r/nottheonion • u/novagridd • 8h ago

Thailand's Prostitution Patrol on High Alert as 5,000 US Sailors Drop Ship After 200 Days at Sea

https://www.fashiontimes.co.uk/pattaya-police-intensify-prostitution-patrols-us-navy-visit-1763395
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u/Piggy145145 7h ago

I thought it was legal there

Edit read the article turns out despite being known a sex tourism place it is not in fact legal in Thailand .

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u/21Rollie 6h ago

One of those things where it being de jure illegal but de facto legal is the best of both worlds for the state. You can get easy legal dirt on people, whilst still benefiting from the economic activity it generates, and not needing to protect the workers who make it possible.

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u/HotZilchy 4h ago

First time hearing if the term de jure before. Thanks

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u/Prof_Acorn 2h ago

An example in the US would be going 1-to-5 mph over the speed limit. De jure illegal. De facto legal via lack of enforcement and commonality of the practice.