It comes off as strange to me because it doesn’t make a difference if a “sex worker” is intelligent or not. And this goes for any job that doesn’t require brilliance. Am I supposed to feel better for, more accepting of, more sympathetic to, etc. a person because of their intellect? And if I have a problem with sex work, it has nothing to do with how I perceive the intellect of the workers, so the pre-empting seems unnecessary.
Maybe comments should read each others’ future, unwritten comments in the most charitable light possible. Otherwise it starts looking like we’re writing up preemptive strawmen.
Also, it is quite clear that comment was written to elicit sympathy. I can see why someone gets angry when intellect is used as a justification for sympathy.
Pointing out that someone is intelligent is useful, in this case, as a general "well, this can happen to anyone" kind of comment, and to break stereotypes about how sex workers all fit some narrow stereotype.
That is important to point out, as sometimes people generalize or attack people, unfairly, based on these things.
Though, you should also be careful about phrases like, "this can happen to anyone." It plays into another common and harmful misconception about sex workers, that they don't have much agency, they're victims, this is something that happens to them rather than just another one of many possible career choices that a person can make.
doesn't require brilliance? appart from her deep interest in science, she became one the top twenty most paid porn actress worldwide. i don't think this comes out of pure luck.
it is true that the intelligence argument was arbitrary (it is my assessment of her) and perhaps clumsy. but again, go have a look on your favorite social media how these people are considered.
And for every one of the top twenty most paid porn actresses worldwide, there are probably ~2 million[1] who aren't that. I'm not saying your friend isn't intelligent when I say that sex work does not require brilliance, nor am I saying that intelligent sex workers don't exist. I am saying that sex work itself doesn't have employers screening candidates for their level of intelligence. This should be a fairly uncontroversial remark IMO. It's not strictly about your friend, and I'll take your word for it that she's quite smart.
Maybe comments should read each others’ future, unwritten comments in the most charitable light possible. Otherwise it starts looking like we’re writing up preemptive strawmen.
Also, it is quite clear that comment was written to elicit sympathy. I can see why someone gets angry when intellect is used as a justification for sympathy.