There certainly were extraordinary resources used by the feds to nail Spitzer. It has been reported that they even staked him out at one point to try and catch him red-handed:

http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_8542727

Part of me wishes that Spitzer would have fought this one out. I certainly think there is an untold scandal behind the scandal which would be discovered if Spitzer would fight it out. Hell, it's been reported that his own wife wanted him to fight it out.

Perhaps you think you bold heading was funny, coming, as it did, at the top of a new page, evoking the misogynistic 'comic' stylings of the disgusting woman-hating man, Chase, and at a time when a reader might still be pondering your unholy threat to ‘stop playing nice.’ But, knowest thou this, frequenter of prostitutes and hater of women! Tina hath no humor! She hath only glorious rightness! Heed my words and despair! Soon advances in cloning will render our pathetic sex obsolete and then there will be only Tina and the Great Rightness!

Tina you ignorant slut

I know you were doing parody here. The old Point/Counterpoint SNL skit with Ackroyd and Curtin, but it probably isn't good timing for that kind of comedy.

:-)

She accused me of pimping out my granddaughters..

Why don't you call *her* on that, eh?

I didn't catch that. If she really said that, obviously that's out-of-bounds too, but I only noticed your comment.

I certainly can't do anything about it - I'm just asking you to please not stoop down to that level, even if you're provoked. It's not good for anybody, including yourself.

OK? I really, really gotta get to bed now.

Actually I was channeling Dan Aykroyd..

"Jane, you ignorant slut"..

Thanks, Mona, same to you.

And thanks Tina, for at least giving a nod to the "straw man"

Why would I answer a question that has been dealt with 200 posts ago and is an obvious straw man? Of course male sex workers can be demeaned and abused, and usually are by the time they resort to sex work. In fact, their cases may be more compelling because they are men, have to be tough, suck it up, are less likely to seek help. Ever read James Baldwin?

I may oversimplify here, but I think it just comes down to the GG's pet peeve of "keeping your nose out of other people's business" and your belief that there is another, better way. You may both be right.

But in Tina's (and her defenders) statements I still see the desire to "protect" the fairer sex. Where does this belief come from?

A group of friends recently saw the movie Rambling Rose and we had a discussion about the scene between Rose and Brother (for those that don't know, Rose is the adult and Brother is a 13 YO boy and he masturbates Rose to orgasm, but clearly Brother is the driving force behind the encounter). So, most of my friends thought that Rose did nothing wrong (ok, so I may have some perverted friends). But then I brought up: what if Rose was a shy, awkward man and Brother was a 13 YO girl? (and believe me there are many 13 YO girls just like brother) Almost everyone was quick to denounce this as "sick" and "well, the man should have known better". Truly amazing.

Prostitutes can be offered help to get out of that self-abusing lifestyle, but they cannot be compelled to take it any more than depressives can be compelled to take their meds.

If offered welfare payments equal to prostitution earnings, prostitutes would take the money and quit selling sex. You think?

Tina *asked* me to do it..

She's been trying to needle me since the last thread.

I'm not angry, amused actually.

She also accused every single man that didn't think prostitution should be illegal of just wanting cheaper and more convenient services as a "john"..

That would include you, if you're male..

Tina has been thoroughly unpleasant to anyone who disagrees with her..

I work in Newport Beach, CA. Trust me, there are sharks of both sexes operating there that are looking for any way they can to get money from the people that have a ton of it. They sell investment opportunities, fractional ownership in planes, sex, you name it. I'm good at spotting them, they're ususally the best dressed, the best groomed and drive the nicest cars.

They may not have the money that they people they are targeting do, but by no means should you assume that they are all victims of the old rich guy sitting at the bar minding his own business.

I don't feel sorry for the chump old guy, when 3 twenty something beautiful girls are all fawning over him and he thinks it's his charm. But I'm not worried about the delicate little girls in this case either and how they might be seen as objects and not be valued for their true potential.

-- AnnieW

A critical look at our entire cultural milieu, (not very pretty is it?) would be in order. Moralistis and paternal or maternal handwringing over the syptom of prostituion is a distraction and diversion from the underlying maladies.

I don't know how to break this to a lot of people - but the "weaker/fairer" sex (or a subservient bottom) really is the one in control.

That's why a lot of men go to high priced Escort Services. They need a certain itch scratched and their wife would call a priest and a cop if she was asked to do it.

If offered welfare payments equal to prostitution earnings, prostitutes would take the money and quit selling sex. You think?

Two points..

One: That is not going to happen in the capitalist utopia we inhabit.. Period.

Two: Do you not see the immense potential for abuse of such a system?

You said: Either humans are responsible for their own behavior or they aren't.

What do you think has more power over the behavior humans "choose," nature or nurture?