Freedom Isn't Free! Fuck the FSC!
 

Well... from seeing from the offical announcement from the Free Speech Coalition, that their "agreement" with the D.O.J. is only for members of the FSC! Well, I can officially say now that the FSC can go fuck themselves. I was considering spending the $300 to support them, but since they felt it was neccessary to look out only for their "members", rather than the free speech rights of all person, I will use my $300 for anything else! What's next... if you haven't given them $10,000 then you won't be included in the TRO/injunction if they win on Aug 8th!?!?!?

I'm sure glad others are as pissed off about this whole FSC membership thing as I am. I had actually planned on joining up, but then got a little creeped out when rumors started that FSC members would be protected and nobody else would. I kept wondering, if this turns out to be true (which I kept doubting), how would DOJ know who's a member and who isn't? And if FSC eventually loses in court, would FSC members be more of a target?

So I decided to take a wait and see approach, and now I've seen. Total crap, IMO. And they make a point to say the membership list will be "under seal" and DOJ police won't see it. (Until when?)

So what, the feds will start showing up at places of business (in my case, my house, which is why I'm going softcore for awhile because I have too many stalking issues to put my address and real name online) and if you pull out an FSC card they'll say "Oh, pardon us, our mistake. Please accept this sticker for your window so we'll know we can't bother you until later. Pssst, anybody on your street that you know of who isn't a member?"

Right.

I'm so pissed about this there's no way I'm joining FSC now. This crap about having until Saturday night to join up? You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Call me paranoid, but there's just something really fucked up about this.

OMG! !

I am not the only FSC detractor!!!

This agreement rubs me the wrong way. In my OPINION< the agreement they have laid out would result in an unconstitutional violation of equal protection if the DOJ tries to enforce new 2257 regs against a non-member of the FSC. The government cannot selectively enforce laws!!
As a proud member [and former Board Member] of the ACLU, I cannot think of any case that the ACLU went to bat or fashioned an agreement that would only benefit its members. I cannot think of any case where Lambda Legal went to bat or tried to fashion an agreement that would only benefit its members. In fact, I cannot think of any advocacy group that has gone to court to fight ONLY for the rights of its members--they always benefit ANYONE in the plaintiff's class, whether they are a member of the group or not. However, the adult industry is not known for its cohesiveness or community spirit.

Another sad day for America - selective enforcement of laws. What happened to our valuable concept of freedom for all?

Actually I was just thinking that the ACLU would love a piece of this one - against the FSC and DOJ as co-Defendents

I'd rather spend the $300 for my own lawyer and know I was getting looked out for! I really wonder what is next with the FSC!

The ACLU stayed out of it because the FSC got there first...perhaps they'll enter the arena now. As for joining...Don't know, I'm as compliant as I possibly can get right now...will it delay inspections, yeah, but what about future actions? A list of all members that won't be inspected handed over to the DOJ somehow? Hmm, lol, the ACLU would have never made such a deal.

Scream that really loud 3 times:

Freedom Isn't Free! Fuck the FSC!
Freedom Isn't Free! Fuck the FSC!
Freedom Isn't Free! Fuck the FSC!

I'm selling picket signs :D

I'll give you $300 towards getting them made up! :D

No way are you alone, Chad... I'm so pissed I can't see straight!! Many, many people on this board have chastised others for fear mongering, but if this isn't a screaming example of that practice at it's finest, I'd like to know what is!

IMHO, it doesn't matter that the adult industry has issues with cohesiveness and/or community spirit. We're all in this boat together and the laws, applied or not, will affect each of us equally... anything less is absolute discrimination of the worst kind.

I can't even put into words my fury at this whole FSC debacle. Here we sit in a situation where potentially hundreds of people are losing a large portion of their income, and the FSC has balls enough to expect $300 PER REMAINING WEBSITE for their holy-rolling "protection"?!? What the fuck is that about? Some of us are trying to figure out how to replace our missing income... we certainly aren't in a financial position to be coughing up large sums of cash to a somewhat questionably intentioned group of lawyers who supposedly "represent the entire adult entertainment community". Bah! |angry|

I'm going to stop here as I've already made one reputation-destroying post on this matter in another thread... gotta save what's left of my rep and my brain for later on today or maybe even tomorrow :D

I was thinking seriously about joining the FSC. Not because I wanted to cover my ass but because I believe what they are fighting for is right. Now...no way! I will give my money to the ACLU instead. The ACLU doesn't work only for the people who give them money...they work for everyone. And they do it because it's right - not because it's profitable.

Avatar placement.

They could be taking me to jail and tell me I would not have to go if joined the FSC and I would say "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on." Last night something told me not to send out my bull shit newsletter about this 2257 shit. I'll revise it and maybe Jim and I can share the same cell.

I am not against record keeping but equality is to apply to all Americans. At least that was what we were told in the 60's

I wonder if this agreement sets some sort of legal precedent.

Can I use the "No Justice, No Peace" picket sign? I've lived in NYC, whenever we have a protest, quasi-riot that's the war chant.

Hi doll! I'm glad I'm not stoned or all these refs to PhoneSexChick would make me run screaming into the basement.

Wait, is that another of these horrible scripts? You're really from the DOJ here just to mess with the paranoid folk.

These Fuckers are out for themselves and their members ONLY. Maybe all the pissed off webmasters should ban together and get our own lawers to attack the DOJ on Discrimination charges. The US economy is not in very good shape and now they want to try and scare webmasters out of business. This should help out the economy alot. The FSC just boosted their income by how much, and how many of the NEW members are joining to keep the eye of justice off them. Thank you to the DOJ and FSC, next time can I get a kiss before you fuck me!!!!!!

If John Kerry had been elected president instead of George W, would we still be talking about this 2257 bullshit? Thought so! |angry|

I just knew this was going to be the answer that was given from reading last nights xbiz comment on this.

I didn't plan on joining today, yesterday, a week ago, and don't plan to joining.
this law with having to keep records is unconstitutional and now this new stuff is unconstitutional as well. I feel the US Court system works and this will all be thrown out in do time.

I agree and this is just another way to gain a bunch more money before they throw it all out...

OK, I've woken up to read this news, and I'm feeling disappointed, mainly because it seems the FSC wants to negotiate this rather than fight it. Their case looked really strong and winnable, but now it looks like they're going to cave in on things.

We don't want them to water down these new rules. They need to be scrapped altogether because they are grossly unfair, burdensome and unconstitutional.

Already I find myself wondering what they're going to try for.

- Will they fight to remove the retroactive clause but agree that it's reasonable for webmasters to post their home address on the net?
- Will they say it's OK to distribute model's addresses, but only if their middle name is blacked out?
- Will they negotiate so that the DOJ can still investigate without a warrant, but they need to knock first and say the secret password?

OK... I'm getting flippant here LOL

I feel the same way Rick...however, I hope your right about it getting thrown out in do time.

omg that is so true.. as the proud owner of 5 arrests, no convictions, during the apartheid pickets in the 80's.. i do believe i can still belt that one out and on key..

the word i'd use would be oh let me think..

extortion comes to mind..

and as card carrying member, as everyone who believes in our constitution should be, of the ACLU, i think its time those of us who are members should do a little politicing ourselves.

I wish the ACLU handled this instead of the FSC. Instead of going after the target before them, they found a nifty way to circumnavigate the issue for a few months at what cost? They didn’t go for an injunction of the reg. as they knew that would have to be all inclusive and not just for their members.

There’s so many downsides to this type of plea bargain agreement which in essence it is..a plea bargain agreement. I’m still not sure whether I should pay the extortion or not, but I’ll say it repeatedly…I wish the ACLU handled this from the start.

ya well I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am not an attorney and dont know what was said in the court room. I'd like to read the court room transscrips though.

stranger things have happend, this is just a bad case of "BIG BROTHER" getting into everyones personal life and business.

Well this is just great... |angry| |angry| I've been off the computer most of the day thinking everthing was going to work out. Ha was I wrong! No I didn't join the FSC and glad I didn't now. How can shit like this happen? I know you don't have to tell me his name is Bush! Well I didn't vote for him what else can I do but just get angry which is not healthy.

God this is just getting worse and it sucks!!

This "deal" is no less unconstitutional than the 2257 regs themselves. I would normally just laugh and shrug, but with the other news today about the Supreme Court ruling in the Connecticut eminent domain case and DoD creating databases of all teenagers it looks like the values that once made America unique are being flushed down the toilet. Anything is possible, maybe the sky is falling...

Every couple of years I feel the need to post something, I'm feeling the need again |waves|

I think the subject of this post reflects my feelings. The FSC can no longer claim to represent the adult entertainment industry.
If the DOJ thought they would defeat the motion for the TRO they wouldn't have cut this deal. It's no more complicated than that.

FSC have said their phone has been ringing off the hook with people wanting to join. The industry as a whole has been let down, and I know several FSC members who are unhappy with the situation.

I have had misgivings about the FSC for a long time, hence I decided not to join, although it did seem for a while there that they were doing ok. I am now going to go and join the ACLU, something I should have done a long time ago, they seem like our best hope for a wide ranging long term fix.
I find it very telling that the FSC described this as great news.

If I wasn't married, I'd call T Pat & ask about getting me set up south of the border :D

I am seriously looking at offshore dealings for my main site. Not that I have anything to hide, and the costs are much more, but it makes me sick to see stuff like this in our country. With the internet being worldwide, it makes me what to share some with the rest of the world!

there inlies the problem koolkat.
if you reside in the US you can not be exepmt from this by moving to a hosting company thats not in the US. The only way is to move to that country. At least thats what I was told from my attorney.

I was looking at the works... hosting, banking, billing, etc all out of the US

None of that makes any difference if you yourself still reside in the U.S.

I don't think it matters. What matters is where YOU live. My hosting has been in Canada for years, and it wouldn't be that hard to set up a PO box and bank account there.

But my ass is right here in the USA, and I've read those regs again and again trying to find *something*

I think the only way around it would be to transfer everything - domain registrations, payment, etc. - to a friend in Canada or somewhere and have them write you personal checks. Probably illegal as hell, and you'd have to really trust the person on the other end, but I suppose that might work. (But I'm not going to try it...was just a thought I had and then said nah)

I am not a joiner or a crusader but I just joined the ACLU. Now to figure out how to suggest they file against FSC and DOJ for selective enforcement which violates the 14th amendment.

|thumb way to go chop..

The Equal Protection provisions of the 14th Amendment only apply to the States, not to the Federal government. However, there would still be some major due process issues if the DOJ were to try and prosecute any "non-members" during the terms of this agreement with the FSC.

Just relying on what my lawyer said. Of course we met in his office which is under a shade tree.

Why do I think a T-shirt with this logo would be a good thing to wear in Miami?

Just a thought.

Alex