JIM NORTON - TIME.COM | I'm Not Ashamed To Pay For Sex - And Other Men Shouldn't Be Either

[Guest031715-1]

I'm not ashamed to pay for sex—and other men shouldn't be either

(Comedian) Jim Norton | | TIME.COM







As a man who has spent an embarrassing amount of money on prostitutes and various other sexual encounters, I was excited when I heard about a “National Day of Johns,” because I thought I was being honored.


I envisioned myself being carted down New York City’s Fifth Avenue on the back of a flatbed truck, waving to cheering fans as confetti rained down on me and my disappointed parents hid behind a mailbox. A silly (yet understandable) mistake on my part, as the National Day of Johns was a celebration of the arrests of hundreds of men in a series of sex stings in 15 states. The fact that I’ve never been arrested in one of these stings should convince even the most ardent of atheists that miracles are indeed possible.

I suppose you could say I am the consummate john. I’m loyal, I’m dedicated, and I will always come back — even as it seems as though efforts to shame johns are on a national upswing throughout the country.


I cannot even fathom a guess as to how much money — let alone time — I’ve spent on paid sex in the past 25 years. Although I can tell you that when Charlie Sheen confessed he’d spent $50,000 in one year, I nodded my head and saw it as an achievable goal. Because I’ve never actually tallied the dollar amount of my sex addiction, my therapist tells me I should — her logic being that a concrete cost would make it more definitive and its consequences more tangible.


But really, perhaps the most shameful thing I can admit is this: I’m not really ashamed. And neither should any of these other (unmarried) johns who have been arrested.


If these men are anything like me, they might simply feel more comfortable with prostitutes. I never pick them up to be abusive. I always feel extraordinarily loving and close to them. When I first began soliciting sex for money, it never occurred to me that some of them are possibly forced into prostitution or have abusive pimps. I must have known it deep down on an intellectual level but hadn’t witnessed anything to confirm it.


Until I did.


The only experience I’ve had where an element of violence was present was driving on 48th Street in New York and talking to a girl through my passenger window. (A big part of my addiction is the ritualistic aspect, and for some reason I only liked to pick up prostitutes who talked to me through the passenger window.) As we were speaking, a van full of girls stopped, and a guy I assume was her pimp bounced her across the hood of my car and threw her in the van.


This is why I’m a firm believer that prostitution should be legalized and pimps should be thrown down an elevator shaft.


Law-enforcement stings designed to shame men who pay for sex are nothing more than the state blowing its own morality horn. Being a comedian who is single allows me a luxury most johns don’t have, which is the freedom to discuss the topic openly. And not from a case-study point of view but from the honest point of view of someone who has spent the equivalent of a Harvard Law School education on purchasing sex.


By keeping prostitution illegal because we find it morally objectionable, we allow (or, more accurately, you allow) sex workers to constantly be put into dangerous situations.



Studies have shown that rapes and STDs dropped drastically from 2003 to 2009 in Rhode Island after the state accidentally legalized it. The American Journal of Epidemiology showed that the homicide rate for prostitutes is 50 times that for those in the next most dangerous job for a woman, working in a liquor store. You don’t need a master’s in sociology to understand it would be much safer for sex workers if they were permitted to work in places that provided adequate security. Legalizing prostitution would also alleviate the fear a sex worker may have about reporting a john’s abusive behavior because of the risk of arrest.


The illegal aspect of prostitution has never deterred me, nor would legalizing it cause me to engage in it more.


The decision people make to have sex for a living would undoubtedly confuse and repulse a large part of the population. But in a free society, people must be allowed to make choices for themselves that are incomprehensible to others.



By keeping prostitution illegal and demonizing all of its parties, we (you) are empowering pimps and human traffickers and anyone else who wants to victimize sex workers because they feel helpless under the law.


Give sex workers rights. Give johns a break.



Norton is a comedian, New York Times best-selling author and host of The Jim Norton Show on Vice.com

[Loxly]

I was onced asked if I were bi-sexual. I told them that if they spelled it B-U-Y, then Yes.

[RALPHEY BOY]

Pussy cost $$ no matter what
GF: cost money
SO's: cost money
Wife: a shit pot ton of money!!
Sugar Baby: costs money

I agree you pay now or pay later, but you will pay!

[stevejones1969]

Now this is just what I heard. Toyz claims he can pay for it with a bologna and velvetta cheese sandwitch. Sometimes, and I stress sometimes, he has to throw in a visit to the dollar general for the gal. Now I think that is overpaying but Toyz says the sammie is usually enough. If so then I guess I could splurge some.

[Toyz]

Originally Posted by stevejones1969

Now this is just what I heard. Toyz claims he can pay for it with a bologna and velvetta cheese sandwitch. Sometimes, and I stress sometimes, he has to throw in a visit to the dollar general for the gal. Now I think that is overpaying but Toyz says the sammie is usually enough. If so then I guess I could splurge some.

The bag of hot Cheetos usually seals the deal if there is a gap to fill...no hoogar can turn down

• Bologna & Velveeta sandwich on white
• A lunch size bag of hot Cheetos
• A NEHI Grape Soda

Its a triple play killer of an offer....

[irishlad]

In my opinion the real problem society and especially women have with prostitution is that it's too cheap. To most women, prostitutes are like cartel breakers or scabs (as in picket line crossers not little crusts on wounds).

It's openly admitted. "Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free". I don't know about you guys, but even though milk is not free and I have to pay for it, I'm glad I can get it without having to buy a whole god damned cow.

[RALPHEY BOY]

this whole notion of monogamy and love/marriage is only a recent trend, when I say recent I mean in the past 200 years.
Marriage was for economic reasons, not love, you had kids to work the farm or other chores, you did not have kids to take them to 'Medieval Land', or for grandma and grandpa

[FloridaShark]

Interestingly enough though, the trend in more progressive countries is toward the Swedish Model. Highly popular, the concept is simple. Prostitution is not a crime. Purchasing the services of a sex worker is criminalized instead. The Swedish Model has since become the basis of laws governing prostitution in Norway, Iceland, and France.

[Toyz]

Breaking newz from TNN {ToYz Newz Networkz}

Comedian Jim Norton, scheduled to appear on NBC's long lived political forum "Face the Nation" failed to show for the taping this afternoon at Radio City Music Hall. Calls to his home went directly to voice mail & were not returned.

Speaking on his behalf, Nortons aide said in a separate statement:

"Jim is the consummate professional & at present we have no idea on his whereabouts". "He earlier confirmed by text that he would be on time for the taping". "We are at a loss to explain his missing".

Norton, known as being a talented entertainer, has a history of erratic attendance. This has been his primary demon long before he took on the name "Jim Norton" and was known as "Bad Dream James". Although going to several time planning seminars as well as "learn to value others time as your own" Norton has not managed to overcome his addiction to not-giving-a-shit.

[Squarenot]

If it flies, floats or fucks it is cheaper to rent it.

[FS_ITC]

Originally Posted by Toyz

Breaking newz from TNN {ToYz Newz Networkz}
...

LOL! I get it! And so do a lot of others, I'm sure.

Okay...and at the same time I don't get it! And that's the real problem!

Well played.

[Toyz]

Originally Posted by FS_ITC

LOL! I get it! And so do a lot of others, I'm sure.

Okay...and at the same time I don't get it! And that's the real problem!

Well played.

Thanks for getting it FS!! I know some are lost...but its worth it for the ones that do get it.

[AtxTexMex]

I see what you did there Toyz, nice one.

The thing is people still keep reaching out to Jim Norton to set up gigs even after knowing that there is a current history of erratic attendance and even more so under the previous name"Bad Dream James".
So as long as the demand is there and Jim Norton is able to pay the bills by following through on one to two gigs things wont change.

[Toyz]

Originally Posted by AtxTexMex

I see what you did there Toyz, nice one.

The thing is people still keep reaching out to Jim Norton to set up gigs even after knowing that there is a current history of erratic attendance and even more so under the previous name"Bad Dream James".
So as long as the demand is there and Jim Norton is able to pay the bills by following through on one to two gigs things wont change.

Oh yah, I fully understand the economic play for James. As I find his act a bit mediocre anyway I won't be buying any tickets so its truly no skin off my balls at all.
I do feel sorry for his fans who bought tickets for the taping, drove to the venue, only to be left with their proverbial dick in their hands...but...if u r gonna dance with the devil u have to pay the Piper...or something like that.

[The Grouch]

Jim should know better. He has quite a few fans. Don't be surprised once all of Jim's fans hear about this they ban together. They may stop buying his DVDs, watching his comedy specials, going to see his standup. He probably will have trouble getting gigs. Maybe Jim has a good excuse and will let his fans know why he missed another appointment. I'm sure Jim will make this right.