Prostitution is the New Cool?

The recent Boobs On Bikes Parade down Queen Street re-ignited the debate over the mainstreaming of pornography. With 80+,000 people lining the street to watch the visiting porn stars parade topless down Auckland's main street, versus the 100 odd protesters marching in front of the parade ... well, I think that debate is done and dusted.

But one thing that those opposing the parade kept asking on Talkback radio ad nauseum was 'If we accept this, what's next?' The question was rhetorical since they always answered the question themselves with "Next there'll be male genitalia on display; and then they'll be copulating on the back of trucks not long after that".

Given that I could never have imagined a Topless Parade down Queen Street when I started Cheap Sex 10+ years ago I suppose I shouldn't rule out that one day we shall also see public fornication as street theatre. But I doubt it.

What I will say is that pornography has definately been mainstreamed. Mainstreamed as in most people just shrug and think 'whatever'. Again, who would have thought 10+ years ago that 'regular' TV would air a show called Girls Of The Playboy Mansion, detailing the 'reality' of Hugh Hefner shacking up with three (or is it four?) playmates? (BTW, can we take a minute to reflect on how icky it is for 3 young babes to be with a man old enough to be their grandfather? Ewww! Seriously, Ewwww!)

Anyway, if pornography has been mainstreamed, what is next? I saw a story on-line today that made me wonder if the Next Big Thing for the media will be Prostitution. Possibly no big deal here in New Zealand where prostitution is already legal, but in the US it's still illegal (except in Nevada) so for the US mainstream media maybe Prostitution is the next new frontier.

You can read the story Secrets of a Hipster Hooker in full here (NB: the pages seem out of order) but I'll give you an excerpt that I found particularly funny:

"These sleazy banker types came up to us and asked if they could join our table," Heather recalls. At first she told them to get lost, but she relented after the men ordered a cheese plate and some nice wine. One of the guys took a seat next to Heather and, after some small talk, disclosed that he had just left his wife. "I'm looking to spend my money," he said. He was fiddling with a cash clip stuffed with $100 bills...

... That night she went to his apartment in Trump Tower. "It was pretty straightforward. He offered me $3,000 to let him fuck me. I almost leaped on him."

[bold emphasis is mine]

I think that's funny because it's long been my impression that the Auckland City councillors (or their planning staff) can be bought by Big Business for the cost of a good Wine & Cheese function. Evidently the same in New York will convince an educated middle class white woman to join the ranks of the World's Oldest Profession.