and others on the straight and narrow. I also realise that there are other people who think in ways almost completely contradictory to this.

If prostitution was legal, a lot of my student loan would probably have funded sex twice a week. But obviously this theory can't be proved and I prefer it that way.

I remember watching Parkinson the other week when Davina McCall was on it, and she said that she has major objections about the decriminalisation of cannabis, because cannabis was her path on to much harder drugs. Many reformed drug addicts also disagree with the legalisation of cannabis for the same reasons. I think that the opinion of ex-drug addicts has to count for so much more on this topic than the opinion of small-time occasional cannabis smokers.

Maybe we should ask reformed prostitutes if they think it should be legalised? I bet that many of them would disagree with such a move.

it's human nature.
The only reason some of us have moral objections to it (which is all it is at the end of the day) is because the christian religion that surrounds us in this country decided that it was wrong.
I'm sure there are examples of religions that do not condem(sp) it. (Someone back me up here?)

Isn't it generally called 'the oldest profession', there is something to that saying.

I really can't see any objection other than some puritanical moral one for two consenting adults to engage in sexual activity where one of the adults is providing a service for the other. It's a tertiary industry, just like teaching, or accountancy.

As to your other point. Maybe I see all laws restricting freedom of choice from my own point of view (well, actually of course I do). I consider myself to be of strong character, and also in many aspects a liberal I suppose. I don't use cannabis or prostitutes because I choose not too. It's most definitely not the legallity that stops me. I'd rather have the freedome to make my own choices and mistakes rather than have some big brother government come along with a heavy hand and throw me in jail if I dare to contravene one of it's 'for your own good' laws. What gives someone the right to decide what is for my own good?

Originally posted by Sidla
I suppose you know this from first-hand knowledge do you?

I resent that snide remark and
I shall treat it with the contempt that it deserves, I have no more first hand knowledge of those matters than you have my friend, just read and listen to the news, if you are capable, then it will open your obvious closed mind.
If you gave your opinion first, instead of waiting and then sneering at what others say,it might prove you have a brain (which I doubt) you are good at pulling other peoples opinions to pieces, but haven't any of your own.

Originally posted by halevan
I resent that snide remark and
I shall treat it with the contempt that it deserves, I have no more first hand knowledge of those matters than you have my friend, just read and listen to the news, if you are capable, then it will open your obvious closed mind.
If you gave your opinion first, instead of waiting and then sneering at what others say,it might prove you have a brain (which I doubt) you are good at pulling other peoples opinions to pieces, but haven't any of your own.
I think you'll find you're the closed minded one for believing everything you read in the news.

If you have no more experience than me and most other normal people with brothels and prostitutes and the like, what makes you believe that "politicians, barristers, lawyers, High Court Judges, Cardinals, most of the Church Hierarchy" all go out and get laid by a hooker every day?

OK, some do, there would be little point trying to argue otherwise; but some normal people do it too. We're talking about a small minority of people and this includes a small minority of "politicians, barristers, lawyers, High Court Judges, Cardinals, most of the Church Hierarchy".

I think the idea of prostitution being licensed (like alchohol) isn't such a bad idea. That way, anyone wishing to open a brothel would need to obtain a license from the government - just as pubs landlords / restaurant owners have to do now.

So who on here would use this new "service" if it was legalised? Rather shamefully, I think I'd probably give it a try, which is why I want it to stay illegal. You can imagine how your average lads night out would end - pubs, club, kebab and knocking shop. Besides, who's to say that the old method of pimps exploiting vulnerable girls wouldn't exist alongside the new regulated industry?

Originally posted by evildrneil
I am very much in favour of legalising brothels. I think its the safest thing for both the girls and punters to be in a controlled, relatively safe and regulated environment.

I agree wth this. Not only should they be legalised, but doctors should be able to prescribe visits in the same way that they can prescribe visits to counsellors (sp) psychiatrists,physiotherapists,speech therapists and etc. There are many in society who are not blessed with a regular sex life and who become extremely frustrated. Under the present system of massage parlour brothels,however, visiting one for the sake of sexual release is still seen as sordid and immoral. If brothels were legalised and seen more as therapy centres they would,hopefully,acquire more respectability.

How do you feel about what are called 'high class hookers' - women who charge a few hundred pounds a night? These women are often very intelligent and have deliberately chosen their way of life to earn a lot of money over a relatively short period of time.

Elwood

Originally posted by Elwood
I agree wth this. Not only should they be legalised, but doctors should be able to prescribe visits in the same way that they can prescribe visits to counsellors (sp) psychiatrists,physiotherapists,speech therapists and etc. There are many in society who are not blessed with a regular sex life and who become extremely frustrated. Under the present system of massage parlour brothels,however, visiting one for the sake of sexual release is still seen as sordid and immoral. If brothels were legalised and seen more as therapy centres they would,hopefully,acquire more respectability.

How do you feel about what are called 'high class hookers' - women who charge a few hundred pounds a night? These women are often very intelligent and have deliberately chosen their way of life to earn a lot of money over a relatively short period of time.

Elwood

I also agree with the evildr on this one, and think the GP referral would be good in some situations ... infact I think such a thing may already exist.

As for women who chose to be high class hookers for the financial returns, well, ultimately that is their decision, and should be their decision.

I think it's a bit crappy though ... I guess they have to sleep with some pretty unpleasent guys ... yuck.

yes they should be legalised. For the safety of the women that work in this proffesion.

it is the oldest proffession in the world and will not go away while ever people require this service.

Personally I see nothing wrong with it. There are hundreds of reason why people use this service and not all of the sinister.

The Government are planning to introduce new prostitution laws

one of the ideas being banded about is the introduction of 'tolerance zones' which in effect would mean they'd be free to ply their trade in a pre-determined area
This a good thing? i guess these areas are already pretty much no go areas
one of the arguments against this is that prostitution should be decriminalised and this measure, in effect doesn't do that but merely sidelines the issue

should prostitution be decriminalised?
there's probably similar threads to this somewhere but as this latest measure is news i thought i'd kick a new thread off

Hmm, well I suppose they have to go somewhere... And if there's a Policeman keeping an eye on proceedings they'd at least be safe when some dirty old lech tries to go one step too far with them.

Well the Police aren't keen on tolerance zones, and neither would be the residents or business in those areas.

It wouldn't address the core issues of drug use and pimping.

I don't think criminilising the women who sell their trade actually achieves anything.

When they are arrested and sent to court, they are more than likely going to get a fine. They will pay that fine by going out on the streets to get the money. It's just a vicious circle.

Instead I think the women need to be given protection. The sad fact is that no matter how terrible people think their activities are, they are going to carry on whether people like it or not. If we can stop just one women being beaten up, raped or murdered then it will have been worth decriminalising it.

There also needs to be more funding for groups that help to get women off the streets.

We also need to acknowledge the difference between a prostitute and a victim of child abuse. There are girls out on the streets as young as 12 and 13 who are being described as prostitutes when in fact they are children who are being terribly abused and aren't being given the help they need and deserve.

Pimps also need to be dealt with in the strongest way possible. The acts they commit are disgusting and they deserve to be locked up for what they do to these women.

This is an issue I feel very strongly about. After meeting a lady who's daughter was forced onto the streets by a pimp and who was subsequently murdered really opened my eyes up to what is happening to these women and girls.

Her daughter was under the age of 18 and yet nobody helped her to get away from this pimp and off the streets.

After her murder the pimp wasn't charged with anything. he never even received a caution.

I remember when there was talk of the area around Shalesmoor/Westbar becoming a "tolerance zone". The HSBC threw the biggest corporate fit about it due to concerns over its female staff being hassled by kerb crawlers when leaving work late at night.

Prostitution will always be there - legalising it or the introduction of tolerance zones will not increase it. Anything to make it safer for these people, remove the vile pimps who live off of them and provide routes of escape for those who wish to leave the "profession" can only be a good thing.

It does seem to the street prostitutes that cause most offence.
I don't hear so much complaining about the saunas of Attercliffe! Maybe thats the answer - take it off the streets and into managed premises.

Its still gona happen!!! Nomatter what!

oldest proffesion in the book & the men who pick prostitute's up are as much to blame as the...
'ladies of the night!

i'd say, street prostitute's generally tend to be the ones who have:
-large drug habits
-be under age 16
-or rob their punters anyway!

...cus ave you seen how many escort agency's/parlours ect advertise in our local paper? (i shall not name!!!)
them girls must surely be better paid???


angel

I do agree that there should be measure taken to get these girls off the street and into managed premises. As others have said, no matter what, prostitution will *always* happen. If it was de-criminialised and properly monitored I think it would be much better. Having the girls in proper premises and making sure they all have regular heath checks etc would be a start.

I spoke very recently to a lady who had worked with Sheffield CID on helping girls protect themselves. They fought for the girls on the streets which aparently put them in a very awkward position.

She told me about a girl who had been murdered and her mother was trying to get legislation to prosecute the pimps in cases where a girl was murdered or assaulted - who started out as this girls boyfriend.
Alot of these girls end up in prostituation thru exploitation and then are treated as criminals. There needs to be proper help there for those girls who need it and proper laws in place to prosecute those manipulating and profiting from the girls.

I think the controled zones could help these laws be effective but as someone has already said many residents would object.

Moon Maiden

Moon Maiden I think the woman the CID officer told you about is the same woman I came to know.

Sadly this lady died a couple of years back. However if anyone is interested she wrote a book called "fiona's story". It explains all about Fiona's (her daughter) life and what happened.

It will have you in tears and make you extremely angry but it is most definatly worth reading.

Originally posted by Rich
Hmm, well I suppose they have to go somewhere... And if there's a Policeman keeping an eye on proceedings...... Do you mean that literally? I'm sure they'd be queing up for that job;)
As to the thought of pimps being charged when a girl is murdered by a punter. It would be good to see a manslaughter charge brought. The problem is proving coercion. I think these parasites rarely get charged with anything at all.
Much like the "boyfriend" of that lass who was murdered and cut up by that nutter in his London flat, explaining how she had gone down to the shop, or some such and never come back.....I bet!

Merged threads with an earlier one.

I think Steelblade you are right - I couldn't remember the young girls name. I didn't realise she had died.

Moon Maiden

With the annual revenue from prostitution estimated at £770Million, this would of course mean a nice new source of revenue for the chancellor if he were able to tax them accordingly.

The siting of any such brothel would have to be somewhere where it did not have a detrimental impact upon local residents. Regular health checks should be carried out for the girls working from it, improving the safety aspect for both prostitutes and clients.

But brothels already exist - they are called saunas.

It still doesn't get the girls off the streets because they are there through coercion not job satisfaction.

If the police take a zero tolerance approach to the streets then they will be forced to work from legalised brothels. Alternatively leave them on the street as long as it's in a dedicated area away from residential areas but the problem would be trying to tax this.

From what I know in Sheffield the Police are taking the former option - zero tolerance - to a degree.

There are a couple of new tools in the armoury that I heard about the other week...

1. Rather than being arrested for soliciting (non criminal, court fine) the girls are being given ASBO's, which are criminal and can put them in prison.

2. Kerb crawlers will have their cars impounded. Imagine explaining that to the wife!

The Police are also working with the various agencies to help provide exits.

I wouldn't expect to see a tolerance zone in Sheffield anytime soon, and so it should be. Neither residents or workers should have to tolerate prostitution and the aggravation it causes.

If legalised brothels were to go ahead then the prostitues would be tax payers. The prostitutes would be able to claim allowances for things such as work clothes. Imagine how much happier our tax inspectors would be once they had a regular amount of titillating paperwork to wade through, with claims for shackles, leather gags, adult pampers, baby pink basques and fishnet stockings. I imagine Joe Bloggs the plumber's tax return would be way down the list of priorities then. :o :D

Lickszz, you're showing an unnerving knowledge of the tools of the trade ;)

Funny thing Tony I was going to suggest that your knowledge of Kerb Krawler punishment seemed a bit hot. ;)

I have not set up a poll, because I'm more interested in your comments than a simple yes/no .......

om my drive home last night I saw a number of sheffield's ladies of the night and it set me thinking ........

I wonder if they are there by choice? As in are they being forced to do it by threat of violence or are they choosing to do this becase it pays better than other jobs available to them......

Are they safe? Surely they must be more at risk than in other countries that offer safe zones. In New Zealand, I believe it is a criminal act to put a prostitutes life at risk by not using a condom.

Would legality help with health, safety and under age abuse ?


What are your thoughts?


(clean ones please...... family forum and all......)

i would say yes it should be, its going to continue regardless of any laws and if it was legal at least they would be safer, or i should hope they would be safer.. if it was legal they could have set places which were there were security and things

I say YES, make it legal, get the girls away from the pimps, drugs and violence on the street, give them a proper wage and healthcare etc.

I would also say yes.

Protection for prostitutes, and protection for the wives and partners of those who sleep with prostitutes in secret.

Healthchecks, condoms and sanitary conditions with adequate surveillance for the safety of all.

Originally posted by nick2
I say YES, make it legal, get the girls away from the pimps, drugs and violence on the street, give them a proper wage and healthcare etc.


Do you think if this happened.... the 'job' would lose some of its stigmatisation ?

I am interviewing later and currently reviewing some CVs. I can't see the day when someone could add this to their career history. Time will tell...

Originally posted by LoopyLou
Do you think if this happened.... the 'job' would lose some of its stigmatisation ?


Hopefully, if people want to have sex for a living then they can by me as long as they are safe. In Amsterdam I think prostitutes have a much better image and more respect from the community.

Yes it should be legalised if only to offer protection to those working in this reputedly the 'oldest of professions'.

Originally posted by nick2
Hopefully, if people want to have sex for a living then they can by me as long as they are safe. In Amsterdam I think prostitutes have a much better image and more respect from the community.

read your reply a bit too quickly and saw ...

"if people want to have sex for a living then they can buy me as long as they are safe"

:D

Originally posted by LoopyLou
"if people want to have sex for a living then they can buy me as long as they are safe"


I'm open to offers, but I don't do kinky stuff, well not realy kinky, ok I'll do ewt :)

As far as I am aware, it is not illegal to be a prostitute and charge for your services. What is illegal is soliciting, and running a brothel.

The council recently debated this whole issue, in response to the Home Secretary's consultation document - which might lead to changes in the law.

Although I personally supported the idea of so-called comfort zones, and the legalisation of brothels, the majority view of the council did not.

According to research presented to the council, most women on the game are supporting a drug habit. The council supports a number of services which help women come off drugs and give up being on the game.

Soliciting on the street, in so-called red light districts, is a criminal offence. It is well known that the ladies of the night who get arrested and fined, simply go back on the streets to earn enough money to pay off the fine.

Originally posted by nick2
I'm open to offers, but I don't do kinky stuff, well not realy kinky, ok I'll do ewt :)

The way you have quoted my post - looks like it's me making the offer now! Thank you very much!

Anyways - back to the topic.

Would legalising things stop women being forced into this.....

Definately yes. That way it can be regulated and made safer for all parties.

In reply to Redrobbo.

So its the advertising for business that is ilegal then - rather than the act itself.... I didn't know that.

(Nick2 - we need to our edit our posts in case the coppers see it!)

Why were the other councillors so against the safe zones?

Absolutely. As Nick has pointed out ,the girls would be more protected from drugs, pimps etc. A disgusting percentage (about 70%) of prostitutes are raped during their "careers" and subjected to awful violence.

A lot of women who have to turn to prostitution are in that situation due to either a drug/alcohol problem, abusive partner forcing them out or to maintain a life for their children. Many girls recently are being sold into a form of slavery, mostly these are eastern europeans promised a good job.

Proper regulation would benefit the girls, the clients and communities. I'm personally suprised that the government has not done this ages ago and reaped the tax revenue.

Also agree yes. It should be purely legalised brothels and get those soliciting off the streets. Helath checsk should be part of the job.

I'm sure the problem will still be there though with those hooked on drugs under a pimps control. This should be controlled as both the prostitute and the guy (or even Gal) are at risk!

No it shouldn't be legalized. Its tragic how some are forced in to it, or brought up to think that its a acceptable living.

Its a good job I don't have my way. I'd put a stop to everything I didn't agree with, which could be said for everyone I guess.

Originally posted by thestruggle
No it shouldn't be legalized. Its tragic how some are forced in to it, or brought up to think that its a acceptable living.



Hi thestruggle, thanks for your comments.

It is tragic how some people are forced into it, I fully support you on that.

Legalising would help make things safe for those that wanted to do this. but I think you may be right that it wouldn't help the people forced onto the streets, or would it ?

Anyone else got a view on this?

I've long thought prostitution should be legalised. This would make it safer for all concerned. I think it is a total disgrace that we allow young girls to be on the streets and open to all sorts of abuse.

It's not a 'profession' many people would choose and those that do probably do it out of desperation. In order to keep doing it they turn to drugs - which then spirals into a habit which means they need to work more and more...

If we had legalised brothels the people who choose to work there would be protected, be able to have all the necessary help and support and should be able to show certificates of health (free from STD's).

IMO, legalising prostitution would make it much more difficult for the nasty element in society who use and abuse vulnerable people, though it wouldn't wipe it out altogether.

I really wouldn't want to live in a society where its considered acceptable/legal. If that happens I'd have to turn into a super hero and rid the world of all its evils.

Originally posted by thestruggle
I really wouldn't want to live in a society where its considered acceptable/legal. If that happens I'd have to turn into a super hero and rid the world of all its evils.

If you had special powers - there is plenty of evil in the world to tackle right now - go ahead.... your country needs you :)

Don't think I haven't thought about it.

Originally posted by thestruggle
Don't think I haven't thought about it.

tell me more...

name
costume
special powers

Though this should probably be a whole new thread......


EDIT: in fact a quick search shows there already is one
here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35411&highlight=super+hero)

Originally posted by nick2
...give them a proper wage...
How would you ascertain that then?

If it's based round the minimum wage (<£5 per hour) that'd mean a shag would only cost £1...

...at most ( ;) ).




In the words of Austin Powers...

...shagtastic baby!!!

:heyhey: :hihi: :thumbsup:

Originally posted by LoopyLou
Legalising would help make things safe for those that wanted to do this. but I think you may be right that it wouldn't help the people forced onto the streets, or would it ?

Anyone else got a view on this?

I think if there was a clean, legal, safe place for the men to go to meet the prostitutes they would choose that over a street corner (unless that part of the thrill), so eventually there would be no profit from having girls (or boys, there are male prostitutes too) on the street.

You can image the fantastic headlines if they had a union, "It's all out for the Prostitutes Union !", "Union of Prostitutes tied-up in bondage strike".

Foo, I image they would get paid per client, they get 25%, the brothel gets 25%, the government get 50% (they have taxed everything else).

Originally posted by nick2
I think if there was a clean, legal, safe place for the men to go to meet the prostitutes they would choose that over a street corner (unless that part of the thrill), so eventually there would be no profit from having girls (or boys, there are male prostitutes too) on the street.



thanks Nick. Good argument.

Legality should stop the 'wrong' people owning the brothels too, but with any business there will always be the potential link to crime and money laundering - but still a safer option than what we have today.

Brothel owners would need a licence like pub landlords do now.

Prostitution is always going to happen - it was happening many, many years ago (as mentioned in the bible) though i'm not sure it was 'illegal' in those times? I'm sure someone will be able to advise me!

When was it made illegal in this country? Or rather, when was soliciting and running a brothel made illegal? Why was it? By whose moral standards?

Sex is the most natural thing in the world, so is having a baby and breast-feeding. Is it the fact that someone makes money out of it that people find so offensive? They use their body to make money - errmm, well if we apply that criteria then we could equally apply it to Models, Actors, Singers, Athletes, Sports people etc.

Stretching the analogy a little I know, but really - what is the biggest problem for people? Is it that 'your' partner may go to a prostitute? If that's the case, perhaps having an 'affair' should be made illegal too.

Personally speaking, it is something I could not do - but i could not clean drains for a living either! :thumbsup:

So girls a question. If a man walked upto you in the street and offered you £2 million in cash for protected sex with him once. No commitment. At the end of it you could just walk away. Would you?

hels, your post has made me think! dangerous really!

It is a service that is obviously in demand - and has been as you say - for centuries.

I know a friend who due to personal circumstances is unable to 'lay' with his wife who he adores and would never leave and so with her consent goes elsewhere. He does not want an affair as he loves his wife and family and so this, for them, is a viable alternative.

In the same situation I do not think I could be as liberal thinking and so I am one of those people you describe who would be apalled to think my hubby had visited a prostitute. This makes me a real hypocrite for starting this thread and has left me questionning myself on many levels.....

edit: 2 finds in one day - 1) i am a hypocrite 2) I now now know how to spell it :|

Originally posted by Hels


Sex is the most natural thing in the world, so is having a baby and breast-feeding. Is it the fact that someone makes money out of it that people find so offensive? They use their body to make money - errmm, well if we apply that criteria then we could equally apply it to Models, Actors, Singers, Athletes, Sports people etc.



Totally agree, I think that at lot of the problems that people have with prostitution come from society's pretty messed up attitude to sex in general, as you say it is the most natural thing in the world, but we make such a big deal out of it - making it dirty and sordid, or else some sort of wonderful emotion loaded experience between two people.

Sex is just sex. If someone wants to sell it, fine, and if someone wants to buy it, fine.

I think if I wasn't able to have sex I would rather my partner got it from someone else (provided it was safe) and stayed with me than they left me.

However, they are extreme circumstances, I couldn't have what they call an "open relationship".

I say legalise it so that customers can complain to OFPRO if the service is crap:thumbsup:

Similar threads merged.

Originally posted by MobileB
So girls a question. If a man walked upto you in the street and offered you £2 million in cash for protected sex with him once. No commitment. At the end of it you could just walk away. Would you?

Damn the capitalist society that we live in. It forces us to evaluate things into currency. I wonder if someone actually did that, if they would regret it afterwards?

Originally posted by thestruggle
I wonder if someone actually did that, if they would regret it afterwards?

I wouldn't, it's just a one night stand but you get more than the bus fare home.

Originally posted by nick2
I wouldn't, it's just a one night stand but you get more than the bus fare home.

I couldn't.

I would be tempted - for that amount of money.

But I would still say no - I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it afterwards - and no amount of money would be worth the shame.

I want my own country where what i say's goes. There would be non of that nonsense. If someone slept with someone for lots of money how would people treat them? Wouldn't they be classed as cheap?

Originally posted by Mo
I
Workers would not be paid under the minimum wage and would be entitled to proper paid holidays etc. Medical checks up would need to be undertaken on a regular basis in order for the brothel to continue in business.
came into this thread without reading all the other posts, however if they wanted to work for the minimum wage they could work @ mcd's, i am sure they all have justifiable reasons for being on the street & i fully support legalisation to decriminalise prostitution. however cash is the name of the game, cash in hand at well above the hourly rate most of us earn.
prostitution is already partially controlled it's called a massage parlour.

Originally posted by LoopyLou
I couldn't.

I would be tempted - for that amount of money.

But I would still say no - I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it afterwards - and no amount of money would be worth the shame.

Whats to be ashamed of ?
Have you never had sex with a stranger just for the sake of it (ie. a one night stand) it's just like that but you get a wodge of money too.

If I knew someone who slept (just the once) with someone else for £2million I wouldn't call them cheap!

When you think about it at the most basic level - isn't marriage a form of legalised prostitution for many people?

Come on - how many people sleep with their partner in order to sweeten them up for something new? How many people feel 'obliged' to sleep with their partner after a really special treat?

And don't say it doesn't happen, I know it does!

Originally posted by nick2
Whats to be ashamed of ?
Have you never had sex with a stranger just for the sake of it (ie. a one night stand) it's just like that but you get a wodge of money too.

A verypersonal question Nick2......

But I can say that - no I haven't had a one night stand.

The amount of money in question is immaterial for me. It would be the absence of love in the sexual act that would make me ashamed.

By giving my own stance on this - I am not in anyway making any assumptions about anybody elses life choices.

Originally posted by MobileB
So girls a question. If a man walked upto you in the street and offered you £2 million in cash for protected sex with him once. No commitment. At the end of it you could just walk away. Would you?

I'd sleep with anyone (male or female) for 2 million.

i'd sleep with any females free of charge!!



they'd have to pay for sex though.

prostitution should be legalised, adults should be allowed to pay for sex if they want


after all married men pay for it :P with dinners out, bottles of wine, birthday presents etc :)

it would get rid of all the negative aspects anyway

criminal records
disease (they can be tested easier and more often etc, free condoms)
less men kerb crawling, if the brothels are placed in the right places then less harm to local people, houses, communities

I can see advantages:
Less fossil fuels being used kerb crawling, however it would only be a matter of time before price wars started.
BOGOF deals, loyalty cards, home delivery services(!)

Originally posted by Tony
I had a conversation about this with the Sheffield police who have to manage these things, and interestingly they weren't in favour of toleration zones and the like. It's quite trendy for politicians and the like, but after hearing the Police's view, I can see big problems, and not just quick fix solutions that haven't been thought through.

After listening to both sides I wonder if it's too late. Other nations have had a different cultural attitude for many years, and we lost our similar attitude 80/90/100 years ago through public moral prurience.

Where would you establish brothels in Sheffield?
Who will run them?
Who will police them?

I've been through this entire thread in the hope Tony would shed light on the reason for his having had a conversation with Sheffield police on this topic and wonder if it's possible to expand upon the reason for these discussions. Many thanks wendygs