Call to decriminalise prostitution in Ireland

[feargach]

and our state also takes away the chosen livelihood of drug pushers, unlicensed distillers, slave traders, cannibal chefs etc etc etc

drug pushers: actually the state protects alcohol and tobacco pushers by attacking their rivals who sell less lethal products.

unlicensed distillers just need to get a license. You do not allow for licenced prostitution except in the form of marital vows.

slave traders are kidnappers, where consent is not respected so irrelevant, ditto cannibals who are simply murderers.

[myk]

how is consensual sex damaging?

you don't think consensual sex can every be damaging?

[feargach]

we restrict the rights of people all the time with our laws. each issue should be judged on its own merits. this attempt to link unrelated issues is obsurd!

So anything the majority wants to ban, gets banned?

When anti-semitism comes back into fashion, the jews have to walk meekly into the ovens, because rights are whatever the majority say they are?

[femmefatale]

femmefatale

I used the term adolescent because you are starting from the position that all prostitutes are forced into prostitution. That is what you prefer to assume but it has no basis in reality.

Good for them. You can get a great cash deal for a new Fiesta these days.

Got any stats to back that up?

Again, a solution based on false assumptions. Just because YOU would find it demeaning, exploitative and corrosive of your sense of worth does not mean that every other man or woman would feel that way. You are projecting your system of morality on to others.

Given that you appear to be suggesting that prostitutes are all resourceful, self-possessed, accomplished business women, who opt to prostitute themselves totally willingly and contentedly, I would ask you to provide proof for your claims.

[feargach]

Given that you appear to be suggesting that prostitutes are all resourceful, self-possessed, accomplished business women, who opt to prostitute themselves totally willingly and contentedly, I would ask you to provide proof for your claims.

If there is only ONE woman out of 3 billion on Earth who is a resourceful, self-possessed, accomplished business woman, do you have the right to dictate her business?

Yes or no?

[iartaoiseach]

you don't think consensual sex can every be damaging?

not if both people are consenting no I don't. maybe the odd s&m role play can get out of control and I am aware of the new illness of sex addiction and also unwanted pregnancy. but please tell me how you think it is damaging in other ways.

[myk]

And then the law would magically consider them unfree? The law says everybody sane is free until they go insane or die. There's no slavery exception, and I can't see how one could be justified.

Freedom is a gift and a burden which lasts for life, and you can't get rid of while alive.

Even slaves were never actually slaves, as the thoughts in their heads were not, and could not be, owned or controlled by the master. Everyone, regardless of whatever insane laws are in fashion at the present, owns himself forever.

Nice way of completely avoiding the point. So you are saying that someone should not be able to enter into a contract where they agree to follow someone instructions for the rest of their natural lives. Fine I agree, but to use your rhetoric "why should you interfere" "it is a consensual contract between two people"

[femmefatale]

Why should women be deprived of their rights? Who gives you the right to interfere in a woman's life?

Once you accept that we can interefere in one area, how can you pretend that other areas are off-limits? Will it be gays next? People who don't watch TV?

Where's my copy of the European Convention on Human Rights?? I'm sure there's an article on the human right to prostitute oneself for the gratification of some and the enrichment of others!

[myk]

drug pushers: actually the state protects alcohol and tobacco pushers by attacking their rivals who sell less lethal products.

slave traders are kidnappers, where consent is not respected so irrelevant, ditto cannibals who are simply murderers.

so I assume from the above that you are in favour of legalising hard drugs?

as for the second point people could consent to slavery and cannibalism and this has happened in the past.

[feargach]

Nice way of completely avoiding the point. So you are saying that someone should not be able to enter into a contract where they agree to follow someone instructions for the rest of their natural lives. Fine I agree, but to use your rhetoric "why should you interfere" "it is a consensual contract between two people"

Exactly, we can't interfere.

Right now, in some sex club somewhere, some bloke wearing suspenders is "selling himself" into slavery to someone else. It's none of my business, it's none of yours. If either of us wants to interfere, we are busybodies and must be stopped.