The Adult Industry – Today
This industry has reached an all-time low with the games being played, the theft of content, the extortion, taking advantage of people’s vulnerabilities on both the camgirl’s side, as well as the member’s. Each side with their own set of reasons for their silence. We’ll just call it “fear”. Fear for ourselves, our livelihood, our families, friends knowing what we do (or watch) online. Fear of being ridiculed. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of going up against “them”. So we choose silence.
There still remains no law in the adult industry (or camming world, as we know it). Imagine now, a society without law enforcement. Imagine what it would look like out in the streets. People would be afraid to leave their homes, to go to work. Being full aware of the presence of these entities, with their arrogance and dictatorial attitudes, we all wait for someone else to step up. Hoping someone will see what’s going on before it’s too late. The deeper you look, the more you see. The more you see, the more you become angered. The more you speak, the more you lose. You can never win against these people. They are like a virus that spreads throughout the entire community, infecting everyone weak enough to allow this to control them.
This is the adult industry, with no law to govern them, dictating to what otherwise (in the ‘real world’) would be considered “independent subcontractors”, where we can work, how much money we can earn, what we can and can’t say, who can and who can’t visit us, controlling every aspect of our work (and I do mean every aspect). There is huge money involved. This is truly big business and that’s where the controlling mindset comes in. With the internet as its playground, and the comfort of an anonymous shield to jump behind every time they want to press those controls, they gain full control using everything from brainwashing techniques to insulting, degrading and bullying behavior. Never directly. Everything they do is underhanded.
This is no conspiracy theory. Anyone working in this industry or who has been ripped off by an adult site, has fallen victim in one way or another.
It can be great, if you’re the silent, submissive type who minds their own business, never asks questions, never questions authority and never ever speaks out against them. Otherwise, good luck!
Benjamin Bokalati 3:12 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
Hi Amanda, I really like tis post : you are a courageous woman ! you are not afraid to express your beliefs. i hope other Camgirls will read you and understand that they deserve to be free. Women, stand up ! fight for you own rights !
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amanda36c 7:32 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
Thank you Benjamin. My greatest fear is how complacent and passive people have become. To the point where frauds and scams happen right under our noses and noone does a damn thing about it. Ignorance is bliss. Those of us who speak out are called “conspiracy theorists”, by those that want to discredit us. I keep forgetting about the sainthood of this industry and all the good deeds that go unpunished. Camgirls sit quiet, waiting for someone else to do all the dirty work and bring these scumbags down because they know there will be repercussions if they speak out. When it comes to people’s livelihood, sometimes silence is best. I can somewhat understand that, but in the long-term, it’ll be detrimental to any successes we might otherwise have in this industry, as camgirls. We’re screwed and the more we allow it, the more we’ll see our commission rates continue to decline and our content stolen and sold on websites without any payment to us.
I wish the girls would step in but I understand why they don’t. It will just take longer this way and we’ll all just have to continue working under these ridiculous conditions in this lawless industry that steals and does whatever they please.
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nicholas 5:17 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
Hello Anamda, ( the torch of hope )
I concur with Benjamin.
The law in the end with your help and determination will get the change nessesery. But you need the full backing of your compatriots.
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amanda36c 7:43 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
Hi Nicholas,
This industry is completely untouchable. There exists no law. A union would be great but what would that cost? I don’t think I could pull together that kind of money. I’m shocked that they haven’t created one already, tossed a couple of bucks to someone to run it, while they sit back and pull the strings. All the executive members in their ‘clan’ could make the policies for the union. Sort of like the way ICM Registry and Webpower collaborated on the dot XXX venture. 😉
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Brian 9:57 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
Hello Amanda,
You are so on target and insightful. The adult industry has recreated another sweatshop. A Union might be too costly, at least now, but I wish cam girls could form their own website as a workers’ collective or a cooperative (I know, probably sounds too socialist or even communistic for most ears today to hear) but it would be a way to rise up and strike out…for women, by women. (Insert a power to the people here).
Brian
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amanda36c 3:36 pm on December 1, 2012 Permalink |
I don’t believe the industry (or the players in it) would ever allow that to happen. If the girls formed any such thing, it’d be over for all the sites. The thing that differentiates us from them is the greed factor. They lie, steal, cheat, underestimate, insult, degrade and play us all for fools. A site run by a camgirl, for camgirls would end the bullshit and all the above-mentioned associated with the scumbags of this industry. Wanna back me? I’ll do it.
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Private 11:51 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
The article you just posted is more of an abstract to the manuscript that this topic merits. Let me know when you need some references.
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nicholas 2:59 am on December 1, 2012 Permalink |
Hello Amanda. ( the name of decency )
I’m British and as far as I am aware, anyone can join a Trade Union. I agree with Brian , but all CamGirls need to join the same Trade Union, say through a website, through twitter , indeed the answer is staring in the face of reason and decency. ( yes decency, even this industry deserves decency )
Amanda, through your own website, one specifically for this purpose, could be the the best way for your girls to form a membership and from there join a large Union, one that would have real teeth.
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amanda36c 3:38 pm on December 1, 2012 Permalink |
Thanks. I’d love some references, A. 😉
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Thomas 10:39 pm on December 7, 2012 Permalink |
Hi Amanda. First off I would like to say that I have watched your webcam shows for a few weeks now, and I think that you are an incredibly beautiful, courageous, and strong woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. As to your statement about the adult industry controlling and taking advantage of camgirls, I agree with you completely because I assume that the payment contract adult websites make camgirls agree to, takes the majority of the money, given by viewers to camgirls, and keeps it for themselves; thus allowing adult websites to make large profits, while leaving the camgirls, who are unaware of the ammount of money that is being taken from them, with a very low paycheck. Furthermore, I also agree that the adult industry tries to silence those camgirls, such as yourself, who have become aware of the ammount of money that they could be making by working independently. As Brian and Nicholas said, joining a type of union could possibly be very beneficial however, since you are a very bold woman, I believe that if you start your own faction that commends camgirls to leave the adult websites to start a website of their own. Good luck with all of your future endeavors!
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amanda36c 2:23 pm on December 11, 2012 Permalink |
Thanks Thomas.
Unfortunately, a woman (in this industry) who speaks her mind, knowingly often becomes a target. Much the way any person would be, who decides to speak out against any group of dictators. You’re right about what they take but much of what is in their contracts, if challenged, would never hold up in a court of law. Monies collected from the sale of content (via memberships or straight sale of videos) belonging to us camgirls, are not being paid to us. To start up a union would be hell to pay for someone like myself with little to no funds to back it up and as you mentioned, with specific girls, they make good and sure that remains the case. To even venture into opening a camsite to compete would be worse hell to pay. They’ve already chosen harassment, threats, bullying, you name it – to stress their point. Recenbt hacking attempts were even made to Camgirlclubs. Someone is fearful of my success with this. It’s clear where I plan to take this and it’s driving them absolutely crazy not knowing exactly how it’s coming along. Not knowing exactly how many members have signed up or how much I’ve made with it, so far. They watch my room nightly, so they can estimate (to a good enough round figure) how much I’m earning there. They stalk and harass me nightly, from day 1 (which was 2 & 1/2 years ago) on Streamate, to present day. They make their presence known with rude comments, insults, and always with the same mannerisms, choice words and games. These are the kind of people I have to deal with. Willing to do and say anything to discredit me. They have even tried to impersonate me. They follow me around the internet to sites such as Youtube, Twitter, even here on WordPress, using obviously spoofed or hidden ip’s, to make rude comments, offer ‘advice’ (in a rather unfriendly tone), dish out threats, telling me to stay offline, saying that they will keep trying to get me off Streamate. They have even followed me to other websites I work on like MyFreeCams & Webcams, harassing me there, as well, as anonymous guests. No matter how much I block them, they keep returning. It’s incredible how much time they have on their hands (or … how much money is invested in what .. perhaps they see me as a threat to?).
I’d love nothing more than to run a camsite that would create independence from all those sites, and subsequently, all the games, tricks, cheats, frauds, etc. would come to an abrupt end. I simply haven’t that kind of money.
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nicholas 5:38 pm on December 8, 2012 Permalink |
Hi Amanda.
I agree with Thomas, however the camgirls do know they are being ripped off.
The girls don’t need to leave the adult sites, but to collectively sign up to a website, ( may be set up by yourself Amanda ) set up for the sole purpose of. Then from there, joining a large Union. To fight for their rights, just like any work place would do.
The Union negotiating between the two.
I hope your private offer for references, where beneficial to you, he or she could be a strong supporter.
May be even a lawyer, that’s what you really need !!!
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amanda36c 2:42 pm on December 11, 2012 Permalink |
I agree, Nicholas, but again, that union idea (althought a great one but also one which has been kicking around quite idly since about 1999), would never see the light of day as long as ‘those’ people are in control … and they very much are. When you take everything they own, collectively, they stand to lose billions. It’s no wonder they have such a stranglehold on the industry and have to control every little detail, every angle, every aspect, every single player in the industry, from attempts to hack (not only myself, but their ‘real’ competition, as well), to the girls working under them, who they watch like a hawk, to those who speak out against them. I wish it was as simple as girls fighting for their rights. That would be the final leg of our journey and far from where we are today. Indeed, I’ll need all the support I can get. A lawyer? Yes, that too. Investigator, law enforcement. Maybe, after all that, just maybe, some developers and tech people! 😉
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