19 replies to this topic

[birdistheword]

http://www.chicagotr...0,1288374.story

[Rad Monkey]

I had no idea this section existed until now, it's all sorts of LOL. I don't see how it's any different than the back of the reader though.

[Duff.]

Kinda ridiculous, wish we would spend time on actual problems.

[M_Rots]

Kinda ridiculous, wish we would spend time on actual problems.

One of many drawbacks of the zero-tolerance policing philosophy is that law enforcement views all problems as equal. Once listened to a polce officer explain that we, the public, didn't understand: All law breaking is equally bad and it isn't our choice which laws are enforced and/or with what degree of severity. Thus Craigslist facilitating prostitution becomes exactly the same as open air drug markets, gang violence or any other issue affecting a community.

[nobodies]

Thus Craigslist facilitating prostitution becomes exactly the same as open air drug markets, gang violence or any other issue affecting a community.

The irony being that Craigslist reduces "streetwalkers" and "open air" hooker markets, the parts of prostitution that actually do impact communities; and the further irony being that illegalizing prostitution makes it much more dangerous for both the prostitutes and the johns.

[Bob Loblaw]

I don't see how Craig's List "promotes" prostitution. Where do they encourage it? They also facilitate millions of private transactions that aren't reported for sales or income tax. Will that be the next target?

[M_Rots]

Thus Craigslist facilitating prostitution becomes exactly the same as open air drug markets, gang violence or any other issue affecting a community.

The irony being that Craigslist reduces "streetwalkers" and "open air" hooker markets, the parts of prostitution that actually do impact communities; and the further irony being that illegalizing prostitution makes it much more dangerous for both the prostitutes and the johns.

Absolutely right. Sad thing, the basic explanation of this from a conservative viewpoint, runs: We have to make sure that prostitution is unsafe for all involved as a means of deterrence. Since "we" have determined that prostitution is immoral and therefore bad, we need to encourage people to do something else, but if prostitution is safe in any/all senses of the word, we'll be encouraging bad behavior.

Which is insane, of course, but never mind...

[MattW]

I don't see how Craig's List "promotes" prostitution. Where do they encourage it? They also facilitate millions of private transactions that aren't reported for sales or income tax. Will that be the next target?

The Erotic Services section I would consider a promotion for escorts and prostitutes. The first time I saw this year I was stunned that it existed on such a public site. I saw this coming for years. Not that I care one way or the other, I'm just surprised it took this long.

[Bob Loblaw]

I don't see how Craig's List "promotes" prostitution. Where do they encourage it? They also facilitate millions of private transactions that aren't reported for sales or income tax. Will that be the next target?

The Erotic Services section I would consider a promotion for escorts and prostitutes. The first time I saw this year I was stunned that it existed on such a public site. I saw this coming for years. Not that I care one way or the other, I'm just surprised it took this long.

They've had that section in the yellow pages for years. It's called something different, but the meaning is the same. Where else would you sell your services as a stripper for parties? Notice it doesn't say sexual services, but erotic.

The thing that these people don't realize is that they are fighting a battle that can never be won. It's like the ridiculous war on drugs. People will find a way around the rules to have some fun, whether it's morally reprehensible to some or not.

[Montana]

Waste of time and money. We're in the greatest economic collapse in many years and these dicks are worred about paid orgasms? Fucking idiots.

[nobodies]

It's like the ridiculous war on drugs. People will find a way around the rules to have some fun, whether it's morally reprehensible to some or not.

Let me start by saying that I don't agree with the war on drugs; but the war on prostituion is even dumber.

Legalizing prostitution could make it extremely safe. By licensing it, requiring std testing, condoms, security, credit card transactions, etc....you will virtually eliminate all the things that make it dangerous (stds, beatings, fraud, rape, robberies, etc.). The criminalization of prostitution is what creates the problems.

Drugs on the other hand (at least some of them) will always be dangerous. Legalization might cure some purity/tampering problems...but heroin and coke are always potentially lethal. I'm not saying the drug war is the solution, but at least there's a logical reason for trying to keep some drugs off the street. Illegalized prostitution makes no sense.

[M_Rots]

Waste of time and money. We're in the greatest economic collapse in many years and these dicks are worred about paid orgasms?

Fucking idiots.

Well, it isn't as if you can arrest an economic collapse.

[6ome 9irl]

GET A LIFE YOU FUCKING PIGS AND FIGHT REAL CRIME. AND DON'T FORGET TO TIP YOUR HOOKER COCKWADS.

[6ome 9irl]

"We put up ... one saying 14-year-old looking for sex," he said. "That ad wasn't taken down. It sat out there until we took it down." This is such despicable logic. More like everyone knew it was the fuzz and ignored the ad. There is one per million examples of underage/trafficking on CL, the rest is consenting adults. It's all a bunch of bullshit with the crackdown.

[More Drama]

On Craigslist, you definitely don't have to pay for it, but it's still probably not worth it.

(according to legend)

[6ome 9irl]

Yes, but you almost always have to pay for speciality and specificity.

[6ome 9irl]

So how bullshit is it that a cop can fuck you and then arrest you? Because that's how they all do it. Tom Dart is just trying to further his political career.

[Duff.]

No doubt. This sounds good to "values voters" but really does little to uphold law and order and all that crap.

[6ome 9irl]

A new version of CL is launching Thursday anyway. Good job, Dart. Who didn't see that coming?

[JeffTweedysFatStomach]

So how bullshit is it that a cop can fuck you and then arrest you? Because that's how they all do it.

For real?