First off, I have to state something similiar to what someone else stated above: I believe in following the law. You make a choice to live in the society that you live in, and as such, you're saying that you'll follow the laws that society has set forth and agreed upon. So, with that out of the way, here's my opinion on the following

1/ prostitution ? I wrote a quick article about this once: Link I basically believe that it should be legalized. After learning a lot about the world of prostitution, I ended believing that legalizing it would be a better overall solution. It's one of those things that you can just not participate in if you think it's morally wrong. I would personally not get a hooker though.

2/ drugs ? Hey, if you want to kill yourself, go for it. As long as you don't go on a shooting rampage while you're high.

3/ pornography ? "You might as well ask, 'why are boobs good?'" - Joe Dirt

4/ censorship ?

Censoring is for parents and legal guardians to practice on their children/charges, not for government. I am all in favor of being a responsible parent and all against trying to make the government into a surrogate parent for the entire country.

Yeah, what you said...

5/ pre-marital sex ? I don't believe people were designed on only have sex with one person ever, so go for it... before you're married of course. I believe if you wait until you're married to have sex, you're going to always be wondering about the 'what ifs' that you never experienced.

1) It should be legalised. Legalizing it will make it safer for the women and the "customer" Having it illegal ensures that many of these women are being treated very poorly.

2) I think that marijuana should be legalized and other drugs should have stiffer punishments. Marijuana isnt addictive and its effects are no more harmful than alcohol.

3) I am having mixed views about pornography as of late. I think it is fine on one hand...those in that lifestyle have chosen it for themselves, but on the other hand it is sometimes very harmful and degrading to the "Actors"

4) Positively opposed.

5) Sex is an important part of y our relationship, if y ou do not have sex before you are married then you could find yourself with a very large hurdle in your relationship that you never knew existed if you are sexually incompatible. I am not really for random sex either though, i think in most instances you should share some kind of relationship with the person you sleep with, but i have no problems who those who view sex as recreation.

On the subject concerning social issues there can be much debate withing myself.  With all the grey area sometimes it's hard to be certain of right and wrong.  With that said here is where I stand with my point of view...

1.Personally this is conflicting as finding what will yield the overall best possible outcome is blurry to say the least.  It's undeniable that prostitution has a strong presence everywhere on the world.  On a personal level I am of course opposed to it considering the exploitation that many people go through but much like the war on drugs it's something that is very real and very hard to get rid off.  Whether prostitution can ever be eliminated is anyone's guess but so far it has enjoyed a very long life.  Taking history into account I believe that even though personally I am against it fighting something that cannot be stopped is only opening up loopholes for exploitation.  Since it's illegal and there is still a market for it without regulations "offenders" are forced to use what is available.  Legalizing it with restrictions will open the market and may curb child exploitation towards women or men that, God help them, are willing.   Maybe this is wrong of me to think but it's the best solution I can think of.

2.Hmm, this is another doozy.  I think that an actual real bi-partisan study needs to be done towards the effects of all drugs (at least here in the U.S.). Considering the amount of money we throw on the war drugs this study would give us a base on what to label illegal.  I believe that certain drugs are just too damaging to ever legalize, drugs like crack cocaine and meth amphetamines are just too addictive and too destructive.  The majority of drug arrests and cases have to deal with marijuana though (at least in the states) which is the one that I think requires a re-evaluation. 

3. Pornography is already legal and it should remain that way.  I am personally neutral but I understand that it is a 4 billion dollar industry here in the U.S..  It alone has pushed many of the pioneering innovations that we use today on the internet and in the U.S..  Banning it at least temporarily would do considerable harm to our economy, just ask any major cable company.  Content should always be regulated as well.

4. Personally, I think that on the matter of censorhip in the U.S. we should stick to our Constitution which protects free speech, symbolic speech and also states that free speech is protected unless it endangers national security.

5. This should be left as a choice for the individuals involved. 

wow. this is, without question, the most informative and fascinating one we've ever had. i can't believe this, but i actually had to do a spreadsheet to get the answers straight !.

as i said before, i had decided that the sensitive nature of the questions meant that i wouldn't "quote" random bits of answers like i usually do. to be honest, i am so appreciative of this input that i feared scaring people away by making a huge deal of their private opinion on such a touchy issue. so, just for this once, we will let the answers speak for themselves in the form of statistics !.

(i know. stats are boring, but they're probably the only way to sum this up without going completely insane )

1/ PROSTITUTION:

APPROVE : 14 (conditional on legality and fair treatment of sex workers)
DISAPPROVE: 5 (for personal or moral reasons)


2/ DRUGS:

APPROVE: 13 (subject mainly to responsible use and, although less often, legality)
DISPPROVE: 6 (for personal, legal, or moral reasons)


3/ PORNOGRAPHY:

APPROVE: 15 (subject to adult restrictions, legality and realistic portrayals of sex)
DISAPPROVE: 4 (generally for reasons sexual in nature, such as the sacredness the sex act)


4/ CENSORSHIP:

APPROVE: 7 (based on grounds that current conditions make it necessary, in particular the issue of protecting children)
DISAPPROVE: 12 (largely based on the willingness to accept some "inappropriate" content in return for continuing the right of free speech)


5/ PRE-MARITAL SEX:

APPROVE: 15 (subject to age restrictions and, although less often, love between the sexual partners)
DISAPPROVE: 4 (for reasons based on personal beliefs and/or choices)


*falls on floor exhausted*

that was an amazing learning experience for me. i had so much trouble sorting the answers !. i feel like i know everyone a little better now, and i have to say that, for a thread full of such nasty issues, not one person became upset, and not one negative comment was received. thanks everyone for renewing my faith in people !

and i WILL be back to answer soon. but i'm just gasping for a cup of tea after all that brain overstimulation !

THANKS EVERYONE

exhausted but happy mig XXXX

the most informative and fascinating one we've ever had

You got that right, i mean; little_whip and i actually agreed on something =D

The answers to your survey just go a great way into telling us the demographics of your audience! which tells us about you!

Miggy draws wasted prostitution loving porn freaks to her blog! hehe...

BAM!!!

Miggy draws wasted prostitution loving porn freaks to her blog! hehe...

muggy, do i need to point out that you are amongst my most frequent callers ?


mig XX

Well, ok.

1) you don't have to sell sex to be a prostitute. I think I heard the term "corporate whore," once or twice. I'm a little if'ie on morality issues. I find the killings in africa to be a far greater sin.

2)Drugs. yeah, what about it?

3)porn--what's that?

4) censorship--XXXXXXXX.

5) pre-marital sex--honestly, i inhaled, but i didn't like it.

1) you don't have to sell sex to be a prostitute. I think I heard the term "corporate whore," once or twice. I'm a little if'ie on morality issues. I find the killings in africa to be a far greater sin.

i agree that prostitiution can take other forms, johnny. and welcome to friday five, glad you're here

2)Drugs. yeah, what about it? 3)porn--what's that? 4) censorship--XXXXXXXX.

seems you have the general consensus there, j

5) pre-marital sex--honestly, i inhaled, but i didn't like it

hehe, i trust you acquired a taste for it eventually ?


mig XX

Miggy draws wasted prostitution loving porn freaks to her blog!

I'm not wasted.

... do you approve or disapprove of ...



1/ prostitution ? oh... like a lot of people here, it's not whether I approve of the act itself or not... since it happens, and will never not happen, I'd like to think that there would be some better way to make certain of safety, and responsibility. I have no answers on how to do so, however.


2/ drugs ? I approve, but rarely do them. I get all paranoid and would rather have a couple of pints instead.


3/ pornography ? hmmm.... As long as it doesn't contain children, or exploited persons, it's up to the individual, I think. Unfortunately, it's an issue that rarely leaves the innocents alone.


4/ censorship ? Against it wholeheartedly. Who's the judge? As far as children go, parents need to know what they are reading, watching and listening to and not rely on bloody numbered systems.


5/ pre-marital sex ? Yes, please.

I'm not wasted.

Pffft.... BORING!!!!

BAM!!!

I have to post a note on legalized prostitution. I live in a community where it is legal. We have almost no rapes, women are never robbed by their johns, johns are never robbed by their prostitutes, and most important, it is the first city where I've ever lived where you see NO streetwalkers. Zero. None.

Prostitution in this area is heavily regulated, and must be in brothels, not on the streets. It doesn't enter our day to day lives whatsoever, and the brothels provide a MASSIVE tax basis for the community. While I don't as a rule approve of the morality of prostitution, there are some grey areas that I think should be considered. So, without further hijacking, I'm going to jump back to my blog and write about it.

5) Sex is an important part of y our relationship, if y ou do not have sex before you are married then you could find yourself with a very large hurdle in your relationship that you never knew existed if you are sexually incompatible. I am not really for random sex either though, i think in most instances you should share some kind of relationship with the person you sleep with, but i have no problems who those who view sex as recreation.

Sexually incompatible? What's that? Someone's doinkus corkscrews or something like that?

Sorry, but I find the "sexual incompatibility" argument for why a couple MUST have premarital sex to be laughable. I would NEVER counsel someone to compromise their morals on what is, by and large, a myth. If you choose to have premarital sex, hey, it's your business...but don't insist it to be essential to a healthy relationship.

Prostitution:

A needed service that's been around since the year dot, in some form or another. As Muggz said... even ugly people need to get laid. Then there's the folks who may be disfigured or crippled etc. They need lovin' too. Keep in mind that there are male and female prostitutional services available. We're not just talking about women here.

Drugs:

Jury's out on this one. I believe there are harmful, and non-harmful drugs. In my opinion, marijuana is a soft drug which does not take it's user down the road to hard drugs. Case in point: Me. I have smoked whacky tobaccy since I was about 16. I am 44 now, and suffer from no-side effects. Admittedly, I use it recreationally, and choose it above alcohol, which I believe does more damage to the human body than a bit of herb does. It does not have to be smoked to be ingested, or to feel it's effects.

Pornography:

Guess it provides a service in itself. I mean, look at it's prevalence on the net and the amount of revenue it generates. Sorta says that society in general tolerates it, whether or not that is vocally stated by individuals. As a whole though, it would seem that a high percentage of the general public either tolerate it or approve of it. Me... I can take it or leave it. I'd rather see a real person. Agree with keeping children away from it. Disagree wholeheartedly with porn in some of it's forms... such as beastiality, rape fantasy, torture etc. That's just sick!

Censorship:

Yes and no. I'm all for free speech, but if that free speech is in itself intended to incite violence or hatred towards a race or persons, then I believe in the right to "gag" that individual. Case in example would be person/persons rallying to create civil war, or rallying to gain support for terrorism/terrorists. Gag 'em I say!

Pre-marital sex:

Ya gotta get experience somewhere! What if you found out on your wedding night that you were a dud lay?!

I'm not wasted.

ahem. if you think i'm touching that, cs guy hehe

Pffft.... BORING!!!!

are you wasted muggy ? hehe

I have to post a note on legalized prostitution. I live in a community where it is legal. We have almost no rapes, women are never robbed by their johns, johns are never robbed by their prostitutes, and most important, it is the first city where I've ever lived where you see NO streetwalkers. Zero. None.

now that would make for a nice change of scenery from a city, gideon

While I don't as a rule approve of the morality of prostitution, there are some grey areas that I think should be considered

thanks for your thoughts on this gideon. i'll come over to read that article shortly.

They need lovin' too. Keep in mind that there are male and female prostitutional services available. We're not just talking about women here.

i'm glad you added this, wreckless. in all of the responses this article, only two responses mentioned male prostitution, and both of those responses came from males. wonder if the chicks have a view on this ?

Jury's out on this one. I believe there are harmful, and non-harmful drugs

agreed, wreckless

Me... I can take it or leave it. I'd rather see a real person. Agree with keeping children away from it.

i'm with you again there

Case in example would be person/persons rallying to create civil war, or rallying to gain support for terrorism/terrorists. Gag 'em I say!

again, you save me from needing to post my own answer, eric

What if you found out on your wedding night that you were a dud lay?!

... and you didn't know ? *gasp*

I'd like to think that there would be some better way to make certain of safety, and responsibility. I have no answers on how to do so, however.

thanks for your input, nicky. i agree, this would be an ideal situation

I approve, but rarely do them. I get all paranoid and would rather have a couple of pints instead

good idea, nicky ... you stick to what works for you, but still keep an open mind

Unfortunately, it's an issue that rarely leaves the innocents alone.

agreed, nicky. exploitation is the major issue here, and on many levels

censorship ? Against it wholeheartedly. Who's the judge?

it is very hard to say what may be lost due to puritanical censors, and as you say nicky, who can possibly say what is fit for all of us ?

Yes, please

ding dong ! hehe. nicky, i'll take that one was a "yes"


thanks everyone. the biggest one so far


mig XX

Sexually incompatible? What's that? Someone's doinkus corkscrews or something like that?Sorry, but I find the "sexual incompatibility" argument for why a couple MUST have premarital sex to be laughable. I would NEVER counsel someone to compromise their morals on what is, by and large, a myth. If you choose to have premarital sex, hey, it's your business...but don't insist it to be essential to a healthy relationship.

Well, first off mister, i said COULD have a large hurdle. That word represents a possibility not an inevitability. But i DO believe that it is BEST if someone has sex before they are married, i don't think it is essential, but i think they would be better served if they did. I would never counsel someone to compromise their beliefs. If it is against someone's morals then they shouldn't do it, but if you are implying that sexual incompatibility would not lead to problems arising in a relationship, then you are being ridiculous. A myth? So couples never have problems with their sex life?

only two responses mentioned male prostitution

Offended! I mentioned them too *hmph*

(Kidding - I'm just standing up for the ladies out there!)

I'm not wasted. ahem. if you think i'm touching that, cs guy hehe

Aw, come on... touch it... just a little.

1) Prostitution: In a perfect world, it would be fine. In our world, it is abusive, destructive, and preys upon the most frail aspects of our personalities on both sides of the transaction. If everyone was perfectly adjusted and self-assured, it would be fine. As it stands it is harmful.

2) Drugs. I think anything of biological relevance can have a chemical pay-off and be fine. Food, even alchoholic beverages serve non-intoxicating functions. Our biology is set up to reward us for doing the right thing. Modern society has screwed that up and given us too much of a good thing in terms of chemical stimulus. To add items used for nothing BUT chemical stimulus is way over the top. If you get a kick from a beer with dinner or the caffiene in your coffee, great, you had a bonus. Snorting a line of Coke by-passes life and goes straight to the bonus.

3) Pornography: See item #1. If we were all perfectly well adjusted and self-reliant it would be fine. As it is, it is often abusive to the objects of lust and a sad crutch for those who take advantage of it. I ogle as much skin as the next guy, so I am hypocritical as always, but it is never without the sense that there is something sad about it.

4) Censorship: Impossible to do fairly, but necessary. No one would advise a station to intersperse kid's cartoons with X-Rated movies, so everyone would admit that some form of reasonable censorship is necessary. Fine tuning is always going to be painful.

5) Pre-Marital Sex: See #1 and #3. Pre-marital sex when you are 30 isn't the same as pre-marital sex when you are 15. You could also see #2, honestly, because I think like caffine and alcohol sex is a by-product of living. When you make it a purposeful, on-demand feature you take something away from it.

Hack me to bits, lol. Just my point of view.

Offended! I mentioned them too *hmph*

sorry, suz !. kudos to you for standing up for the ladies, chicky

Aw, come on... touch it... just a little.

bah. that only makes it worse

If everyone was perfectly adjusted and self-assured, it would be fine. As it stands it is harmful.

agreed, baker. this has been the major recurring answer here on regarding prositution - no matter what "legal" standpoint people took, those that pesonally approved stated conditional approval based on equitable treatment for those involved. (ie: as you say, in a perfect world)

Snorting a line of Coke by-passes life and goes straight to the bonus.

baker, marco is sitting here with me (notsohighlyevolved marco, that is), and he pointed at that quote of yours and said "i like that". i like it too, i find using any indulgence as a "reward" system works for me. primitive creature i am. hehe

As it is, it is often abusive to the objects of lust and a sad crutch for those who take advantage of it.

agreed again. and ditto my comment as above.

Impossible to do fairly, but necessary

the censorship question provoked a lot of strong reactions here (no surprises there). again, most are agreed on the issue, it is the enforcement that is the actual problem.

I think like caffine and alcohol sex is a by-product of living

i agree that sex, like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, etc, is becoming just another thing we will rely on as our due ... something we think we require to simply get by. thanks for adding your comments, baker.


mig XX