Need help /raided and computers seized

[Tommy]

Ya know in the end things balance themselves out

I believe that this industry needs self regulation

the credit card company's and third party billers have already done a very good job of weeding out some of the more undesirable stuff

I wish the hosting companys would do more
or could do more

[plateman]

I hate to jump in here but I've been reading this thing since day one, and I can say its been interesting to read both sides and they both had very good arguments.. then it turned into a movie script type thing.. I think you two should call a truce...

[GonZo]

Originally Posted by Tommy

Ya know in the end things balance themselves out

I believe that this industry needs self regulation

the credit card company's and third party billers have already done a very good job of weeding out some of the more undesirable stuff

I wish the hosting companys would do more
or could do more

Tommy I agree some sort of self regulation is in order but you know as well as I do getting a group of us to even agree on where to go to dinner is like herding cats.

I did an interview last week with one of the Xbiz world reporters about some self regulation proposals and this new association Bill Margold is proposing....

I wont spoil the interview but I will cut and paste what hes proposing....

"Margold is calling for the formation of something called AMERA; the Adult Media Entertainment Responsibilities Associations. This organization would somehow try to encourage compliance with his six-point plan, which is:



1) An end to extreme hardcore content.

2) IV drug testing to discourage use of performers that are on IV drugs.

3) A 21-and-over age limit for performers that do hardcore.

4) Cutting ties with the escort business by not allowing escorts to perform in front of the camera.

5) Not using foreign talent unless they have legitimate papers to work in the US.

6) Working with the government to legislate a "porn tax" similar to alcohol and gambling taxes."

Self regulation is being discussed.

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by GonZo

Tommy I agree some sort of self regulation is in order but you know as well as I do getting a group of us to even agree on where to go to dinner is like herding cats.

I did an interview last week with one of the Xbiz world reporters about some self regulation proposals and this new association Bill Margold is proposing....

I wont spoil the interview but I will cut and paste what hes proposing....

"Margold is calling for the formation of something called AMERA; the Adult Media Entertainment Responsibilities Associations. This organization would somehow try to encourage compliance with his six-point plan, which is:



1) An end to extreme hardcore content.

2) IV drug testing to discourage use of performers that are on IV drugs.

3) A 21-and-over age limit for performers that do hardcore.

4) Cutting ties with the escort business by not allowing escorts to perform in front of the camera.

5) Not using foreign talent unless they have legitimate papers to work in the US.

6) Working with the government to legislate a "porn tax" similar to alcohol and gambling taxes."

Self regulation is being discussed.

I see number 6 as a deal breaker.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Surfn

I see number 6 as a deal breaker.

Numbers 2 & 3 are the only ones that I can agree to without more discussion. Guess it's a good thing that it isn't all up to me.

Where's the cat herder?

[emmanuelle]

Originally Posted by GonZo

"Margold is calling for the formation of something called AMERA; the Adult Media Entertainment Responsibilities Associations. This organization would somehow try to encourage compliance with his six-point plan, which is:



1) An end to extreme hardcore content.

2) IV drug testing to discourage use of performers that are on IV drugs.

3) A 21-and-over age limit for performers that do hardcore.

4) Cutting ties with the escort business by not allowing escorts to perform in front of the camera.

5) Not using foreign talent unless they have legitimate papers to work in the US.

6) Working with the government to legislate a "porn tax" similar to alcohol and gambling taxes."

Self regulation is being discussed.

I used to be a big fan of Bill Margold but over the past few years he's seemed a bit loony.

1- I personally would love to see this, but not at the expense of free speech
2-Should be common sense, but then who would shoot with Max?
3-Hurrah! (My own personal shooting policy btw, as I don't feel that any 18 year old girl is equipped to make decision with such far reaching consequences)
4-That's just silly. Are they going to bar "pornstars" from crossover in the reverse direction too?
5- Under 2257, isnt this already the law?
6- Will never happen. Taxation creates legitimacy, something the US is not ready for. You'll see a tax on pot before a tax on porn.

[Wazza]

1) An end to extreme hardcore content.

Bye bye bondage... then DP, then creampie, then bukkake... to steal a phrase - it's a slippery slope...

2) IV drug testing to discourage use of performers that are on IV drugs.

huh?

3) A 21-and-over age limit for performers that do hardcore.

then 25 next time around?

4) Cutting ties with the escort business by not allowing escorts to perform in front of the camera.

huh?

5) Not using foreign talent unless they have legitimate papers to work in the US.

there are other countries now?

6) Working with the government to legislate a "porn tax" similar to alcohol and gambling taxes."

yeah right!

Nup... can't find a single one that I agree with there...

[DJilla]

Webwoman: Obviously, you didn't take my adivce to be quiet soooo...

I wish you the best and caution you to be very, very, cautious. Lawyers are a funny bunch and if you don't actually know the one you are dealing with its best not to follow their advice blindly without doing your own research. However, it does sound like you have a better than average situation given the complication of the bankruptcy situation (sorry that you are further caught up in the cross fire of more garbage piled up on top of an already bad situation). Two thoughts come to mind:

1) Just because you haven't heard anything generally doesn't mean that "they made an honest mistake and aren't trying to drive you into the ground. It usually means that they are just waiting to present what they have to a grand jury (The king never admits a mistake if only because it would then be actionable for damages) I can't imagine the situation where they'll go "Ooops... never mind"... so methinks you still have trouble ahead and be careful.
2) At minimum I would guess they want you out of town or out of business... don't fight it, negotiate an agreement and melt back into the framework of your community. Enough said: good luck!

Furry Girl: After watching your other posts and seeing that you generally have a sweet temperment, I was a little surprised to see you go so hysterical in this thread. I understood once I realized that you feel you are defending what most would agree is obnoxious content and I gotta tell you it will NEVER be acceptable like you proclaim it should be. You are merely defending what you do and wrapping it in a Joan of Arc type crusade. You should step aside a minute and realize that you are justifying yourself and not being objective. If you are going to be "out there" then be willing to take the hits from a majority of people who find your stuff disgusting and just don't care. Don't act like everyone else is crazy. Raw Alex not only has NOT said anything that wasn't pretty reasonable, but I can see many times he opened the door to you and offered an olive branch to having a reaonable debate and not keep it on the personal level that you kept dragging it back too. Calm down and go back to your sweet self who knows a secret no one else can understand.

FOR ME, I'm glad you're out there like that and encourage you to do more and better! You do have some guts and as long as you're pushing the barf bag stuff I know that I can safely peddle my tame stuff behind the wave that you've created.
While they are paying attention to you they'll ignore me. You are a valuable asset to the porn game because as Raw Alex originally said, you are the one likely to get the speeding ticket. This is good for everyone else because they'll get to slide right by when you take the sacrificial hit. They should be thanking you instead of attacking you.

Bill Margold: Somebody please stuff a rag in his mouth and tie him up somewhere!

The official position is:

Porn is ART and EXPRESSION!
There will be no concessions.
There will be no negotiated agreements.
There will be no taxes.
There will be no regulation.
There will be no quarter!
Period!

[weirdharold]

Originally Posted by DJilla

The official position is:

Porn is ART and EXPRESSION!
There will be no concessions.
There will be no negotiated agreements.
There will be no taxes.
There will be no regulation.
There will be no quarter!
Period!

Well said, because if we give one hard won inch... they will take a mile!

[furrygirl]

Originally Posted by DJilla

You should step aside a minute and realize that you are justifying yourself and not being objective. If you are going to be "out there" then be willing to take the hits from a majority of people who find your stuff disgusting and just don't care. Don't act like everyone else is crazy.

I'm absolutely not objective about the personal porn that I meake which features myself and my cunt. Spend 22 years being told that your body is shameful, disgusting, barf-worthy, dirty, stinky, too out-there, and obscene, and then try to give me a lesson on objectivity. Sorry, dude, but this is something you will just never understand.

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by furrygirl

Spend 22 years being told that your body is shameful, disgusting, barf-worthy, dirty, stinky, too out-there, and obscene, and then try to give me a lesson on objectivity. Sorry, dude, but this is something you will just never understand.

But just the opposite, I think I do understand, I understand that you are dealing with your own point of view and expression of it. I'm fully supportive of that and you. What I'm trying to point out is that you may be extremely wrapped up in ONLY your point of view and that you lose sight of the fact that there is probably a large body of people that find your position/expression extreme and therefore threatening, unpleasant, whatever. Because of this you're going to take some hits. The objective part I'm referring to comes from you knowing and accepting this and letting the hits roll off of you like a raincoat and not taking it so personally. Its not a cirticism of you as a person but of your art. This is a legitimate endeavor when you invite people to partake in your expression publicly. When they do, negativity is going to come. You need to lighten up when it does and not be so touchy. Like I said, your stuff may not be to my taste but I love that you've got the guts to be out there with it for whatever your personal reasons. I just don't think you need to be so defensive or hostile just because others are goading you.

Rock On Babe!

[furrygirl]

I went away for a couple days to focus on work.

Originally Posted by DJilla

But just the opposite, I think I do understand, I understand that you are dealing with your own point of view and expression of it. I'm fully supportive of that and you. What I'm trying to point out is that you may be extremely wrapped up in ONLY your point of view and that you lose sight of the fact that there is probably a large body of people that find your position/expression extreme and therefore threatening, unpleasant, whatever. Because of this you're going to take some hits. The objective part I'm referring to comes from you knowing and accepting this and letting the hits roll off of you like a raincoat and not taking it so personally. Its not a cirticism of you as a person but of your art. This is a legitimate endeavor when you invite people to partake in your expression publicly. When they do, negativity is going to come. You need to lighten up when it does and not be so touchy. Like I said, your stuff may not be to my taste but I love that you've got the guts to be out there with it for whatever your personal reasons. I just don't think you need to be so defensive or hostile just because others are goading you.

Rock On Babe!

There's a difference between being able to be critiqued by colleagues and being told that you're barf-worthy, disgusting, offensive, and that your pussy goo is no different from shit. Those are not mature, productive, objective discussion points, so it's no wonder that I don't have a non-objective response to them.

Secondly, Alex has not been making rational claims or backing up his presumptions with fact. He is fear mongering to the extent of inferring that a little pussy blood could be the end of the porn industry as we know it, and I really shouldn't even have to dignify that sort of panicky-ass finger-pointing behavior with a reply.

I don't understand how we made it to this backwards reality of saying that fright-based sky-is-falling arguments are some kind of "fact" compared my own historically documented "opinion" that the only way that the adult industry has made it this far is because a few people have been willing to go to bat for *all* of us and challenge bad laws and obscenity standards.

[furrygirl]

Originally Posted by GonZo

1) An end to extreme hardcore content.

2) IV drug testing to discourage use of performers that are on IV drugs.

3) A 21-and-over age limit for performers that do hardcore.

4) Cutting ties with the escort business by not allowing escorts to perform in front of the camera.

5) Not using foreign talent unless they have legitimate papers to work in the US.

6) Working with the government to legislate a "porn tax" similar to alcohol and gambling taxes."

Self regulation is being discussed.

I'm all for industry-initiated self-regulation and discussion of ethics in the industry, but as Gonzo said, it's like herding cats. Whereas I'm ethically aghast at pedo-bait sites and violent degrading content, there as plenty of people ethically aghast at me for menstruating during a softcore stripping set.

3) As someone who got started at 18, I am always irked by these things. I understand where people whom I respect are coming from when they advocate over-21 policies, but I don't think that it would address either of the reasons I see for having such a rule. One, there is nothing that says a 21-year-old is more secure, mature, and better at making decisions about her life and her body than an 18-year-old. Even people in their 30s or 40s or 80s can later regret making porn and feel like they made a wrong decision or were lured into something evil with the promise of money. Two, if this is to combat pedo-bait sites like Little April, many sites/photogs/talent are trying to make performers/themselves look as much like a teenager as possible, and many sites will *always* push "she's so young" as a top selling point of their sites, whether the models are 18 or 21 or 35. I see no reason to deny legal consensual adult work to 18-year-olds.

(Personally, I have made a conscious point of never using the word "teen" or "young" to sell myself and my site, even though I have plenty of content shot when I was 18 and 19. I actually go out of my way to correct anyone who calls me a teen, and I *never* talk about "my first time" or any borderline illegal stories of underage sexual antics that are ubiquitous on adult sites. Seriously, what is with *that* being normalized?)

4) Can we just use the word prostitute and cut with the "escort" euphemisms? I don't look down at prostitutes in the least or think what they are doing is morally wrong, but I don't like beating around the bush. This would be the hardest thing in the world to try and set rules for and enforce. Aside from models who do a bit of extra work on the side, look at all the adult talent that does occasional brothel work as such-and-such-pornstar, are we going to then cut them off from the "legal" adult industry? Or is this only for prostitutes outside of legal brothels? Sticky, sticky.

5) Well, there goes iFriends and all the cam networks populated by eastern bloc ladies.

6) Feeding the hand that bites us... yeah, sign me up for that one.

Still, these are a great starting point for a kick-ass discussion, and something that would make a lively last-minute panel for Internext/AEE.