Originally Posted by Webby

Suspect it's a matter of judgement who you associate or do business with. Two of the biggest scumbags (and the only one's) I ever encountered in decades were in mainstream commerce. One is sitting in a jail cell now and the other due to follow shortly. (Tho both of em are *very* extreme and destined to spend time behind bars.)

On the adult biz... can only say what I see now after having been in this biz long before the net. There was never any decrying of talent. There were (and still are) biz relationships formed that span several decades with folks who kept their end of the bargain - and without bullshit. Several of these people were instigators of the whole concept of selling adult content - and went thru numerous trials to establish this. In the past I'd have done deals on a handshake and everyone would be happy - that is not the case with online adult.

There has been an emergence of "facilitators" who were either too ambitous (with an ambition which often does not match their abilities) or were too greedy or, had other agendas. Transaction processors and others fall into that league.

Another factor is the ease at which anyone with a computer can commence operating a biz on the net. The usual phrases like.. "Easy money" are an obvious attraction - even to most unqualified and incapable people with no biz accumen. In "offline adult" they would never get off the ground.

Bottom line... "offline adult" has changed very little. Online is another issue where vetting is vital - it matters little how high profile the names are. A fair number of 'relevant' names are not particularly well-known in online adult - they are not personalities, but more than capable of purchasing large segments of this biz. All processors need vetting - it's not an option - they are handling funds of others and need to provide assurances they can operate a business on a solid basis and make provision for client funds in the event of their demise.

// end of rant