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Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

theguardian.com

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Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#31

Post by colinb »

dwighttk wrote: post #15
whack wrote: post #12

It's really sad to hear about sex workers fearing for their very lives, let alone their livelihood. These are some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society. Their lives could be so much better if we moved towards Netherlands/German-style legalization. Instead, we seem to be going in the opposite direction. I wonder who exactly the opponents of sex-legalization are trying to "protect". Trafficking v…

>Trafficking victims? They will be vastly better served by a well regulated workplace. why?

I think the obvious answer is because they could complain to the police if they were under threat. Of course, it being the obvious answer doesn't preclude it being nonsense, so feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#32

Post by skookumchuck »

dilap wrote: post #25
patrickaljord wrote: post #19

I hate to use the argument but it's really sad that in 2018 we're still trying to make voluntary sex work illegal when every studies show that it 1) doesn't work and 2) makes everything worse for everyone involved. Also, the fact that the very president is known to have used prostitutes and that Washington politicians are well known to be big customers makes this hypocrisy really infuriating.

it's also just an absurd restriction from a perspective that values individual liberty. "my body, my choice" "consenting adults" -- all that goes out the window when it's sex for cash? it makes no sense.

Governmental attempts to suppress "immoral" but natural human behavior has been tried for thousands of years and has never worked. I.e. attempts to stop:

* drinking

* gambling

* prostitution

* drugs

* adultery

* homosexuality

* lending money

* black markets

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#33

Post by [deleted] »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #2

I think the missing discussion is that some bad law exists, but that SESTA/FOSTA is not that bad law: Websites should not be immune to prosecution for intentionally facilitating criminal activity. Section 230 is a bad thing and it going away is a good thing. Headlines I've seen like "sex workers are the canary in the coal mine for free speech" are not really accurate, because this is about activity which is and has b…

[deleted]

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#34

Post by DanBC »

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #22
blhack wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>the sole interest in banning it appears to be religion If you can't think of any moral hazards around prostitution, then I don't believe that you are trying very hard. >I don't think Christian views should be the determining factor in our legislature Is Christianity the only moral system that looks poorly upon prostitution?

There are plenty of moral hazards around prostitution, and banning it outright makes all of them worse . It makes the women involved criminals and deprives them of legal protection when they're abused. The only reason to make prostitution a crime is if you think prostitutes themselves are committing evil. That is 100% a religious position with no rational support.

How does your comment fit with children being drugged and forced into prostitution?

And then adults being drugged and forced into prostitution?

And then adults feeding a drug addiction?

At which point of this ladder do you start to say "no, this is where we need to make it illegal"?

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#35

Post by wallace_f »

dilap wrote: post #25
patrickaljord wrote: post #19

I hate to use the argument but it's really sad that in 2018 we're still trying to make voluntary sex work illegal when every studies show that it 1) doesn't work and 2) makes everything worse for everyone involved. Also, the fact that the very president is known to have used prostitutes and that Washington politicians are well known to be big customers makes this hypocrisy really infuriating.

it's also just an absurd restriction from a perspective that values individual liberty. "my body, my choice" "consenting adults" -- all that goes out the window when it's sex for cash? it makes no sense.

Yep, that's the absolute BS about it. That somehow government should intervene in your personal life choices that affect no one other than consenting adults.

However, I would hope no one has to resort to unwanted sex work to afford life and liberty--just for a simple roof over their head, for food and basic healthcare. That's what I fear with legalizing prostitution... I just personally think the idea of knowing people have to do that out of economic necessity is horrible.

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#36

Post by jasonkostempski »

skookumchuck wrote: post #32
dilap wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's also just an absurd restriction from a perspective that values individual liberty. "my body, my choice" "consenting adults" -- all that goes out the window when it's sex for cash? it makes no sense.

Governmental attempts to suppress "immoral" but natural human behavior has been tried for thousands of years and has never worked. I.e. attempts to stop: * drinking * gambling * prostitution * drugs * adultery * homosexuality * lending money * black markets

Lending money?

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#37

Post by epicureanideal »

DanBC wrote: post #29
patrickaljord wrote: post #19

I hate to use the argument but it's really sad that in 2018 we're still trying to make voluntary sex work illegal when every studies show that it 1) doesn't work and 2) makes everything worse for everyone involved. Also, the fact that the very president is known to have used prostitutes and that Washington politicians are well known to be big customers makes this hypocrisy really infuriating.

Backpage was taken down because they knowingly facilitated ads for unwilling sex work, sometimes involving children. You wouldn't have SESTA / FOSTA if you didn't have the pathologically terrible Backpage.

Citation? Is this proven to be true or speculation?

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#38

Post by Broken_Hippo »

dwighttk wrote: post #15
whack wrote: post #12

It's really sad to hear about sex workers fearing for their very lives, let alone their livelihood. These are some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society. Their lives could be so much better if we moved towards Netherlands/German-style legalization. Instead, we seem to be going in the opposite direction. I wonder who exactly the opponents of sex-legalization are trying to "protect". Trafficking v…

>Trafficking victims? They will be vastly better served by a well regulated workplace. why?

When it is all illegal, law enforcement tends to go for obvious prostitution and when they are lucky, they can help someone that is being trafficked. When prostitution is a well-regulated legal thing, law enforcement can narrow its focus to folks being trafficked simply because they don't have to investigate voluntary prostitution.

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#39

Post by rainbowmverse »

jasonkostempski wrote: post #36
skookumchuck wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Governmental attempts to suppress "immoral" but natural human behavior has been tried for thousands of years and has never worked. I.e. attempts to stop: * drinking * gambling * prostitution * drugs * adultery * homosexuality * lending money * black markets

Lending money?

Usury is not without controversy.

Re: Sex workers fear violence as US cracks down on online ads: 'Girls will die'

#40

Post by elil17 »

jasonkostempski wrote: post #36
skookumchuck wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Governmental attempts to suppress "immoral" but natural human behavior has been tried for thousands of years and has never worked. I.e. attempts to stop: * drinking * gambling * prostitution * drugs * adultery * homosexuality * lending money * black markets

Lending money?

In ye old days people thought charging interest was a sin right in there with adulatory
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