Author Topic: On the subject of prostitution  (Read 26348 times)

Offline x-man

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #20 on: September 27, 2013, 08:18:03 am »
This morning I visited the site of The Great Joshua Tree Battle of 26 September 2013.  I see that through judicious editing and deletion virtually nothing but wreckage remains.  The thread makes little sense now, and I think this a loss--primarily of the in-context testimony by several BetterMostians that people WILL speak out against ugly, hurtful stereotyping when they see it.  I thank you all.  I know that many of you have long since given up on the fight here in BetterMost against a radical, right-wing minority.  After the events of yesterday, I am not sure anymore if I would challenge this feeling of tiredness.  I am lucky to live in my part of the world; we don't have much of that sort of thing here.  It is one of our blessings.  I salute you BetterMostians who manage to keep an optimistic face in spite of it all.
Happiness is the lasting pleasure of the mind grasping the intelligible order of reality.      --Leibniz

Offline milomorris

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #21 on: September 27, 2013, 09:44:54 am »
This morning I visited the site of The Great Joshua Tree Battle of 26 September 2013.  I see that through judicious editing and deletion virtually nothing but wreckage remains.  The thread makes little sense now, and I think this a loss--primarily of the in-context testimony by several BetterMostians that people WILL speak out against ugly, hurtful stereotyping when they see it.  I thank you all.  I know that many of you have long since given up on the fight here in BetterMost against a radical, right-wing minority.  After the events of yesterday, I am not sure anymore if I would challenge this feeling of tiredness.  I am lucky to live in my part of the world; we don't have much of that sort of thing here.  It is one of our blessings.  I salute you BetterMostians who manage to keep an optimistic face in spite of it all.

...And the insults keep flying. You don't seem to understand that characterizing me as "ugly," "hurtful," etc. constitute direct personal attacks. You are not allowed to impose your leftist group-think on me, or anyone else here at Bettermost with this kind of pressure and harassment. This has to stop.
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Offline Mandy21

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #22 on: September 27, 2013, 11:38:49 am »
I think all prostitutes are scum. Being proud of it is even more reprehensible. I'm hoping that this particular angle to James Dean's story is just rumor.

FWIW, this dialogue / exchange of thoughts originally occurred almost two years ago.  The last point being made, in answer to my question for further explanation, was that of Milo expressing his opinion, which he and all of us have a right to do as long as we keep it respectful of other BetterMostians.  I did not, and do not agree, with his statement, BUT the only personal experience I have with prostitutes is seeing a couple on the streets of St. Louis a few times as I passed by in the car.  The rest of my education regarding prostitution has come only from the big and small screen and books, which could be entirely fiction for all I know.  I let Milo's statement stand because it was one based on personal experience, one or more of which must have been very traumatic in order for him to feel this way.  It was none of my business to ask for further explanation or get into an argument.  He is entitled to his opinion based on his real-life experiences.  That's what I believe anyway.

I also believe it is the unfortunate task of the moderators here to use their learned judgment to keep things respectful between us.  This is not the place to go to call people by hurtful, judgmental names.  Lee was perfectly within her purview to delete judiciously so that as few people as possible get offended or insulted by disrespectful behavior.

Having said that, X-Man is new to our group and is getting adjusted and learning the particular styles of the individuals who contribute regularly to these threads.  I appreciate his passion and his fresh thoughts and his articulate, educated, experienced opinions.  X-Man, you should know these are all highly intelligent and passionate people, who will argue and defend their case most convincingly.  The trick is to listen to ALL sides, and to add your respectful opinion when the spirit moves you.

Just wanted to get that off my chest as it seems it was my questioning years ago that started this controversy.  Hope it ends civilly.
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Offline Front-Ranger

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #23 on: September 27, 2013, 04:05:18 pm »
Thanks for your thoughts, Mandy.

If this is agreeable to everyone, I would like to reinstate the deleted posts in their own separate thread called "On the Subject of Prostitution" in the Anything Goes section, which is also moderated by Roland. If there are any other posts in this thread that you would like moved over to the new thread, just let me know.

Gil, I very much appreciate you editing the personal attack out of your thread and I will put it in with the others.

Just a reminder, let's talk about ideas and not attack people or groups, or call people or groups names. Thank you.

Later: Okay, the new topic is located here: http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,50885.0.html
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Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #24 on: September 27, 2013, 04:38:11 pm »
I haven't thought about prostitution since the film Slumdog Millionnaire came out, but it's something that we should be thinking about.

My first thought is that prostitution is a poor way to take care of humanity's sexual needs. I mean, Jack had a rather sad look on his face when he went to El Paso and met up with a prostitute there (even though he was an award winning and brilliant cinematographer!). Prostitution robs children of their childhoods and innocence. Prostitution spreads disease and exploits poor people and vulnerable people. There ought to be a better way for poor and untrained people to make a living but sometimes there isn't.

So, I feel about prostitution somewhat the same way as I feel about soldiers. I despise what they do, but I have respect for the individuals who do it. And there is a tinge of "there but for fortune, go I" also.

Later: I agree with milo that there are very few similarities between homosexuality and prostitution. One thing that is somewhat of a similarity is the matter of choice. People don't choose to be homosexual or heterosexual or bisexual. In the same way, people don't choose to be prostitutes. Very few, anyway.
« Last Edit: September 27, 2013, 06:42:06 pm by Front-Ranger »
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Offline x-man

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #25 on: September 27, 2013, 07:28:15 pm »
At this point I don't know if I will contribute anything to the new thread because I am so tired and disappointed in how the Battle of Joshua Tree turned out.  I do, however, applaud your wanting to do something.  It is in this spirit that I suggest you add to the postings you have moved all the others, beginning with Milo's initial posting where he says that he believes all prostitutes are scum.  It is only in this larger context that the postings you have selected make sense.
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Offline milomorris

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #26 on: September 27, 2013, 07:40:26 pm »
I am all in favor of re-posting the deleted content along with the rest of the posts of the last couple of days. It will serve as a public record of what happened here, and who said what to whom. That will serve as a reference point just in case there is any meshugenah about this in the future.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

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Offline x-man

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #27 on: September 28, 2013, 05:44:31 am »

If this is agreeable to everyone, I would like to reinstate the deleted posts in their own separate thread called "On the Subject of Prostitution" in the Anything Goes section, which is also moderated by Roland. If there are any other posts in this thread that you would like moved over to the new thread, just let me know.

Do you accept Milo's and my suggestion that everything pertaining to the Battle be moved, and kept in its original sequence?  If so, perhaps it might be wise to act quickly, lest new postings be added in the meantime to what is now at the new site and confuse the situation.
Happiness is the lasting pleasure of the mind grasping the intelligible order of reality.      --Leibniz

Offline milomorris

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #28 on: September 28, 2013, 07:33:58 am »
I don't give a shit either but at least I don't call a whole segment of society "scum" based on a stereotype.

My perspective is not based on any stereotype, but rather on my personal experiences with prostitution. Some people think that people turn to prostitution out of desperation, dysfunctional backgrounds, etc. While this is certainly true for some whores, it is not the case for many others. And even those that come out of an "at-risk" population have other choices available to them.

I went to college with a guy who decided to become an "escort" because it offered him 2 things: better access to drugs, and easy, willing sex partners. He was from what most people would call a stable family in a desirable ZIP code in the Princeton area.

I also knew a young woman who grew up in a trailer park in Nebraska where her parents were never formally divorced, but lived apart due to her mother's alcoholism. Because her father worked so many hours, she basically raised her 3 younger siblings. There was nobody in her family to help her pay for college, so she turned to prostitution in order to get an education. She stole from me. She tried to block me from getting cast in a show (which didn't work). And she ended up knocking on my door in the wee hours one morning begging for money to pay her pimp because she had used her trick money for drugs. Like a fool, I took pity on her and gave her the cash she needed because I didn't want her to get beat up by her pimp.

These are just 2 of many examples of how life has taught me how bad prostitution can be. "Scum" might be an offensive word to some people here at Bettermost, but it is the word that most accurately mirrors and expresses what I have experienced relative to this business practice.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2013, 09:56:16 am by milomorris »
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline Front-Ranger

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On the subject of prostitution
« Reply #29 on: September 28, 2013, 09:27:35 am »
Do you accept Milo's and my suggestion that everything pertaining to the Battle be moved, and kept in its original sequence?  If so, perhaps it might be wise to act quickly, lest new postings be added in the meantime to what is now at the new site and confuse the situation.

Yes, I am starting to take care of that now.

Later: move complete. Let me know of any further questions or requests. Thank you.
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