This is something I have been thinking about when
it comes to the question of decriminalization or
legalization.

Even if it happened for the hobby, given our
society: wouldn't there still be a stigma attach
to it.  And given the sexist nature of our society it would be more on the women than the men.

What is your thoughts on this Love Goddess?

love and fortune favors the bold

Dear FavorTheBold,

I generally don't let opinion pieces stay on this board, even if written by me, but I'll make an exception in this case, since I can point to a specific country where legalization has taken place.

The country in question is Germany and yes, old stigmatizing habits die hard. There is research that shows that despite the profession of prostitute becoming legalized, subject to taxation and qualified for social services and benefits, clients still feel shame in discussing their visits to such service professionals. As for the women, it seems somewhat divided; some freely admit to working, others keep quiet, mainly due to the stigma factor.

Since full legalization is a fairly recent phenomenon in Germany, things may change; for now, prostitution is a stigmatized activity with actors on both sides engaging in reputation management vis-a-vis their friends, families and co-workers.

Hope that works,
The Love Goddess

On the other hand, people brag about going to bars and casinos.

And people wonder why the world is crazy.

Some of that depends upon where you're at, and what is your ethnicity and age. Certain places in New York, Chicago, West Los Angeles, etc., there is much less stigma.

and the form asked if you had ever been treated by a mental health worker, and you had seen (or are in) some kind of psychotherapy, what would you put down?

Uh-huh.  I thought so.

I was thinking in terms of what one tells their family and friends.

won't still ask it.

Do you want to impress them by suing them over it?

The fact remains, we are all for people getting mental health care, but don't don't show up at my door asking for a job, or ask to marry my daughter, etc, etc.

It's a sad state of affairs, is what it is.

there will be a stigma associated with anything that is in opposition to those millennia old beliefs.  

And it doesn't need to be a majority of the population either, it just needs to be a large enough percentage to make the "non-believing" majority afraid to express their true attitudes in public for fear of ridicule and intimidation by the vocal minority.