Like Amber, I find it quite disappointing and frustrating, yet so typical, that the likes of Bob Herbert are allowed to represent what counts for "progressive" thought in the "mainstream media" on such issues of sexuality and sex work. And you are so right on about how Herbert misses the forest for the trees for not seeing how working class life in general is even more regulated and structured than even the worst form of sex work or porn. But then again, he probably gets paid far more for writing one column at the NYT than a sex worker or porn performer earns in even one week of work...so how can he claim any superiority to them in the first place?? Everybody complains about Bill Kristol becoming a Times columnist; I'd say that they might want to check their own selves first when it comes to propagandizing bigotry. Anthony