Is prostitution "immoral"?

[Draka]

That's not what I'm asking.. I'm asking WHY it matters. What are you arguing for prostitution for?

I was reading another thread and the idea just came to me is all. I wondered why some people view certain things pertaining to sex as immoral. Prostitution came to mind. I thought it an interesting subject is all. Obviously some others found it interesting enough to comment on as the thread seems to be prospering well enough. If you don't want to answer the OP and get involved in the discussion then the more apt question should be...what are you doing here?

 

[Drolefille]

I would probably label you a masochist if the practice of self-debasement gave you pleasure.

And is masochism immoral?

You're presuming inherent debasement.

My apologies for my vagueness!

I [kind of] follow the dharmic teaching that we're all spiritual beings bound to this realm with the help of a "beast soul" [nefesh behemah]. This beast soul allows us to reside here but also can be seen as a curse as it tempts us to "sin" (for lack of a better word) through gluttony, promiscuity - excess in general. We need food to survive, we need sex to propagate, etc - but too much causes our spiritual development to suffer.

By having prostitutes available it makes it easier to feed one of these excesses.

Sayi Nazir

Ok, I see where you're coming from. I totally disagree, but I see where you're coming from

 

[Sayi Nazir]

If the prostitute wants to be one, then go for it.

Making it illegal makes it dangerous (e.g. hooker has a weapon for protection from officers, hookers cannot get checked for STDs very often without being suspected plus lack of money while trying to hide that she is a prostitute).

I second the idea that making it illegal creates more problems than it solves.

And is masochism immoral?

You're presuming inherent debasement.

Ok, I see where you're coming from. I totally disagree, but I see where you're coming from

You're allowed to disagree! I don't bite those who disagree with me. Or maybe I do. I forget.

Sayi Nazir

 

[CynthiaCypher]

And is masochism immoral?

You're presuming inherent debasement.

Ok, I see where you're coming from. I totally disagree, but I see where you're coming from

It's paraphilia. A disordered sexuality

 

[Drolefille]

I second the idea that making it illegal creates more problems than it solves.



You're allowed to disagree! I don't bite those who disagree with me. Or maybe I do. I forget.

Sayi Nazir

But you're a pretty fox. I get along with foxes *nods* you won't bite.

I think the only part I'd take issue with what you're saying is that I don't think it's the prostitute's fault - or McDonald's fault - for leading someone else astray. There will always be tests or challenges in life, and I don't think that we should blame others for our own actions. We can of course, be attentive and try not to cause problems for other people, but ultimately if one strays from one's path it is one's own responsibility.

 

[Sayi Nazir]

It's paraphilia. A disordered sexuality

Is that Freud sitting next to you at your computer? I think I can see him.

Sayi Nazir

 

[Drolefille]

It's paraphilia. A disordered sexuality

Only if it causes problems for the individual. The DSM doesn't make morality claims.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Is that Freud sitting next to you at your computer? I think I can see him.

Sayi Nazir

I make it no secret that I very much admire Herr Dokter Freud.

 

[Sayi Nazir]

But you're a pretty fox. I get along with foxes *nods* you won't bite.

I think the only part I'd take issue with what you're saying is that I don't think it's the prostitute's fault - or McDonald's fault - for leading someone else astray. There will always be tests or challenges in life, and I don't think that we should blame others for our own actions. We can of course, be attentive and try not to cause problems for other people, but ultimately if one strays from one's path it is one's own responsibility.

I'm not attempting to imply it is the prostitute's fault, which is where I was leading off with on the economic model rambling. While it is the "sinner's" fault, it doesn't help that a prostitute was available.

Think of it like a woman trying to quit smoking. It is a lot easier to quit when there isn't a pack of cigarettes sitting right in front of her.

I might still bite. I haven't made up my mind.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

It's paraphilia. A disordered sexuality

Who's to say it's disordered? Under what circumstance is a fetish disordered? Speaking as a masochist myself, it's probably natural, if it is a disorder, where am I disordered at? Why is masochism so common and/or popular?

Let's say you're right, masochism is a disorder, as long as it harms nobody, what's wrong with it?

Let's say a man has a... rock fetish. Let's say the rock fetish is a disorder, does it matter if it is a disorder as long as it's harming none and he enjoys it?

Masochists aren't allowed to have sex because it is a disorder?

 

[Sayi Nazir]

I make it no secret that I very much admire Herr Dokter Freud.

And there isn't anything wrong with that as long as you don't allow yourself to be limited by your Freudianism.

 

[Drolefille]

Who's to say it's disordered? Under what circumstance is a fetish disordered? Speaking as a masochist myself, it's probably natural, if it is a disorder, where am I disordered at? Why is masochism so common and/or popular?

Let's say you're right, masochism is a disorder, as long as it harms nobody, what's wrong with it?

Let's say a man has a... rock fetish. Let's say the rock fetish is a disorder, does it matter if it is a disorder as long as it's harming none and he enjoys it?

Masochists aren't allowed to have sex because it is a disorder?

The DSM considers it disordered if it interferes with your life in a significantly negative way.

 

[Sayi Nazir]

The DSM considers it disordered if it interferes with your life in a significantly negative way.

The DSM considers almost everything disordered if it impacts your life in a negative way...

To wax Freudian myself:

If we look at everything in a sexual context then isn't masochism the highest form of sexuality? (Or one of the highest forms?) Afterall, birth is pain, life is a series of discomforts, death is pain.

 

[Drolefille]

The DSM considers almost everything disordered if it impacts your life in a negative way...

To wax Freudian myself:

If we look at everything in a sexual context then isn't masochism the highest form of sexuality? (Or one of the highest forms?) Afterall, birth is pain, life is a series of discomforts, death is pain.

Not really everything, and not just mild negative effects either. I'm a fan of looking at mental disorders as a product of the mind and environment, not just something in the mind. Culture and our society is too important to us as humans to ignore and what may be functional in isolation or even thousands of years ago, is not necessarily functional now.

I rather detest Freud myself. I credit him for founding my profession and field and then thank him kindly to move along. But maybe I'm just manifesting my desire to kill my mother and take my father... wait I'm pansexual... maybe I want to kill my father and my mother.. wait that's not right either.

 

[Sayi Nazir]

Not really everything, and not just mild negative effects either. I'm a fan of looking at mental disorders as a product of the mind and environment, not just something in the mind. Culture and our society is too important to us as humans to ignore and what may be functional in isolation or even thousands of years ago, is not necessarily functional now.

I rather detest Freud myself. I credit him for founding my profession and field and then thank him kindly to move along. But maybe I'm just manifesting my desire to kill my mother and take my father... wait I'm pansexual... maybe I want to kill my father and my mother.. wait that's not right either.

Well, considering that you're female you might also want to consider that your head, being a phallic symbol, is graced with long hair - a seminal symbol. So really your pansexuality might be interpreted as your desire for both male and female genitalia, though especially male.

Or if you have short hair or no hair then you exist in denial of your pansexuality and might actually suffer from schizophrenia. Afterall, you don't really enjoy men, which is why you cut your hair - to symbolize cutting off a seminal flow.

Or any number of other serious disorders there.

 

[Kerr]

Not really everything, and not just mild negative effects either. I'm a fan of looking at mental disorders as a product of the mind and environment, not just something in the mind. Culture and our society is too important to us as humans to ignore and what may be functional in isolation or even thousands of years ago, is not necessarily functional now.

I rather detest Freud myself. I credit him for founding my profession and field and then thank him kindly to move along. But maybe I'm just manifesting my desire to kill my mother and take my father... wait I'm pansexual... maybe I want to kill my father and my mother.. wait that's not right either.

Maybe you are jealous of your fathers dick and dont want to admit it, so you detest him .

Ok, bad joke, sorry. But if I remember correctly Frued did have a theory that women where jealous of men for having something they lack: a dick.

 

[Drolefille]

Maybe you are jealous of your fathers dick and dont want to admit it, so you detest him .

Ok, bad joke, sorry. But if I remember correctly Frued did have a theory that women where jealous of men for having something they lack: a dick.

Yep, penis envy. As I said, I dislike Freud. I guess he tried, but he wasn't really being scientific.

Well, considering that you're female you might also want to consider that your head, being a phallic symbol, is graced with long hair - a seminal symbol. So really your pansexuality might be interpreted as your desire for both male and female genitalia, though especially male.

Or if you have short hair or no hair then you exist in denial of your pansexuality and might actually suffer from schizophrenia. Afterall, you don't really enjoy men, which is why you cut your hair - to symbolize cutting off a seminal flow.

Or any number of other serious disorders there.

It's probably good old fashioned hysteria.

 

[Sayi Nazir]

Yep, penis envy. As I said, I dislike Freud. I guess he tried, but he wasn't really being scientific.


It's probably good old fashioned hysteria.

Nothing some good ol' electroshock can't fix.

 

[Kerr]

Yep, penis envy. As I said, I dislike Freud. I guess he tried, but he wasn't really being scientific.

He had some really, really odd theories, lol.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't believe in sex without marriage and definitely sex without at least love. It is immoral (in my view). But I can't understand why it is illegal- there are a lot of things people consider immoral that are legal. At the same time, it can be risky, even dangerous, what with STDs and AIDS.