UK sex workers in 'dire and desperate' need amid coronavirus lockdown

[Gibbon]

So if someone with learning disabilities, with some capacity, decides they would like to have some contact with the opposite sex and they go a procure the services of a sex worker, because they haven't a hope in hell of accessing this very human need otherwise, is it exploitation? In fact who's doing the exploiting? This happens regularly and it is tolerated as it calms the individual down somewhat from making inappropriate advances to care staff and other residents. Also the physically disabled benefit from this, especially those with significant care needs who are not going to easily attract a partner.

[wattaj]

You're conflating all prostitution. A high class escort isn't doing the same thing as a crack-addict hanging around Chorlton Street bus station offering cheap, toothless gobbles.

However you wish to justify your position.

[wattaj]

However you wish to justify your position.

Ditto @vetran.

[vetran]

Do you not see how the conflation of these two situations ignores the exploitation element? Drugs and alcohol can be provided without the subjugation of the people providing the service; prostitution cannot.

During Prohibition criminal gangs grew so big, embedded(via bribery) & lethal the US created special squads to deal with them. The legal & regulated supply of alcohol has vastly improved the situation. There are few if any employees of the drinks producers that would be considered legally exploited. Illegal production of Alcohol is prosecuted with vigour.

Drugs are neither legal or regulated you will note county lines (the abuse of children to carry & sell drugs) are clearly expanding. The use of drugs to bind prostitutes to their pimps is widespread. Regulating these where it makes sense (legalised medicinal cannabis for instance) makes sense. However health concerns make banning most drugs sensible.

If a competent person wishes to sell their body I would like to see that regulated and supported so only the willing do it. If there are none willing then fine we can just prosecute those that force people to do it.

[vetran]

However you wish to justify your position. - Ditto @vetran.

You mean with facts and reason? - ahh I can see why you are having problems.

[wattaj]

You mean with facts and reason? - ahh I can see why you are having problems.

As I say: however you wish to justify your position (i.e. via the outliers).

I am comfortable with mine because, on balance, the weight of the available evidence is with me.

[vetran]

As I say: however you wish to justify your position (i.e. via the outliers).

I am comfortable with mine because, on balance, the weight of the available evidence is with me.

Prohibition was hardly an outlier. Neither is the illegal drug trade. As I said many countries have legalised prostitution and redoubled their efforts to prosecute the criminals some have seen success.

Let me guess you are religious?

My God says the 'oldest profession' is immoral so I believe it is wrong?

[LondonManc]

However you wish to justify your position.

You profess to have great knowledge in the areas of drugs, alcohol and prostitution....

[BrilloPad]

You profess to have great knowledge in the areas of drugs, alcohol and prostitution....

Hopefully all three at the same time....

[wattaj]

Prohibition was hardly an outlier. Neither is the illegal drug trade. As I said many countries have legalised prostitution and redoubled their efforts to prosecute the criminals some have seen success.

You miss my point: that you have selected two outliers (Cynthia Payne and Brooke Magnanti) in order to support your position that people can, and do, choose this line of work. It is not that prohibition or the illegal drugs trade are outliers.

However, let me underline a point that I made earlier: that the drugs trade could be legalised and the result would be much like the present day farming and pharmaceuticals industries IF one can also address addiction and drug misuse. No-one would continue to be harmed by a now legal and regulated drugs trade. Prostitution is different: someone would still have to provide that personal service and that person is more likely to be the one being exploited in the power dynamic.

Let me guess you are religious?

No. I'm just not a dick. HTH.