by Colette Duval

Created on: February 16, 2008

I have this image in my mind of a group of morally upright citizens of both male and female sex
demonstrating outside Miss ' X's house holding cardboard placards with bible quotes splashed across them.
At the same time a handful of young and old hopeful males are lurking around the back door to Miss X's house, address book in one, condom in the other hand.

I mean, come on! The only people who gain anything from publicizing Miss X's name and address are those who see it as an opportunity- see description above- to be publicly moral, God fearing, better-than-thou, self righteous citizens. Or which other possible purpose could it serve to name and shame anyone who does not pose a danger to anyone?

Does the presence of a person engaging in prostitution lower the house prices in the neighbourhood? Does she lower the moral tone in the area? Is she a risk to children and young people who probably would be none the wiser unless it is pointed out to them that there, in that house right over there, lives a woman who has no moral standards and must not be allowed to be near husbands and children. And that mob outside her house, that's a lynch mob! So now , children, no you know how the world works. Justice must be done!

On a serious note though, I personally would fear those who would deem it right and beneficial
to ' mark' a woman like this much more than I would any person who engaged in prostitution or
any other activity which was personal, private and didn't exploit or harm anyone.

There is an episode of the Simpsons in which the house of ' Burlesque' poses a threat to Springfield's values and norms. It turns out though that many of those who must be officially seen to oppose the existence of that house are actually quite faithful customers !

Don't take it literally! All I'm saying is that I can't think of one good reason to publish a woman's name and address because she has been arrested for prostitution. What if she is? She could have robbed the local post office and be safe from the righteous lynch mob.

There are much more dangerous things and people in this world who one should worry about. Sometimes people who think they are superior to others and have the placards to prove it are
some of those!

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