Actually it all seems simple to me. Prostitution is illegal. Craigslist was an obvious meeting place for prostitutes and johns. Therefore, a place to conduct illegal activity.

If there was a section on Craigslist where one could sell and buy heroin, I suspect it would be closed down as well.

I take it you like black & white solutions to complex problems?

So you're saying that prostitutes should just go back to back-alley dealings and getting raped and/or killed in the streets? That's mighty white of you, Sparky.

Serai:

So you're saying that prostitutes should just go back to back-alley dealings and getting raped and/or killed in the streets?

Are you really suggesting that prosecutors NOT prosecute crime? Because that is what you are suggesting here. Craigslist was an obvious meeting place for illegal activity.

It's no different than the police busting a crack house, even though those poor crack addicts will now be forced to score somewhere else.

I think the notion that private prostitution is somehow "a crime" is ludicrous, and needs to be challenged.. Non-exploitative prostitution needs to be decriminalized. To prosecute two consenting adults for a voluntarily and perfectly legal act is repressive on a very fundamental level.

We wouldn't dream of prosecuting married people engaging in adultery.. And adultery is illegal in religious totalitarian societies like Saudi Arabia. Why is an act of voluntarily exchange of sex for money between two consenting adults is a crime?

And yes, private prostitution is legal in nearly all western societies.. (not to be confused with human trafficking, exploitation of minors, etc). We decry and mock Islamist societies.. why do we allow Taliban-like policies in our own society?

Thank you cityrider for not being an idiot.

Do you really believe that there is such a thing as "non-exploitive prostitution?" Have you ever actually met a prostitute? Did she remind you at all of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? With the rarest of exceptions (so rare that I think that they may exist only in movies), prostitutes are sad, sick, pathetic, drug/alcohol addicted, often homeless women who are deserving of our sympathy.

Emmajane:

Do you really believe that there is such a thing as "non-exploitive prostitution?" Have you ever actually met a prostitute? Did she remind you at all of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? With the rarest of exceptions (so rare that I think that they may exist only in movies), prostitutes are sad, sick, pathetic, drug/alcohol addicted, often homeless women who are deserving of our sympathy.

How do you know that?

Emmajane:

Do you really believe that there is such a thing as "non-exploitive prostitution?" Have you ever actually met a prostitute? Did she remind you at all of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? With the rarest of exceptions (so rare that I think that they may exist only in movies), prostitutes are sad, sick, pathetic, drug/alcohol addicted, often homeless women who are deserving of our sympathy.

Assuming you're right, your sympathy consists of throwing them in jail? I'm sorry, but how does making prostitution illegal remedy any of the above problems. As far as I know, it makes all of these problems worse by contributing to a woman's criminal record and making her almost unemployable.

There needs to be some amount of pragmatism and common sense regarding our drug and prostitution laws.

Yes... I've met three. Been pretty good friends with two. I knew the other one for about a year.

They were happy and had a ton of fun and money until they were 35 to 40, then your scenario played out. They were pretty in a normal way- not a julia roberts way-- one wanted to get a breast job to raise her income so she was saving up for that.

I think you are considering street-walkers, not those who are independent operators with their own place.

I met two of them in an odd way-- they played fantasy online games. Lots of free time I guess. The other was through horses.

---

I would separate the drug/alcohol issue-- talking to one of them at length when she was old, and another when she was young, the drugs/alcohol preceded the prostitution. Both told basically the same story-- they were party girls who already did drugs and alchohol and one day a guy offered them a ton of money to have sex with him. Both found it incredibly exciting and had lots of fun stories (being flown to other countries, other cities, incredibly hot sounding parties, lots of sexual experimentation).

The young one was in her late 20's and she was a decade away from problems at least. Her main problem was a stalker ex military ex husband.

Not everyone likes being a safe middle class person. A lot of them have child abuse issues- but some just want the fun and the money. With craigslist and other "safe" places (like the legal brothels in Las Vegas) I think you get ladies with fewer mental issues that just want the money and enjoy the lifestyle. Private porn stars basically.

Emmajane:

Do you really believe that there is such a thing as "non-exploitive prostitution?" Have you ever actually met a prostitute? Did she remind you at all of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? With the rarest of exceptions (so rare that I think that they may exist only in movies), prostitutes are sad, sick, pathetic, drug/alcohol addicted, often homeless women who are deserving of our sympathy.

i have met prostitutes, and the common themes are abuse, exploitation and substance abuse, often accompanied by crippling emotional and/or psychological problems with a big dose of mental illness thrown in. you are absolutely right, and no one will want to hear it. most prostitutes who are in jail are not there for being prostitutes, but for drug charges or assault or theft.

Well actually Emmajane, I have met many prostitutes and your characterization of all of them as pathetic and drug addicted reflects your class bias towards women who use their bodies to make a living. Yes there are some prostitutes, a minority, who are drug addicted but the good ones are well adjusted people persons who can make more money in an hour than they can working at Walmart for a week. As far as character is concerned. I have in my career interacted with hundreds of lawyers, dozens of investment bankers and CEOs and I would say in general prostitutes are much nicer and certainly more honest. i would rather sleep with a hooker any day than a lawyer.

Let me ask you

Have you ever met a prostitute?

yes, nothing says well adjusted like anesthetisizing oneself with cocaine in order to be able to perform one's job without vomiting or crying.

Dux,

I have a very good friend that works for a small company.

She and two others on the staff basically spend the entire day upset and go home crying. And these are professional jobs which require a college degree. Until the job market improves they just have to take it.

Lots of jobs are horrible, miserable, or even greatly shorten lifespan (alaskan fishing- coal miners).

so, what is your point?