Thanks for the comment. I actually agree with your refinements to my argument in principle. I like that you replaced "prostitution" with "waiting tables" because that mentality is one of the ways I came to my "take the morality out of it" idea. Often people have to do work they don't always like, but my point in challenging the legality of prostitution has more to do with protecting women than anything else, and that includes protecting the ones who don't really like it. I entertain and ask people to entertain the idea of being realistic about prostitution. It isn't going away. Not ever. So, let's protect those girls who are out there whether they like being out there or not.

I hadn't heard of "The Sessions", but I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the suggestion. :)

Cheers,
Mel

Hey Nate,

I guess what I'm looking for is better than what we have. I definitely like the idea of "cleaner and less dangerous", but you're probably right that the outcome will be mixed. Prostitutes still have to overcome social stigmas. I do believe that legalization could only be beneficial.

Cheers,
Mel

Hey Sara,

And thanks for that. I kinda feel that way, too... like it's the final frontier of compassion. :)

Cheers,
Mel

Hey Jamie,

I totally agree with you that you're a feminist and a true feminist at that. So happy to read there are others in my corner fighting the lost feminists. ;)

Cheers,
Mel

Hey Lisa,

I'm sorry if my distinguishing between trafficking and prostitution wasn't clearer for you, but my intent was absolutely to make that distinction. I don't believe I oversimplified prostitution at all, but I did simply say that women who make the choice for people to pay them for sex should not be criminalized. Victims are victims, and frankly, even the ones who are not prostituting themselves by choice are victims of a system that criminalizes them. Not fair and not okay.

Cheers,
Mel

It was meant to be funny. I have tons of respect for both Iyengar and MJ. :)

And Śākyamuni's advice was to follow the Middle Path, but even Buddhists seem to forget this. Your exercise in mowing the lawn made you think, which is the point, but to quit mowing the lawn is to forget the Middle Path. :)

I would imagine Waylon Lewis takes issue with #30. ;)

Curses. I did this in my 30s and 40s. Awesome advice, though. :)

Hey Jason,

Thanks for the response, but "truth" isn't relative and opinions are often exactly that: relative and subjective. Like you said, your experience. Not fact. Not truth. A belief. Just like my opinion (what you perhaps considered to be shaming and blaming) that the beginning of your video was disappointing. Some people likely found it inspiring.

I don't think I've ever been called "passive". I was fairly direct with you.

I will, however, credit you for the part of your advice that can (perhaps) be considered universally helpful: that we can learn from children. I disagree that you are not "whole" (what on earth does that mean???) but I would agree with you that you can grow by learning and watching children. Maybe I'm just pickier with language.

Keep in mind that you can also be deceived and manipulated by them and get blinded by and lost in your love for them. Children are constantly looking for ways to be in charge. I've read the peer reviewed studies. Try to remember that we're animals and sometimes act that way. Your children are no exception.

Let me guess... your children aren't teenagers.

My advice (and I'm no expert)? Being sensitive is nice, but being on the ball is more important when you're trying to rear and prepare children for the realities of life. Just wait till they're teenagers and then see how you feel. ;)

Cheers,
Mel