But Italy didn’t exist! Morality aside the statement makes no sense. Italy couldn’t fund empire because it didn’t exist as a political unit until 1870. And as rich as some areas were you can’t expect city-states to have the same resources as a nation.

Right? Some people think the earth is flat NOW but no genuine scientist/scholar thinks that now or thought that then.

I don’t blame you. I have mixed feelings myself— on the one hand, he is perpetuating “pop science,” which is sensationalized to the point of important details of studies or the scientific process getting glossed over in favor of the “sexy” headlines. On the other hand, any effort to get people, especially young…

Is it horrible that I’m getting a bit fed-up of him now? I feel like he’s popping up absolutely everywhere as ‘celebrity scientist cameo’ and it’s like he’s being watered down.

Can you explain how? I’m genuinely curious, not trying to be argumentative or anything.

Do you really think a job in mining or agriculture is comparable to the sex trade? Like, in your heart of hearts, do you believe those to be the same?

I’ve never heard that. I have heard anti-sex work feminists say that it furthers the objectification of women, and encourages men to think of women as something they can buy. There’s a couple of responses below like that.

That is not at all why a lot of women are objecting to legalization (vs decriminalization, which is not the same). It’s more about the fact that legalization does not in any way at all guarantee that the person being paid for sex is doing it willingly. As many here have noted, sex trafficking INCREASED in the…

There’s a lot of sex trafficking in the Netherlands- it’s not a perfect model.

Keep in mind the Netherlands ‘model’ is controversial as studies are being done to determine if it increases human trafficking. One already claimed it did. Of course this is exactly because it’s not as regulated as it should be. But people who sell people will find ways to usurp the laws. So even when it’s ‘legal’ it…

I’d have to think more about it, but I would be tempted to say that I am more okay with men doing it. I know it seems hypocritical, but the thing is that I am not opposed to it morally, fuck that shit. If that’s what you REALLY want to do, you are not being coerced, and that is what brings you money, then that’s great.

And to be honest, I will probably still look down on people who pay for sex. I won’t look down on sex workers ever, but I still will judge a person who thinks sex is something that can be bought.

I probably feel the same way as you do about this issue, but I doubt the discrepency between the genders is mostly due to men somehow being more just or sex positive. A lot of people disapprove of sex work period, and some people only approve of it because they’re consumers or potential consumers, rather than on moral…

Woman here as well. I lived in the Netherlands - it’s legal, sure, it’s also filled with women who were coerced and trafficked and kidnapped into being prosititutes, mostly immigrants. And even for the local Dutch prostitutes who may just be putting themselves through school, it’s generally not something they list on…

That’s probaby not a super unpopular opinion. It’s pretty reasonable. And you’re 100% right that this conversation occupies a huge gray area.

Exactly - legal doesn’t necessarily = perfectly executed and no one is harmed or exploited.

Jess, I completely agree. I am for legalization, but I am also cautious about it. For example Nevada's laws give more power to the pimps, which I do have a problem with, and the women aren't being treated fairly.

Super unpopular opinion- I really don’t like legalizing prostitution because of the commodification of (mostly) female bodies. I think if it was a small scale with women having total control over being paid for what they decide on, it would be different. But, it’s not. For the most part, when prostitution is legal,…

Couldn’t it be that more women are hesitant to endorse a practice - legality aside - where they are especially vulnerable to the violence of human males?

Shocking! Women less likely to support something that would hurt mostly women!