that complete inability to make distinctions that I was talking about. Hiring a plumber is the same as patronizing a hooker? Puh-leeze. Also, to recategorize all human contact that involves paying money as prostitution means I can't go to my doctor. We all know better than this.

As I said, you can find a few people to defend anything, no matter how perverse. Pedophiles have published materials giving a rationale for their actions, too (and their victims often end up being prostitutes--a shocking number of sex workers, a large majority, were sexually abused as children. The crime of pedophilia is one of the main things that creates prostitutes, which should make the "prostitution defenders" on this thread a little ashamed). Hookers who say prosititution is great are the Uncle Toms of turning tricks. That's all I'm going to say about it. And I bet this magazine is put out by pimps and madames to try to normalize the image of the industry. There's another mag whose name I don't recall and it's put out by a thoroughly evil brothel owner in Nevada. He was profiled very negatively by the New Yorker some years ago (that's why I say he's evil). In other words, it's not exactly disinterested material, is it?

It is wrong to buy the body of another person. Can we all agree on that? The rest is gravy.

As for those who think legalization is the answer, one word...Nevada. Reference film, Leaving Las Vegas.

In Canada prostitutes can place ads in phone books and newspapers as "escorts" so it's basically legal there. Hasn't helped a thing, and they've got a brisk trade going in illegal immigrant girls being funneled into the sex trade. Way to go!

'Nuff said. Criminalize it, but only the johns and janes.

Wrong to buy another person and use their body. Wrong, wrong, wrong. And please don't drag farm workers and maids into it. People do coerce their maids and their secretaries and their farm girls into fucking them with the threat of dismissal, but they shouldn't. See the difference now?

and coercing your maid into sex by holding her job over her head is a crime. I don't see how giving a drug addict $50 and then using her as a c*m rag is any less of a crime.

No legalization.

There are a few things that should be accorded some sanctity and the dignity of the human body is one of them. It's a cliche, but a person is a wonderful, rare thing. Every thinking human on this planet is an incredible miracle. But we don't treasure each other. Look what we do to others. No decency, no respect. It's very discouraging.

I don't know all the answers but I do know a)what prostitution is and b)why it is wrong to buy the services of a prostitute. What I cannot figure out is why so many people on this thread can't figure that out.

You're all too *intelligent* and too invested in moral relativism, which is a great thing up to a point, but only up to a point. A few things really should be absolutes. I don't kill people. That's one (no, please don't start with, "if a madman broke into your house and seized your children..."). I don't torture people or play games with their heads or any other shit (requires some self monitoring on my part to avoid this). And I don't degrade the dignity of their bodies. I'm not a prude, I think the body is beautiful, I love to see nudes, and I think sex between two people can be beautiful under many different circumstances. But prostitution, because of its violation of the dignity of man, is not one of them.

Hope I made my point.

Do you help hookers in their wholesome process of individuation by buying sex with them as often as possible? After all, according to you, it's good for sex abuse victims to work as prostitutes! It leads to healing! And the johns are getting something besides an ego trip. They too, are healing the pain...

If you don't help hookers out by going to them, why don't you? Please elaborate.

Prostitution as therapy for sex abuse victims. Ought to be recommended by counselors, don't you think?

You didn't answer my question. It was a very simple one.

Farley has given us the clue...

It's funny in the flyover states. Although for what reason, I can't imagine. Maybe because rednecks automatically laugh whenever they hear potty words like "merde". For most, that's the extent of their French.

Hey, look, Beau...a chick said the French word for *shit*....ha ha he he ho ho......

that's it, that's who it's for. Larry, Darryl, and Darryl.

While I'm here...KILL THE BAD STRIP

It's BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD. It no redeeming features, not even the word *merde*. NONE

It's still hideous.

I think it's mainly because it has no story. Beni-from-Pakistan-and-the-Cirque-du-Soleil has just been introduced and she's already gone?

Schlomo and Alerto? Gone after a few frames. Not that we mind, but you know--it's ridiculous.

Please kill it. I tried for two days not to look at this, but then, fatally, succumbed. Now my head hurts.

It's just a mishmash, it's not going anywhere or doing anything. Gahhhh---bad.

It must die. Let it have some dignity in passing before the readers demand a public execution.

The only thing I'm waiting for now is some kind of editorial explanation. There needs to be one. Now that will make fascinating reading!