Violence is alright, it's when the violence becomes graphic and/or gruesome the problem lies. It's fine to RP cutting someone's hand off or gouging an eye, but graphically emoting every step of it is not okay. To use your examples, as long as the above is followed, whipping and branding is okay. Your bear trap example would depend on how much detail. Collapsing, clutching your leg and screaming in pain is okay, but not depicting how the bone crunches and the teeth tear into the skin. If you're not sure if something is crossing the line, play it safe and take it down a notch. No prostitution, that includes street prostitution.