opinion

Highway to Hell

I want to apologize to those few of you who thought I was serious last month when I wrote in my column that in return for supporting .XXX, I got to ride in ICM Registry CEO Stuart Lawley's private jet, and that I had also taken money from FBI Agent Chuck Joyner in return for information about people in the biz.

It wasn't true. I did neither of those things. I wanted to, of course, but both those fine gentlemen turned me down. They said my support and/or information weren't worth a damn, and that they had plenty of other web rats working for them with better info than I could ever provide. To say I was crestfallen is an understatement; I was devastated. So I drowned my disappointment in bad satire meant to mask a wounded ego, for which I am truly sorry, as sorry as Imus in the morning. OK, the last paragraph is bullshit also. I am not remotely as sorry as Imus in the morning, but it is true that people approached me at the Phoenix Forum to ask about the column; a few were owners of pretty big companies, not your usual yahoos. One of them almost accosted me.

"What's this about you selling out the industry," he said, spattering cherry-flavored booze across my face. "Were you fucking serious, dude?" I started laughing, but then I thought he might hit me.

"Are you kidding," I said, but he just sort of stared at me with a stony stare that web porners are famous for. "Look, man, it was satire. You don't label satire as satire," I said. His brow furrowed. Competing realities were obviously clashing in his head. "No, I did not take any money from the FBI and I did not ride in Stuart Lawley's jet."

"Oh. OK, man, because when I read that I freaked. Are you sure?"

Yes, I am sure. But you know what? I truly am not that sure about anything anymore. That people who have known me for years would think I would take money in exchange for anything has me freaked, so freaked that I really don't care about caring anymore.

People have taken leave of their senses, and no one seems to be concerned. Unsupported accusations are regularly perpetrated on the boards, and before you know it a mob mentality takes over and people are publicly called out to defend themselves against often-insane accusations as everyone watches on the sidelines in awe, glee or disgust.

Sometimes it even spills over into real life, with paranoid performers actually putting their hands on others with hostile intent, for no reason at all. In that alternate reality, people come to the performer's defense, or avert their eyes or lambaste the victim. Crazy justifications are made in the name of profit.

The result is that there is little, if any, incentive to even attempt to engage in rational discourse, especially on the boards, which are just free-for-all zones where assholes who scream the loudest are accorded hero status for screaming the loudest. Adding injury to insult, the real enemies observe the entire debacle and, in Lawley's case, actually attempt to use the inane ramblings to their own advantage.

Well, I guess it really is just business as usual. People talk about how the industry is maturing, but in my opinion nothing could be further from the truth. We are a feeding frenzy of fools, a profitable orgy of selfishness; a gluttonous gang of Imuses who think we are all Keith Ferrazzis.

So really I have nothing to lose. I'm feeling liberated. I wish .XXX were still alive.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

To Cloud or Not to Cloud, That Is the Question

Let’s be honest. It just sounds way cooler to say your business is “in the cloud,” right? Buzzwords make everything sound chic and relevant. In fact, someone uninformed might even assume that any hosting that is not in the cloud is inferior. So what’s the truth?

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Upcoming Visa Price Changes to Registration, Transaction Fees

Visa is updating its fee structure. Effective April 1, both the card brand’s initial nonrefundable application fee and annual renewal fee will increase from $500 to $950. Visa is also introducing a fee of 10 cents for each transaction, and 10 basis points — 0.1% — on the payment volume of certain merchant accounts.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Unpacking the New Digital Services Act

Do you hear the word “regulation” and get nervous? When it comes to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), you shouldn’t worry. If you’re complying with the most up-to-date card brand regulations, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

The Perils of Relying on ChatGPT for Legal Advice

It surprised me how many people admitted that they had used ChatGPT or similar services either to draft legal documents or to provide legal advice. “Surprised” is probably an understatement of my reaction to learning about this, as “horrified” more accurately describes my emotional response.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
profile

WIA Profile: Holly Randall

If you’re one of the many regular listeners to Holly Randall’s celebrated podcast, you are already familiar with her charming intro spiel: “Hi, I’m Holly Randall and welcome to my podcast, ‘Holly Randall Unfiltered.’ This is the show about sex, the adult industry and the people in it.

Women In Adult ·
trends

What's Hot Now: Leading Content Players on Trending Genres, Monetization Strategies

The juggernaut creator economy hurtles along, fueled by ever-ascendant demand for personality-based authenticity and intimacy — yet any reports of the demise of the traditional paysite are greatly exaggerated.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

An Ethical Approach to Global Tech Staffing

One thing my 24-year career as a technologist working to support the online adult entertainment industry has taught me about is the power of global staffing. Without a doubt, I have achieved significantly more business success as a direct result of hiring abroad.

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Finding the Right Payment Partner

Whenever I am talking with businesses that are just getting started, one particular question comes up a lot: “How do I get a merchant account?” It’s a simple question, but it has a complicated answer.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

The Taxman Cometh for Every Business

February may be the month of romance, but it is also a time when we need to think about something that inspires very little love: taxes. April is not far away, and the taxman is always waiting. This year, federal and most state income taxes are due Monday, April 15.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

The Continuous Journey of Legal Compliance in Adult

The adult entertainment industry is teeming with opportunity but is also fraught with challenges, from anticipating consumer behavior to keeping up with technological innovation. The most labyrinthine of all challenges, however, is the world of legal compliance.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More