How Do You Pay For “It”
I debated on writing this one but decided when it comes to money nothing is off limits. It came about from a discussion with a friend about the waste of money the local “Vice Squad” seems to be.
Of course you’ve probably guessed it’s about paying directly for (insert favorite slang term) as opposed to the traditional form of dating where the hope of “it” is always in the back of your mind drooling its little heart out.
To be honest I’m of the more Libertarian view… if you would rather pay for the privilege of going right to “it” instead of going through the typical date route it’s not my place to say yea or nay or to judge you for it.
I will make the case that via the traditional date route it is more meaningful and more fun as you have had time to establish a connection with the other person.
The friendly argument started with the usual “discussions” about why one is better than the other from a personal and societal perspective but eventually came down to an agreement as to what the actual difference is between the two and why the government is opposed to one of them… and it has nothing to do with morality. It’s all about the money.
We boiled it down to a few things:
1. Paying for “it” guarantees doing it while a traditional date gives you only a chance… not a certainty.
2. Traditional date might… but not always… be cheaper. (Yes, I’ve bought the Dom Perignon before.)
But this is the one that really lays out the fact that there is no difference between the two…
3. You are still spending money… the difference is who the money is being given too.
In the one case it is being given directly to the other person for “specific performance” (lawyers come up with such great terms… LOL) while in the date route, the money is being given to someone else… the restaurant, the florist, the jeweler, the movie theatre (Does that mean your favorite restaurant could be accused of being a pimp?) in which case the government gets its cut via taxes.
As long as the government gets its cut via taxes it’s legal and they don’t care if the provider of “it” is rewarded with food, drink, flowers, jewelry, entertainment etc… just don’t do it in untaxed cash that is given directly to the other person… that’s illegal.
Note: it’s not the performance of “it” that’s illegal just the way the money changes hands… products and services? OK!… green folding paper?… NOT.
So what is your opinion on the two? Does your local Vice Squad seem to be a terrible waste of taxpayers money?
Photo credit: stock.xchng.
So, when writing about money, apparently an understanding of nuanced issues is off-limits.
Reducing the politics of sex work to a crass argument about government greed and law enforcement is absolutely unacceptable. There is an extraordinary difference between dating- something that most people consider to be a social interaction, not the strategic application of money to libido- and paying for sex. Both exist, and both arguably have their place in society. The difference between the two does not lie in the transfer of funds, but in the social nature of the interaction.
To ignore this for the sake of a sensationalistic post is to ignore the reality of many readers. I would have hoped for better from a queer-friendly space
I know a few boys who sell it and good on them as long as both parties benefit and it’s their choice, also the boys I know don’t need to pursue this path but seem to prefer it to more traditional careers and the 9-5 slog.
Anonymous: I understand your points.
However when you are talking about the financial aspects of dating and its alternatives if you strip the situation of all the emotional overtones, which you should do if at all possible in ANY financial decision, the difference among them boils down to point 3.
How many people live together but don’t get married because of money reasons???
Alimony that gets cut off if they re-marry, Single parents on welfare that would lose the benefits if they married the other parent, and the one that affects gays the most..the Marriage Penalty in the tax code.
Love is wonderful but is tempered by money decisions…in my post love was removed from the equation.
Vice Squads are absolutely a waste of taxpayer money. Prostitution should be legalized, as it is in Holland. Prostitutes in Holland are unionized, they are regularly screened for STD’s, and the government collects tax money from tourists who go to Amsterdam specifically for sex. I think everyone comes out a winner in this scenario.
@ Anonymous – In my mind, all work is prostitution. You offer a service and get paid for it, whether you are cutting hair, flipping burgers, or giving a massage.
Legalize prostitution and have prostitutes get a license, just like a hair dresser, food handler, or massage therapist. At least this scenario creates, rather than spends, money and the government has some element of regulation involved. Hair dressers have to meet certain sanitation standards, etc.
As for the point of Roland’s post – I think everyone has their own standards. I have a friend that says he will give a blow job for a cocktail. Dinner and a movie has a higher dollar value, so therefore the sexual favors involved are also higher. Some people are willing to jump right to full-on intercourse for just a beer at the bar. But we all have our own going rates I suppose.