Compensated Dating & No More Cannabis

The past week has been very challenging for me. First, I was to start my dream job on 01 May only to find that it had for some reason not materialised. Utterly devastating to say the least. Then I got seriously ill with some flu bug, had to visit the doctor twice, and had to cancel my trip to Chiang Mai due to my illness. Not your pleasant week but that's live. Big, big  thank you to all my friends and their support the past week.

I digress. The blog is not about my personal issues so here goes. Let's spice up the Friday and cruise into the weekend.

In the past two weeks the local news has been flooded with discussions and forums about the 44 Men that were caught in a sting operation for having sex with a under aged prostitute in Singapore. Some high fly business men, a principle, some civil servants and other naught individuals. They secured the services on the net and the argument is that they did not know how old she was.

The latest discussions are about whether the prostitutes should also be accountable? In a discussion this morning they eluded to some form of law that will force "service providers" to state their age to clients. Really? That must be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Do they really believe this will have any effect at all. It's like asking a under aged teenager going to a pub for a sneaky drink how old he/she really is?

Surely the focus should be on whether prostitution is legal or not?

Just look at the Enjo Kosai trend in Hong Kong. Yes, it is a new word for me to but wait for it. It is the term used for "Compensated Dating". By definition it's not prostitution as there is no guarantee for any sexual favours. Basically, teenager girls providing a "Dating" service for older men with lots of money so they can uphold their expensive lifestyle. How is that not prostitution?

Normally I would provide a story link but for obvious reasons I will point you to You Tube in this case. Quite an eye opener to say the least. Search for Sex in Japan BBC and do not watch in an non secure area. Oops I mentioned it.

I have been to the Netherlands in the late 90's on a business trip and it was quite an experience considering I came from South Africa. New Dutch "Cannabis Card" laws came into effect last Tuesday to stamp out the sale of cannabis to foreigners and tourists. Basically, only citizens with a "Weed Card" will now be allowed to indulge legally in having their favourite joint in the coffee shops.

Further tougher rules, set to take effect nationwide from next year, effectively turn coffee shops into private clubs with no more than 2,000 members, who must be over 18 and legal residents of the country.

There has been lots of protests and speculation on what effect this will have on Marijuana Tourism in the country. Guess we will have to watch this one and if this is one of your past times you better make friends with a local very quickly or get a medical prescription?

Here is an interesting question. Did nobody learn anything from the Prohibition in the United States ?

It does not work people

As soon as you ban something it goes underground, becomes "attractive", even dangerous and in the end you do not achieve anything. It leads to corruption, criminal activity and attract people who would normally not be interested. Like forbidden fruit.

Forbidden fruit is any object of desire whose appeal is a direct result of knowledge that cannot or should not be obtained or something that someone may want but is forbidden to have.