Jennifer,

...the pity is you did not engage me much earlier than now, and pursue a more productive discussion. Looking for consensus on a lopsided argument, as I believe you show the tendance to do, is not productive to the Angela’s of this life.

...I would be overjoyed to continue a rational discussion if you wish. On a positive note, I was impressed with your research on the case of Angela regarding “law” outcomes and the history of the event, but where it fell down and became disappointing, (one of my criticisms), was the lack of research detail to explain why the Angela’s of this life, at the tender age of twelve, come to the conclusion that prostitution holds an acceptable alternative to a more productive life, in a conventional sense.

diver dan, "at the tender age of twelve, come to the conclusion that prostitution holds an acceptable alternative to a more productive life, in a conventional sense."

Is there any evidence that Angela came to that conclusion?
Her mother and partner used her for that purpose apparently to support a drug habit, I assume with some form of cooperation but that's a long way short of a 12 year old coming to the conclusion that "prostitution holds an acceptable alternative to a more productive life"

A child who has apparently been raised by the sort of person who would use her own daughter as a prostitute to fund her own vices is likely to have some struggles along the way.

R0bert

diver dan,
There is no mystery about why "Angela" was in the situation. Her mother and her mother's boyfriend prostituted her, and used the money she earned to feed their drug habits.

I'm not willing to extrapolate "Angela's" specific circumstances to those of any other child who is prostituted.

I don't accept your premise that "Angela" or any other prostituted child has freely chosen the life.
Jennifer.

diver dan,

What an extraordinary statement...that this child has apparently "...come to the conclusion that prostitution holds an acceptable alternative to a more productive life..."

How do you reach such a conclusion? This child was manipulated and exploited. Where is there any evidence that her predicament was freely chosen? Every facet of this story points in the opposite direction.

Jennifer:

1. # I don't accept your premise that "Angela" or any other prostituted child has freely chosen the life.
Jennifer. #

…Well, at this point is the crack in your defence. (Interpretive care needed with this sentence)…Having been initiated into the “act” at an early age, (the key point), willingness for underage girls to prostitute themselves is not uncommon! Plenty of research confirms the fact, but so too do personal observations confirm the fact.

2. # There is no mystery about why "Angela" was in the situation. Her mother and her mother's boyfriend prostituted her, and used the money she earned to feed their drug habits.#

...Exactly my point! Justice for Angela is complete on this score; both the above are serving ten year jail sentences for the “crime”. Now, with this point behind, the next accusation was towards the users of a prostitution “service” freely and openly and “legally” advertised in the local Hobart Mercury: And I have no-doubt Jennifer, you are aware of this important and relevant “technical” point, of the sordid Angela affair! And I further wonder why you doggedly persist in your attempts to separate child prostitution from the Government initiated decriminalisation of prostitution, and its undoubted input into furthering child abuse and child prostitution.

...It becomes impossible to separate the problem of child prostitution and abuse from this subject when discussing the situation of a child prostitute. I would be appalled if someone in your role were unaware of this critical connection!

Poirot/RObert:

...I am not responsible for the sheltered existence of posters on OLO. If you wish to enlarge your understanding of the complexities of child prostitution, I would suggest a knock on the door of the “Juvenile Justice” department of the Queensland Police in Brisbane for a starting point!