Teen now faces more than just the moral issue of auctioning off her virginity to pay for school.
Photo: The Tech Herald
From the, “Wow, this whole thing is really sad” file:
For those who don’t know, Alina Percea, a Romanian teenage girl living in Germany, recently auctioned off her virginity to an Italian businessman for 8,800 pounds.
Her reasoning was to pay for school.
What smacks of a horrible Hollywood movie plot has gone beyond a moral issue to one of economics: the German government is demanding she pay taxes on her earned income. And that could mean over half of her earnings will be taken by the government.
According to a German official:
It is not a moral standpoint but a fiscal one. Prostitution is not an illegal act in Germany, but not paying tax on earned money is.
Apparently, after the tryst, the 18-year-old discussed how she got along well with the 45-year-old businessman, having “unprotected sex at a luxury Venetian hotel.” Not exactly the poster child for safe-sex; shocking, I know.
Previously, we’ve covered when to draw the line when defending cultural norms, but this feels like it’s gone too far.
It gets worse: Alina had also gone through two medical examinations to prove her virginity. What year are we living in exactly?
Wonder if she still is so keen on him now that she has to part with that much of the money. Kinda makes you wonder if it’s worth it.
What do you think – was the government right to tax her virgin-earnings? Or should they have stopped the transaction in the first place? Share your thoughts below.
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55 Comments... join the discussion!
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I guess she got screwed by the government too. But that’s nothing new.
Have Fun,
Jeff↵ -
Ew, ew, ew.
That being said: if it was legally earned income then there’s no surprise it’s taxable. Merit scholarships get taxed, inheritances get taxed – nothing’s sacred, really.
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Man, kind of a crappy situation. But as stated before, she is an adult taking part in a legal act. So the government had every right to tax it, especially since it was so public. I wonder if half of that money will be enough for her to do what she wanted to do?
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What can be said about this other than exactly what you said in the beginning: from the this is really sad files.
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And, if it is possible to have a worst part of this story, the Daily Mail’s detailed article on how the whole transaction went down would be the winner. I was actually shocked at the fact that they wrote about it and what they wrote, and I’m not shocked by much.
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The moral of the story: charge more.
Wait… was that the moral of the story?
Just kidding. Pretty hokey…
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The moral of the story…. creepy businessmen will buy anything.
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People will buy the dumbest things. I wonder what I could get for my left little toe. Any takers?
I’m just kidding, sicko, I’m not gonna sell my friggin’ toe!
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Thank you for that, it’s the first time I’ve laughed all week:P
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This is sick.
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Sad that someone would sell-out on something as sacred as that (my opinion).. but to each their own.
Maybe next time (ha! =P) she’ll be more discreet if she doesn’t want to pay taxes.
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8800 pounds for a beautiful 18 year old virgin? She needed a better agent, she should have gotten 10 times that easily, considering the publicity she garnered. There are people who blow 60K every night they go clubbing in Vegas or New York just trying to impress their cocktail waitress. Arms dealers, bankers, you know, all the guys who own the government and its bottomless coffers. I mean, christ, Elliot Spitzer was paying up to 5500 an hour for hookers. This chick could have made a nice fortune.
On the issue of taxes: Does anyone have the right to coerce others with the threat of imprisonment (as governments do almost universally) to get money out of them? If you say yes you are brainwashed and sadistic. The last time I brought this up, a German couple went into seizures because I dared to mention the irrefutable fact that their beloved “system” is based on the fundamental principal of locking people in cages should they not enslave themselves to a System they were forced into by birth. A government is nothing but an organized crime syndicate that controls people so well most of them forget that they are constantly paying “protection” fees simply for being alive and trying to stay alive. A mafia can dispense with much of the overt violence once they have prisons built, and a cowed populace to fund them.
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I wonder how she could face her classmates in college? Since her face is seen all over the place for this news.
Soon it will OK to write in the resume too? “I went to university with my own fund, from selling my virginity online”
This is just wrong.
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Women can get anything they want from men when sex is part of the equation (and it always is). We’re very stupid like that.
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If I business didn’t pay taxes on a one shot deal he had been working on for 18 years would you defend that? This is a question about your feelings on taxes not the girl.
She should have done this under the table.
Good for her, selling something that isn’t worth a dime for that much. Virginity is just an idea, a cultural gem made up and, in my opinion, used to oppress girls. No it is being turn on it’s head, and that is great.↵ -
She could have, as many do, had a meaningless drunken one-night stand. Why not get paid for something that really is an inflated luxury? The whole idea of the sacred virginity of a woman was created by men and our big egos. If we hold it to be so special, why not make us pay for it. Besides, very few first times are all that great, why not make some money and make it special.
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She shouldn’t have been taxed that much.
The City of Cologne charges a flat 30€ per month rate for prostitutes. She should have just said she was a prostitute, and that was her first customer.
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I agree with some of the commentary that the idea of virginity=fresh, clean, untouched, and therefore more sacred is both cultural and patriarchal ideal.
Problem is, there are women throughout the world who are forced to have their vagina sewed shut and their clitoris removed for the sake of being virgins until their marriage (and to eliminate the possibility of ever enjoying sex in their lifetimes). There are also women in other countries, who although they won’t have to experience female genital mutilation, if they are raped, or in some other way “slip up,” they are forced into destitution or to be forever reliant on their families because no man will marry a tarnished/dishonored woman. So for many women, particularly in developing countries, though still surprising also within many developed nations, the importance of virginity is more than simply an outdated belief.
I personally believe prostitution should be legal. I think there is a lot of empowerment for women around legality and the ability to set rules and repercussions for men who don’t follow those rules. But to me, this story reeks of the old woman-using-her-body-to-get-ahead-because-that’s-the-only-way-she-knows-how, which signals a very deep unconscious collective belief around the worth of women. Yes, it was her choice, and the probably-married businessman’s choice, but there is an undercurrent of keeping everyone is these gender roles that just perpetuates oppression and control, and the belief of lack of choice.
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Though I disagree with the lengths she, and he went through, the transfer was contractual I’m sure. Most of us would disagree with what happened. But frankly, I don’t see how it’s any of our business. I don’t like it. But hell, that means I won’t do it. That’s all it means. However, I agree that the money now belongs to her. She offered a service, and accepted payment for said service. The German Gov. just pouncing on her for “tax” is nothing more than a mugging. It happens here in the US as well. Both entities are nothing more than glorified mobsters. “We offer you a service, and if you don’t want this service and refuse to pay, you’ll be seeing us.” I suppose if it results in conception the child would be taxed as well?
I call BS.
Forever yours,
Pissed-Off American Guy↵ -
prostitution is prostitution.
if it’s done buy a veteran prostitute or a virgin it doesn’t change the fact that it is still prostitution and in Germany it is a taxable profession.
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Why doesn’t she sell a kidney? After all she has one spare.
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I agree with Marcus.
The government does not have the legitimate moral authority to tax her.
Was the government there to offer a breast to feed this woman when she was an infant? Did it ever give her a fair *choice* to decide whether she wanted to use the state’s services or not? If not, then she owes nothing to the state.
Taxation is a violent, brutal act by which government steals money that does not rightfully belong to it. If you resist paying taxes, you will be beaten, taken away from your family, and imprisoned, possibly in some government-run prison rape-room hellhole somewhere.
The ultimate question is: Who owns this woman’s body? Does she own her body, or does the government own her body? If she owns her own body, then she can use it however she likes, as long as she doesn’t harm anyone else, and she owes nothing to the state. But if the government owns her body, then she is nothing but a slave; of course, slave rebellions are morally justifiable, so this woman should resist the taxation by any means necessary.
Down with the state.
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I think the “Romanian Teen”, who takes there education as serious, is very smart by selling her virginity. If you need cash very fast, and without much dangerous risks, selling sex is the fastest selling product I think on the planet! It is the oldest profession. What makes her product so different than other girls is she’s a virgin. So her value goes up, even 2-3x higher than street values on girls for her age (18-19). She knows what she wants and she wants an education, and is willing to do anything and everything that wouldn’t hurt her body or kill her. From the image she dont look like some crack whore who looks unhealthy, so I am sure all she wants is to get fast big bucks thats all.. Of course the religious or super extreme moral people on the comments disagreeing with her selling herself and her virginity would call her stupid or bash her. But those people could care less or dont take education as serious as the “”Romanian Teen”.
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Oh and I dont think the government should charge her tax, all her cash is going toward her education. heck the government should even give her grants for taking her education so serious!
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Ha… guess she didn’t realize she was going to get DP’ed (double penetrated) for her first time! And of course the government went for her backdoor entry!
The moral of the story is…. why bother with school when you can work as a prostitute? (Just pay your taxes on time… and use condoms!)
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A country’s government should be a reflection of the people within it, through spending, ideals, etc. If they’re doing something wrong, it’s our fault for not DEMANDING they change what they’re doing. For example, if you want government funded college, like some country’s, then fight for it, make some noise and get people aware that you want change because your definitely not the only one. If you don’t like the system you’re in or you don’t like something your country’s doing, find the problem, get involved with people/community’s, organize and make steps towards change. Or sit on your ass, you definitely have that right, but if you do you’re a part of the problem because people ARE trying to take your freedoms from you and that’s a lot easier when people don’t give a shit. Not to mention you’d be giving them more power by giving them your tax dollars and not caring or knowing if it’s going to fund a war, torture, your library/school or any other public service that was probably fought for and is now starting to be taken away from some country’s without any one even noticing or caring. It’s our job to put pressure on our government, not the other way around.
As far as prostitution goes I think it should be legal (that doesn’t mean I like the idea of it, far from it), it’s just a business and it’s a lot safer when legal. I think college should be free to avoid people from doing things they don’t want to, like the student prostitutes who don’t really have a choice. But if you’re really offended by prostitution you should look into some other business’s that people regularly buy from or use and see what they’re doing to many people and our planet. You’d be quite shocked and hopefully very angry. And for taxing this girl, depends on the laws. Don’t like it? Do something about it ha ha.
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I am finding myself more and more speechless. Alls I could do is stare. My mind is scrambling for an answer, an opinion. Hypocrite and contradiction are the only words that stand out. The girl, the deed, the blogs, the governments. Do I want to get myself as far away from this disease or embrace it.
We are all every possibility that exists. To deny anything is to deny ourselves. To hate you is to hate me. To love you is to love me. I know nothing and everything. It’s ridiculous my feelings may change in one minute or days, maybe with a song, food, a t.v. show or mere convenience. I’m bored with speech.
Has anyone ever looked up the definitions of words they use, of things they believe in, especially having to do with character? No-one can say they have integrity, etc. Everything is contextual. I’m sure alls you’ll see is my grammar. If that’s even the word. Who cares!!! Staring is peaceful
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Ahh Nicole,
Been dipping into the Absinthe again, I see…
You’re not supposed to drink it straight, you know…
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Lovely, Nicole, I get it.
“To observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti
Mariellen
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Fantastic! Def charge more with a follow-up program for ongoing expenses. Much cleaner than a spouse and less expensive.
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Flat rate is only for registered prostitutes, who has registered their status and declared an expected income.
This chick is not a registered prostitute
I wonder who will marry this business oriented chick.
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Its a sad story, that she values herself so little. But at the of the day, it was her decision so its her consequences. Just another reflection of the increasingly materialistic world we live in where everything is for sale, and nothing is of intrinsic value.
As for taxing her, thats the way it goes. Its all very well to shout about moral bla bla and governments being mobsters, which is partly true, but hey taxes build roads, schools, hospitals and provide pensions. Its not a perfect system of course, but hey its the only one we have for the moment. If she is cynical enough to see her virginity as a commercial opportunity, she should have been sharp enough to know it was gonna be taxed.
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She freely performed a service and received money in return. It is a business transaction which she undertook, and according to German law it is legal. The actions she undertook are not being taxed, merely the fact that it is considered earned income. No social stigma, no moral judgment, just plain business sense.
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It’s never free.
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That’s very pragmatic of the German government.
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I think that we are missing the point here.. she wouldn’t have needed the money if the government had been doing its job in the first place. Obviously they only are in business for themselves.. as seen by the tax grab.
|When are we going to grow up and gain control of our own governments so they do what is right?
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she has every right to do it with whomever she pleases. And the government has no right to take her “hard earned” money away from her.
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I think she would have had the possibility to earn much more than that.
And I don’t think she is that smart as we think she might be. She just has to pay so much because she earned too much at the same time. Next time have a contract for ongoing payment over a longer period, for example 400€ a month. That would have been (centainly almost) free of charge.
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this is a damn joke. money money money
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I wonder if the Italian businessman was Silvio Berlusconi? Or does he not have to pay for his virgins?
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I love the condescending, judgemental tone of the article, and some of the comments. This woman decided that, since her continued virginity was not terribly important, in and of itself, that it would be a worthwhile business endeavor to auction the taking of her virginity.
Sure, she nihilistically took advantage of the cultural obsession with virgins, and I say good for her. VIrginity is meaningless, unless the individual finds their own virginity important for whatever reason. Of course the government should not have stopped the transaction, and of course they have the right to tax it. She should have taken that into account when making the decision to auction her virginity, and made the minimum bid higher to ensure that she would have a high enough profit after taxes to do what she needed to do with the money.↵ -
what can you expect, romania has hit rock bottom after communism fell…im ashamed to say im romanian aswell but when people are desperate for money to live and continue living they wil do anything
sad…….
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My question is, did she have to get a German work permit first?
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OH MY GOD! PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY TAXES?!
I don’t blame the government at all for wanting tax dollars. It really is an issue of paying tax on what you owe.
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She prob should have thought this one through… Maybe she did… Hopefully its enough to finish school because she wont get nearly that much if she puts her bum back on the market not being “innocent” anymore…
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As soomeone said, people in poor countries are just desperate to get money. However, I think people are now desperate to get the money anywhere in the world.
Anything can sell nowdays.
Considering that her parents didn’t intervene (or she has no parents?) and the government instead of talking about the moral side, talked about taxes, the moral outcome of the story is that she shoud have charged more.↵ -
“people in poor countries” ? – germany?
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I agree with Marcus, she could have gotten a lot more money!
The fact that she publicized the sale was her first mistake. Of course the government is going to capitalize on her illegal solicitation of “goods”.
The whole thing says a lot about the state of morals and ethics in modern culture though. They seem to be a thing of the past. It is interesting though, that she values education over her own self-respect. But, then again, it is her body and I agree that she can do what she wants with it!↵ -
If you would have actually read the article, and perhaps used some basic sense, you would understand that prostitution is NOT illegal in Germany, if it was she wouldn’t be paying taxes, she’d be in jail. As for “morals”, society has NEVER had them, at least not in the way you think.
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To all those who say that taxes are a “horrible violent act”, I have some sad news for you. WELCOME TO REALITY. Even those “rights” you have, only exist as long as the government thinks it has to follow them, and it rarely does follow them completely. The only reason you have them at all is because, over 200 years ago, some men decided that those were their rights, and they killed anyone who said otherwise. ALL power is derived from violence, why do you think we HAVE the 2nd Amendment (at least here in the US). Talk all you want, but when they have guns, and are willing to use them, and you don’t have any and/or aren’t willing to use them, they will just laugh at you and throw you in prison/kill you. Regardless of your so-called “rights”.
As for the girl, perhaps if she didn’t want to be taxed she would have done this in a more discreet manner?↵ -
I really could care less if this woman sells her body… her right, its her body… I do however wonder what her major is in school? Hopefully NOT business!
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though… why is this piece of news on a travel-centric website? what’s the point?
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Previously, we’ve covered when to draw the line when defending cultural norms, but this feels like it’s gone too far.
What cultural norms are supposed to being referenced or alluded to?↵ -
If the law says she should pay taxes on her income, she should. There is nothing sick or wrong about that. Everyone else in germany presumably has to pay their taxes, why shouldn’t a cute teenage ex-virgin?
Stupid, stupid article. Proof that all we value as a society is youth, good looks, and money. And the right to be dumb.
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