When Ben started editing for The Consumerist, part of his contract was that he had to service Gawker overlords like Joel Johnson and Nick Denton, but not Brownlee, who doesn’t go for that gay stuff. Everyone thought it was a fair arrangement: although a passable writer, Ben’s true talents have always been most evident in his carnal artistry, and what artist wouldn’t want to make a living doing what he loves? But then Gawker’s crackerjack legal monkeys looked over the contract, cited New York State prostitution laws and Ben found that the numerous vacancies he had been hired by Gawker to fill were reduced to only one… that of a lowly Consumerist editor. Sullen, Ben comforted himself the only way he knew how: injecting every Consumerist post with as many gay non sequiturs as possible.

In related news, the guys over Craigslist have suddenly found themselves under fire from anti-prostitution groups for a recent surge of ad rental advertisements offering low rent to women in exchange for sex. One recent ad on the site reads: “Upscale executive seeks beautiful female 18-24 to live in his luxury condo in Coral Gables for $1/month in exchange for some light duties. Help take care of dog, cook occasionally. Sex 2x/week. Serious inquires only. Please email a picture for consideration.” It’s blunt, we’ll give them that. And slightly creepy.

But it raises an interesting question: is a domestic arrangement for sex in exchange for a place to stay the same as prostitution? Are the same laws applicable? Even if they are, should prostitution — a fact of life and one of the oldest professions on earth — really be illegal? If prostitution was legal, women who choose to prostitute themselves could conduct their trade in far safer, cleaner and better regulated environments. Surely reducing the prominence of violent pimps, sexually-transmitted diseases and drug addiction is a more moral position than allowing these things to flourish under the illegality of prostitution.

We’re sure you guys have opinions. Let us hear them.

Now you can pay rent by having sex [World Net Daily]

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