Prostitute rating service offensive for some
A British Government minister has politely asked California governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger to shut down a US-based website which offers a rather peculiar service.
PunterNet.com allows, well, punters to rate or should we say review
prostitutes. So it is a lot like many tech review sites, only reviewers
pay to do the reviews – they don't get paid for them, unless they score
some payola on the side.
Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality feels the site fuels
the demand for prostitution and that it is a sinister development in
the trade and exploitation of women. Obviously Harman is right, as the
site treats women like objects, as if it were rating a hotel,
restaurant, or some sort of graphics card.
"Punternet has pages and pages of women for sale in London," said
Harman. "Surely it can't be too difficult for 'The Terminator' to
terminate Punternet and that's what I am demanding that he does."
Prostitution is legal in Britain, but some forms of advertising are
not, and neither is soliciting. Harman said the Government would push
legislation which would make having sex with a prostitute controlled by
a pimp a criminal offence.
Punternet responded to Harman's initiative with an open letter, claiming it is not breaking any laws and that there are many similar sites 'with the same subject matter'.
More here.
