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Tap Into A Community
By YNOTMasters.com
Have you ever heard someone talk about the adult industry as if it were just one big social group? Like everyone who works in porn knows everyone else who works in porn?
Discussing and debating what's "best" for the adult industry is a time-honored adult webmaster activity. Some people argue that the industry needs to "clean up" and "self regulate" to avoid unwanted government scrutiny. Others claim the industry needs to stop giving out so much free porn if it wants to improve sales. Some suggest all webmasters should put any uncensored hardcore content behind age screens of some kind. It almost sounds like the industry has some central governing body that can make such decisions and enforce them on every adult webmaster in existence. Of course there isn't any such industry-governing mechanism, and viewing the adult industry as just one single community of people is a mistake.
Although the one-community mindset is deeply flawed, for reasons we will discuss, the sentiment behind it is nonetheless admirable. Who would deny how fantastic it would be if webmasters all over the globe could join hands, click their heels three times, and zap all of the child pornography off the Internet? And, those of us who work in adult entertainment for a living certainly wouldn't object if the only way for surfers to access adult content were to purchase it. It's nice to think of the adult industry as a single group that has the power to make these changes happen. Sadly, however, that's just not the reality.
The adult industry attracts all kinds of people, and there are no controls on who enters into the adult business. There is a talented and dedicated professional community within the adult industry. These people are often hard-working, generally enjoy their occupation, and seldom stop thinking of new ways to make more money in an honest and ethical manner. There is also an "amateur" community within the adult industry. Some people in this group share many of the traits found in the professional crowd, but also see the adult industry as a way of life as well as a way to make some money. Then there's the criminal crowd. We hate to admit it, but some webmasters are just plain crooked. From triple-billing credit cards to producing malicious dialers that run up bills without the surfer's consent, these people really don't give two hoots about the health of the adult industry. And of course you have the independent and part-time webmasters - people who run a few sites when they're not busy with their day jobs. Some of these people are quite professional in their approach, while others push some of the ethical boundaries. Some make mistakes purely out of innocent ignorance.
The point is merely that all kinds of people on all kinds of levels work in the adult entertainment industry. That much should be obvious. And this understanding should also dispel any notion that the industry could ever act collectively as a group. As the old saying goes, you'd have better luck herding cats.
So what then is a concerned webmaster to do? Here's something to keep in mind: Just because this industry is loaded with independent minds from a variety of different backgrounds doesn't mean that you can't find within the industry a sub-community of individuals who share many of your concerns and business values. The adult Internet is loaded with resources for adult webmasters, each with its own unique community. And if you don't like any of the existing communities, then you can always build your own network of industry contacts. At the end of the day, you get to decide with whom you will do business. That should provide you with at least some amount of comfort.
Just so we're clear, the suggestion here isn't that you should give up on the big battles, such as fighting child pornography or defending Free Speech from its aggressors. There are a number of industry groups that are devoted to these important causes. Issues-based groups find strength in numbers, but that doesn't mean they require industry-wide universal support in order to be effective.
Of course, there's no rule that says you need to involve yourself with a community of other adult webmasters at all. You can go it alone if that's what tickles your fancy. Though be aware that building a successful business won't prove quite so simple without friends and contacts. Who will you hit up when you want to trade links? A stranger? Your unsolicited e-mail will almost certainly find the virtual trash bin. Without industry contacts you won't have potential business partners for your next great idea. Having trouble with search engine placement? Wondering why your niche site isn't converting like you thought it would? Without being part of an industry community you will find it significantly more difficult to get help on topics specific to the online adult business.
Those who have never worked in adult entertainment will probably continue to see the adult industry as one giant community. For those who do work in adult entertainment, it doesn't pay to buy into this trap. The unethical actions of certain companies and individuals should not be made to reflect on those who follow the rules. One webmaster does not speak for the next. Our industry is more complex than all that. Like most branches of the larger entertainment industry, adult entertainment defies the one-community label. Understanding that the one-community mindset is flawed is a vital first step towards understanding the complexities of this industry and how to make these complexities work effectively for you.
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