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Originally Posted by Jes  The same reason any other subject would: consideration for others. Up until a few decades ago, the world operated under a set of spoken and unspoken rules to keep people united. People observed them and had a few less reasons to want to kill each other. Families observed them and stayed together. There is a universal understanding of honor, morality, and respect, or at least there was for the greater majority of civilization's existence. In many different cultures in many different nations, for many, many centuries it was believed that sex should essentially be a topic kept for the bedroom. Yes, there were times where promiscuity and the like among certain classes was considered socially accpetable, but overall it's been a private thing to most people most of the time. While I don't have a huge problem with it not being that way now, I don't think that the most recent sexual liberation has done any good for the world. There are more divorces, more rapes, more diseases, more murders, more heartaches, more perversion than there has ever been, and it's all because we've developed this insane mentality that we can only truly be free if we operate on an individual basis, without any recognition of the universal "rules" of morality. Honestly, it's no wonder why the western world is so frowned upon by so many other cultures at this point in time. We do what we want, when we want, without any thought for the feelings of others, and I think that's just a disgusting way to live. I don't consider sex a sacred act or anything, but I recognize it makes a lot of people uncomfortable, as do MANY other ideas, and I'd rather be less liberal with my views if it means that everyone can live comfortably together. And that's what morality was designed to do: let people live comfortably united. Don't lust after my wife, and I won't lust after your husband. However you get your kicks, and whatever you think of sex, most people would just be happier if you kept it away from the kids and in the bedroom.
::End Bizzarro Rant:: |
Isn't this just the old 'it was better back in the ole days' argument that always pops up whenever people talk about whatever problems they think are around today? I think your perception of the good ole days isn't exactly true. You seem to have some view of history that suggests that puritans ruled the world for the past few thousand years. People really don't change much and the vices of today are the same vices that have always been present. you say there are more x,y and z today than there were in the past... well 89% of statistics are made up on the spot, 3 outta 4 people will tell you that =)
I think your 'universal sense of honor, morality and respect' flies in the face of history. Human rights are a modern invention, there has NEVER been any sort of universal rules of morality. People were treated as property. Women were treated as property. Prostitutes have been around since day 1, courtesans were popular for thousands of years as a respected profession (hi thats pretty obvious in your face sexuality). Your claim that sexuality was somehow a private thing I think is completely incorrect. Look at ancient customs and rites having to do with marriage - there is no marriage until it is consumated (sp), ie having witnesses watch the marriage bed? the whole wedding party being about have the marriage consumated (sp). I don't think sexualty was something that was that taboo nor hidden, especially in the poor and/or aggrarian regions of the world. It was something that was natural and out in the open. It was only with the puritans in America that sexuality got all wacky.
With every facially society full of whatever you define as morality, there is the same people that would be around today being immoral, except they were immoral in secret instead of out in the open for fear of being killed unless they were rich then they could buy their right to be immoral. People don't act different today than they did in the past.
And what does divorce have anything to do with morality? Divorce means that your marriage didn't work out for whatever reason - are there more divorces today than in the past - probably, why is that? because people are more immoral? because somehow there is more sexuality out in the open? maybe. how about there are more divorces today because marriage is hard and alot of people get married to quickly and are incompatible, how about your precious morality from the past (that you laud) looked down on divorce so people were stuck in unhappy marriages instead of getting a divorce and looking for someone that was right for them - thats why there are more divorces today.
As far as the OP's Q
I don't think the sex industry would be as big today as it is if there was not good pay. I doubt most sex workers do it just because they like having sex in front of other people or because they like having sex with strangers etc, although i know there are some, but not the extent we see today.
I have no problem with what people decide to do with their lives, I don't think I would ever date a stripper or porn star though. I just don't find people who seek attention attractive.