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1. • CommentAuthorovergainer
   • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2008

    # 1
   The problem is
   
   - a significant increase in sex workers (from regional countries) to Singapore.
   - growing pockets of red light districts, Duxton Road, Joo Chiat, Orchard Road, even the recently squashed massage parlours in the heartlands.
   - rising numbers of youths and people with AIDs and STIs (sexually-transmitted infections).
   
   I feel that the system has a responsibility to help rein in, and guide its people.
   Acknowledging prostitution as damaging to society, relationships and people's health, how do we seek to reduce this problem?
   
   I can only think of:
   
   1. Having stricter immigration rules/checks.
   2. More patrols and arrests of sex workers soliciting openly.
   3. "Education", not just showing the adverse health effects (How to identify if you have STIs, etc), but the social and psychological impact, perhaps through sharing of stories and experiences by people and their families whose lives and relationships have been adversely affected.
   4. Creation of alternative jobs for sex workers.
   
   I also believe that HIV-carriers and STI-positive people have a right to live, as full lives as possible. I feel that because of the social stigma, they are deprived of meaningful relationships and this could also lead to more casual attitudes towards sex, and result in further spreading of infections to unknowing partners. Hence, I wish to propose a "post-solution":
   
   4. a 100% free social dating website for HIV-carriers and STI-positive people in Singapore. (Currently, there are global social sites for affected people, but they are commercial with exorbitant fees, charging high fees that is an added barrier to the already-many barriers for positive singles who wish to date others. )
   
   I wish to help but I feel that my abilities and resources are not enough. I hope that by starting this discussion, a sufficient number of people can get together to work on these solutions. If there are other solutions proposed, it would also be great too.
   
   thank you.
2. • CommentAuthorGuest
   • CommentTimeMar 11th 2009

    # 2
   Guest:
   
   Hi Overgainer,
   
   I understand your concern regarding prostitution in Singapore. However, I would like to add a few comments.
   First of all, I believe the topic should soley address the issue of increasing Sexually Transmitted Diseases cases in Singapore. It is myopic to draw an explicit link between prostituition (in the case of legal prostitution) and STDs. As such, the topic should be "How to eradicate or reduce STDs in Singapore."
   
   In fact, the benefits of legal prostituition outweighs the cons of not having any legal avenue for men to ease their urges, to put it crudely. Society would be worser off with more rape cases, illegal prostituition and inevitably, more STDs/HIV cases. That being said, I totally agree with you regarding your solutions. :)
   
   -Sam
3. • CommentAuthorovergainer
   • CommentTimeMar 18th 2009

    # 3
   Hi there,
   thanks for your comments. here are my thoughts...
   
   About how to eradicate or reduce STD infections in Singapore, I think it would have to depend largely on public education/informational programmes, i.e. identifying STDs, how it is spread, ways of prevention (i.e condoms). Another way to eradicate will be on the medical front, although that is dependent on scientific advances.
   
   About prostitution, it is not a moral avenue for men. And not really a solution for the so-called urges. Visiting sex workers actually leads to more problems in man's life.
   
   BTW, have u seen the sex discussion site Sammyboy.com? Do you think the govt should block it? If playboy.com can be blocked, why not sammyboy.com?