just wondering ... your opinion please

**Alex** · December 27th, 2002, 07:32 PM

I don't think it's strictly gender derived prejudice.

If a man asks a business women for sex, and offers money, he technically could be charged with harrassment.

The point being the initiator (prostitute) usually gets punished before the consumer. (the guy with the money).

The same applies to drugs. Yes, you can get arrested for buying or possessing drugs, but generally, the seller is the one that the police are the most interested in. Again, the supplier is considered the bigger fish.

**SHATOUSHKA** · December 27th, 2002, 09:27 PM

i still don't think prostitution should be illegal

**SHATOUSHKA** · December 27th, 2002, 09:28 PM

.... nor drugs

**soulfilms** · December 27th, 2002, 10:43 PM

in my parts, prostitution is legal as long as the prostitute is over 18, pays taxes and gets checked regularly for diseases. it's a very regulated occupation (of the brothel variety girls). i don't really think streetwalkers are 100% legal. not entirely sure, but either way, most turn a blind eye.

i live about 10-15mins away from the red light district of sydney (kings cross) and when i'm going home late at night and passing through, it's very saddening to see the girls wearing next to nothing in the dead cold in order to attract business. i've never seen prostitution as a crime because.. well... it's never been one where i live unless it's underage, etc. most of the time though, there is much more than just sex that is going on. most prosties are junkies and the looping spiral goes from there (drugs, pimping, money laundering, etc).

there shouldn't be any punishment for prostitution because it shouldn't be a crime. when prostitution is illegal, that's when the customers can beat up the rent boys & girls because they are not protected by the law.

but onto the original issue of same punishment for both parties. i do not agree. in the case of the drug dealer v. drug buyer, a buyer has the aims of personal consumption. a drug dealer aims at unloading drugs to as many people as possible and making as much a profit from it as can be. there is a very distinct difference. a drug dealer does harm to others and profits whilst a drug user is only doing harm to self (yes, ok. this is arguable).

**SHATOUSHKA** · December 27th, 2002, 11:53 PM

great post, as usual. i like hearing from
both zela and SF when it comes to differences
in diplomatic staples. especially since i
believe both of you give forthright and honest
opinions.

as for the dealer thing...

while it is true that dealers attempt to unload
product for profit, most dealers won't sell to
just anyone.
although i'm not precisely sure of a major
metropolis, i know that in this city, any real
dealer (that deals in large quantities of
illicit drugs) will not sell to anyone that isn't
already an established associate... same with
the associates...

i've seen many relational movies that show
heavy dealers (sometimes) behind a door with
a slot in which buyers drop cash and the dealer
drops product (no matter whom you are) or
something similar to that scenario.

i am unfamiliar with that type of thing.

the (drug pushing) system is so filtered that
it would be nearly impossible for the average
person to bump shoulders with the big man...
unless inadvertantly.
most street dealers (that would sell to anyone)
really have no more than an ounce or two to
sell from... and attempt to generate as much
business from that ounce in thinking that one
day they could sell more.

this never happens...

i was going to continue, but felt i was digging
myself a nice hole...

better stop now

**soulfilms** · December 28th, 2002, 12:42 AM

forgot to add, in aus, brothels cannot be w/in 100m (from memory) of a church/school/etc.

on the drug issue: i do agree that there is a big fish that protects itself by a swarm of small time street hustlers that deal to just about anyone with the money. it has to take a really radical government to have any sort of effect in fighting the 'drug war'. ain't no democrasy going to help here. think taliban's totalitarian regime -> they got rid of the drug trade in afghanistan. ain't no lenient, bleeding heart, human rights conscious society ever gonna win the 'drug war'.

<H1>EVER!</H1>

**SHATOUSHKA** · December 28th, 2002, 01:59 AM

*applause*

if only the militant bastard running the show
against 'terrorism' really stood by what he
said when he coined the drug ring a 'terrorism
on our streets'....

and i am intently interested in the perimeters
of the prostitution barrier in regards to
schools/churches, SF. how was it decided upon?

**Beta-Decay** · December 29th, 2002, 11:19 PM

During a prostitution sting the people searching for sex, rather than giving, is the one that gets arrested. I know, because I tow their cars. They generally have a reasonable amount of money, since the cars we bring in are usually nice. Most of these people are married. Which is rather amusing when they bring their wives to help them pick up the car. [img]redface.gif[/img]

**soulfilms** · December 29th, 2002, 11:49 PM

i find it absurd that prostitution is illegal anywhere when there are so many forms of exchanging x (which could be anything) for sex that it really does seem futile.