I'm so upset I'm holding back tears over this. A friend directed me to a post on a well-known parents forum, where they have off-topic threads, and there is a massive thread on Amnesty international's points made about legalisation of prostitution, and pretty much everyone on there is saying "Oh it's a disgrace to decrim, we need to adopt the nordic model, these woman have no agency, they are allowing themselves to be exploited even if they think it's consensual. The swedish model is safer for them It would be so much better to stop the demand for sex work blah blah blah." There are pages and pages of this crap on one thread in that forum.

I guess I'm just feeling really sensitive this week after that poor woman was murdered in London. I'm just so upset by people not effing getting it. I think that a lot of people working in office jobs have less freedom to act than us - contracts, bosses, orders you might have to carry out but disagree with - but I'm not going to call for those sort of jobs to be illegal. It's so ridiculous. Why don't they listen to us? Why can't we be heard? I am so deeply upset by the notion of "Silly little things, need to be protected from their free will and choice as adults." It's so reminiscent of when they used to chuck women in mental asylums for being commiting adultery, like doing such a thing makes you mentally unwell, so you've no right to autonomy anymore.

There must be people on this forum that can let such goings on be like water off a ducks back, how do you do it? What way do you look at it to not get so frustrated? Because it matters, if enough people think like these people, the law could change. It could be years and years away but it could change drastically. The goings on in Scotland over recent years is enough to make us think that way.

I really don't want to feel this way, working in this industry, it's a very unhealthy frustration, and I'd like to be able to just let it go. The frustration I mean, not the cause.

Ah, fuck it. I'll join in sometimes and give my POV. I don't expect to change minds during a debate - people get entrenched during debates - but I think it can be helpful in the long term to give a different POV. Sometimes people will mull it over and reconsider over time.

There's another thread about Amnesty's decision to legalise prostitution on a punting forum at the moment.  The OP on there is asking why guys are not willing to stand up for themselves as well as us regarding this industry.  Makes for interesting reading 
I've never been on the forum you're on about Maddie (life's too short. lol), but as Dani and Kimberely say, sometimes putting in an opposite opinion about certain subjects, may not change the minds of everyone, but some may mull your opinion over and reconsider.  You've just not let it get to you.

I get what you're saying ladies - just try to let it go, shake it off. I think I'll go out for a run and try to clear my head. I suppose there's not much else to do, because like you say, I can't change anything. If things do change it probably won't be in my lifetime. I always want to get more involved in projects, as you suggested Dani, but I always curl back a bit because it's hard to have the sex industry as your job and also your mission in your spare time, it really drags me down. I think what has helped though has been when conversation turns to politics with new friends, and I state my opinion on sex work (and other topics) and I know I've changed their mind. But when I see such ignorance it makes me so angry. I wonder if we'll ever get anywhere, like other minority groups have.

On the one hand I want to just let it brush over me, and not let it get to me... but the past 30 seconds I've just thought maybe I should get angry. Get everyone angry, shouting, stamping feet, getting something done on a large scale. I'd probably lose my sanity in the attempt though!

A 'well-known parents forum' is not the place to see much sense around this subject. Most of the users will be more concerned that their partners may be paying escorts than the truth.

Escorts etc tend to be people who've gone "I don't care what the rest of the world thinks, I am right and I am going to do this". It has its downsides, especially around organising around sex work. Stick several people like that but with different opinions about something in a room, and it gets interesting.

Have you considered joining Amnesty and doing the education there?

I have now rejoined, a couple of other ladies have posted that they have joined. Amnesty that is. I think the parents forum beasties got a bit of a knock back when they had an amnesty member do a 2 hour q and a with them. They didnt manage to bully her. Again, well done amnesty x

Honestly, I let it go a long time ago. I used to care what people thought of me and SWs...until I tried to pay my bills w. opinions .  

To be honest ve been thinking really hard about "coming out" I have the feeling that people will judge for what I do but it may sway those on the fence to go, "wait a minute, shes a normal girl, in a stable relationship and she's happy" I already decided to show my face on AW.

I was worried sick when I started this job as I was not going to hide what I do from anyone I cared about.  so I told them all.  I was gobsmacked at how supportive family and friends were after I explained my reasons (cant do a normal job due to my illness yet wanted to be the one to pay for my sons carers).  They did worry a bit about safety but know I would not do anything without reading everything I could about dangers and safety first.  We always think everyone will look down on us but those who matter rarely do.  Those that do look down are normally those who don't matter that much anyway