Friday, July 25, 2008 | Reason : In the News | print version

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Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

by AFP

Thanks to coulisdetomate for the link.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jiYcdOGio2S0jQntJo-WPf36gIwA

Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

SYDNEY (AFP) — As Sydney prepares for a visit by Pope Benedict XVI and hundreds of thousands of Catholics, the city's brothels are readying themselves for an expected surge in demand for sex.

Any time Australia's biggest city hosts a major event -- from the 2003 Rugby World Cup to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit last year -- it is boomtime for the sex industry, insiders say.

And with 225,000 foreign and Australian pilgrims expected in Sydney for six-days of events celebrating the Catholic faith from July 15-20, they expect World Youth Day to be no different.

Sydney brothel Xclusive is putting on extra workers to provide sexual favours to lonely tourists and Sydneysiders during event.

"We will get a lot of tourists, pilgrims and we will still get the curious," a spokeswoman for the Bondi Junction bordello told AFP.

"The World Council of Churches, when they had their congress in Canberra back in the 1990s, that was the best business period ever.

"Obviously we're not promoting it at your traditional Catholic community and it's unlikely we will get priests through. But there'll be lots of tourists in town and there'll be lots of people in town."

Xclusive's manager, a 30-something blonde who would only give her name as Catherine, said she was rostering extra girls and would probably take on another receptionist to handle the increased demand.

The purpose-built bordello, which has luxurious rooms complete with double showers, spas, custom-made beds and panic buttons for the sex workers, is expecting a 150-200 percent hike in business during World Youth Day.

"Donald Trump used this tile in Trump Tower in New York," Catherine said as she showed off the spa area in one of the rooms in the 1.2 million dollar (1.1 million US) development.

"They had a bit of quantity left over... so we got the rest of it."

Catherine believes the brothel's proximity to some of the major events, including the Pope's final mass which is expected to draw up to 500,000 people to nearby Randwick Racecourse on July 20, could bring customers to her door.

Visitors need not worry about breaking the law as brothels are legal, and they could be made to feel at home by sex workers speaking a range of languages including Spanish, Greek, Mandarin, French, Thai, Arabic, Korean, Nepalese and Italian.

Based on her experience of working in a massage parlour during APEC, Xclusive staff member Emma is expecting a number of first-timers, both to sex and to the industry, during the Catholic youth festival.

"APEC was probably the best time in Sydney for this industry," the 23-year-old university student told AFP.

"They had to fly working girls from interstate to Sydney because of demand.

"I think World Youth Day will be very busy. I think there will be a lot of newbies (new customers), a lot of businessmen."

The Eros Association, Australia's adult industry group, said sex shops and brothels across Sydney are expecting "huge turnover" during World Youth Day.

"We know the kind of people who visit prostitutes and adult shops, many of them do it because of their own personal repression," Eros spokesman Robbie Swan told AFP. "And often it's because of religion."

"Our industry is the forbidden fruit industry."

Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008 | Permalink

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1. Comment #218660 by Tom Coward on July 25, 2008 at 3:16 pm

All those sexually repressed Catholics! Where do I buy stock in a brothel!

Other Comments by Tom Coward

2. Comment #218663 by al-rawandi on July 25, 2008 at 3:20 pm

Tom Coward,

Rick's Capberet, I can't remember the ticker on the stock.

You could also invest in the "Vice Fund" -- VICEX

Other Comments by al-rawandi

3. Comment #218664 by beeline on July 25, 2008 at 3:20 pm

I expect the priesthood are frustrated that Sydney's otherwise liberal laws place a lower limit on sex worker age.

Other Comments by beeline

4. Comment #218665 by Apathy personified on July 25, 2008 at 3:20 pm

Silly business practise, you have to know your customer.
Surely she should have hired more vunerable young boys?

Cheap joke, but worth it.

Other Comments by Apathy personified

5. Comment #218668 by Village_Idiot on July 25, 2008 at 3:22 pm

Perhaps my post is not exactly on the topic but it is still strongly associated with a question: How to wipe out religion from this planet before it's too late?

http://www.radioislam.org/jewish-photos/index.htm

Hold on to you chair...and focus on the very first 7 top pictures

Other Comments by Village_Idiot

6. Comment #218706 by TIKI AL on July 25, 2008 at 3:50 pm

The "Resurrection 2 for 1 timed special", "Mary Magdalin reach around", and "Missionary Tranny Conversion" are always crowd pleasers at these religious events.

Other Comments by TIKI AL

7. Comment #218708 by stereoroid on July 25, 2008 at 3:52 pm

Village_Idiot: how about a warning before posting a link to that kind of site? It contains some very disturbing images. If that's supposed to make us sympathise with Hizbollah, you're in the wrong place.

I know that they do the same to Israeli children any chance they get, and do you really expect me to take sides with one bunch of religious nutters against another bunch of religious nutters? Neither side is justified in their beliefs.

Other Comments by stereoroid

8. Comment #218709 by Don_Quix on July 25, 2008 at 3:59 pm

I honestly didn't know there were brothels in Sydney. Yet another reason to visit Australia!

Other Comments by Don_Quix

9. Comment #218712 by Village_Idiot on July 25, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Stereoroid wrote:

If that's supposed to make us sympathise with Hizbollah, you're in the wrong place.

I don't understand your childish comment.

Other Comments by Village_Idiot

10. Comment #218759 by 35bluejacket on July 25, 2008 at 4:57 pm

Stereoroid

That went right over your head :) Zoom!!
Your religious slip is showing.

V I Good post

Other Comments by 35bluejacket

11. Comment #218771 by ghuckin on July 25, 2008 at 5:05 pm

I wonder if there's a surcharge for the missionary position.

Other Comments by ghuckin

12. Comment #218772 by Vinelectric on July 25, 2008 at 5:08 pm

.. many of them do it because of their own personal repression," Eros spokesman Robbie Swan told AFP. "And often it's because of religion."

Yeah pimp, whatever. Tabloid coloumn fillers on the website, always a joy to read.

Next topic please...

Other Comments by Vinelectric

13. Comment #218777 by Vinelectric on July 25, 2008 at 5:16 pm

35bluejacket

Your religious slip is showing.

That conflict has had world wide repercussions. Nothing to do with religion. Not sure what village-idiot's intentions were. I'm certainly suspicious of yours !

Other Comments by Vinelectric

14. Comment #218778 by Border Collie on July 25, 2008 at 5:19 pm

Priests and teenagers going to whorehouses! Oh, Mr. Jesus, tell me it ain't so!

But, then, after the priests get through with the teenagers, there might not be much left of the teenagers for the whores to work with.

Other Comments by Border Collie

15. Comment #218782 by Spaceboy on July 25, 2008 at 5:25 pm

From what I heard, brothels did "3 times" as much business but the patrons didn't want to use condoms because it's against their faith.

Other Comments by Spaceboy

16. Comment #218785 by 35bluejacket on July 25, 2008 at 5:29 pm

vinelectric

Read VI's post and look at that site he gave again. Then tell me how much you admire religion.

Am I missing something here? Am I on a pro jewish or pro religion site? :)

Other Comments by 35bluejacket

17. Comment #218794 by avekid on July 25, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Stereoroid:

I don't think the idea was to get you to side with Hizbollah. The idea was to demonstrate, once again, the evils of religion.

(If I'm wrong, Village Idiot, I'm open to correction.)

Other Comments by avekid

18. Comment #218795 by Village_Idiot on July 25, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Vinelectric wrote:

That conflict has had world wide repercussions. Nothing to do with religion.

Hmm, nothing to do with religion? Who are you trying to convince? Take this back or I'll be, using your phraseology, certainly suspicious of your intelligence!

Avekid wrote:

The idea was to demonstrate, once again, the evils of religion.

Absolutely. I think those pictures, and the specificity of the website, make the point vividly clear. Thank you.

Other Comments by Village_Idiot

19. Comment #218804 by 35bluejacket on July 25, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Thank goodness!! This is the atheist's site. Seems like some our members need to read Hitchens.
I can't speak for all but I don't take religious sides, neither does our Four Horseman. Judaism is just another head of the serpent, as well as Islam and Christanity.

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20. Comment #218812 by tboneecks on July 25, 2008 at 5:57 pm

"Obviously we're not promoting it at your traditional Catholic community and it's unlikely we will get priests through."

This line alone forced me stop reading because I was literally laughing until I cried.

Other Comments by tboneecks

21. Comment #218835 by vesihiisi on July 25, 2008 at 6:24 pm

Village Idiot: That seems a bit harsh way to wipe out religion. Maybe we could use education or something?

Other Comments by vesihiisi

22. Comment #218836 by Pattern Seeker on July 25, 2008 at 6:26 pm

...and panic buttons for the sex workers?!

First Rule-Don't Panic.

Second Rule-Bring A Towel. Preferably a clean one. You're about to enter a brothel.

Other Comments by Pattern Seeker

23. Comment #218861 by dr joneZ on July 25, 2008 at 6:53 pm

I can think of nothing more ridiculous than arriving at a brothel carrying a towel, Pattern Seeker!

All Sydney brothels provide freshly-laundered towels for their customers.

Other Comments by dr joneZ

24. Comment #218887 by Village_Idiot on July 25, 2008 at 7:19 pm

Vesihiisi wrote:

That seems a bit harsh way to wipe out religion. Maybe we could use education or something?

I'm not following your line of thinking. The pictures are to illustrate atrocities of religious war, today in the XXI century. Nothing else.

35bluejacket wrote:

Seems like some our members need to read Hitchens.

Yes, and take a few classes on critical thinking.

A general comment:
Interesting, when you hit the "Jewish button" suddenly strange and illogical comments pop out even on atheist's discussion forum. Simply sad and ugly.

Other Comments by Village_Idiot

25. Comment #218928 by 35bluejacket on July 25, 2008 at 8:30 pm

This site has spent a lot of time exposing the sicknesses of Islam and Christanity and very little on Judaism. Even though this is an Islamic site and is propaganda don't shoot the messenger so to speak. The pictures and quotes speak for themselves. You might keep in mind that these dead children are not "Moslem" children but just children. Sorry if this is a bit off the thread but I feel it needs to be shown again. Special thanks to Village_Idiot.

http://www.radioislam.org/jewish-photos/index.htm

Other Comments by 35bluejacket

26. Comment #218932 by steveroot on July 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm

23. Comment #218861 by dr joneZ on July 25, 2008 at 6:53 pm

All Sydney brothels provide freshly-laundered towels for their customers.

Well, then, there's no excuse for a hoopy frood not knowing where his towel is. :-)
Ste5e

Other Comments by steveroot

27. Comment #218954 by cam9976 on July 25, 2008 at 9:38 pm

I wonder if there will also be a surge in the number of vulnerable young catholics molested during the pope's trip.

Other Comments by cam9976

28. Comment #218955 by moderndaythomas on July 25, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Personal repression and religion.
That would make me seek out prostitution...........but then so would my genes.........and the fact that I'm a musician...........and I probably had a drink........and a dollar for the condemn machine.

Other Comments by moderndaythomas

29. Comment #218962 by Christopher Davis on July 25, 2008 at 10:22 pm

"You might keep in mind that these dead children are not "Moslem" children but just children."---35bluejacket

I'm going to pass on looking at the dead children, but I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I've got a picture of a little Afghan boy eating "skittles" that I look at every time I start thinking that we should just turn this place (Afghanistan)into a glass bowl.

Other Comments by Christopher Davis

30. Comment #218963 by Roy_H on July 25, 2008 at 10:44 pm

"Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up"
Shouldn't that be "Leg over" ?

Other Comments by Roy_H

31. Comment #218981 by Mishakal on July 25, 2008 at 11:46 pm

I remember that in the Dark Ages the Catholic Church actually RAN the Brothels of Europe and even had a special tax for the profit made at them.

Is it that shocking that the Catholics would be up to their old tricks by visiting, if not funding the brothels once again?

Other Comments by Mishakal

32. Comment #218983 by Roland_F on July 25, 2008 at 11:47 pm

"Obviously we're not promoting it at your traditional Catholic community and it's unlikely we will get priests through

A Catholic priest in a brothel ? of course not !
How naive is the brothel owner ?

Representatives of the biggest Transnational pedophile Organization of course will need young boys in easy to lift robes of altar boys !

Other Comments by Roland_F

33. Comment #218985 by Logicel on July 26, 2008 at 12:15 am

Tom Coward, the symbol for the adult cabaret business is RICK (trades on the Nasdaq).

The rumor has it that for some of these young people, these world youth events is when they lose their virginity--often with each other.

Other Comments by Logicel

34. Comment #218989 by beanson on July 26, 2008 at 12:35 am

Village Idiot

It has been noted that gratuitously looking at images of violence is akin to looking at pornography- I won't extend the comparison to draw the disturbing conclusion from looking at violence against children, but not everybody wants to be directed to violent imagery without sufficient warning

Other Comments by beanson

35. Comment #218994 by Village_Idiot on July 26, 2008 at 1:09 am

Beanson wrote:

"...looking at images of violence is akin to looking at pornography..."

I strongly suggest you consult a psychiatrist if this is the very first association you make when looking at that page and the photographs.

Beanson wrote:

"...not everybody wants to be directed to violent imagery without sufficient warning..."

You poor child, if the atrocities of the war between Judaism and Islam are so unbearable why don't you enjoy yourself looking at some fine babes on a pornographic website instead? Perhaps consider installing parental controls for yourself for the future or stop browsing the internet and watching the news all together.

Other Comments by Village_Idiot

36. Comment #219001 by L.Minnik on July 26, 2008 at 2:11 am

If the church hierarchy cared about the well-being of people at all, they would listen to the points made here:

http://www.womenlobby.org/site/video_en.asp
(20 min video "Not for sale")

Other Comments by L.Minnik

37. Comment #219002 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 2:17 am

"You poor child, if the atrocities of the war between Judaism and Islam are so unbearable why don't you enjoy yourself looking at some fine babes on a pornographic website instead?"

Missing something here, is that all the choice is on the internet? You either have to look (without warning) at appalling images of one kind or another?

Don't get the point you are making.

Other Comments by Dr Doctor

38. Comment #219010 by equivocal20 on July 26, 2008 at 3:46 am

Look, we are all reasonable people here. Village Idiot, just be kind enough to warn everyone next time there is something graphic on a website you want us to see. There is no way that is too much to ask.

Other Comments by equivocal20

39. Comment #219016 by Friend Giskard on July 26, 2008 at 4:33 am

Ha. The aptly named Village_Idiot.

Other Comments by Friend Giskard

40. Comment #219017 by GodMyArse on July 26, 2008 at 4:34 am

I hope they publish the official stats after it's over, I'd love to be able to quote an accurate percentage rise in turnover and customer numbers when debating 'moral decline' with faith-heads. Not that I think there is anything inherently immoral about brothels/sex workers, but they, of course, do and to see them wriggle a bit when trying to rationalise the correlation...

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41. Comment #219018 by Vaal on July 26, 2008 at 4:46 am

So, there was more than the usual "Oh my God" cries coming from the Sydney brothel this week.

Wonder if Darth Ratty popped in for a quicky? Or would his tastes be more to boys?

Other Comments by Vaal

42. Comment #219021 by beanson on July 26, 2008 at 5:00 am

Village Idiot
You really are being rather pathetic- apart from the fact that (as you so freely admitted) your initial contribution was off topic- your further comments range from incontinent indignation at being politely taken to task (I see you've slightly edited your backhanded 'warning') to something like accusations of Jewish favouritism, viz:

"Interesting, when you hit the "Jewish button" suddenly strange and illogical comments pop out even on atheist's discussion forum. Simply sad and ugly" village_idiot

I suggest you stop compounding the first blunder

Apt moniker you've got there btw

Other Comments by beanson

43. Comment #219022 by Ian Bamlett on July 26, 2008 at 5:36 am

Village Idiot.

I have found your unwarranted subversion of this thread impolite at best, and at worst disturbing.

I'm asking nicely if you will think twice before doing something like that again.

All the Best,

Ian

Other Comments by Ian Bamlett

44. Comment #219024 by Vinelectric on July 26, 2008 at 5:44 am

Village-Idiot

Hmm, nothing to do with religion? Who are you trying to convince? Take this back or I'll be, using your phraseology, certainly suspicious of your intelligence!

Hahaha..! You silly moo..

Someone had suspected that you had a soft spot for religion when you linked the hizbollah site. I was saying to 35bluejacket that that had nothing to do with anyone being sympathetic to religion. It was a humanitarian crisis irrespective of the motive so it deserved our attention anyway.

Understand?

EDIT: by the way Lebanon/hizbollah fell out with Israel over occupied lands. Religion made matters worse but it is not the main issue here.

Other Comments by Vinelectric

45. Comment #219025 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 5:51 am

Beanson,

I agree that graphic images of the kind posted by village idiot should at least carry a warning, but I don't understand your comparison with pornography.

No matter how I look at it, I cannot draw a parallel between images of unspeakable violence with depictions of a pleasurable act that in itself is a celebration of life.
Unless, of course, you had in mind some particular kind of pornography involving violence, exploitation, or disgusting practises, you sounded like a prude. No offence intended.

Perhaps you care to expand and/or clarify?

Other Comments by decius

46. Comment #219028 by beanson on July 26, 2008 at 6:11 am

Decius

There's nothing particularly 'wrong' with porn, the point I'm making is that one looks at porn to derive a certain kind of pleasure namely an erotic thrill.
It seems to me that there are people who get a similar thrill (not necessarily erotic, but as seductive) through looking at violent imagery, or showing it to others (especially unsuspecting others)- ask yourself why Village_Idiot posted a link to a set of images completely unrelated to the thread.
I am thankful that I am still shocked by depictions of violence

Other Comments by beanson

47. Comment #219035 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 6:43 am

Comment #219028 by beanson

Thanks. I get it, now.

I still find the comparison flawed, because the second element doesn't encapsulate the morbid quality of the first one. Probably snuff porn or public executions would have been apter to convey your point.

Other Comments by decius

48. Comment #219042 by Quiddam on July 26, 2008 at 7:03 am

Warning? A site with the name

www.radioislam.org

and page

jewish-photos/index.htm

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

The name is warning enough that the contents will be an affront to civilized people. Nothing to do with religion of course. Sigh.

Other Comments by Quiddam

49. Comment #219045 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 7:21 am

Comment #219042 by Quiddam

The name is warning enough that the contents will be an affront to civilized people.

I already expressed my condemnation of the idea of posting this sort of material without disclaimers.
However, what you say there is rather simplistic, and it's akin to shooting the messenger. The actual outrage should be directed toward anyone who commits such atrocities.

There is also a need for the public to have access to uncensored imagery, if they chose to. Even if that site is biased and propagandistic, war imagery should not be sanitised too much just for the purpose of not hurting feelings.

I submit to you that crude war photo-reporting contributed greatly to the shortening of the Viet-Nam conflict and of the crisis in the Balkans, for the impact that it had on public opinion.
No one more than the Pentagon is aware of this, and that's why heavy censorship has been imposed on reporting from more recent conflicts.
The same goes for Russia, which (then CCCP) learned the lesson in Afghanistan and later applied equally strict rules in Tchetchenia.
You can check this out through Reporters Without Borders, and other journalistic or humanitarian organisations.

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50. Comment #219047 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 7:24 am

Good grief.

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