Topic For Disscussion-Consolodation Of Our Industry As One Giant Group...

its very cool that you are positive and constructive. i am usually an asshole but its just because i am here more to fuck with people and amuse myself while i work... so don't take anything the wrong way. i am actually a great guy

the movie industry probably has the best model of how to avoid crackdowns. they started cracking down on themselves before the government was forced to. they regulate themselves, they created their own ratings systems and EVERYONE acts within that system and all people are happy because controls are in place and its now impossible to argue that something needs to be done. i would assume the same would happen for porn if standards were created, a rating system and/or whatever is necessary to put a stamp of approval on a site or network of sites and make sure that criteria is being met for content, traffic generation, billing etc.

i have said many times that the US population will never distinguish between "good pornographers" and "bad pornographers" but then again... maybe its possible to create that distinction by doing something like what the movie industry did. at the very least, it could prevent the good guys being lumped together with the bad guys... which is the real problem of the industry as it relates to the government. maybe effectively creating that distinction is enough to prevent attacks on everyone as a whole. if you watched all the CSPAN hearings about the 25% tax not too long ago and about 2257, the claims they were making were completely bizarre and almost 100% wrong each and ever step of the way. but when no one is there to set the record straight.

anyway... i am too tired to make sense now if i still am at all.

i think you are thinking the right way... it is something that obviously needs to happen or else the business can go away for good. bush and co. are making this effort and people who think its just bush are naive. we are living in a christian country (for better or worse) that does not like porn. people dont want xxx bookstores and peep shows on the streets and they dont want such ready access to porn online. it is what it is. the best defense is a good offense. but its important that its a "good offense" not just a half assed effort that attracts too much bad attention and heat and achieves nothing.

Another great post......

and thank you!

2hp

ummm your a little late..Jack....lol

Great thread.. and some really great posts... i defend GFY alot when ppl say it's just mindless mucking around.. sure, for maybe about 99% of the threads ,but that 1% is really something to read. The topics have been diverse, but when you see people post longer than 5 sentences, it means they are taking the time to share their thoughts....

I wanted to informally present and idea that MikeHawk, AlienQ, and I have been bouncing around for almost a year, and the timing of the idea now is timely and appropriate.

This is the idea, please weigh in from both the sponsor and affiliate side to help shape this idea.

"lack of money is the root of all evil" is a funny spin on a proverb, but it is one that does describe how given money/funding, ideas and actions can happen more effectively.

The phrase "herding cats" has been used alot to describe the apathy of webmasters coming together.

FSC is the trade association for the entire industry, and it is the umbrella for which everyone should be under.

We are proposing that sponsor programs mandatorily hold back $0.50 (fifty cents) from each affiliate per month (the ones that make the minimum payout). This money will be donated on behalf of all of the affiliates of the program to FSC.

This money will then be used by FSC to fight harder and to target more topics. Money is what gets more lobbying done, and more resources focused.

Sponsor programs would give an advance notice to affiliates that they are changing the Terms of Service.

This does mean that if an affiliate is a member of 10 sponsor programs, then yes, on a monthly basis $0.50 x 10 = $5/month will come out of their pocket.

FSC's efforts to attract members which helps it to operate, is just like the PBS fund drives every year. A small percentage will donate money to ensure quality programming goes on, while a majority watch it for "free".

Affiliates make up the broadest base of companies, but are also the smallest represented at FSC.

Affiliates have just as much to lose on issues like Acacia, 2257, .XXX, obscenity, etc.

I believe it will take some strong leadership from sponsor programs to step up to the plate for this one, but i believe this move is necessary to continually fund FSC.

Sponsors could start the process by contributing the $0.50 per affiliate for the first month, to show they are in this as well, and then the next month, the Affiliates take over.

With affiliates now contributing to the FSC cause, when FSC rings the bell for action, then hopefully affiliates will be more responsive.

This is the idea, it's pretty basic, but the implications are great (and all good).

It would be really sad to see an affiliate crying about losing $0.50 - $5.00 / month because the sponsor was requiring an action that was for their own good, and that allows them to continue to enjoy the freedoms of promoting adult content.

This effort could being alot of money to FSC on a monthly basis.

I post this up for open discussion, because that is what is needed.. open and honest discussion, and then action.

I would like to propose that this kicks off at Florida Internext in August.


Fight the piggybank!

Well, I understand that sentiment because I used to say the same thing... but now I feel differently, and of course it helps that I've seen the FSC from the inside and know how it works. The FSC has an Internet Committee which is focused entirely on adult Internet issues. Additionally, there is no reason why Internet people can't raise money and give it to the FSC while specifying what that money should be used for... in other words, we would raise money specifically for fighting 2257 laws, launching a challenge to obscenity laws, initiating new public relations campaigns, whatever.

I like Brandon's idea about sponsor programs... part of the problem is that we only get fired up as an industry when something comes along that hits our pocket books and inconveniences us directly. For example, 2257. Too often we look the other way when bullshit happens that only affects a few companies and not all of us at the same time. If we want the bullshit to stop... if we want to have the ability to respond when people fuck with us... if we want to stay united as Mike suggests... then we need to make sure that our industry trade organization has the funding it needs to do the job for us. It will always come down to money no matter the organization... if it has money it can fight for us, if it doesn't then it's just a well intended idea.

Interesting thread and good and bad sides to the idea.

I will start by stating I think most of you know that I will always stand up for what I think is right and moral. These are just some observations.

Firstly, why should a EU operator care about the problems you have in the US? The problems are from your government, your scheming lawyers (Acacia) and your side of the SUPPLY system. Take you down and we are left supplying the porn. And if you think the government will ban the US population viewing porn dream on.

Yes the US porn industry organised itself, but it's not a business like the Internet.

The only ways to do this is with some sort of force. Such as getting Visa to stipulate only members of the "Group" can take Credit Cards and you're half way there. Unless some lawyers decides this is anti something and decides to sue them. Getting the processors to act as one would be harder.

Or voluntary. And here you have a problem which has been pointed out. The companies that stood and fought Acacia mostly stood alone, more signed up than fought and a vast number stood back and did nothing. While letting the 11 companies take the cost of the fight onto their own shoulders. The fight is still going on and the 11 are still paying for it.

Who here sends an Acacia licensee traffic?

And here you have it in a nutshell. Acacia could of been defeated easily if the people who had signed had joined the 11. Acacia were in this for the money. They would of backed off if facing them were 50 companies sharing the cost of fighting them and they had no money coming in. If 200 had stood up Acacia would have disappeared fast.

No some companies signed up and most continued doing business with the licensees. We could not even defeat a bunch of scamming lawyers. Now you want to take on the government.

I posted this a month ago, and not one WM replied... kinda gave me an indication of what somebody would be up against in putting something together:

starting a new organization is not the right answer. FSC is well established and has some great 1st amendment attorneys who are dedicated to the cause.

What FSC needs is more funding, so it can have more staff and lobbyists push the adult industry agendas.

Most of FSC members are (on the internet side), paysites.. Alot of money flows to the affiliates (more so so than the profit margin on on the sponsor side), it does seem that Affiliates are a great source of support for FSC, since they share the same problems as everyone else when it comes to oppression.

The affiliate webmasters make up the biggest part of the pie chart when it comes to numbers of individuals, but when it comes to contributions and support, they are at a significant minority.... and therefore, the proposed idea.


Fight the apathetic!