Comments on: Please Keep Your Tentacles Out of My Pants http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/ Korea... in Blog Format Mon, 7 Jul 2008 02:07:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112706 snow Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:56:01 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112706 "Even if her head is in the clouds, seems to me her heart is in the right place." I disagree. She is a good example of those rancid do-gooders who would make things worse, often much worse, for those they claim to want to help. How she extrapolates from her host's knowledge of the term 'sucker' to make sweeping generalizations of how men think, is one example of the scary thought processes of such feminazi types. And her claims that the Anti-Prostitution Laws in Korea are working and that other countries are studying Korea's example? Haha, is she kidding, or what? “Even if her head is in the clouds, seems to me her heart is in the right place.”

I disagree. She is a good example of those rancid do-gooders who would make things worse, often much worse, for those they claim to want to help. How she extrapolates from her host’s knowledge of the term ’sucker’ to make sweeping generalizations of how men think, is one example of the scary thought processes of such feminazi types. And her claims that the Anti-Prostitution Laws in Korea are working and that other countries are studying Korea’s example? Haha, is she kidding, or what?

]]> By: aaronm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112694 aaronm Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:50:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112694 #23. Opportunities do exist. Many bar girls leave Isaan (the Northeast) to work factory or hospitality jobs in Bangkok or the resorts. However, they when they see their sisters and friends pulling in as much as a qualified engineer makes in a month working on their backs, the temptation is too great. What the author of the article in question fails to realize is the multitude of different forms of prostitution that exist in Asia. Taking the simplistic view that debt-bondage style prostitution is the alpha and omega of the issue is lousy social science, plain and simple. I'm not denying the existence of DB, but in other cases where women (or men for that matter) enter into the profession as free agents working for themselves no amount of legal sanction is going to help nor 'save' them. P.S. Has anyone ever heard the structural violence argument she is hinting at used outside of a campus or Trotskyite reading room? #23. Opportunities do exist. Many bar girls leave Isaan (the Northeast) to work factory or hospitality jobs in Bangkok or the resorts. However, they when they see their sisters and friends pulling in as much as a qualified engineer makes in a month working on their backs, the temptation is too great.

What the author of the article in question fails to realize is the multitude of different forms of prostitution that exist in Asia. Taking the simplistic view that debt-bondage style prostitution is the alpha and omega of the issue is lousy social science, plain and simple. I’m not denying the existence of DB, but in other cases where women (or men for that matter) enter into the profession as free agents working for themselves no amount of legal sanction is going to help nor ’save’ them.

P.S. Has anyone ever heard the structural violence argument she is hinting at used outside of a campus or Trotskyite reading room?

]]> By: kpmsprtd http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112637 kpmsprtd Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:09:19 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112637 I read the article assuming the author was American, but to my surprise she turned out to be Australian. I'm a supporter of legalized prostitution, but I thought the article wasn't too bad. (Badly written, maybe, but not bad as in she doesn't have a clue.) It's not like Korea is her first time out of Oz. She's spent time in both the Philippines (in the trenches with working girls) and Thailand, where opportunities for women are not particularly good. I mean, can you imagine being born poor in the Philippines or Thailand, and watching your daughter go off to make money selling her body? That would hurt. I doubt that I'm explaining my position any better than Sweet Caroline did, but I am glad that economic reality in the southern part of Korea allows women to freely choose to be a working girl or not. I have no use for anti-prostitution laws, or any other laws dictating behavior between consenting adults. I hope that opportunities improve for women in the Philippines and Thailand so that they, too, can have a free choice economically to be a working girl in a bar, office, or factory. I think Thailand will be there in a few years, but the Philippines will take much longer. Disclaimer: This is not a knock against the Filipino people, who could teach the average American a whole lot about generosity. I read the article assuming the author was American, but to my surprise she turned out to be Australian. I’m a supporter of legalized prostitution, but I thought the article wasn’t too bad. (Badly written, maybe, but not bad as in she doesn’t have a clue.)

It’s not like Korea is her first time out of Oz. She’s spent time in both the Philippines (in the trenches with working girls) and Thailand, where opportunities for women are not particularly good. I mean, can you imagine being born poor in the Philippines or Thailand, and watching your daughter go off to make money selling her body? That would hurt.

I doubt that I’m explaining my position any better than Sweet Caroline did, but I am glad that economic reality in the southern part of Korea allows women to freely choose to be a working girl or not. I have no use for anti-prostitution laws, or any other laws dictating behavior between consenting adults.

I hope that opportunities improve for women in the Philippines and Thailand so that they, too, can have a free choice economically to be a working girl in a bar, office, or factory. I think Thailand will be there in a few years, but the Philippines will take much longer.

Disclaimer:
This is not a knock against the Filipino people, who could teach the average American a whole lot about generosity.

]]> By: Granfalloon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112634 Granfalloon Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:38:48 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112634 Wow, a lot of you really seem to have the knives out for this woman. Yeah, she's obviously quite superior in her tone and attitude, but isn't she trying to bring some justice to an industry rife with human misery? Even if her head is in the clouds, seems to me her heart is in the right place. Wow, a lot of you really seem to have the knives out for this woman. Yeah, she’s obviously quite superior in her tone and attitude, but isn’t she trying to bring some justice to an industry rife with human misery? Even if her head is in the clouds, seems to me her heart is in the right place.

]]> By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112575 Sonagi Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:26:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112575 Please put down those evolutionary psychology books, Brendon. Many women, like many men, oppose the legalization of prostitution simply because they've been brought up to view it as a social evil that exploits women. I believe a majority of legislators in this country are men, as are nearly half of registered voters, so it's hard to pin laws banning prostitution on "privileged women." Personally, I support legalized prostituion. I recall reading several years ago about a performance artist who literally lined up 100 men to have sex with her, a perfectly legal act every one. If, however, she had taken one penny from any one of those men, then the act would become illegal. Que estupido. Please put down those evolutionary psychology books, Brendon. Many women, like many men, oppose the legalization of prostitution simply because they’ve been brought up to view it as a social evil that exploits women. I believe a majority of legislators in this country are men, as are nearly half of registered voters, so it’s hard to pin laws banning prostitution on “privileged women.”

Personally, I support legalized prostituion. I recall reading several years ago about a performance artist who literally lined up 100 men to have sex with her, a perfectly legal act every one. If, however, she had taken one penny from any one of those men, then the act would become illegal. Que estupido.

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112571 Brendon Carr Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:58:49 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112571 Meh. Many women on both the left and the right of the political spectrum can be counted upon to take a dim view of prostitution, but it's not really about <i>men</i> at all. Criminalization of prostitution is about <i>privileged</i> women controlling <i>other</i> women. In other words, hey sister, leave a girl be. Meh. Many women on both the left and the right of the political spectrum can be counted upon to take a dim view of prostitution, but it’s not really about men at all. Criminalization of prostitution is about privileged women controlling other women.

In other words, hey sister, leave a girl be.

]]> By: Smee http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112566 Smee Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:27:33 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112566 @15 That's exactly what I thought of when I first saw the title. It's a weird metaphor to choose for an article on Asian sexual deviance. It might have been better to say "the rods of the sex industry are thick and strong." @15

That’s exactly what I thought of when I first saw the title. It’s a weird metaphor to choose for an article on Asian sexual deviance. It might have been better to say “the rods of the sex industry are thick and strong.”

]]> By: wookinponub http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112565 wookinponub Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:04:20 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112565 What you said about labels. I have conservative views on some things and liberal on others. That's why I hate and like to annoy those who claim to be solidly in one camp and all those in the other deserve death. Like it says somewhere in those 'good books', all things in moderation. Drugs, religion, guns, sex, politics, nationalism, ad nauseam. Screw all who think they have The One True Way in this world of billions. What you said about labels. I have conservative views on some things and liberal on others. That’s why I hate and like to annoy those who claim to be solidly in one camp and all those in the other deserve death. Like it says somewhere in those ‘good books’, all things in moderation. Drugs, religion, guns, sex, politics, nationalism, ad nauseam. Screw all who think they have The One True Way in this world of billions.

]]> By: jdog2050 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112561 jdog2050 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:25:09 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112561 Wow that article was ridiculous...does this woman know nothing about human nature, or is it all just one big assed theorem to her? Her Ph.D. says a lot--too much fucking time in school, then she goes and sees a few towns in the Phillipines of all places, and her heart bleeds. She needs to read up on HIV transmission and legalized prostitution, what happens when it's legalized, etc, etc. As long as humans struggle for power over one another (i.e., for the rest of eternity), prostitution will exist in some form, and where there is prohibition, there's profit, and the harder the prohibition, the more the profit, and the more cold-hearted pimps are going to get to earn a buck. Wow that article was ridiculous…does this woman know nothing about human nature, or is it all just one big assed theorem to her? Her Ph.D. says a lot–too much fucking time in school, then she goes and sees a few towns in the Phillipines of all places, and her heart bleeds.

She needs to read up on HIV transmission and legalized prostitution, what happens when it’s legalized, etc, etc.

As long as humans struggle for power over one another (i.e., for the rest of eternity), prostitution will exist in some form, and where there is prohibition, there’s profit, and the harder the prohibition, the more the profit, and the more cold-hearted pimps are going to get to earn a buck.

]]> By: globalvillageidiot http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112557 globalvillageidiot Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:48:23 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/12/please-keep-your-tentacles-out-of-my-pants/#comment-112557 Damn, I find myself increasingly disliking labels like "liberal" and "conservative" (or "Korean" or "Gyopo" or "foreigner"). They are sometimes convenient/efficient descriptions, but like most generalizations tend to be imperfect and easily distorted. Not only does a term like "liberal" have a different - arguably opposite - meaning - for some as Andy mentioned, but who really fits the description? I know some self-described liberals who probably have more in common with right-wing survivalists in that they hold a similar laissez faire attitude about the role of government in their lives. Not all liberals are pro-choice, militant gun control advocates, or staunch supporters of gay marriage. At the same time, there are many conservatives - registered Republicans included - who have never been happy with the role of the religious right in the party. Many Republicans don't like to be lumped in with the neocons, etc. Some are pro small business and wary of big business and free trade. More than a few are gay. Anyway, I don't care for much of what this woman wrote - she does come across as having recently arrived at Incheon International for the first time - bit I suspect many women on the right of the political spectrum would view prostitution in an equally grim, judgemental light. (There might be an different tone to the smugness, but it would likely be present all the same.) Damn, I find myself increasingly disliking labels like “liberal” and “conservative” (or “Korean” or “Gyopo” or “foreigner”). They are sometimes convenient/efficient descriptions, but like most generalizations tend to be imperfect and easily distorted.

Not only does a term like “liberal” have a different - arguably opposite - meaning - for some as Andy mentioned, but who really fits the description? I know some self-described liberals who probably have more in common with right-wing survivalists in that they hold a similar laissez faire attitude about the role of government in their lives. Not all liberals are pro-choice, militant gun control advocates, or staunch supporters of gay marriage.

At the same time, there are many conservatives - registered Republicans included - who have never been happy with the role of the religious right in the party. Many Republicans don’t like to be lumped in with the neocons, etc. Some are pro small business and wary of big business and free trade. More than a few are gay.

Anyway, I don’t care for much of what this woman wrote - she does come across as having recently arrived at Incheon International for the first time - bit I suspect many women on the right of the political spectrum would view prostitution in an equally grim, judgemental light. (There might be an different tone to the smugness, but it would likely be present all the same.)

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