The ethics of pimping

[whiteypoker]

This topic has received dismal results with many onlookers at ephilosopher.com, so I'll give it a shot here and see if there are any brave souls.

Is there anyway to rationalize the ocupation of pimping?

I am aware that, due to my first few posts here on PO, I possibly have the reputation of being a masculinist I offer this: I cordually invite all the women to participate despite the position you take. Fire away with both sides of the argument.

If this thread survives, my role will be that of the observer. I've learned my lesson, thou shalt not flame.

[Silver Adept]

There is, in a society where prostitution is legal and regulated by the government. Then, being a pimp means that you're licensed to operate a brothel from the government.

Now, my guess is that you meant a society different than that one. Is that true?

[Shino]

[Doot]

Many folks would probably regard the worlds oldest profession as being unsavory. If you indeed allow for such things as legalized prostitution and arrange for a healthy and safe environment for these men and women (being equal in this as there are both genders involved) then so be it.

It does definitely depend on one's moral standing when answering such a thing as many would look at the act of sex to be that of an intimate nature with someone (idealistically) you will be spending the rest of your life with.

To face it realistically, prostituation happens every day. The images we may see in programs such as America Undercover and various other media would portray being a "pimp" as someone to maintain the ebb and flow of prostitution by any means possible. I'm figuring that most methods of handling a bad employee are thos eof a physical nature and in turn become unhealthy for the parties involved.

If you do legalize (as in such places - like Las Vegas) and you keep it regulated, then there would then be no use for a "pimp" but rather the manager of an establishment/business. And as with any business, if an employee is stealing, treat it as if they were stealing from a corporation. If the manager is abusive, then press charges as you would in any corporation. Instead of blasting tax dollars on booking and holding folks who do this kind of stuff, turn it around and take a cut of it and ensure that it's a much safer transaction that it currently is.

There would no need to rationalize the occupation of Pimping as it would no longer, technically exsist.

That seems like a far better result than it is currently as the image of a pimp is not such a charming nature. That is, unless you want to toss it into your musical lyrics to pretend you have some sort of cred.

Then again, you could very well turn it around and say that if a particular person is enchanted with keeping their pimp, at least give him/her a new and improved title like Escort Agent. Certainly would change the views on it as the word Pimp itself has taken on many different definiteions as of late (ex. Pimp my ride, Big Pimpin', etc.)

[shadokastur]

The profession came about as a set of circumstances in a world where men dominated and women didn't have much choice or say in their lives. So if a guy got a girl knocked up and decided to leave her well she was literally fucked. Prostitution was the "only" way out of a bad situation then. The situation where the woman doesn't have many options to expand the options in her life. The proverbial "out of the frying pan and into the fire" situation. And because of the state of the world then women would continue to get abused unless they had protection (i.e. the pimp). So this gentleman, of sorts, would take care of the bill paying aspect of the business and take a cut for his services. But just like any position of power it gets abused or over-glorified at times.

That's my say.
REY

[Graillik Tur]

By my limited knowledge of this topic, a pimp is much like a contracted promotionalist, home provider, protector, and financial advisor.

Now in an 'ethical' sense this is what I like to call a 'last resort' ideal. Now as I personally would rather die than whore myself out, for dignity or honor, some would find life so important that they would choose to be pimped out than continually struggle.

Now that being said, it has nothing to do with the pimp. The pimp's ethical obligation would be either, not to do this at all because it is morally wrong, or, it is better that I help this girl and she live with minimum pain.

That doesn't sound right to me, because, on this MLK day, that sounds a lot like a slave owner that buys a slave, treats them well, uses them but doesn't punish them, then when the time is right, releases them.

Either way you look at it, the one with the power could as easily just help the lesser individual and not have to be compensated for the services.

That's the 'ethical' view.

[Tobias]

the ethics of a pimp...interesting...

Well, ethics are kind of a wierd weay to put this, waht with teh whole business of prostitution being a very "unethical" business by means of the state governments around the US. Lets look at the description:

as Merriam webster defines the pimp: a man who solicits clients for a prostitue.

Now ethics are the moral wrongs and rigths of the profession. Lets look at whats wrong for him to do:

WRONGS
-Take out too much money for himself on the cut
-Harm his "Merchandise"
-Utilizing his Merchandise for his own purposes inappropriately, or in other words "Pimping his favorite girl to himself for free"

and his rights:

RIGHTS
-Take a small cut of the wages from his merchandise
-Protect his Merchandise from rough buyers
-If he does Pimp his own women to himself, he pays them, just like any customer

So, ethically, the pimp should withhold the same ethics of a merchant in any business: He has to keep his merchendise protected and safe, and distribute them accordingly to fare prices while taking a decent, but not huge cut from his gross sales.

But lest we forget...this IS pimping

*explodes*

[whiteypoker]

lol this cracks me up. God bless the usa



To answer the questions above: When I conceived of this topic, I meant in a society that does not have any rules or regulations that govern or allow for the occupation of prostitution. There are some really interesting answers here, far superior to the ones received on ephilosopher.com. Consider this a compliment of sorts as this is a site for graduate level philosophy students. Ya'll never cease to amaze me.