10 gets you a handy.
Strip Clubs and Porn: The New Stimulus Package.
My favorite movie is Armageddon. No hold on. It’s called Arm-a-get-it-on. I am guessing that if you’re a woman then you are not familiar with the second movie title. But, I also know that I am not the only person keeping a multi-billion dollar industry running. I have been told on numerous occasions, that pornography ruins relationships. I think that if a person is unreasonable, then things like pornography and strip clubs could greatly effect expectations from relationships or sex. Is it possible that someone who watches porn every day might have unrealistic expectations? This might be the case, but I would argue that someone who watches romantic comedies on a regular basis could also become unrealistic.
I wish life could be like The Office. Sure, Jim and Pam paid their dues. It took four seasons for them to finally make it work. Romances in situation comedies can be confusing. Are they in love? Will it ever work out? In romantic comedies, the main character always falls for their best friend at the end. He or she realizes that love was in front of them the whole time. Wouldn’t it be great if life and love really worked out like that? Maybe in some occasions it does but it is not likely. Men and women have different ideas of what friendship is. I know many women who would agree you can be friends with a guy and never explore a romantic relationship. I also know a lot of men who say they do this too, but would probably bed any or all of their female friends, especially if he is single. If one were to live in a fantasy land of romantic comedies, they might be convinced that eventually this romance will come to fruition. The problem with pop culture fantasies is that we are getting very mixed signals.
We live in a day and age when promiscuous behavior is becoming more acceptable. You can turn on the radio and hear Rianna and Ke$sha singing about multiple partners and just “how they like it.” Usher’s new album is basically about having sex in a club–literally the whole album. Relationships have transformed into VH1 reality game shows with ceremonies and elimination rounds. Can one be as affected by these shows and songs as they are by pornography? At least porn has production value. Does anyone actually think if they go to a New Jersey dance club and fist pump, that they will take home a couple of fine ladies? (Yes.) I have been to a few different strip clubs since I was of legal age to do so. On every occasion I attended a club, it was actually a celebration of some sort. I received a lap dance for my 25th birthday, and although I do not remember any of that night, I have been told I enjoyed it. The point I am getting at, is that I have never walked out of a strip club thinking any of those girls were expecting to come home with me. With enough singles, you can buy affection for the duration of one song. But, that is just it. It’s a service–and a damn good one.
My closest female friend is always telling me that the girls that dance at clubs are girls with low self esteem and “daddy issues.” I don’t see it this way. Imagine you are a 20 year old male or female that is raised by a caring family, that just so happens to be very comfortable talking about sex. You’re not corrupt, and not a “whore.” Now imagine you would like to go to college and there is a local strip club in town. If you are comfortable enough with your body and like dancing, then this might be an opportunity to make easy money. I really do believe there are people in this world that can do this and not lose one night of sleep. I even think these people can have loving relationships themselves outside of the clubs they work at. Granted, I could never date a stripper, but know a few guys that probably wouldn’t mind. These few guys also don’t ever expect to meet the girls at their place of work.
Are men that go to strip clubs really all that different from anyone else? We should be thanking them for contributing to taxes. You can find porn almost anywhere on the internet for free. Instead they are taking their hard earned dollar and sticking it in a g-string. I also know what you are thinking. Yes, I have seen the creepy old men that go into these places. But I think the people that watch porn or go to strip clubs that have developed unrealistic expectations easily, probably shouldn’t be having sex anyway. As long as they act as they do, they give opportunities for decent men to find love. They eliminate themselves from the contest. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum?
If an 80 year old man worth 80 billion dollars goes out and marries a 20 year old girl, then why shouldn’t a grocery worker be able to go get a lap dance for ten dollars? Especially, if he is just out to have fun with his friends. I would be willing to bet that the girls who work bachelor parties probably have more fun then when they serve their nasty “regulars.” (Note: I doubt this is the case in regards to the Duke Lacrosse Team.)
An old friend of mine currently works at the local bikini bar in town. She is not subject to pealing off every last garment, and yet she still pulls in about 300-500 dollars every weekend. Besides making a ridiculous amount of cash, she also says she has a lot of fun. Even her regular customers are not too bad. I also happen to know that her father loves her very much, and while he is not excited about her choice of job, he is still supportive. My point is, not every girl who strips for a living is degraded and embarrassed of her income. She also never “brings her work home with her.” Men and women who do not understand the concept of enjoying a show, whether it is Grey’s Anatomy or Barely Legal 27 or even a night out in Portland, will never find the true love they seek. It might be best if we just let them live in their fantasy world, while the rest of us continue on our search.
FML!!!!1!”