2257 - Im about to be real unpopular!

[Linkster]

I've been sitting back reading through everything thats been posted for the last few days - and some posts on other boards - as well as looking back at some history of different fights that have taken place over the years I've been involved in the biz (both the internet and way before in the BBS biz)

I've started to form an understanding of peoples desires and wants as well as the reality of the situation that really has been facing the internet biz for some time - and the ease at which we have been able to conduct business without interference from external forces for so long.

For those that think I'm "caving in" - don't - I'm always going to be one of the strongest advocates of the perception of free speech and constitutional rights as I have been all of my life.

First off - some facts - the FSC is a "trade association" as posted in their "about us" page - not a free speech advocate of all the people - but an organization formed to (in their vision statement) "... a national association that helps limit the legal risks of being an adult business, increases the profitability of its members, promotes the acceptance of the industry in America's business community, and supports greater public tolerance for freedom of sexual speech".

Basically their history is one of trying to band together the mom and pop video shops and clubs in different locations and then as they grew - to take on the internet industry as part of their efforts.

They are not - by a long shot - an ACLU or EFF trying to protect all people on the planet - and basically in my eyes - I see them as a group of well-intentioned people that are trying to do something the adult industry has tried to do in the past - to build an "adult internet webmasters guild" that is protected yet supports the different endeavors of all of the members. In doing so - do they alienate anyone that thinks that they should also be protected yet doesnt want to be a member of their "guild"? In some cases - yes - but then that is a personal choice every business person has to make - do they want to further the idea of a "professional organization" in this industry or be just a bunch of people that casually know each other and do everything in sort of a "associated by job" way?

I was reminded by a friend (Lensman - from another place and time) that we were all up in arms over a patent on video streaming a while back - and a few of us threw in a bunch of money - and kind of sat back and hoped the problem went away - some of the industry folded in to the demands, while others (like my friend) still are spending their money to fight that battle - and yet we sit back and think that everything is donw and finished and I'd be willing to bet 85% of the WMs here havent even given it a second thought in the last year.

Which brings me to my last and more direct thoughts of this whole scenario - first off - I think their is a lot of confusion embedded inthis whole topic because of the name of the organization that is out there putting money on the line with lawyers - they are not a "peoples" representative like the ACLU or even an "internet free speech" organization like the EFF - they are trying to organize the adult industry - and just the adult industry into a voice (one voice together) that can actually have a chance at fighting things like this that will be thrown at adult WMs, performers, distributors, movie houses, toy stores etc. for years to come - not just this one little fight that probably doesnt have a chance in hell - but all of the good fights.
I am reminded of a book - American Justice - which chronicles Larry Flynts battles on many fronts over the years in his one-man attempt to fight the injustices against the 1st amendment - and after listening to the man in person I have never seen or heard someone that touched me more - and he is still at it - recently in the Iraq war going up against the defense dept for not letting him out on the battlefield to report - and over the 25 years he's been fighting this fight - its been his money - not an organization or any support groups - just because of his personal conviction.

Back to the current battle - we (in my opinion) will all benefit in the long run from some sort of collaboration of WMs and other adult producers - and it looks like the DOJ has forced our hand to decide if its now or not - and the only thing I see out there is one organization that has stepped forward - if someone else has another org in mind or another way to fight the battle (of course remembering that it costs money to do that in this world of lawyers) than please post away and Ill listen

On the question of fairness for coverage of just members of the FSC - since I now understand what they are trying to do in the "big picture" is it fair to ask lawyers to go out and fight our battle with no pay? Would you go and join a sponsor and tell them that you'll just sell their sites for free just cause ya like them?