Um, yeah, I prosecute prostitution cases, and that wouldn't fly here

Runningesq(uire?), why not? It isn't illegal to charge for companionship.

Nice try, but clearly that is not the case.

Next time, she says he dropped his money and it dropped into her purse and then she tripped and fell onto his penis...over and over again.

Anon, I get that a lot of people joke that dating is prostitution --- he pays for dinner and the movie, they have sex, it's like she got paid for sex. BUT: if you are hanging out on the street corner and someone approaches you, asks "how much" and you give a figure --- that's prostitution. (or at least attempted, but let's not get into charging document problems )

runningesq, what about people who somehow get into these "arrangements" where a woman comes to see a guy every so often and they hang out, maybe have a dinner or go on a date, have sex, and then he gives her money at the end? Like, there is no real relationship, and the girl is obviously doing it because she knows that she will get money, but she doesn't exactly solicit him on the street? Is that illegal?

BTW, I am not doing this, nor have I ever done it, but this post and the comments have gotten me curious about where the law draws the line for prostitution.

You know, Chouette4u, I'm really not sure ! (this sounds like a law school exam question haha ). If he's giving her money - hand to hand - my guess is yes, it is prostitution, but I don't know if (1) it would be charged, or (2) successfully prosecuted. Everything I've done - as I'm sure you can imagine - is the routine street pros. where the John asks "how much?" and the pros says "$50 for a BJ, $100 for 'everything'"

Runningesq, why do johns do this, knowing that the pros have so many STDs?

Very clever...

I don't know, I'm somewhat ambivalent about prostitution- I'm conservative so I'm not into modern casual sexual relationships. However, I believe that prostitution (as per runningesq: lady soliciting-john asking price) should not be illegal: if you can use any and all your faculties or skills to do things that are perfectly legal for a price, you should also be able to use your body for sex in that capacity. Why should adult, consensual sex be something you can't pay for esp when it is itself a perfectly legal activity?

Janneth --- no idea, people take (stupid, IMO) risks.
Anon -- I agree. I think the reason prostitution is illegal is because it's a "NIMBY" issue (not in my backyard). I certainly don't want hookers hanging around my neighborhood. That said, I think legalizing prostitution would go a long way toward preventing STDs (with regular, mandatory testing).q

NIMBY makes it sound kinda cute. Like, Aww whats the kitten's name. Oh, its Nimby! lol

I always wondered about GFE (girlfriend experience) and its legal issues. Because what the kind is really paying for is the companionship of a gf (without all the extra strings and problems that come with real relationships) and sometimes (but not always) they have sex. So technically the "john" is not paying for sex (because there is no inherent guarantee of it). Would that be legal?

I only ask because I saw it on Secret Diary of a Call Girl on Showtime (ok, she WAS a prostitute but it brought up an interesting question).

Correction: What the GUY (not kind) is paying for...

I don't get why prostitution is illegal in the first place.
1. It's empowering to women (and men), being able to not only possess a sexual power, but to be able to use it to make money.
2. Money + sex. Where's the bad? (assuming that you have a personality that is generally promiscuous).
3. The economy sucks right now, and it's one job that won't get outsourced.
4. If legal, it can be taxed.
5. Incentive for prostitutes to turn in abusive pimps (since they won't get in trouble for doing something illegal).
6. Procedures (like using condoms standard) and mandatory health and STD checks to ensure safety for everyone involved.
7. Safety for the prostitutes if the clients turn abusive.

And it's a respectable profession. In the Old West the prostitutes were very much members of society. And some men (and women) use them just as much for counselors as people to have sex with. Legalizing it could also make people view prostitutes as people, rather than things.

As for the NIMBY effect: I don't care if there are prostitutes around. Heck, I'd probably be friends with half of them. And legalizing it could separate prostitution from everything people associate it with: drugs, crime, pimps, etc.

I'm with staple salad. Unless the woman is forced into selling herself, there shouldn't be a problem. It's her body, she should do as she pleases. I know it can be a dangerous job, but that's the situation they put their own selves in.

I had a guy give me $60 before just to talk to him. I didn't have sex with him though by any means. I felt bad because I think he wasn't completely right in the head, but I needed the money.

LMAO @ "it's one job that won't get outsourced."

clever