No Gray Space
By The Colonel Op/Ed
There was a time in this country when people didn’t need to lock their doors, when American workers were working in American factories, when running a news paper was as profitable as it was respectable , when being in a rock band was about partying and getting chicks and getting wasted; and when you didn’t have to argue with baggers and parasites and petty thieves about why they should pay for using your product. But times are changing, and every generation gets more stupid, more irresponsible, and more decadent until we eventually hit the rock fucking bottom.
Now our neighborhoods have turned into ghost towns with all empty, foreclosed homes, the line of unemployed American workers are stretching longer every day, news papers are disappearing into thin air, being in a rock band means eating shit and playing in ghetto clubs because like news, porn and so many other things nobody feels compelled to pay for a music album; and you have to argue to prove why do deserve a fucking compensation in exchange for your product. Times are changing, and we’re at the end of our ropes.
Face it, folks. It’s not hard to see how this nation has become intellectually retarded, financially shattered and morally bankrupt. It’s crystal clear, and it’s fucking hopeless. Period.
Now let’s focus on the internet piracy for one second. All I can say is that when a decent, logical and sane human being uses a product, regardless of the nature of that product, he must feel compelled to pay for that product. This exchange of currency with product and services has been the oldest tradition in human history, the essence of maintaining the financial balance and health of every society since the dawn of man. Today, however, greed and ignorance are threatening to destroy this balance, everybody wants to take everything with no obligation only because he can, and this is a cancerous habit that’s poisoning our society from top to bottom, from the corrupt politicians at the Capitol Hill to fat cats at Wall Street and college kids behind the computers in Small Town, U.S.A. Dangers of this habit are so vivid I don’t even feel the need to explain them. Let me just put it this way: it’s a ripple effect; if you don’t pay for your news, your music or your porn, in the long run publications and musicians and producers can’t provide you with the product, and you too will eventually pay the ultimate price. We’re all in this together, whether you like it or not. Now one last thing: if after everything said, you still want to steal from me just because you can, go ahead, be my fucking guest, just shut your face and don’t try to justify what you do. Thieving is thieving, there are no two ways about it, no buts or ifs or whats. You can’t reach for my pocket and at the same time argue with me about the legitimacy of your action. There’s nothing justifiable, elaborate or legitimate about thieving; and that’s just that: in plain black and white and no gray space in between.
Back in 2000, Metallica sued Napster over the illegal share of their music, and that angered many of their fans who accused them of being greedy and selfish and a lot of things. But now the damages done to the music industry and bands by the internet piracy are so clear nobody needs to write an article to address them. However, back then Lars Ulrich, the band’s drummer did his best to defend their position and explain to people why and how they’re on a dangerous path. In an interview with Charlie Rose he said: ‘Let me give you an example. If a mechanic wants to listen to my music for free, then I want to go to that mechanic and have him do an oil change and tune up for my car for free.’
I couldn’t say it any better. Think about it, and draw your own conclusion.
Thank you Colonel..I loved it. And I don’t steal my porn I pay for it and am happy to do so!
The porn industry lost my business for the most part when they made it difficult for me to use their product the way I want to. When I rented new VCS movies that needed to be returned the very next day without running up ridiculous overdue fees I would just copy them and view them at my leisure over the next week or so. After they went to DVD I couldn’t copy so I cut back my renting probably 95%. Well then came along the internet and the weatlth of free porn, well it was good enough, I don’t mind short teaser clips or whatever else is around online. Make the product easier to use for strokers like me and i’ll give up my $$$
Thank you Kay; and by the way you don’t have to pay for my porn. I’ll gladly keep sending it for you.
Satyric, I hear you brother, but we producers have no control over how adult stores handle their business. Once we produce a title, we ship it to several different retail stores and vendors for a wholesale price which currently is between $5 to $8 per each piece. Each store has a different price tag and different rental policies, and I understand sometimes they charge too much for a title or have inconvinient rental policies, however as I mentioned earlier that’s up to each individual store.
Personally, I suggest you to use VOD websites such as AEBN & Hot Movies. You can buy a time package for as low as $5.95 and watch the latest titles and newest scenes for as low as 8 cents per minute; and if you like a particular title or scene, you can rent it or download and own it.
the colonel is right. the tube sites are breaking the old business model. it’s very similar to the music industry.
i’ve been making money off the music industry for a decade. and in that time the “cd’s and l.p.” business model completely collapsed. and there was a time (around 2001 or 2002) when things looked very bleak. everyone’s paychecks were evaporating.
but then a new model began to coalesce. the money went from shifting units to live performance, ticket sales, and advertisement deals. bands make money off of t-shirt sales and gigs. nothing really changed for moderately successful club bands. they’ve always survived on shirt sales. the big acts were secure anyway. but they don’t even sign record deals anymore. madonna, jonas brothers, U2, etc. all have deals with Live Nation. cd’s are almost like advertisement investments. and that format is dying anyway.
now, i was shit face wasted in a stip club last night in portland, oregon (liquor and pussy two great tastes that go great together) and i was thinking how i’d pay a reasonable fee to see claire dames thrust her tits in my face. maybe buy her panties or some shit like that. some kind of touring network needs to be set up. and the content you pay for will need to become more of a boutique item with enhancements and special editions. i know a lot of chix dance and shit. and i don’t know what the future of porn is gonna be like. i’m just letting you know how stuff got shook down when music content became free. but i can feel the porn producers’ pain. it sucks to get your wallet jacked
Chip Love, thank you for your comment brother. The truth be told, as bad as things may seem in the adult industry, I believe those who stablished themselves in this business will survive this perfect storm. Those who will go out, they were not supposed to be in this business in the first place. They’re a part of the bubble that burst around 2005-2006; they’re the ones who got us into this mess by saturating the market with cheap, recycled product and driving wholesale prices into the ground. As much as I hate the internet piracy and tube sites, but unfortunately I have to admit they haven’t hurt my business as much as small timers and free lancers and their content trading networks have; and I’m glad to see how they crash and burn on a daily basis.
Also I agree with you on the fact that we need to evolve the adult industry’s business model. I have taken some successful steps in doing so, and I’ll share my experiences and thoughts on that in one of my future articles.
Last but not least, one of many things that the music and adult industry have in common, and I know professional people like yourself are aware of it, is that an adult movie is also considered as an intellectual property and all copyright laws apply to each and every single porn scene that is funded and professionally produced; even though we don’t have the tools we need to enforce those copyright laws. In fact, when you send a new title to the manufactoring units in order to be authored and replicated, you need to send an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) form along with your title and indicate that you are the owner of such product and all applicable 2257 material, otherwise you can’t author, replicate and distribute that product.
Colonel well put. Good piece.
Thank you Joe. Always great to see you around.