The Philosophy and Morals of Paying for Sex

[EscortInspector]

Paying for services is an integral part of modern societies. If my home needs to be rewired then I employ an electrician to do the job, so long as the electrician does a satisfactory job and I pay him the agreed fee then there doesn't seem to be any ethical or moral issue with the contract. The same cannot be said for sex work and this is an issue I would like the community to explore through discussion.
What is it about paying for sex that makes it different from any other service?
What makes an action right or wrong? Is it the outcome? Or are some things just good or evil?
Is it possible to freely choose to pay for or accept payment for sex?
Just because something is illegal does it also make it immoral?
Is the activity of sex in a different class to other activities such as dancing or football?

Below I will list(not exhaustive) some common objections to sex work, bear in mind that I in no way endorse these objections but I think they would serve as a prompt for discussion:
1. Sex work is part of a suite of services offered by criminal gangs: if you pay for sex then you are supporting criminal activities such as trafficking, violence and the black economy.
2. Sex work is a danger to public health: sex work involves increased risk of diseases, everything from the common cold to HIV.
3. Sex workers are modern slaves: sex workers are trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work, nobody would freely choose to do such a job.
4. People who pay for sex are degenerates: if someone has to pay for sex then there must be something wrong with them, morally, physically or psychologically.
5. It is inappropriate to commodify sex: sex is a byproduct of love, sex is for procreation, sex is with someone you know, sex is sacred, sex is different etc etc.
6. Paying for sex is wrong: it is objectively wrong to pay for sex, it doesn't matter how it makes you feel or if it is a contract freely entered into, some things are right and others wrong.

[FullIrish]

It's not all about the sex for me. It's genuine human connection and intamcy. The sex is a byproduct of that. Although I will say without the sexual aspect it's not as fulfilling. That's just the way I'm wired, and I am guessing that I'm not the only one like that.

It's a basic human need for me and it's a LOT more convinient and much less trouble to enter into a short term agreement with a willing paricipant than it would be to source that need the old fashioned way.

Two consenting adults making a fair transaction where they both gain and can get satisfaction and fullfillment from is a lot more moral than most of the "legal" financial dealings that I have and am involved with. Insurance, tax, property development, investment banking; those industries are where peoples morals get thrown to the wayside.

More families and lives have been destroyed by the massive manipulation of those industries by multinationals, banks and governments than the sex industry ever has.

Sex and intimacy is therapy for me and it keeps me level, without it I'd be a very diffrent person. I think it's difficult to overstate how important the service that escorts provide is to many people is, absolutely an essential service in my book.

If it was legalised the darker aspects of the industry would be greatly reduced. Same with drugs. The arguments for legalisation of both are well known and the research and studies on both are mostly overwhemingly positive.

It's a damn shape that society hasn't evolved yet to accept the fact that both are a part of life and it does FAR more harm to try and suppress than it does to regulate and legalise.

[Mrbean76]

Paying for services is an integral part of modern societies. If my home needs to be rewired then I employ an electrician to do the job, so long as the electrician does a satisfactory job and I pay him the agreed fee then there doesn't seem to be any ethical or moral issue with the contract. The same cannot be said for sex work and this is an issue I would like the community to explore through discussion.
What is it about paying for sex that makes it different from any other service?
What makes an action right or wrong? Is it the outcome? Or are some things just good or evil?
Is it possible to freely choose to pay for or accept payment for sex?
Just because something is illegal does it also make it immoral?
Is the activity of sex in a different class to other activities such as dancing or football?

Below I will list(not exhaustive) some common objections to sex work, bear in mind that I in no way endorse these objections but I think they would serve as a prompt for discussion:
1. Sex work is part of a suite of services offered by criminal gangs: if you pay for sex then you are supporting criminal activities such as trafficking, violence and the black economy.
2. Sex work is a danger to public health: sex work involves increased risk of diseases, everything from the common cold to HIV.
3. Sex workers are modern slaves: sex workers are trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work, nobody would freely choose to do such a job.
4. People who pay for sex are degenerates: if someone has to pay for sex then there must be something wrong with them, morally, physically or psychologically.
5. It is inappropriate to commodify sex: sex is a byproduct of love, sex is for procreation, sex is with someone you know, sex is sacred, sex is different etc etc.
6. Paying for sex is wrong: it is objectively wrong to pay for sex, it doesn't matter how it makes you feel or if it is a contract freely entered into, some things are right and others wrong.

The list of objections to this industry are mainly because of the Catholic church in this country and they can kiss my arse.

There's nothing wrong with paying for sex when it's between two consenting adults for whatever reason and there are many and they're personal to each individual.

[Jthefox]

A wise old man once said to me . You will always pay for sex but with prostitution you are paying for the privilage of been left alone after the deed is done.

[JMastodon]

Paying for services is an integral part of modern societies. If my home needs to be rewired then I employ an electrician to do the job, so long as the electrician does a satisfactory job and I pay him the agreed fee then there doesn't seem to be any ethical or moral issue with the contract. The same cannot be said for sex work and this is an issue I would like the community to explore through discussion.
What is it about paying for sex that makes it different from any other service?
What makes an action right or wrong? Is it the outcome? Or are some things just good or evil?
Is it possible to freely choose to pay for or accept payment for sex?
Just because something is illegal does it also make it immoral?
Is the activity of sex in a different class to other activities such as dancing or football?

Below I will list(not exhaustive) some common objections to sex work, bear in mind that I in no way endorse these objections but I think they would serve as a prompt for discussion:
1. Sex work is part of a suite of services offered by criminal gangs: if you pay for sex then you are supporting criminal activities such as trafficking, violence and the black economy.
2. Sex work is a danger to public health: sex work involves increased risk of diseases, everything from the common cold to HIV.
3. Sex workers are modern slaves: sex workers are trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work, nobody would freely choose to do such a job.
4. People who pay for sex are degenerates: if someone has to pay for sex then there must be something wrong with them, morally, physically or psychologically.
5. It is inappropriate to commodify sex: sex is a byproduct of love, sex is for procreation, sex is with someone you know, sex is sacred, sex is different etc etc.
6. Paying for sex is wrong: it is objectively wrong to pay for sex, it doesn't matter how it makes you feel or if it is a contract freely entered into, some things are right and others wrong.

I see you did a copy and paste job from Ruhama’s website!

[EscortInspector]

I see you did a copy and paste job from Ruhama’s website!

Typed by hand.

[Mrbean76]

I see you did a copy and paste job from Ruhama’s website!

That explains it!!

[captainwagger]

The list of objections to this industry are mainly because of the Catholic church in this country and they can kiss my arse.

There's nothing wrong with paying for sex when it's between two consenting adults for whatever reason and there are many and they're personal to each individual.

I don't believe it's all the churches fault although they can definitely shoulder some of the blame.

I think a lot of it is to do with the average persons perception of sex work. It has been called prostitution for a very long time, and to prostitute yourself is seen as selling ones self, not only for sex bit in other aspects of life, and this is always viewed as a negative. Then we have the medias depiction of prostitutes, hookers, pro's (very seldom as escorts or courtesan's) and these are almost always cast in a bad light (except for the odd 'Pretty women'.

Then you have the real issues surrounding sex work like trafficking and sex slavery, gangs, which goes hand in hand with drugs/crime and so whenever it's in the spotlight in this country it's in a negative manner.

Very seldom does the average person hear about the wonderful free spirited advertisers on here living life on their own terms or the clients who just like a bit of strings free sex/companionship/sexy massage, and who (mostly?) behave themselves.

Unless its completely legalized like in New Zealand it will always be frowned upon by the majority. Then again, even in New Zealand I felt that the average person would still look down their noses at sex workers. So I don't know, perhaps it will always be a case of 'us & them' (one of my fav Floyd songs)

[thicklanger]

It's not all about the sex for me. It's genuine human connection and intamcy. The sex is a byproduct of that. Although I will say without the sexual aspect it's not as fulfilling. That's just the way I'm wired, and I am guessing that I'm not the only one like that.

It's a basic human need for me and it's a LOT more convinient and much less trouble to enter into a short term agreement with a willing paricipant than it would be to source that need the old fashioned way.

Two consenting adults making a fair transaction where they both gain and can get satisfaction and fullfillment from is a lot more moral than most of the "legal" financial dealings that I have and am involved with. Insurance, tax, property development, investment banking; those industries are where peoples morals get thrown to the wayside.

More families and lives have been destroyed by the massive manipulation of those industries by multinationals, banks and governments than the sex industry ever has.

Sex and intimacy is therapy for me and it keeps me level, without it I'd be a very diffrent person. I think it's difficult to overstate how important the service that escorts provide is to many people is, absolutely an essential service in my book.

If it was legalised the darker aspects of the industry would be greatly reduced. Same with drugs. The arguments for legalisation of both are well known and the research and studies on both are mostly overwhemingly positive.

It's a damn shape that society hasn't evolved yet to accept the fact that both are a part of life and it does FAR more harm to try and suppress than it does to regulate and legalise.

Well written.

[S94310]

It's not all about the sex for me. It's genuine human connection and intamcy. The sex is a byproduct of that. Although I will say without the sexual aspect it's not as fulfilling. That's just the way I'm wired, and I am guessing that I'm not the only one like that.

It's a basic human need for me and it's a LOT more convinient and much less trouble to enter into a short term agreement with a willing paricipant than it would be to source that need the old fashioned way.

Two consenting adults making a fair transaction where they both gain and can get satisfaction and fullfillment from is a lot more moral than most of the "legal" financial dealings that I have and am involved with. Insurance, tax, property development, investment banking; those industries are where peoples morals get thrown to the wayside.

More families and lives have been destroyed by the massive manipulation of those industries by multinationals, banks and governments than the sex industry ever has.

Sex and intimacy is therapy for me and it keeps me level, without it I'd be a very diffrent person. I think it's difficult to overstate how important the service that escorts provide is to many people is, absolutely an essential service in my book.

If it was legalised the darker aspects of the industry would be greatly reduced. Same with drugs. The arguments for legalisation of both are well known and the research and studies on both are mostly overwhemingly positive.

It's a damn shape that society hasn't evolved yet to accept the fact that both are a part of life and it does FAR more harm to try and suppress than it does to regulate and legalise.

all solid arguments for it's legalisation once and for all