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Although the act of soliciting prostitution is illegal, what exactly is so wrong about this really? Backpage appears to have provided listings that allowed cons

Although the act of soliciting prostitution is illegal, what exactly is so wrong about this really? Backpage appears to have provided listings that allowed consenting adults to engage in business with one another. Perhaps they just need to stop their mole-whacking game?

elastic_church 10y ago
combating trafficking in the framework of existing laws. trafficking does not imply consent. yes, the existing laws are broken.
BorisMelnik 10y ago
underage girls, and pimps taking advantage of drug addicted women. there are tons of "legit" agencies that operate as true businesses, the majority of the backpage listings are really sketchy. NSFW Check out this escort forum online, it gives some really interesting insight into the whole debacle. as you can see, most of the girls don't really care and are even glad: http://independentgirls.com/indiboard/index.php/topic/518200-backpage-shutdown/ http://independentgirls.com/indiboard/index.php/topic/518200... "Some criminals and low-life types formerly using Backpage will now go berserk without their money and/or their drugs. Violent crime in the streets. Unbelievable."
- cloakandswagger 10y ago
  Well, of course professional escorts are happy. Backpage was, at best, competition for them, allowing "independent contractors" to offer competing services for cheaper. At worst, it was a very popular sting site for cops, effectively scaring off customers in the area. When you're a "pro" with your own website and $600/hr price, Backpage is competition. I don't think they're happy about it because of concerns about human trafficking.
prostoalex 10y ago
You are not thinking of this from the state AG point of view. Some participants of law enforcement community (FBI, US Attorneys) take years to build and execute their cases. When successful, they receive commendations and continue their law enforcement careers. State AGs are more of a "shoot from the hip" (or "sue early, sue often", since we're on HN) variety, as this elected post is viewed as a stepping stone towards another elected post, backed by the track record of "making neighborhoods safer". In unrelated news, congratulations to California state AG Kamala Harris on becoming a US Senator from the state of California.
nsaslideface 10y ago
The buyer can not know for sure if the seller is consenting to sex; logically, it is always possible the seller is coerced into the transaction by poverty, threats, drugs, etc. Because sex isn't a human necessity, and involves the act of physically using a person (if they are not able to consent -- the term masturbation is more accurate), we can say the act of choosing to buy is highly immoral. The same argument works for buying/supporting porn too. Those who recognize the strength of the above argument usually support forms of the Nordic model of anti-prostitution law.

elastic_church 10y ago

combating trafficking in the framework of existing laws. trafficking does not imply consent. yes, the existing laws are broken.

BorisMelnik 10y ago

underage girls, and pimps taking advantage of drug addicted women. there are tons of "legit" agencies that operate as true businesses, the majority of the backpage listings are really sketchy. NSFW Check out this escort forum online, it gives some really interesting insight into the whole debacle. as you can see, most of the girls don't really care and are even glad: http://independentgirls.com/indiboard/index.php/topic/518200-backpage-shutdown/ http://independentgirls.com/indiboard/index.php/topic/518200... "Some criminals and low-life types formerly using Backpage will now go berserk without their money and/or their drugs. Violent crime in the streets. Unbelievable."

cloakandswagger 10y ago
Well, of course professional escorts are happy. Backpage was, at best, competition for them, allowing "independent contractors" to offer competing services for cheaper. At worst, it was a very popular sting site for cops, effectively scaring off customers in the area. When you're a "pro" with your own website and $600/hr price, Backpage is competition. I don't think they're happy about it because of concerns about human trafficking.

prostoalex 10y ago

You are not thinking of this from the state AG point of view. Some participants of law enforcement community (FBI, US Attorneys) take years to build and execute their cases. When successful, they receive commendations and continue their law enforcement careers. State AGs are more of a "shoot from the hip" (or "sue early, sue often", since we're on HN) variety, as this elected post is viewed as a stepping stone towards another elected post, backed by the track record of "making neighborhoods safer". In unrelated news, congratulations to California state AG Kamala Harris on becoming a US Senator from the state of California.

nsaslideface 10y ago

The buyer can not know for sure if the seller is consenting to sex; logically, it is always possible the seller is coerced into the transaction by poverty, threats, drugs, etc. Because sex isn't a human necessity, and involves the act of physically using a person (if they are not able to consent -- the term masturbation is more accurate), we can say the act of choosing to buy is highly immoral. The same argument works for buying/supporting porn too. Those who recognize the strength of the above argument usually support forms of the Nordic model of anti-prostitution law.