But do not read the comments unless you want to become really angry.
 http://gawker.com/5062375/prostitution-still-a-safe-bet-in-new-depression?cpage=2&sort=asc#viewcomments

 

There has been some great stuff in the British press for those who might like something a bit more relevant to the UK - the Daily Mail is always good for a laugh (and handy when decorating/running out of toilet roll) plus the Independent and the broadsheets have run stories on the proposed law changes, sex industry/credit crunch. Here are some recent ones (and the comments are worth a look too):

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/10/12/battle-to-axe-prostitutes-sex-adverts-on-internet-78057-20796017/
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/sex-industry/vice-uk-britains-booming-prostitution-industry-940078.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/17/women.gender?commentpage=1

The last one is my favourite - good for Lara!

Quote from: amy on 15 October 2008, 11:51:17 am

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/17/women.gender?commentpage=1

The last one is my favourite - good for Lara!

That last one with Lara got torn to goddamn shreds by the site `Jezebel' which purports to be an inclusive news blog for women- sister site to the link I had.. . Real inclusive! Fortunately the Guardian commenters were actually pretty reasonable and understanding, even they got ripped apart.

I get the impression some of those comments came from people who've never met or spoken to a prostitute and have just seen statistics on how we're all abused, dropouts, drug addicts and pimped and take it as writ.  What does anyone think of the connection between legal status and differences between UK and US opinions? x

Yes, I've seen Jezebel lol. Fortunately these bloody extremists are too far gone to be taken seriously by anyone, whichever side you're on. I read a blog on there one day about blow jobs which was so ridiculous it made me laugh out loud - it's the sort of middle-class, look-at-me, PC foot stomping that sixth-formers tend to ally themselves with just to get a reaction from their parents  .

I do think the comments are fairly understandable given the image portrayed of prostitutes and their clients by the media - the public have very little knowledge of the industry and don't really have anything apart from this to go on; if I thought that all prostitution was like this, I might well think the same thing. The trouble is as we are constantly told by the politicos, we 'in the middle' ladies make up such a small proportion of the total number of working prostitutes that we are considered an insignificant factor. I think it is a dangerous assumption; I would imagine that we 'off-street' workers are in fact the majority and they seem to forget that both us and our clients are voters too!

- it's the sort of middle-class, look-at-me, PC foot stomping that sixth-formers tend to ally themselves with just to get a reaction from their parents  .

Yes! If I read one more thing about how tall buildings are men compensating for penis insecurity and conquering mother sky with their big phalluses' I'll die laughing or possibly from too much confusion.

 Making really big buildings IS more of a weeing contest, but tall buildings just make good use of limited space!  In absolute agreement with remainder of your comment. It's misinformation to a degree, and also some rather poorly designed studies which could never be called scientifically valid.

Agreed.
It's easy to forget that the highest levels of drug and alcohol abuse occur among professionals like lawyers and medical doctors. The s-e-x word sells more copies x

And don't get me started on research methodology, dammit! I hate seeing studies reported where the very articles written on it tear it to shreds and are taken as golden. Good on the Guardian for posting this. It's not his field, but I bet Ben Goldacre is perplexed too.