by Stewart Richmond

Created on: June 30, 2008

Publishing the names and addresses of prostitutes in newspapers would certainly make them easier to find.
It would probably have the added beneficial affect of reducing the number of classified ads in the same newspapers for their services!

However, holding the prostitute up to public ridicule or derision and potential damaging consequences to their family, especially children, is abhorrent in the extreme.

What long term damage can be caused to a child attending school and being teased or bullied because their mother is a "hooker."

Three lines in a newspaper, branding someone for life. Placing a stigma on an entire family, causing pain to parents and siblings.

Forgotten by the reader in a few hours, remembered for life by a woman who more properly should be given support and understanding.

The unintended consequences of publishing a name and address far outweighs any benefit to society of publishing a list of names in a newspaper.

It is a cruel and unacceptable punishment which far outweighs the perceived crime.

And these aren't just names. These are human beings. Human beings who are coping with life in their own manner.

There are many examples unintended consequences having devastating results.
Wikipedia gives the example that had the conditions imposed on Germany at the end of the First World War in the Treaty of Versailles been less harsh, World War Two may never have happened.
(If you want to read more about unintended consequences look for works by Robert King Morton or just look it up on Wikipedia.)

It is essential that we as a society always look at the effect of our decision making.

For every decision we make in our lives, whether is about what we eat for dinner or if we go to war with Iraq, there will be consequences.
There are many correct decisions.

We have to choose the correct decision which will have the desired consequences based on what information we have available.

A prostitute is only a criminal in some jurisdictions and not in others.

In some societies it is considered an honourable profession.

Other societies now see the prostitute as the victim and their customers as the criminals.
Some reform campaigners take photographs of kerb crawlers (men who drive slowly along streets to pick up prostitutes) and brothel customers and post them on walls and in shop windows.

"Ladies, is this your husband/father or son?"

Why not publish the names of the customers in the newspaper? Is it any less of a crime to be using an illegal service than the person providing the service?
The law in most countries provides harsh penalties for aiding or abetting the commission of a crime. So let it be with prostitution.

Nothing would be gained to publish the names, but there is so much to be lost.

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