Objections to the Sex Trade

**Hax** · 09-05-2012, 23:58

As much as I might disagree with the idea of exploitation of women in the Philippines, I know enough to say that I don't know enough about that particular country in order to make a well-educated assessment of the situation there. That being said, I think that I can trust enough in MRD's own judgement concerning these women and that they are indeed not forced to prostitution because of their abhorrent living standards or economic situation. Or something like that.

What I do want to say is that I think that Vuk (and to a lesser degree,Kadavar) is thinking within the context of this trope that often applies to South Asian urban environments. Call it the "Bangkok stereotype": every (poor) woman is a prostitute; every child is a child prostitute. I'm not saying that you're thinking this, but I think you're definitely being influenced by this notion. Tropes such as these return basically every time when we're talking about whatever: Asian girls are prostitutes; Arabs are terrorists; the Japanese are perverted; Americans are ignorant, etc, etc.

In this context, you're not doing these women any favour. By assuming that they're being forced into prostitution, you're kind of denying their own choice in this. Regardless of your opinion on the morality and/or objectionalities of prostitution, when you say just about anything about this, you're actually treading on very thin ice.

**Kadagar_AV** · 09-06-2012, 00:08

Originally Posted by Hax

As much as I might disagree with the idea of exploitation of women in the Philippines, I know enough to say that I don't know enough about that particular country in order to make a well-educated assessment of the situation there. That being said, I think that I can trust enough in MRD's own judgement concerning these women and that they are indeed not forced to prostitution because of their abhorrent living standards or economic situation. Or something like that.

What I do want to say is that I think that Vuk (and to a lesser degree,Kadavar) is thinking within the context of this trope that often applies to South Asian urban environments. Call it the "Bangkok stereotype": every (poor) woman is a prostitute; every child is a child prostitute. I'm not saying that you're thinking this, but I think you're definitely being influenced by this notion. Tropes such as these return basically every time when we're talking about whatever: Asian girls are prostitutes; Arabs are terrorists; the Japanese are perverted; Americans are ignorant, etc, etc.

In this context, you're not doing these women any favour. By assuming that they're being forced into prostitution, you're kind of denying their own choice in this. Regardless of your opinion on the morality and/or objectionalities of prostitution, when you say just about anything about this, you're actually treading on very thin ice.

I haven't even bought a girl a single drink since the early 90's, before bedding her... Low self esteem is probably what set of my wilder days, so in any way using anything more than myself to get bedded seemed counter productive I guess.

I have absolutely NO idea of how it is in the PI, but the women I've met from all over the world would by and large much prefer to have their own economy and a loving partner, than an economic partner for the night.

With that said, Hax, I have been paid for sex... Didn't know that, now did you :p

So I for one know that it doesn't have to be all bad.

**Hax** · 09-06-2012, 00:12

I have absolutely NO idea of how it is in the PI, but the women I've met from all over the world would by and large much prefer to have their own economy and a loving partner, than an economic partner for the night.

Maybe. Maybe not. I think I agree with that.

The only thing I'm trying to say here is that we shouldn't work with assumptions based on stereotypical views of something.

**Kadagar_AV** · 09-06-2012, 00:15

Originally Posted by Hax

Maybe. Maybe not. I think I agree with that.

The only thing I'm trying to say here is that we shouldn't work with assumptions based on stereotypical views of something.

Do you REALLY consider my views stereotypical? Heck, I just said I had got paid for sex.

**Major Robert Dump** · 09-06-2012, 00:31

Originally Posted by Kadagar_AV

I haven't even bought a girl a single drink since the early 90's, before bedding her... Low self esteem is probably what set of my wilder days, so in any way using anything more than myself to get bedded seemed counter productive I guess.

I have absolutely NO idea of how it is in the PI, but the women I've met from all over the world would by and large much prefer to have their own economy and a loving partner, than an economic partner for the night.

With that said, Hax, I have been paid for sex... Didn't know that, now did you :p

So I for one know that it doesn't have to be all bad.

I NEED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE WOMAN WHO PAID YOU FOR SEX RIGHT NOW SO I CAN ARREST HER AND JAIL HER BECAUSE YOU WERE EXPOLITED OMGUS

**Major Robert Dump** · 09-06-2012, 00:35

Greyblades
I should have also mentioned that the Korean bars NEVER get raided

@everyone
I made an unintentional pun when I said taking off the gloves right after I mentioned the boxing thread, please do not start on that road again

**Kadagar_AV** · 09-06-2012, 00:54

Might as well share...

one of my first years as ski instructor, a private guest I had at the ski school booked me for the week.

She was the typical American trophy wife, originally from the Neatherlands. late 30's-early 40's... Well kept body, surgically perfected body...

last day, she asked me if I could "escort" her in the evening, as she was seeing some friends at the Casino. Bear in mind, that back then what English I knew I had by and large learnt in school, so naive as I was, I took the word at face value.

And really, what gentleman would NOT offer to escort a lady asking him to?

I dressed up, took her out, and we met up with her friends. I played the charming ski instructor, they played roulette. I much later walked her to her room, came with her in... And we played scrabble all night.

I woke up alone in the hotel room, with a substantial amount of money laying on my jacket as I headed out. I never saw her again. In all fairness though, some of it must have been tip for the week as her instructor. I can't have been THAT good in bed back then.

I told some of the older instructors about it, and they laughed like crazy... I was then the butt of many a joke in the ski school over the next weeks, and I won the "best outfit" at the annual Pimps and Prostitutes party just stumbling in there with my ski instructor dress, not knowing the party was on. Won me a bottle actually.

Can't say I was scarred by it.

**PanzerJaeger** · 09-06-2012, 01:28

Sex work is no different than factory work or farm work. As long as these women were not coerced, moralistic objections are unwarranted.

**Strike For The South** · 09-06-2012, 05:16

Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

Sex work is no different than factory work or farm work. As long as these women were not coerced, moralistic objections are unwarranted.

False

Sex, like kissing, is one of the few intimate by which humanity can truly express itself.

I consider its comodification a net loss

Not that anyone of us can or should stop it

**Major Robert Dump** · 09-06-2012, 05:53

Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

Sex work is no different than factory work or farm work. As long as these women were not coerced, moralistic objections are unwarranted.

And more of those jobs would still be in America if people had listened to Ross Perot.

I am considering starting a "Keep Scrabble American" movement.

Don't blame me for going to the Philippines. I am but a pawn in a global economy

**Greyblades** · 09-06-2012, 01:57

Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

Greyblades
I should have also mentioned that the Korean bars NEVER get raided

If you'll excuse my slightly prejudiced comment;
Its probably not a good sign that the only thing in korea that's capable of not acting like a petulant child in comparison to the rest of the world, is it's mafia.

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 09-06-2012, 03:16

Vuk I agree with you in theory, but you have the wrong target here. It's like going into a criticism of drug dealing, but making your target someone who only sells weed. There are sleazier guys in every bar in america. The "so what, I'm a man, men have done this for thousands of years, what is natural is good and it's fun anyway" stuff is mainstream secular thought, save the criticism for those who don't soften it with compassion and decency.

Also there's no point in arguing about peoples porn/video game/drug/whatever habits on the internet, it takes on a whole "teenager vs parent" dynamic pretty quickly. And you'll always lose because all they have to say is "you aren't my dad" and they have you dead to rights.