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Let's Talk about Prostitution. Why is it Illegal? [COMIC]

images.ucomics.com — The criminalization of prostitution is usually the product of a moralizing impulse in politics. Why should prostitution be considered any kind of crime?

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  • leetdood, on 03/26/2008, -1/+96Don't they arrest the johns?
    • Hermiod, on 03/26/2008, -10/+12Normally yes but in general they just drive around looking for prostitutes in the street and then arrest them on the spot. This helps nobody.
      • GamerVer05, on 03/26/2008, -0/+24just to clarify they don't just arrest people who look whory, the way I've known it is they arrest after there is the offer of sex for money.
        • KevinRWright, on 03/26/2008, -5/+38Good thing they don't arrest women for looking whory, America wouldn't have many free women.
        • Brad324, on 03/26/2008, -0/+10you're under arrest - by the fashion police! Fat tummy with a belly shirt? That will be 3 years, lady!
          • KevinRWright, on 03/26/2008, -2/+9"Excuse me miss. Do you have a permit for that thong? Didn't think so, I'm gonna have to ask you to put these sweat pants on."
          • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/26/2008, -1/+8If only...
    • Alphateam, on 03/26/2008, -4/+74Not if you are rich and powerful.
      Just like every other crime in this country.
      Sell a bag of pot for $30 you get 30 years.
      Embezzle billions, ruin peoples retirement account...ahh...time served and some probation for you.
      • thanakar, on 03/26/2008, -1/+19Don't forget Escort services!
      • brundlefly76, on 03/27/2008, -2/+1Who are these people serving 30 years for selling $30 worth of pot?!!
        Who are these people 'embezzling billions' and getting timed served with probation?

        Lets make hyperbole a crime, I say - in which case, most diggers go directly to jail.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 03/26/2008, -9/+14They aren't targeting people who sleep with prostitutes but the prostitutes themselves. It really is a good example of why we shouldn't want the government getting involved in our lives.
      • MikeFallopian, on 03/26/2008, -1/+14Expect that they actually target the johns at least as much as they target the hookers.
      • mike17032, on 03/26/2008, -1/+17False, they target both.
      • oldhick, on 03/26/2008, -7/+1Who cares who they target?
        • Solis, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1Normal human beings, much unlike yourself.
    • KraftDinner101, on 03/26/2008, -2/+6Yes, from what I've on Cops and such (I know it's not really a clear picture of whats happening, but I don't see prostitutes get busted) they generally leave the prostitute alone and give her a warning.
    • mike17032, on 03/26/2008, -3/+33Yep, they run stings to get Johns too. Not only is this comic inaccurate, its also just plain stupid. In a case like this, both would be going to jail.
    • archivist, on 03/26/2008, -6/+7i'm sorry, i'm a little naive. what's a "John"?
      • branjb, on 03/26/2008, -13/+4White middle class age 40 male.
      • moraldebate, on 03/26/2008, -10/+9I think there's totally enough evidence to figure that one out now. When in doubt, ask google, not digg. The "Define:" operator is your friend.
      • terajoule, on 03/26/2008, -0/+22"John" = person who uses the "services" of a prostitute. Answer the question or don't post; instead of being an obnoxious jerk.
      • f3l1x, on 03/26/2008, -0/+7I kinda like the definition returned from google's define:

        "whoremaster: a prostitute's customer"
    • brundlefly76, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1Yeah its called solicitation - I don't get this comic at all.
  • darny, on 03/26/2008, -2/+141that dog is totally a duck *****.
  • thanakar, on 03/26/2008, -18/+10Digg brigade at it again. These diggers get paid or something?
    • sofaKing812, on 03/26/2008, -0/+5It is a free market contract to perform a service!
    • J3Holaday, on 03/26/2008, -0/+5What do you mean?
  • kyouteki, on 03/26/2008, -9/+114I really don't understand why prostitution is illegal. Like the comic said, it's just a contract to perform a service that does not infringe upon the rights of anyone. What here is illegal?

    Also, let me point out that you could just point a camera at it, call it pornography, and it is suddenly legal. What about the addition of the camera makes it so much better?
    • DestroyFascism, on 03/26/2008, -7/+1So the many movie stars cought in LA soliciting prostitution were actually making a pron scene just by the press being there? why didn't they use that in court
    • havokdu, on 03/26/2008, -1/+57I blame religion and their lobbyist.
      • TnTBass, on 03/26/2008, -3/+7I blame Scientology.
      • perfectsilence, on 03/26/2008, -5/+3I blame women, do you think they want sex to be easily available to men?
    • thanakar, on 03/26/2008, -4/+5Only if the camera is operated by a third party.
      • mistaunix, on 03/26/2008, -0/+9and for POV pornography?
        • xeyne, on 03/26/2008, -3/+2i think a camera in itself is the third party, therefore contradicting all these comments and henceforth destroying the fabric of time, which lead to my timely demise through the head butting of a bullet. Yay me!!!
      • jebus123, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1well, that's even more kinky.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 03/26/2008, -2/+6It's just big brother's way of protecting those who apparently cannot protect themselves.
    • donte, on 03/26/2008, -1/+28You seem to forget that the country is run by a bunch of people that seem to think it's their job to protect you from what "they" don't like (or at least claim not to like when in front of a camera).
    • MindStalker, on 03/26/2008, -0/+4Actually the law (and courts) effectively draw the line of paying for sexual pleasure. If you pay to video tape sex its alright, theoretically you could pay to watch sex (but the other partner couldn't be a party of the payer) as well. Paying for sex is illegal. Technically (sorry I forget the term) the porn movies where the camera crew or producer or whatever join in are illegal but its never gone to court.
      • macweirdo42, on 03/26/2008, -0/+9It still doesn't make sense. Why is it so much worse to pay for sex than it is to pay other people to have sex?
    • KraftDinner101, on 03/26/2008, -4/+2I believe you need a license to film porn.
    • RevFredSanford, on 03/26/2008, -3/+2The difference is quantitative. Imagine how many people would have to pay for and be with a girl IRL to equal the same number of times people have "enjoyed" her via video. A thousand people can whack off to a girl in a movie but imagine that same girl getting screwed a thousand times.
      • tony23, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2at $100/screw, that works out to $100,000
    • mike17032, on 03/26/2008, -7/+4Three letters: STDs.
      • MichelangeloPM, on 03/26/2008, -3/+7Also human trafficking, young girls being slaved by force into prostitution, religion, etc. It is a stupid way of protecting people from themselves.
        • MikeFromAmerica, on 03/26/2008, -1/+13Yeah, but the crime there is kidnapping and slavery. The sex has nothing to do with it.
          • EtherGnat, on 03/26/2008, -1/+4Not to mention the fact that legalizing and regulating prostitution would cut down on related illegal activity.
    • cbergstrom, on 03/26/2008, -0/+27Not only that, but why is it legal to give away free, but becomes a crime when you charge for it?

      I've never understood that either.
    • jsd8cc, on 03/26/2008, -1/+28The comic has a good point, but the issue is even simpler than that.

      What happens between two consenting individuals is no business of the government. Period.
    • cyranthus, on 03/26/2008, -1/+4i think you're implying that all porn stars are prostitutes...
      now that i wrote that and think about it, technically you're right, they get payed to perform a service, HOWEVER there are alot more issues behind this than just adding a camera to this so called 'service.' you need liscences to operate the camera, and not only that porn stars go through alot more testing and processing than a street prostitute which is probably crawling with diseases. i think the porn industry wouldnt be so large if they didnt test any of their actors for STDs.
      • tony23, on 03/26/2008, -0/+4"you need liscences to operate the camera"
        Umm -
        cite?
    • Vergisst, on 03/26/2008, -2/+2The camera makes it 'okay' for a couple reasons. The most common of which is that most porn has a storyline (however flimsy). Therefore it can be catagorised as a movie and is not an obscenite and will recieve some degree of defense from the ACLU.
      • MiDri, on 04/01/2008, -0/+1Well you could argue that you're making porn reality tv ;p
    • GordonV, on 03/26/2008, -5/+1It actually has to deal with human trafficing. (AKA, when people will sell other people.) It still exists in the USA under the Black Market for body parts.
    • kewidogg, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1What makes the addition of a camera so much better?

      Everybody gets to watch.
    • Andysan, on 03/27/2008, -4/+1If prostitution we legal you might be required to take your 18 y/o daughter downtown for tryouts. Also, she might ask you to get her some business cards saying 'Professional Whore.' It's easy to say "make it legal" but maybe not so easy to let it happen -- unless of course you are talking about someone else's daughter or sister. Now say hypocrisy.
    • DarkLance, on 03/27/2008, -0/+3Prostitution is illegal because proper women don't like competition. It undercuts their market.
      • Solis, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1I've yet to meet a "proper" woman in my life. Everyone I've seen so far has been a whore.
        • feebie, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1You're obviously looking in the wrong places.
          I've been looking at all of your comments. Why so much hatred towards women? It's such a horrible way to think, and won't help you in finding any of these "proper women" you seem to have trouble finding.
    • neodigger, on 03/27/2008, -0/+0Prostitution is illegal because of how prostitutes are generally treated and the risks involved. Consensual behavior is irrelevant. For example, just because someone WANTS to do drugs, doesn't mean they should be allowed to. Then there are the sociological issues involved for both parties. I.E. - You shouldn't HAVE to pay for sex you freaking introvert! Meh, I could go on, but I have to go now..
      • MiDri, on 04/01/2008, -0/+1Well what happens when its illegal is the government gets no regulation over it, no taxs, and it still exists... So in the end their just shooting them selves in the foot.
  • yessuz, on 03/26/2008, -32/+0It's just illustrated by this police raid in California
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU
    • BraveQuail, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1No it's not.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 03/26/2008, -0/+6That's a pretty obviously rickroll
    • Brad324, on 03/26/2008, -0/+6you're a late adapter to this whole rickroll think aren't you.
    • roodammy44, on 03/26/2008, -0/+5uuiU
      There are other rick roll videos out there, you know?
      • yessuz, on 03/26/2008, -4/+0of course. Just wanted to see some frustrated ppl :D
  • xsecretfiles, on 03/26/2008, -0/+22I think I missed some sort of joke at the end...or was the duck just being sarcastic also?
    • CYR1X, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Agreed, why does the PI arrest the cop?
    • ywwg, on 03/26/2008, -0/+15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_duckies

      The concept is, rich people are calling people who don't pay income tax "lucky duckies," but if those lucky duckies had the choice they'd probably prefer to be rich and have to pay taxes. Tom the Dancing Bug has been doing Lucky Ducky strips for years now, and they all play off the same idea: the rich person is complaining that the poor person is favored by the government but is blind to his own advantages.
    • Neo829, on 03/26/2008, -3/+6You didn't really miss anything. The comic was just unfunny and uninformed.
  • Machismo, on 03/26/2008, -0/+34Actually, the johns are treated more harshly. The pros tend to stay overnight.
  • dreesemonkey, on 03/26/2008, -2/+84This comic in not enjoyable.
  • cerberes, on 03/26/2008, -3/+4Isn't there a joke about "15 bucks for a ***** up duck"?
    • thanakar, on 03/26/2008, -1/+4The punch link of the joke is "A duck for a *****, a ***** for a duck and fifty bucks for a ***** up duck"
      • bronxelf, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Ah, inflation. When I was a kid it was only a buck for a ***** up duck.
  • racco, on 03/26/2008, -11/+24it illegal because our countries are run by hypocritical arrogant *****
    • D43PAN, on 03/26/2008, -0/+5***** is the perfect word.
      • tektalk, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Why not call them abhorred ass-hats', banes to benevolence, corrupt chauvinists, delegates of debacles, or emulators of enmity?
  • bosssmiley, on 03/26/2008, -8/+77One word answer: Puritanism ("The terrible nagging fear that someone somewhere is having fun" - Ambrose Bierce)
  • ricky125, on 03/26/2008, -24/+24because Christians are retarded.
  • thecosmicpope, on 03/26/2008, -9/+56Sex is legal. Buying stuff is legal. Buying sex is...illegal?
    • gm33, on 03/26/2008, -9/+11Your logic is a little flawed.
      • talonstriker, on 03/26/2008, -3/+10I fail to see how it is. Maybe you can explain..?
        • roodammy44, on 03/26/2008, -4/+20Sex is legal. Having a sister is legal. Having sex with your sister is...illegal?

          There you go, that's how the logic is flawed
          • thecosmicpope, on 03/26/2008, -1/+1Except for sex with a family member can cause genetic disorders. Sex with a hooker can't. Unless its a family member, but then thats just weird.
          • Phyraxus, on 03/26/2008, -0/+6Yeah, sticking your dick in your sister shouldn't be illegal either. However, there are health reasons not to do so.
          • Hend, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Wrong. Having sex with a family member only increases the chances of having a child with a genetic disease. There's always the possibility of running into a random person with the same recessive trait that can kill or deform a child. On average, you have about 12 recessive traits in your DNA that can kill you before childbirth.
        • typographics, on 03/26/2008, -0/+5you are actually making his argument. Why should sex with a sibling be illegal, as long as both parties agree? Yes, its gross, but should the government punish this kind of private behavior?
          • gm33, on 03/26/2008, -1/+0inbreeding creates genetic disorders in offsprings, so there are health reasons for that
    • thanakar, on 03/26/2008, -1/+10Not in Nevada
    • SSCrow, on 03/26/2008, -0/+8Its "***** is legal, selling is legal, Why is selling ***** illegal? When its perfectly legal to give them it for free."
    • fuckinlogin, on 03/26/2008, -3/+4Donating organs is legal. Buying stuff is legal. Selling your organs because you are poor and desperate is... illegal?
      How many people do you think sell the right for a stranger to put their penis (or whatever else) inside them as a career choice or because they actually enjoy it?
      Sure most poor people don't actually do enjoyable jobs, but that's why we have laws to prevent those with higher income from exploiting them. Like labour rights, or the fact that factories cannot (in theory) employ children or force people to work ridiculous hours. 150 years ago working class people still died from "exhaustion". That's being worked so much that you die from it because your body cannot take it anymore. Prostitution and other forms of slavery are these things taken to the extreme and that's why they are still illegal in most countries that are secular enough not to pass laws based simply on religious views.

      Prostitution is a horrible thing that manages to combine the exploitation of the poor with the subjugation of women. And that's for the lucky few who get into prostitution only because they are so desperate that they don't have other alternatives.
      Most of the prostitutes in Europe are now slaves that are bought from North Africa or Eastern Europe, after being kidnapped there by the seller. They have outpriced local prostitutes, because slaves are cheap. If you did some research you would know that Albanian human traffickers for examples have things called "rape camps" where they send girls they kidnap in the countryside. The slave is raped multiple times a day over several weeks to "break them" in. These people use terms like "sheep" to refer to human beings that they sell.

      And to anyone stupid enough to say that legalising it would remove those exploitation issues, just take a look at places where prostitution is legal or there are red-light districts where it is tolerated to an extent officially: it is still run by pimps and slave traders and prostitutes still have the same profile.

      It's disgusting that people here cannot see the reality of what prostitution is actually about.
      • ChristaMaria, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1I dugg you down for thinking women are too stupid to know if they are being exploited. Some women actually enjoy sex, alot. If they happen to be good at it and CHOOSE to make it their job, why should you care? Why are you forcing your hang-ups on everyone else? When will this country realize women enjoy/like/love/etc. sex just as much as men?
        • fuckinlogin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1"How many people do you think sell the right for a stranger to put their penis (or whatever else) inside them as a career choice or because they actually enjoy it?"
          Out of all the prostitutes in the world. Could you give me an approximate percentage you truly believe are in that trade because they enjoy it? Most of them? Half? 10%? Less?

          Also where exactly, anywhere at all, did I say or suggest that women don't enjoy sex? That is a ridiculous notion and I don't know why you projected it onto my post.

          "Too stupid to know they are being exploited": more nonsense. What difference does it make to know you are being exploited or not? Does a slave stop being a slave because he/she knows they are a slave? If someone has no other income source, little education, a child maybe, a drug addiction, a fear of their pimp or worse, a combination of those: what practical difference to their life or situation does it make for them to know they are being exploited? Does it give them more choice or the ability to change that situation?

          A very large number of people, a huge number even, (including myself) enjoy physical combat sports/martial arts. Is this a good argument for justifying the making of "bum-fight" videos?
  • thinkart, on 03/26/2008, -2/+39if you video tape it, it's legal to pay for sex.
  • captainspud, on 03/26/2008, -17/+33This comic is neither funny, nor true, nor poignant.

    Epic. Fail.
  • Spektr4, on 03/26/2008, -2/+20The rich hound guy and the "lucky duckies" are recurring characters in Ruben Bolling's comics. It was inspired by the WSJ calling poor people "lucky duckies" because they don't earn enough to pay income tax. The comics present the rich hound as a perpetual victim to all the "luck" enjoyed by the poor ducks, and end with the duck saying "got ya" at the end. Of course, the whole thing is ironic because reality is exactly opposite of how the comic presents it.

    That said, this one was not that funny. There are better ones, like this:
    http://www.4degreez.com/images/luckyducky1.gif
  • TheYar, on 03/26/2008, -5/+5It's not funny, and it is nigh impossible to discern what message is being conveyed here.
  • LiquidRAM, on 03/26/2008, -2/+20Many people don't realize that prostitution is LEGAL in Canada. I live in Alberta, and most people don't know this.

    You can go to any "massage parlor", and some advertise happy hour... half price on duos. lol. But the point is that they actually get certified (gov training on stds), pay taxes, and are tested regularly.

    You can also order an "escort" right to your door... again, all perfectly legal.

    So when you see some "whore" out on the street... think, damn tax evaders. There is no excuse... get a legitimate escort job or whatever.
    • invinciblenow, on 03/26/2008, -2/+9If what you say is true, that's AWESOME
    • LuckyASN, on 03/26/2008, -0/+12Ah, half-truth. Being a prostitute is legal. Being a john is not.
    • KernalLingus, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2Yeah, solicitation (both ways I believe) is what's illegal. The cops can actually impound/take/steal/keep and auction your vehicle if you're busted. I imagine that keeping it would require a conviction though.
    • smellydog, on 03/26/2008, -1/+6Not quite right. Prostitution is not illegal. Being a john is not illegal. But many acts surrounding prostitution are. For example, a massage parlor that provided sexual services would likely be a "common bawdy house" under s. 210, an indictable offence. Public solicitation for the purposes of prostitution is also illegal (s. 213), as well as most "pimping" type activities.

      I'm not a criminal lawyer, but I think the rationale for the law in Canada is to: (a) keep it off the streets (I guess on the theory that the general public (children in particular) should not be exposed to sexual solicitations (go figure given most ads/music videos these days); and (b) to some extent, make it a criminal activity to "exploit" prostitutes - e.g. the pimping activities. I say "exploit" because, for example, keeping a common bawdy house could be as simple as a single prostitute offering her services in her own house or apartment, where there is no other person exploiting the prostitute.
      • LiquidRAM, on 03/26/2008, -0/+3Massage parlors are legal and they don't hide what it's all about AT ALL. Like I said, there is actually a government program for the girls... regular tests, and a certification... it's an up and running program. Look it up.

        This one is not far from me: http://www.legendsmassage.com/legends_newest_girls ...

        Take your pick. lol
    • higdonius, on 03/26/2008, -1/+3prostitution is solicitation. if i go to buy a car, i just solicited a car. you can't say prostitution is legal, but solicitation isn't. that's insanity.

      you can sell it, but not buy it?
      • Phyraxus, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1What I think that means is that they can go around selling it but you can't go around asking to buy it from otherwise non-selling persons.
  • fani, on 03/26/2008, -8/+5Strangely, prostitution is illegal in almost every country, religion. There must be some deep seated human understanding that evolved as humans evolved into a higher society. A concept that a woman ( or a man for that matter ) having coitus with several others for money is inherently evil.
    I think money was regarded as evil for a long time and hence, prostitution was considered evil/illegal ?

    Either that or the people in authority weren't getting much.....
    • higdonius, on 03/26/2008, -2/+2it probably had more to do with the fact that until recently, there was no birth control. in a sparsely populated society with limited resources, having prostitutes with a bunch of illegitimate kids running around would not be a good thing.

      in the modern world however, prohibition just doesn't make sense.
      • smitty22, on 03/26/2008, -1/+0Don't forget that when you're already on the edge of starvation, wasting money on vices like gambling and prostitution is easily construed as crime against one's family.
    • LCRev, on 03/26/2008, -1/+1No, it's not.
      Not illegal in Canada, nor Europe. Only USA. And not even illegal in all of USA, not Nevada.
      I don't know where you got prostitution is illegal in every country from.
  • WoundedCow, on 03/26/2008, -6/+26marriage = sex for money
    • TnTBass, on 03/26/2008, -2/+27Incorrect. Dating = sex for money.

      Married people don't have sex. That's why women want to get married.
  • Sogui, on 03/26/2008, -0/+16Yea, this story is just like what happened to Spitzer.

    Oh wait, it's the TOTAL OPPOSITE.
  • angrycat, on 03/26/2008, -0/+33The comic failed to mention how or why a dog would have sex with a duck.
    • peaceninja, on 03/26/2008, -1/+5i've always wondered why pluto is a pet and goofy is anthropomorphic, but you learn to stop asking such questions and accept the cartoonists' depictions as is
    • mike17032, on 03/26/2008, -0/+3This "comic" failed on every level.
    • CrushThemTorg, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1I think it's something cultural, angrycat. All of my friends who are dogs that wear top hats and spats have a duck fetish.
  • KMikael, on 03/26/2008, -3/+13Prostitution shouldn't be illegal. Period.

    It's everyone's choice what to do with their bodies. And don't even get me started on the hipocracy of the same women (or men) being able to have sex with whoever whenever they want, but if they get money for it, it's immoral... Just stupid.

    The laws are to protect soccer moms from the scary world outside, nothing more.
    • xeyne, on 03/26/2008, -5/+2I think you fail to see the hierarchy of things. it's not just as simple as some woman going on the street and selling herself. this is where 'pimps' come in. every prostitute has a pimp, which is just the equivalent of a master....and they're all sex slaves. Making prostitution legal just means that they'll be one day be free to sell even children legally, cos someone else will say "we free to do what we want...blah blah blah". Freedom is not negligible of morals. What those morals are.....well I think there was a point when men knew what they were, but it seems to be slowly slipping away
      • enicholas, on 03/26/2008, -1/+6What do you mean "every prostitute has a pimp"? That's ridiculous, and many prostitutes are... well, self-employed.
      • Yawgmoth, on 03/26/2008, -2/+4Prostitutes have pimps only because it's illegal. That's like saying if pot was legal, then there would be gang member drug dealers everywhere. The complete opposite is true. If prostitution was legal, it wouldn't be legal on the street. Johns would have to find and go to a reputable company. There would be intense regulation on their facilities and mandatory testing for all of the prostitutes and the johns. The prostitutes would have a legally recognized job, and might even be able to form unions. Don't get me wrong, there would still be pimps selling women on the street, but no one is trying to get THAT legalized. We know it's wrong, and it would continue to stay illegal . However, legalization would decrease the severity of the pimp/sex slave relationship, by cutting off the major money supply to the pimps. I'm going to bet that most johns would rather go to a reputable business, where they're sure that they won't get an STD, and where the prostitutes are happy.
      • stretch611, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2Prostitution should be legal, Pimping should not.
        Human trafficking should get the most sever penalty possible under law. (i.e. Jail time with Bubba, after someone tells Bubba what you did to his kid sister.)
    • perfectsilence, on 03/26/2008, -1/+3why don't you ask some women and find out why they don't want it to be legal. they don't want men to be able to pay for sex. it's not in their interest. it make themeselves less valuable.
    • Hermiod, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2I thoroughly agree. Legalise it in licenced brothels. Subject those brothels to regular inspections to make sure everyone has a safe working environment and is not there against their will. It has worked in multiple countries in Europe to the point where men from European countries where it isn't legal travel to those where it is. The reason ? They prefer the open, clean environment over the dirty, seedy one they could be in in their own countries.
  • PhantomSoul, on 03/26/2008, -7/+4For one thing, street prostitution is linked to facilitating violent crime. For another, Americans have very reserved opinions about sex, and many do not feel comfortable with the idea of it being solicited -- especially white Americans, of northern European ancestry. Maybe its a Puritan legacy; maybe its just plain hypocrisy. But for whatever the reason, fact of the matter is that its ban remains, and people also do not appreciate being told that their thinking is wrong.
    • rdoger6424, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2See LiquidRAM's Comment Above:
      "Many people don't realize that prostitution is LEGAL in Canada. I live in Alberta, and most people don't know this.
      You can go to any "massage parlor", and some advertise happy hour... half price on duos. lol. But the point is that they actually get certified (gov training on stds), pay taxes, and are tested regularly.
      You can also order an "escort" right to your door... again, all perfectly legal.
      So when you see some "whore" out on the street... think, damn tax evaders. There is no excuse... get a legitimate escort job or whatever."
    • higdonius, on 03/26/2008, -1/+3prohibition creates crime. prostitution should be legal for the same reason all drugs should be legal. it's a victimless crime.
  • meb3v, on 03/26/2008, -13/+6Don't fool yourselves. This comic is the epitome of the stereotypical prostitute. Prostitution is not a victimless crime. Most often a woman is exploited. Prostitution has long-lasting effects on attitudes and behaviors; Men who engage in pornography tend to believe in rape myths, and indicate a greater willingness to use coercion to obtain sex;

    Also, women (and men) engaging in the serving end of prostitution are more likely to have suffered some form of sexual abuse as children.

    Men who buy into prostitution are more likely to believe the myth that ALL prostitutes are happy with their so-called "chosen" profession.

    I understand the argument that licensing can help prevent the spread of disease and agree that it would, but it would also be at the cost of the prostitutes involved and would further victimize them (they aren't the ones being protected, it is the consumer). The consumer wouldn't be the one being tested for disease, it would be the prostitute (and in some cases, such as AIDS, testing will come too late).

    Please don't buy into the myth of a "happy prostitute" my fellow Diggers! While a few may exist, it certainly does not apply to the masses.
    • DryMaltExtract, on 03/26/2008, -1/+9Yeah? Who is happy working at McDonalds? I'm not seeing a difference other than those who get involved with pimps.
      • meb3v, on 04/01/2008, -0/+2People who work at McDonalds have the choice to work there or not. A lot of women are forced into prostitution and the pornography business. This is the biggest difference.
    • joelito, on 03/26/2008, -0/+8I don' t think they like being prostitutes. But I don' t see why they can' t stop at the right time.
      If a prostitute makes $50+ per john (in a place where the average salary is ~$300) and assuming she does 10 a week that' s more than what most people make in the same country. You'd think they would try to use some of the money they make into developing some other skills that could help them leave that lifestyle. Instead many just keep working until they are too old or too sick to work on the streets/escort/club/MP.
      • meb3v, on 04/01/2008, -0/+1There are situations where women don't have the opportunity to stop. You may think that they are pocketing all of the money they are making, but most of the money goes to the pimp who is exploiting them.
    • bongowaxx, on 03/26/2008, -5/+3Well said, meb.
      I used to sell escort ads in a local paper, and these women were in anything but control of their lives. Strung out, living in hotel rooms, they live a life built on a foundation of a physical and emotional abuse...
      I've met men who pimp out their sisters (disgusting), pimps who have a whole new set of fresh faces every week... needless to say, I underestimated the effect that job would have on my soul... The world of prostitution is a sad, sad place.
    • ricree, on 03/26/2008, -1/+4[Citation Needed]
      • meb3v, on 04/01/2008, -0/+2All of the information I provided is paraphrased from John D. DeLamater and Daniel J. Myers Social Psychology: 6th Edition; Sorry I forgot to cite.

        Information can also be found in Ritzer's Modern Sociological Theory, 6th Edition;
    • higdonius, on 03/26/2008, -1/+9so you think the way to help these abused women is to turn them into criminals and arrest them? some sexually abused women become strippers. that's legal. some just screw as many men as they can, but do it for free. that's legal. there's no good reason prostitution should be illegal.
      • meb3v, on 04/01/2008, -0/+2higdonius, You are putting words in my mouth. Where in my argument does it say I think prositution should result in criminal prostitution? I'm not for legalization, I'm for decriminalization. You're right though, no woman should be turned into a criminal because they are usually being exploited.
    • perfectsilence, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2the going rate for an escort is 300 an hour. so if an escort sees one john a day for one hour, that's more than 100K a year, tax free. any average woman decided to do this can easily retire after a few years. don't you wish we men have option like this? don't you wish we are the ones that can get paid for sex, and not the ones that have to pay?
      • meb3v, on 04/01/2008, -0/+2Once again, the prostitutes don't pocket all of the money they make in most situations. It usually goes to a pimp, who are the real criminals.
    • hotcod, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1So lets see, instead of legalizing it and putting in place standers and support that could help many of these women you want to throw them in jail? makes perfect sense to me. Legalizing it is by far the lesser of 2 evils, there will still be bad stuff and women who are damaged getting involved but if what they are doing is legal there can be systems put in place to help them they could have the ability to health insurance say that covers therapy and a number of other things. If they are drug addicts there can be systems in place to find out and help them for example.

      I went to school with a girl who slid in to escorting beacuse of her drug use which was from some very messed up mental problems. Before she was being paid for it she would sleep with any one who would give her drugs except that some how the sex (if not the drugs) was perfectly legal until the drugs are replaced by cash to buy the drugs. The point i'm trying to get at is that she killed her self about a year ago. It's stupidly sad but i'm of the very strong belief that she would have been far better off if what she ended up doing had been legal and regulated with support systems.

      As for the argument that it would only be the girls tested for STDs why not make it part of the law that the guy has to have a clean test to buy there service. Most people i know who are not in long term relation ships tend to get an STD test every one's in a while and it would be no big deal if they started to give out something that said what you did and didn't to every one that came in. That way no one feels bad for going to get one (which you all should be doing anyway) and every one is as safe as they can be is the sex is going to be unprotected.

      In other words while making it legal is far from perfect its very far the lesser of the two evils and i honestly honestly believe that my friend might still have been alive if she'd fallen in to a system that could have supported her instead of criminalising her. She sums up a lot of the 'fears' about sex workers and beyond the fact that most sex workers here are all but in slavery (something that would be wiped out almost over night by regulation) i honestly can't see a reason why any one would still argue that it should not be legal on anything other than there moral objections to sex.

      We have the ability to make life better for a LOT of women who are in trouble... and instead of trying to make it better we throw them in jail...
      • meb3v, on 04/01/2008, -0/+1While I understand and agree with a lot of your argument I find some of it to be impractical, such as the suggestion that all buyers of sex be tested beforehand. This is impratical due to the amount of customers and the sometimes randomness of sexual encounters. I'm not advocating that prostitution should be illegal. I'm simply pointing out all of the bad that comes out of it. I don't think there is a good solution to the problem.
  • mfolch, on 03/26/2008, -2/+12Prostitution should be legal, regulated, and taxed like any other business. The current laws are the fossilized relics of a long-gone, morally regressive era and the less the government interferes individual sexual behavior, the better. Prostitution in any form is probably never going to be to the benefit of the women involved, but the depraved state it is in now is the direct result of its being criminalized and undercover.
  • comradeTJH, on 03/26/2008, -2/+3honestly, prostitution is illegal in the US?
    • MWeather, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2No, it isn't. It is 100% legal. Now, in the individual states, that's a different story.
      • rdoger6424, on 03/26/2008, -2/+1Wait- so in DC, does that mean that it's legal?
      • stretch611, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1AFAIK, it is only legal in parts of Arizona.
        • stretch611, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Sorry, my mistake. it is only legal in some parts of Nevada.
  • shiftless, on 03/26/2008, -4/+3Jail? That's three square meals a day! And she doesn't have to suck anybody off!
    • MWeather, on 03/26/2008, -1/+8You've never been to jail, have you?
    • KernalLingus, on 03/26/2008, -1/+1What a dopey comment.
    • mike17032, on 03/26/2008, -0/+6She cant get her crack fix in jail.

      Dont kid yourself, most girls whore for drug money.
  • Mylon, on 03/26/2008, -0/+3Prostitution is legal in the US. All of the women on the street are doing it wrong, however. The real way to be a prostitute is through escort services, which charge absurd rates for a "date", and anything that happens afterwards is two consenting adults acting without monetary coercion.

    Granted, I still wouldn't pay for it.
    • drmangrum, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2Why not? If you're not looking for a relationship and all you want is sex then an escort is far cheaper than a night on the town hoping you get some.
      A night on the town, probably 200 bucks. And not a sure thing
      An escort? maybe 150 bucks and a sure thing. Also, you can bet she ALWAYS uses a condom. The tramp you pick up at the club is a different story.
  • homah, on 03/26/2008, -1/+5The government shouldn't legislate morality. People should be able to do whatever they want provided it doesn't hurt anyone else.
    • ywwg, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1I think the prostitutes might argue that there's some harm, like disease including AIDS, physical abuse, mental abuse, etc. Although if you're paying them I'm sure they'll tell you they have a great time. I doubt high-class hookers make up a big percentage of the whole.
      • homah, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2If a woman decides to become a prostitute, that is her business, not mine nor that of the government. Yes, I am sure there is a downside to her having made that choice, but it isn't our place to tell her she can't make that choice in the first place.

        Also, regarding the downsides, physical abuse is caused by someone else infringing on her rights and that person should be dealt with by the government. Additionally, AIDS could be better controlled if prostitution was allowed to run like any other business. There would be more legitimate businesses that would ensure that the women and customers were tested. There would be security to ensure that abuse did not take place on the premises.
  • Rwned, on 03/26/2008, -5/+10Anyone with a brain is a libertarian. The government has no right to tell adults how to run their personal lives. End of story.
    • xeyne, on 03/26/2008, -5/+2The murderer is an adult. The rapist is an adult. The pedophile is an adult.
      Yeah, lets not tell them how to live their lives
      • homah, on 03/26/2008, -0/+6This is the worst post I've ever read on digg. Do you honestly think libertarians are fine with these types of people? Let me clarify Rwned's statement for you:

        "The government has no right to tell adults how to run their PERSONAL lives, provided their actions DO NOT IMPACT ANYONE ELSE."

        In other words, smoking pot in your own home is fine, having sex with a prostitute is fine, etc. Killing ANOTHER PERSON is not fine. Raping ANOTHER PERSON is not fine.
    • mike17032, on 03/26/2008, -2/+1Libratards need to buy a damn clue.
      • homah, on 03/26/2008, -0/+3Another brilliant post. The government is supposed to protect our freedoms, not restrict them.
    • ThinkAloud42, on 03/26/2008, -0/+0Liberty is not about running our personal lives, it's about ensuring the equal opportunity for all. If your personal lifestyle infringes on the civil rights of another, you're at fault. Anarchy is not the answer.
    • EtherGnat, on 03/26/2008, -0/+3You do not have to be a libertarian to believe the government has no business regulating people's personal lives.
  • alpha94, on 03/26/2008, -2/+6It's only illegal because they aren't claiming the income on their taxes. The governent isn't getting their pimp fee.
  • DeFex, on 03/26/2008, -1/+11Its quite legal when its long term and for a lot more money (Anna Nicole Smith)
  • ToiletGhost, on 03/26/2008, -3/+4Prostitutes hurt plenty of people who get STDs from them. A once a day STD test won't stop an epidemic or detect whether the guy in the last 30 min had one. They do arrest the johns as well. Puritianism in the 1500s doesn't explain why its illegal half a millenia later. Its legal in Amsterdam. I lived in Amsterdam for nearly 6 months and that is not what you want.
    • radio4fan, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2Johns don't wear condoms?

      • ToiletGhost, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Yes, they do. They also aren't 100% effective and are sometimes 0% effective all the time with certain STDs.
        • ReyX, on 03/26/2008, -1/+1I heard somewhere that 60% of the time they work everytime. Is there a basis to this?
    • ReyX, on 03/26/2008, -1/+6You don't want to live in Amsterdam?
      • ToiletGhost, on 07/29/2008, -0/+0Amsterdam is awesome and I loved it. I meant you don't want the red light district.
    • hotcod, on 03/26/2008, -0/+0As i said above any one who is sexually active and not in a long term relationship should be getting STD tests, your idiots if your not. Me and most of the people i know go get tested every ones in a while if we are not with some one beacuse it just makes sense to be safe... now if was made legal you could just start handing out 'all clear' papers to any one who gets all clear at an STD test. Given that STD tests are just good practice if your active then there is no reasons to feel bad going in to get one (unless your a dumb ass) then there's no reason for some one wanting to buy sex not to have an 'all clear' so to speak. So not only in a legal system do we test the girls for stds we can minimise the risk of the people who go to them having STDs too all the while promoting the good practise of getting STD checks. I don't know about you but if i was paying for sex a the risk of being caught and going to jail i would much rather just go for an STD test that lets me legally do it and know i've not caught anything nasty.
  • bigblackclock, on 03/26/2008, -2/+3Anything the government can't tax is illegal. I learned that at a young age.
    • EtherGnat, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2If prostitution were legal and regulated, why would it be more difficult to tax than any other service? I'm sure Nevada is collecting significant tax revenues from prostitution.
    • charlietuna, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Not even then:
      www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2007/taxes-on-illegal-drugs.html
      or http://tinyurl.com/2lfobm

      Taxes on Illegal Drugs Challenged in Court
      April 25, 2007

      A legal challenge to Tennessee's law imposing taxes on people who possess or sell illicit drugs could have implications for other states that have drug-tax laws on the books, the Columbia News Service reported April 22.

      Tennessee has collected $3.5 million since it implemented its Unauthorized Substance Tax in 2005, including taxes imposed on attendees at the Bonnaroo music festival caught with illicit drugs. At least 21 other states have similar laws on the books.

      Tennessee resident Jeremy Robbins was hit with a $1.1 million fine for failing to pay taxes on two tons of marijuana he was caught smuggling into the state in 2005. But Robbins successfully argued before a Tennessee chancery court that the fine was a punishment, not a tax, and represented unconstitutional double jeopardy, punishing him twice for the same offense. The case is now awaiting a hearing in the state court of appeals.

      Critics of the drug tax are tracking the Robbins case. Nationally, other court challenges to the tax laws have had mixed results. The Wisconsin state drug-tax law was twice ruled unconstitutional, both other states have aggressively enforced their own laws. North Carolina has collected more drug-tax money than any other state -- more than $82 million since 1990. Most of the money goes to anti-drug law enforcement.

      In Virginia, a proposal to enact a drug tax placed the head of the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in the position to criticize lawmakers for putting profits ahead of public health. "It's 'throw out any attempt to get people off the drug," said Michael Krawitz. "We'll just put our hands next to the drug dealers hands to make some extra money.'"
  • archivist, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2illegal? where i live right now, it's legal.
  • ifman, on 03/26/2008, -0/+8Wow this is way off... Elliot Spitzer is dealing with legal problems and resigned from his job, his hooker is being offered million dollar contracts to legally do what he paid her to do.
  • Brain1, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2I think its Illegal because of it relates to.... Religion/Morality/Family Values, Government/Status quo...imposing this all encompassing ...."People Control".....thing on us.... "Little People"...We need to start making it legal on Indian Reservations, along with the Casinos. That would be a start.
  • ochibi, on 03/26/2008, -7/+1the prostitute and the man are doings bad things. period
    whenever you called it, fornication is fornication.
    1Co. 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
    • wyrdness, on 03/26/2008, -0/+4Fornicate off.
    • frositay, on 03/26/2008, -0/+4Youeth Talketh very old fasioneth, noteth?
      Welcome to 21st century, heres a dictionary.
  • ReyX, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1OMGZ beastiality!!
    Also, totally inaccurate.
  • ThinkAloud42, on 03/26/2008, -0/+0The Straight Dope article 'Why is prostitution illegal?' Try both sides of the fence.
  • asnider, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1See, at least where I live, prostitution (i.e.: the selling of sex) isn't illegal. You can be a hooker and you won't get arrested. However, the solicitation of sex (i.e.: being a john) is illegal. They don't bust the hookers, they bust the johns.
  • ColonelJessup, on 03/26/2008, -4/+1Oh! I see! Diggers think that prostitution should be legal because the only way a digger will EVER have sex is if he pays for it!
    • hotcod, on 03/26/2008, -0/+0so that means you've never had sex you've not paid for? since your a digger... given you have an account and you just replied to a thread... think before you post, it will make you less of an idiot
    • jjmdirector, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1dude you pay for sex too. you just dont realize it till the bill comes later
  • GrodyChamp, on 03/26/2008, -1/+0Oh I get it. The Democrat didn't do anything wrong. Clever. Go Digg!
  • ProjectGSX, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2Paying for sex is illegal.. unless you film it, in which case its porn and then its legal. Utterly stupid.
    • charlietuna, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that solicitation is what is illegal. Else I am in deep doo doo for all those nights out where I treated.
  • nardo510, on 03/26/2008, -1/+2Uncle Tom doesn't get them to charge them income tax. The only real reason its illegal, and don't give the religious *****. Their a bunch of hypocrites who say one thing and then do the other.
    • bosssmiley, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1Uncle Sam = the government
      Uncle Tom = the original of the 'Magic Negro' archetype
  • jjmdirector, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Great comic. what a waste of investigation time and man power. if they want to loiter on the street. that surely is a public nuisance. but in the end we all pay for that coochie. they just charge up front.
  • rippinitup, on 03/26/2008, -2/+2Prostitutes are pests, and usually nasty ones at that. If it was legal they would be all over the place bugging people asking if they want to party.. ever go to amsterdam?
    • analogs, on 03/26/2008, -1/+1I can't believe how many moronic comments there are on this post.
      "Have you ever been to Amsterdam?"
      Clearly you haven't! With the exception of a few shady areas, prostitution is NOT constantly solicitied by a bunch of mangy, tootheless women.
  • sgvprelude, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1We pay millions to baseball pitchers because of what they can do with their arms. I don't see whats wrong with paying a woman for what she can do with her legs.
    • charlietuna, on 03/26/2008, -0/+2Legs? Really now I think you are wide of the mark.
  • krait, on 03/26/2008, -0/+1Dude, have you ever seen To Catch A Predator, Dateline?
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