Thursday, June 02, 2005
Buy Sex in Oakland and...
...get your portrait on a billboard!
What a deal! Same price and you get some fame thrown in with that nookie!
This is serious, though. City and police officials want to "crack down" on prostitution in Oakland's Fruitvale district. And their new strategy is to "shame" the john's by posting slightly blurred 5' images of their faces along roadways.
Tonight's news showed the first billboard that went up, but I am fasinated to see that I wasn't able to find any images of the billboard on-line. Perhaps this is a quiet way the on-line media is saying they don't approve - or minimally won't participate.
Personally, I am in favor of legalizing prostitution. The news said they were "cracking down" because of child prostitutes. Well, legalize prostitution and you can monitor things better to ensure children aren't being forced into it, right?
I know that not everyone will agree with me, I suppose. But I really just don't get it? What is the hang-up?
In any case, what do you think? Will these billboards make a difference? I am open to hearing other opinions, even if you don't agree with me. ;-)
What a deal! Same price and you get some fame thrown in with that nookie!
This is serious, though. City and police officials want to "crack down" on prostitution in Oakland's Fruitvale district. And their new strategy is to "shame" the john's by posting slightly blurred 5' images of their faces along roadways.
Tonight's news showed the first billboard that went up, but I am fasinated to see that I wasn't able to find any images of the billboard on-line. Perhaps this is a quiet way the on-line media is saying they don't approve - or minimally won't participate.
Personally, I am in favor of legalizing prostitution. The news said they were "cracking down" because of child prostitutes. Well, legalize prostitution and you can monitor things better to ensure children aren't being forced into it, right?
I know that not everyone will agree with me, I suppose. But I really just don't get it? What is the hang-up?
In any case, what do you think? Will these billboards make a difference? I am open to hearing other opinions, even if you don't agree with me. ;-)
Comments:
shaming only gets you so far. they'll be up to their "tricks" in no time when the novelty fades. politicians have to address the root of the problem. prostitutes and the people who patronize are not that root.
I don't think it will work. These guys already know they face arrest, fines, jail, etc, and do it anyways. I think embarrassment is beyond them.
I do think it should be legalized so it can be properly monitored. It's happening, it's not going anywhere, so we may as well make it as safe as possible.
I do think it should be legalized so it can be properly monitored. It's happening, it's not going anywhere, so we may as well make it as safe as possible.
the flea - Do you think it's possible to create a system of legalized prostitution where no one would be abused like the woman in your story?
Jax - That seems to be the crux of the argument between conservatives and liberals. Choice vs. mandated morals. I hope freedom wins, as that is the very concept our country was founded upon.
JennyNYC - Excellent question. Yes, if these men are married, their wives may not be too happy about seeing their faces on a billboard. And their employers may have some thoughts about it, too.
Jax - Perhaps it was the power of suggestion as my blog is called "Pandora's Box." ;-)
Jay - I agree. I would hope that monitoring would improve safety for the women who do this work.
Jax - That seems to be the crux of the argument between conservatives and liberals. Choice vs. mandated morals. I hope freedom wins, as that is the very concept our country was founded upon.
JennyNYC - Excellent question. Yes, if these men are married, their wives may not be too happy about seeing their faces on a billboard. And their employers may have some thoughts about it, too.
Jax - Perhaps it was the power of suggestion as my blog is called "Pandora's Box." ;-)
Jay - I agree. I would hope that monitoring would improve safety for the women who do this work.
Personally, I am with you too. I don't think that putting up the faces of the ones that "get caught" will make a difference in the great scheme of things.
The men that use these services are going to seek them out in one way or another, and this does not seem like much of a deterrent.
I agree with the Flea about brothels, I have read about the ones in Nevada and that they have strict regulations about checking for STDs etc.
By the way, great post for discussion!
The men that use these services are going to seek them out in one way or another, and this does not seem like much of a deterrent.
I agree with the Flea about brothels, I have read about the ones in Nevada and that they have strict regulations about checking for STDs etc.
By the way, great post for discussion!
All those billboards do is show us who the really stupid people are. They have little to no real effect on the trade. The girls simply walk over to a different neighborhood and the smart johns follow.
Looking to vegas as an example of legalized prostitution is stupid. Vegas is so out of whack with reality you can't compare it to anything else. Sex there, like everything else, is about a few people being able to control all the money. Period.
Check Toronto. Check Amsterdam. There are plenty of places where legalized prostitution is done much better.
Does it solve ALL the problems? No, nothing ever will, but it's a helluva lot better than where we're at now.
-G
Looking to vegas as an example of legalized prostitution is stupid. Vegas is so out of whack with reality you can't compare it to anything else. Sex there, like everything else, is about a few people being able to control all the money. Period.
Check Toronto. Check Amsterdam. There are plenty of places where legalized prostitution is done much better.
Does it solve ALL the problems? No, nothing ever will, but it's a helluva lot better than where we're at now.
-G
What?? You mean I've been working illegally all this time?? No wonder the IRS didn't give me any money back. Damn suckers.
btw, thanks for stopping by my site.
btw, thanks for stopping by my site.
I think it should be leaglised, for safty of the women and of the people who use thier services... ALTHOUGH there should be some sort of blessing/curses for it. Like frequent screwer miles or like a letter in the mail that documents all thier 'purchases'.
it's the oldest profession in the world.
but, children as prostitues is just wrong. i'd crack down on that if i could.
but, children as prostitues is just wrong. i'd crack down on that if i could.
Johnny Crash - I don't know if you're familiar with Pat Califia's book Macho Slut. I definitely think of myself as a feminist and I'm all for women's rights and equality. The intro to that book, however, made me rethink prostitution. I've already written a post quoting it:
Neel Sen - Glad you agree! ;-)
Garrison - Thanks for the expose on Las Vegas. To be honest, I didn't even know prostitution was legal there nor in Toronto.
Cedia - LOL. Hysterical! Though, I hadn't thought of that - legalizing prostitution would mean the women who do it would have to pay taxes. Hmmm...
FRA - I *love* the idea of the itemized bill in the mail. ;-)
Stella - I couldn't agree more. I'm definitely totally absolutely 100% against child prostitution.
Neel Sen - Glad you agree! ;-)
Garrison - Thanks for the expose on Las Vegas. To be honest, I didn't even know prostitution was legal there nor in Toronto.
Cedia - LOL. Hysterical! Though, I hadn't thought of that - legalizing prostitution would mean the women who do it would have to pay taxes. Hmmm...
FRA - I *love* the idea of the itemized bill in the mail. ;-)
Stella - I couldn't agree more. I'm definitely totally absolutely 100% against child prostitution.
Oops - Sorry, Johnny Crash, I forgot to put in the link to Pat Califia's quote. It's at the end of this post: http://sk8-rn.blogspot.com/2004/12/go-your-own-way.html
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