Any ideas for a realistic alternative to the Free Speech Coalition?

Bill · 2006-03-17, 04:48 PM

So, it's getting time to put your money where your mouth is.

Memberships to the FSC will be up for renewal in a few months.

Tons of people signed up because they were all scared about 2257 last year. (Which, by the way, is not the reason I joined, I believed the 2257 attack would fail, but felt that uit was just the beginning of a political crackdown.)

Well, there are even more ugly attacks on our industry coming around the corner, that make the bureaucratic sneakiness of the last 2257 debacle look like nothing.

For those people who are all pissed off at the FSC I have this question.

Who do you propose we ally with instead of the Free Speech Coalition?

Don't just bitch and moan, put your candidate on the table.

Chop Smith · 2006-03-17, 05:55 PM

Bill, I don't think I remember ever admitting that I was a member of FSC because I hated the way a couple of members of the board was driving their scare tatic, sky falling membership drive. I am a member of FSC and ACLU and will rejoin both. However, neither is going to properly represent the average adult webmaster. IMO, the only way that we will get proper representation is for us to band together, put our money where our mouths are and form a new trade association.

Bill · 2006-03-17, 06:19 PM

Yes, Chop, I think you're right, one of the few clear alternatives would be to try and form our own trade association.

It would have a lot of advantages.

But, I believe it would be _significantly_ more expensive. Let's say we can get away with $100 to $300 a year each with memberships to the FSC. Staring our own association would probably require closer to a thousand dollars each per year (that's a conservative estimate), if we wanted it to be anything more than a toothless symbol.

And the learning curve, learning how to lobby and how to act politically, and how to run it as an organization, could be very steep. It's been tried before and failed spectacularly every time.

But, it's definitely a choice that has to be kept on the table and studied closely.

---

On another note, I just renewed my membership with the ACLU. $75 well spent.

walrus · 2006-03-17, 07:26 PM

You get what you pay for. As long as we're willing to be treated like a red-headed stepchild and give them our money, they will be only more than happy to oblige.

My feeling is that if we showed we were seriously making an attempt to form some type of association...and it began to sprout legs...then the FSC would be willing to put more effort into our causes because while we may not be a major source of revenue....I can't imagine we're chump change either.

As far as the FSC...I let my membership expire months ago and have no intention of renewing it.

Surfn · 2006-03-17, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walrus

You get what you pay for. As long as we're willing to be treated like a red-headed stepchild and give them our money, they will be only more than happy to oblige.

My feeling is that if we showed we were seriously making an attempt to form some type of association...and it began to sprout legs...then the FSC would be willing to put more effort into our causes because while we may not be a major source of revenue....I can't imagine we're chump change either.

As far as the FSC...I let my membership expire months ago and have no intention of renewing it.

Well said

Ms Naughty · 2006-03-17, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walrus

As long as we're willing to be treated like a red-headed stepchild

I'm a redhead. I feel so rejected...

walrus · 2006-03-17, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandmascrotum

I'm a redhead. I feel so rejected...

oops

Ms Naughty · 2006-03-17, 09:07 PM

LOL Walrus

The FSC guy said they were re-doing the site and would get back to us. A month is a long time to wait, but I'm hoping they'll turn up and give us an update.

Chop Smith · 2006-03-18, 01:07 AM

Even in the 'something for nothing' society that we live in today, money talks. Form our independent webmasters association and raise some bucks, buy a corporate membership in FSC and negoiate with them to have our own board member. If you band together, you will get their attention.

Get 100 webmasters to ante up $100 each. Put the money in the hands of the most respected webmaster that we have and see what the $10,000 will buy.

Let me know where you want me to send my contribution.

Loganp8000 · 2006-03-18, 03:54 AM

Wow, certainly is an interesting idea. I pay a monthly fee for so many things, I wouldnt mind paying 100 a month for our own trade association. My concern would be if the $$ would be used properly.

ALOHA

Bill · 2006-03-18, 03:53 PM

Okay, so far, on the table we have two choices.

The FSC, and starting our own trade association.

(The trade association concept has several variations, but we will lump it together as one thing for now.)

Can anyone think of any other alternatives that should be considered?

How about the AFF and Paul Cambria?

How about a fan association like FOXE?

walrus · 2006-03-19, 05:21 PM

I can't and judging by the responses so far....

So what's next? Is it time to let this die and accept the status quo or is there enough momentum for some type of movement?

Bill · 2006-03-19, 05:33 PM

Well, I think it's a bit too early to stop the opinion gathering phase yet.

I also think people may be grossly underestimating the amount of work and trouble and expense involved in trying to start a webmaster association.

And, trying to start our own association makes the question of "who bells the cat" - that is, who is in charge of the association, and who does the grunt work of the asociation - all the more pressing. Staffing an association is likely to be very tricky.

walrus · 2006-03-19, 05:58 PM

I've been known to jump the gun, once or twice

and I definately appreciate all the work it would take to setup our own association and I believe that there is absolutely very few qualified cats to be belled and because most of them dont want the damn bell it is a pipe dream to think that it would happen anytime in the very near future (or my lifetime for that matter).

That having been said, I think Chop's earlier suggestion is a much better idea. Money does talk and if banded together we could use that to possibly affect change at the FSC. But again, who do you trust to collect the $$$ and then go to the FSC and negotiate the basic changes needed to be awarded the cash and who is going to play watchdog to ensure such changes are put in place and to regularly report on progress.

Chop Smith · 2006-03-19, 08:55 PM

Karomesis, are you from Canada?

karomesis · 2006-03-19, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Karomesis, are you from Canada?

Unfortunately, no. I live in massachusetts.

Bill · 2006-03-22, 08:51 PM

Well, the more I have thought about forming our own webmaster association, the harder if not impossible the idea seems to me.

I just don't see how we can herd these cats. It would be tough enough to get 50 $100 commitments here from the GG&J community. Trying to approach the other communities and getting them to go along just seems like an impossible task. I know for sure I don't have the rep and power to pull off getting even one other board/community to join up, I'm not sure even Greenguy could do it.

Maybe a virtual association of just us GG&J peeps, all withholding our memberships and donations at once, could work. Even that I have my doubts about.

If we could talk one other board into also forming a virtual association, that would be a big achievement.

I think we should put pressure on the FSC and the AFF at the same time, and play them against each other.

tickler · 2006-03-23, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

I just don't see how we can herd these cats.

http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/co...ding/?c=&p=104

Sometimes you need to hit refresh if they stick an Ad in.

2006-03-17, 04:48 PM	#1
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	Any ideas for a realistic alternative to the Free Speech Coalition? So, it's getting time to put your money where your mouth is. Memberships to the FSC will be up for renewal in a few months. Tons of people signed up because they were all scared about 2257 last year. (Which, by the way, is not the reason I joined, I believed the 2257 attack would fail, but felt that uit was just the beginning of a political crackdown.) Well, there are even more ugly attacks on our industry coming around the corner, that make the bureaucratic sneakiness of the last 2257 debacle look like nothing. For those people who are all pissed off at the FSC I have this question. Who do you propose we ally with instead of the Free Speech Coalition? Don't just bitch and moan, put your candidate on the table.

2006-03-17, 05:55 PM	#2
Chop Smith Eighteen 'til I Die Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,168	Bill, I don't think I remember ever admitting that I was a member of FSC because I hated the way a couple of members of the board was driving their scare tatic, sky falling membership drive. I am a member of FSC and ACLU and will rejoin both. However, neither is going to properly represent the average adult webmaster. IMO, the only way that we will get proper representation is for us to band together, put our money where our mouths are and form a new trade association. __________________

2006-03-17, 07:26 PM	#4
walrus Oh no, I'm sweating like Roger Ebert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,773	You get what you pay for. As long as we're willing to be treated like a red-headed stepchild and give them our money, they will be only more than happy to oblige. My feeling is that if we showed we were seriously making an attempt to form some type of association...and it began to sprout legs...then the FSC would be willing to put more effort into our causes because while we may not be a major source of revenue....I can't imagine we're chump change either. As far as the FSC...I let my membership expire months ago and have no intention of renewing it. __________________ Naked Girlfriend Porn TGP free partner account

2006-03-17, 09:07 PM	#8
Ms Naughty old enough to be Grandma Scrotum Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,408	LOL Walrus The FSC guy said they were re-doing the site and would get back to us. A month is a long time to wait, but I'm hoping they'll turn up and give us an update. __________________ Promote Bright Desire

2006-03-18, 01:07 AM	#9
Chop Smith Eighteen 'til I Die Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,168	Even in the 'something for nothing' society that we live in today, money talks. Form our independent webmasters association and raise some bucks, buy a corporate membership in FSC and negoiate with them to have our own board member. If you band together, you will get their attention. Get 100 webmasters to ante up $100 each. Put the money in the hands of the most respected webmaster that we have and see what the $10,000 will buy. Let me know where you want me to send my contribution. __________________

2006-03-17, 06:19 PM	#3
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	Yes, Chop, I think you're right, one of the few clear alternatives would be to try and form our own trade association. It would have a lot of advantages. But, I believe it would be _significantly_ more expensive. Let's say we can get away with $100 to $300 a year each with memberships to the FSC. Staring our own association would probably require closer to a thousand dollars each per year (that's a conservative estimate), if we wanted it to be anything more than a toothless symbol. And the learning curve, learning how to lobby and how to act politically, and how to run it as an organization, could be very steep. It's been tried before and failed spectacularly every time. But, it's definitely a choice that has to be kept on the table and studied closely. --- On another note, I just renewed my membership with the ACLU. $75 well spent.

2006-03-18, 03:54 AM	#10
Loganp8000 I'm going to the backseat of my car with the woman I love, and I won't be back for TEN MINUTES Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 85	Wow, certainly is an interesting idea. I pay a monthly fee for so many things, I wouldnt mind paying 100 a month for our own trade association. My concern would be if the $$ would be used properly. ALOHA

2006-03-18, 03:53 PM	#11
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	Okay, so far, on the table we have two choices. The FSC, and starting our own trade association. (The trade association concept has several variations, but we will lump it together as one thing for now.) Can anyone think of any other alternatives that should be considered? How about the AFF and Paul Cambria? How about a fan association like FOXE?

2006-03-19, 05:21 PM	#12
walrus Oh no, I'm sweating like Roger Ebert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,773	I can't and judging by the responses so far.... So what's next? Is it time to let this die and accept the status quo or is there enough momentum for some type of movement? __________________ Naked Girlfriend Porn TGP free partner account

2006-03-19, 05:33 PM	#13
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	Well, I think it's a bit too early to stop the opinion gathering phase yet. I also think people may be grossly underestimating the amount of work and trouble and expense involved in trying to start a webmaster association. And, trying to start our own association makes the question of "who bells the cat" - that is, who is in charge of the association, and who does the grunt work of the asociation - all the more pressing. Staffing an association is likely to be very tricky.

2006-03-19, 05:58 PM	#14
walrus Oh no, I'm sweating like Roger Ebert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,773	I've been known to jump the gun, once or twice and I definately appreciate all the work it would take to setup our own association and I believe that there is absolutely very few qualified cats to be belled and because most of them dont want the damn bell it is a pipe dream to think that it would happen anytime in the very near future (or my lifetime for that matter). That having been said, I think Chop's earlier suggestion is a much better idea. Money does talk and if banded together we could use that to possibly affect change at the FSC. But again, who do you trust to collect the $$$ and then go to the FSC and negotiate the basic changes needed to be awarded the cash and who is going to play watchdog to ensure such changes are put in place and to regularly report on progress. __________________ Naked Girlfriend Porn TGP free partner account

2006-03-19, 08:55 PM	#15
Chop Smith Eighteen 'til I Die Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,168	Karomesis, are you from Canada? __________________

2006-03-22, 08:51 PM	#17
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	Well, the more I have thought about forming our own webmaster association, the harder if not impossible the idea seems to me. I just don't see how we can herd these cats. It would be tough enough to get 50 $100 commitments here from the GG&J community. Trying to approach the other communities and getting them to go along just seems like an impossible task. I know for sure I don't have the rep and power to pull off getting even one other board/community to join up, I'm not sure even Greenguy could do it. Maybe a virtual association of just us GG&J peeps, all withholding our memberships and donations at once, could work. Even that I have my doubts about. If we could talk one other board into also forming a virtual association, that would be a big achievement. I think we should put pressure on the FSC and the AFF at the same time, and play them against each other.