I posted it before and I'll post it, again, since you either didn't read it the first time or didn't get it. I'll even abbreviate so it's not hard to understand: Marilyn Chambers died alone in a trailer after 3 failed marriages and a history of drug and alcohol abuse. I don't think the sex industry f's people up, per se - I think f'ed up people go into it. Betty Page- the ultimate pinup icon - was molested by her dad at 13. Then in and out of mental asylums for years. If this is who we consider a sex kitten, then I'm afraid for the women trying to live down to that standard.

Marilyn "fainted at the end of one scene lasting over 45 minutes" during the making of the Green Door. Sounds sexy! "She was noted for her enthusiastic performances of . . extreme bukkake, and double or triple penetration scenes." She had three failed marriages and 0 successful ones, and "admitted to writer John Hubner and other interviewers that she battled drug and alcohol addiction." Then she died alone in a trailer. Let's definitely sanitize all that and celebrate her as a role model and trail blazer in feminist blogs because we're not hung up about things like emotionally f-ed up people on drugs taking money to get banged until they pass out so we can jack off. (all quotes from her wikipedia page)

Big sexist douchebag makes large women invisible in his clothing line as well as his ads and you think this is feminist news?!?!? Pshaw.

In Am Aps defense, it would be difficult to find models with the trademark quality of "cracked out and/or on heroin" who are ALSO curvy enough to model a plus size ladies line . . .

That was a very comprehensible comment.

Obama and Clinton are both being very classy, which is nice after that primary. I would LOVE to see all of the supporters from each camp live up to their examples.

That's why sweatshops are illegal in the U.S. But if you're going to enable exploitation, why not do it across the board, right? Let's legalize prostitution and sweatshops, 'cuz as achilleselbow says, "work is work" and if somebody is willing, for whatever reason, to expose themselves to HIV and violence (for a 'boyfriend,' pimp, or drug habit) or work a 20 hour day with no breaks in a badly ventilated building, then we should let them, right? If there's demand then there should be supply. Viva capitalism!

"a connection between sex/fertility and death is made in many mythologies from the most ancient past down to the present time"

http://www.deathreference.com/Gi-Ho/Gods-and-Goddesses-of-Life-and-Death.html

As the literal translation of the French phrase meaning orgasm - "La Petite Morte" - "little death" illustrates, there's a primal connection in the human psyche between sex and death. I think vampires fit in to that, somehow.

http://www.urbandictionary.comdefine.php?term=La%20Petite%20Morte

Did you forget which thread you were on? The dating post is one down.

You can talk about the definition of prostitution all day long, but the REALITY is a lot messier.

As far as licensing, what do you do if a drug addicted or coerced person applies for a license? Or, for that matter, if they don't - then you're back to that person breaking the law and what to do about it.

is that you get an opportunity to cool your heels and maybe even clear your head long enough to reassess what the hell it is you're doing. Rehabilitation in lieu of incarceration is a great opportunity for people with chemical dependency who get picked up for various things like theft or prostitution. Legalizing prostitution sounds to me like a well-intentioned way of saying "go ahead and self-destruct, we won't try to stop you or slow you down."

The 'crime' many johns are committing is self-centered apathy to the human misery they are often party to.

"a sex worker isn't trafficked, coerced, under a pimp's control or selling her body to pay her drug dealer," then maybe you should keep it in your pants. Unless you think getting off is more important than the welfare of another human being.

I 100% guarantee you that the majority of prostitutes are too busy trying getting the cash and getting a fix to "vet" potential johns. The whole 'not enough time to vet' argument is a red herring.

that's a whole lot of Guido. Maybe tooo much.

"sexual harassment, porn, and objectification," Dick what the hell kind of dates are you going on? I think I see the obstacle your running into, right here.

http://dlisted.com/node/29364

Dick, was that you?

Seriously, though, SOME men have higher sex drives than some women - and yet many, many men are able to get along quite well with women and in society without copping huge resentments about not having access to willing sex partners 24/7. Why? 'Cuz a mature adult is one who has learned that he or she isn't going to get what they want 24/7, accepts that fact, and goes on about their life without a huge chip on their shoulder about it.

http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2008/11/the-cult-of-dou.html

"Hedgie" are you in this lineup?? Fess up! You know that post about Valtrex was aimed at you - you should respond to the word Valtrex like it's your name. Your pick up line should be "hey, baby, I make lots of money, so my Valtrex prescription is always filled. Wanna f**k?"

Meaningless sex - whatever. We all mature at different rates. But the whole, "I make money so I can bang hot chicks, screw their personalities" thing is REALLY, well, unattractive.

One of the oldies on that panel, Katha Pollitt, supported Obama in the primary. And one of the loudest young feminists, over at Pandagon, supported Edwards. But please don't let me get in the way of your generational resentment.