Have you joined the FSC? If not, why not?

[MrYum]

With all that's going on in our biz these days...thought I'd post a poll and get some feedback from my fellow webmasters

Geez, these are trying times...has had me a bit...errrr...edgy lately

Anyway, the point of this poll is to see how many folks have joined the Free Speech Coalition. I've seen comments on several boards of folks complaining about the lack of a cohesive voice for the adult community. There's been mention of a union or some sort of a trade organization. Someone...ANYONE to speak on our behalf. To lobby for us in Washington...so hopefully shit like what's happening now gets stopped BEFORE it gets to the point of the current situation.

In reading the information I got from the FSC today...that's exactly their plan. I quote, "FSC will hire a federal lobbyist to monitor Washington activities and advocate for your free speech rights".

I assume everyone knows the FSC was founded for that very purpose...to be the voice of the adult entertainment industry. Take a look at their mission statement on their website.

One last thing...I know this may feel a bit like a membership drive. I've read a few of those posts...I was reticent at first too...for the same reason. But, after reading the FSC website and realizing that we already have a voice to advocate for us...I sent my membership fees in gladly

[Greenguy]

Jim & I jointly joined & based the amount on the income from the board (which changed about 2 days after we joined)

It is a good thing, but I get this feeling that unless you live near them where you can go to conferences & meetings & whatnot, you don't get the full benefit of it (the members area is nothing special & their board has 1 member)

And I do sorta wish they'd stop hitting me up to sponsor golf outings & whatnot

[Ramster]

Not that I do not want to support it or you American guys as 99% of my friends online are American I have not joined because I live in Canada. Will I? Maybe...

[Useless]

I won't join, but I AM a free loading cocksucker. Plus, as Mr. Yum already knows, I can't take any organzation seriously that doesn't hand out free t-shirts or give away passes to theme parks or something. If they were the Free Tshirt Coalition, well I'd already be a member.

Fuck free speech.

[Bill]

Can you actually join online now?

When I first visited, I donated money, but I couldn't see a way to actually join online.

I'm getting mail and emails from them, so my donating money did some good.

I confess, I'd immediately join online, if they could take the join.

But right after giving my first donation I started reading about how their processor wasn't working, about how it was impossible to join, etc, etc.

Is everybody who is joining is sending in the fax thing? Very '80s.

Seriously, I'd give them a big chunk in the next few minutes if they could take my join online.

BTW, what do you guys figure - deductible, because it's a professional organization, or nondeductible, because it's a political contribution?

I'm thinking deductible.

[Extreme John]

Nah you cant join online, not that I saw, we called them, they faxed us the paperwork needed and we faxed it back.

Extreme Paychecks is lovin the FSC

[terry]

I am also in Canada and I have thought about joining but something just keeps stopping me. Not sure what thought... so I don't know if I ever will.

[Ms Naughty]

I'm in Australia but I'd like to join as an individual to support what they're doing.

Haven't joined as yet because their online signup form isn't working.

[MrYum]

Geez, I did a post a poll and run thang

Very busy day...preparing just in case...but still building too...biz as usual...so far...

Yep, their website sign up is down...something about needing to get a new processor...and they had no projected date when that would happen. So for those that do want to join, looks like telephone or fax is the only way to go.

So far, I haven't had much trouble contacting them on the phone

Bill, I would think probably not deductible as it's more of a political organization than a professional organization. I could be wrong though...some accountants can get pretty creative

UW, yea I DO know how you like your t-shirts and caps

Wow...in looking at the ol poll on the wall...looks like more have not and don't plan to than those that have or do plan to.

Any of the 'nays' care to elaborate as to why?

Purely a money thing?

Or, just don't think it's worth it?

[Useless]

I was one of those horribly negative votes, partially because I'm a dick and partially because I'm painfully honest. I definately believe that the FSC is a great investment, but I can't afford to throw cash at anything, especially considering I have based my entire business model around the use sponsor content and a great many of my sponsors are busy ramming cease & desist orders up my ass because they all seem to have been using content that even they can't get documentation for, let alone providing it to their dutiful affiliates. In other words, my limited sales are about to take a monster fucking leap into the worst toilet in Scotland (Trainspotting).

Jim said he was going to donate $1 to the Human Fund (Seinfeld) in my name.

[MrYum]

I know the feeling UW...

While I've never used much sponsor content (a bit but not much)...a LOT of the paid content will have to go IF these regs go through. A few hundred free sites worth...thousands of dollars worth of content Yep, tried to contact the producer...yup, he's MIA...fucker

A bunch more content was purchased from producers in the EU...I've got some docs, but whether or not they meet the new standards is another story. One in particular that isn't responding to messages is very surprising...given that he's a well respected member of our community.

So yea, IF these regs are enforced...I'll lose several thousand dollars worth of content

All that said, and I KNOW there are those on this board that think I'm fuckin nuts...I'm still cautiously optimistic that these regs will never be enforced. They're SO far out there in left field...that I think the injunctions will be granted. And the DOJ will be told to fucking start over...just mho

Which is why it's biz as usual for now...just finishing up a bunch of new free sites actually...and yes, some of em are explicit

[mrMagoo]

I have not joined and this is why:

It is not necassry.

But for anyone who has joined good for you!

[Greenguy]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

... a great many of my sponsors are busy ramming cease & desist orders up my ass because they all seem to have been using content that even they can't get documentation for, let alone providing it to their dutiful affiliates...

I think this is because the sponsor doesn't want to give out the model's personal info OR they aren't allowed to by the content provider OR the content provider isn't producing the proper documents.

I don't think that any sponsor is just yanking content for shits & giggles.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Greenguy

I think this is because the sponsor doesn't want to give out the model's personal info OR they aren't allowed to by the content provider OR the content provider isn't producing the proper documents.

That's pretty much what I said.

[Cleo]

Coming soon, new Goatse content featuring Useless Warrior

[Greenguy]

I understand what you're saying, but I think it's one of 3 things & not just that they can't get the docs needed - I'm sure a lot of them will be 100% compliant within their inner workings, but they will choose to not release model ID's because of the potential stalker problem.

[Mr. Blue]

I would join the FSC but the membership is a little steep for me this month, especially because of me picking up $1k in content. If the membership was $50 I would join today, but they're under this impression that all webmasters can drop that kind of money without blinking. I'll consider joining next month though.

As for sponsors and content...A lot of my sponsors are making an effort to supply the needed info. Some are having issues though with content providers, who give this model info away for $5 on their content site, suddenly pretending like they care about model security.

[RawAlex]

FSC has priced themselves out of the market, and more importantly, they have yet to establish a real track record for doing the things that webmasters truly need.

They talk a good game, but I am not 100% comfortable with how things have turned in the last couple of years. The wholesale changes made within the organization seemed most oriented towards getting marketshare and little to do with actually getting to the end of things.

Further, I am not comfortable with a "webmaster organization" that will look to get an injunction against the new 257, but restrict that injunction to it's own members only. If they were working for the webmaster community as a whole, they would ask for an injunction for "all adult industry workers and corporations". Instead, they are using it as some soft of leverage to increase memberships.

I am not comfortable. When I am not comfortable, I am not spending.

Alex

[RawAlex]

As for the FSC getting scammed on their website or whatever, let me just say that you would think that a webmaster organization would do a better job of being it's own webmaster. Admitting to being unable to control a single subcontractors really maked me wonder about all the rest.

I agree that at $50 I would like to be a member (I donate that much at shows typically). Something like this shoudl be INCLUSIVE. It should have as many members as possible. The $300 membership makes me think of the $300 signup fee for the miami show. It's amazing to think that some of the same people are involved in both.

Go figure!

Alex

[Linkster]

I guess I should have included a reference to the $300 per website:
http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/c...ypes=Corporate

look at the bottom of the app where it lists Dance Clubs, Retail/Rental Stores, Websites

[Kinky]

Originally Posted by Linkster

I guess I should have included a reference to the $300 per website:
http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/c...ypes=Corporate

look at the bottom of the app where it lists Dance Clubs, Retail/Rental Stores, Websites

that is an interesting point Linkster, I guess they think that everybody that is incorporated is rich


and let me clarify I do not agree with the price bump and am not sure why it was done, and i don't feel secure in anyway by giving them money, i just feel strongly that we are all being grouped in as criminals and i don't like it (not that anybody does)

and Alex they aren't just an adult webmaster orginization, in fact i never heard of one webmaster mention them before the 2257 regs came out, maybe that is one of the problems and the reason why they didn't have a webmaster option before on the signup page and the reason for the price increase, although the increase still doesn't make any sense why should webmasters pay more than talent? the increase bothers me too dammit

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by Linkster

I guess I should have included a reference to the $300 per website:
http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/c...ypes=Corporate

look at the bottom of the app where it lists Dance Clubs, Retail/Rental Stores, Websites

WOW! Don't know what's up with that Linkster! I'd never seen that page.

When I called them...told them I was an adult webmaster...they collected the $300.

Dunno...maybe that's for paysite owners???

[Kinky]

Originally Posted by MrYum

WOW! Don't know what's up with that Linkster! I'd never seen that page.

When I called them...told them I was an adult webmaster...they collected the $300.

Dunno...maybe that's for paysite owners???

it is for corporations like the big sponsors... problem is that some people are incorporated but aren't able to afford that

[Linkster]

I am just guessing here - but I think the adult WM is for someone employed in a company to do webpage maintenance - wheras someone that runs a website of their own would have to do a per website membership

When you called did you happen to mention that you owned any websites?

[stuveltje]

i was thinking to join but hey i am dutch far away from us, the way i talk US, i also understand the US language spoken by those law people...meaning i dont understand shit of it..........i am realing thinking of taking some lessons so i understand the diffecult words better (even others like the way i talk and dont care how others think about that) (stu still thinking why the hell she has bin in college till age 21 and still dont understand the diffecult talking, see college is bad , and no use)no for real i dont think it has any use for me to join that, convince me please.......(did i say that right?)