I never stated that Craigslist was evil or responsible for all the prostitution in the US or in the world. I also never stated that people should call for banning the site Craigslist. There are no invisible dots in what I write, although there are people who want to make mountains out of mashed potatoes. I made it clear that the section named "erotic" where prostitutes and porn is advertised freely and is accessible to children with only a weak little button for "security" should be taken off the site. So did Dr. Phil, the detective mentioned in the article and the Atty Gen of the State of Il. (who was not mentioned in the article). For those who find their boyfriend, girlfriend, or soul-mate through the Personals, my hat's off to you! That is what that part of the site is for. And no one accused anyone who used the Personal section of being a prostitute. Tina Gallagher

There will always be supporters and customers of porn and prostitution. There will also always be those who claim that porn and prostitution are protected rights under the First Amemdment of the US Consitution. These are the same individuals who take no responsibility for the consequences of their product, like the alcohol and illegal drug trades do. "It's the parent's responsibility to watch their children 24 hours a day 7 days a week," is the popular cry. How many times have you seen a Mother and Father out on a date with two 17 year olds to make sure they don't get into trouble of any kind? As for the idea that Police, EMS, Fire, Doctors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Researchers, Prison Guards, FBI Behavioral Scientists, etc. have no idea what they are talking about is ludicrous. And, sadly, typical. I often wonder if the same people who defend pornography and prostitution would appreciate prostitutes at a neighborhood garage sale, or seeing porn magazines on a table at a flea market full of children. The same folks would cry "it's the parent's responsibility to keep their children away!" If a property has an open well in the ground or an unfenced pool, those property owners say the same thing. "Parent's responsibility." That doesn't stop the children. They will explore anything within reach. That's what children do. If a child is killed or injured, the property owner invariably acts suprised that they are held responsible. The alcohol and tobacco industries have made changes to their advertising to keep the advertising out of the faces of children, and the numbers of child smokers and drinkers has delcined. Those adults who provide alcohol to children under the fantasy "they're safe as long as they're at home," are being prosecuted for the harm they're causing. There will also always be the sad cry "a man has needs, a woman has needs," in regards to porn or prostitution. The truth is that real men don't need porn and neither do real women. Sadly still is the reality that the same proponents of porn and prostitution have no problems with pimps, who are nothing more than slave-owners. Attacking people who are against porn is a popular thing to do. Not on this site, but I have been met with cursing, degrading, belittling, and threatening behavior for saying that porn and prostitution should be eliminated. Abolitionists faced the same thing in the United States. I'm in good company. And yes, if Ebay owns a quarter of Craigslist, speak with your dollars. It's a language they ("business people") understand. Tina Gallagher