Do You Play The 'Politics' Of Porn?

Just wondered how many of you played the political games associated with the adult industry?

Do you associate yourselves with the 'in-crowd' in order to better your business or do you just go with the flow as your business leads you?

It seems to me that a lot of people these days tend to play the politics of what others think you should be doing rather than making informed, unbiased decisions on their own.

I know both personally and professionally we pay little attention t what others tell us we should do when running our business and do things the way we want to do them.

So how about you? Do you 'conform' to the industry politics or do you own thing?

Has being part of the 'in-crowd' ultimately helped or hindered your business if you have played the political games?

Regards,

Lee

I don't really play the politics game much, I do have friends in the biz but I don't really exploit to to get more profits or anything and for doing what others tell me, I run it my way. I listen to everybody's input and I weight it for myself, but by and large, I do things the way i think will work out. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong.

But when it comes to building a good solid link strategy, I do tend to go by what others dictate. Like if I see 10 sites that should be able to send me solid traffic, and their rules are a bit more strict, then I might try to cater my pages to them anyways, instead of linking to 50 other sites to try and equal it.

I think your product or service will speak for it's self. There is a lot of sites that don't get involved in that whole " in-crowd / industry politics" scene and
their business is booming!!

I think if you stay more focused on building your business and not who's who in the industry you will come out WAY ahead of the game!

my 2 pennies :high:

must... hold... back... :uhoh:

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Originally posted by Lee
Do you associate yourselves with the 'in-crowd' in order to better your business or do you just go with the flow as your business leads you?

So how about you? Do you 'conform' to the industry politics or do you own thing?

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I obviously don't associate with a particular "crowd". Being in Gay adult porn we are all outsiders and I've yet to see an "in crowd". I've seen some idiots who run around, spend a lot of energy being fake and trying to make contacts with everyone which I think is just silly.

A few really successful Gay webmasters post on the boards, but not many at all and the ones that do post infrequently. I think that's in indication of what their mindset is and why they are successful. They are smarter then me in they know boards usually drag things down in the productivity area :vanish:

You know I call them as I see them : )

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Originally posted by purecash-billy
You know I call them as I see them : )

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Billy im the same..

If it looks, walks and talks like duck.. chances are it had great sex last night ;) LOL

We'll be seeing you in Vegas right dude?

Regards,

Lee

Not sure at this point, got a lot going on will know more in the next few weeks.

If not make sure you give A** a little hell for me : )

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Originally posted by purecash-billy
If not make sure you give A** a little hell for me : )

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You saw my backup booth plans didnt you? LOL

Regards,

Lee

The "in" crowd has it's advantages as it puts you in touch with a lot of great parties, drugs, booze, etc. (that's sarcasm by the way) or you can work with the people that really know their products and sites regardless of who they are. Although, I have seen some clique type behavior that makes it damn tough to do business with some of these "in" crowd people.

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Originally posted by undermyspell
Although, I have seen some clique type behavior that makes it damn tough to do business with some of these "in" crowd people.

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Yes it's really funny too because when they need something they come around, or have a friend come around, and get what they want, and disapear, thinking you didn't know what was going on in the first place. lol

I've found some real good people here on GWW that are friendly, successful and know business. Those are the types of relationships I foster. The "in crowd" people are just the typical user/followers that get somewhere but find it hard to get further and end up screwing eachother over. my .00000002 cents :-D

I'm still pretty new here in the industry. You mean there is an "in-crowd"? How come nobody told me before this!!!!!!!!!???????

XonDemand will grow because we follow good business practice and not because of who we know. Although, it doesn't hurt to have some friends to guide you once in a while.....thanks, Mark and Rainey!!!

Hugs and Happy Turkey Day to All!!!
N.

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Originally posted by Squirt
Yes it's really funny too because when they need something they come around, or have a friend come around, and get what they want, and disapear, thinking you didn't know what was going on in the first place. lol

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Oh i agree on that.

Its even more apparent on GWW when someone starts a post who hasnt been around for a few months then within minutes of them posting about 5 other people who havent posted in months all reply to their thread to bump it.

Then they disappear again until the next time a post by one of their 'friends' is made LOL

it is quite funny though because as you say, they dont realize people know exactly what they are doing and it makes them look bad lol

Regards,

Lee

What are you talking about Lee? You and G-A are the in-crowd and we are all here to bask in your glow :sun:

Btw, G-A sure has been quite lately... do you have him chained to the computer working on "the next big thing"? :whip:

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Originally posted by Xstr8guy
What are you talking about Lee? You and G-A are the in-crowd and we are all here to bask in your glow :sun:

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Haha as i mentioned earlier.. that depends on who you ask ;)

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Originally posted by Xstr8guy
Btw, G-A sure has been quite lately... do you have him chained to the computer working on "the next big thing"? :whip:

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Yeah he's busy on a bunch of mainstream projects we are planning on launching over the coming months :)

Should be interesting to see how they do too, all FDA approved stuff ;)

Regards,

Lee

Do I Play The "Politics" Of "Porn"?...No! ( I Have A "Publisist" For That!:)
Since I Am Mainly "Behind The Scenes" You Will Never See Me , So The Focus Is Where It Should Be "The Work"
I Don't Get "Caught-Up" In "Fads" ( All My Models Wear Abercrombie & Fitch Or They Wear Nothing At All!:) "Site/Photo-Techniques" ( PHP...Etc)Or "Popular" ( If I See One More "Unsuspecting" Straight Guy Get "Picked-Up" I'm Going To Get Sick!:)
"Popular" Would Probably Be The Only "Category" I Give "Allowances" To Only Because It's A "Numbers-Game" And You Have To Provide The "Service/Product" Your Customer Is Looking For.
Not Everything I "Produce" Sells , But At Least I Can Say It's "Mine" ( My Editing Staff Uses Very Sharp Scapels!:)That Which Doesn't Either Gets "Re-Worked" , Sent To Another Country , Or Sits In Storage For Future Use ( All My Models Are 18 Years + It's The "Themes" Which Are "Alittle"...Ahead Of Their Time!:)
I've Tried To "Mingle" With The "In-Crowd" ( I've Actually Had 2 Websites And 3 Film Companies Shoot At My Location )And Found The Experience "Not Me" ( I Don't Wear Abercrombie & Fitch!,I Don't Bleach My Hair To Match The Sun!,I Don't "Work-Out" Longer Than I Sleep Or Actually Work!:)
"The Point" I Guess I'm Trying To Make Is Always Remember You Are An "Individual" That's What Sets Us Apart ( We All Can't Be "Sean-Cody" )From Each Other , It's Good We Can Share Ideas , Successes , Failures , And Even Give Each Other Encouragement/Critique On The Things!...Knowledge Is Power!

Sincerely ~ "Drinks Way Too Much Starbucks Coffee"!:)

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Originally posted by Xstr8guy
Btw, G-A sure has been quite lately... do you have him chained to the computer working on "the next big thing"? :whip:

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Been quiet? I can give you a link to his last thread I was involved in if Lee will let me. Far from quiet LOL

For anyone who knows me, they already know what I am about to write.

If there is one thing that I really like about being me, is I am me, have no problem with being me and have no problem with behaving like me.

I only respect others if they respect me - life is a 2 way street.

It is my biggest personal strength, and at times, my biggest personal weakness.

:biker:

CTB.. I know precisely how you feel. I put myself so out there with my ideas, attitude and feelings that often it comes back to bite me in the ass. I deal with people the way I want to be dealt with.

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Originally posted by undermyspell
I deal with people the way I want to be dealt with.

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Agreed and to be honest, there is no reason this shouldnt be the case.

Irrespective of what your personaly beliefs are, business is business and personal stuff shouldnt come into it.

Ill treat someone with the same contempt they treat me with just as, ill treat someone with the same honor they treat me with.

It does start to get annoying after a while though especially once you begin to realize just how few people make up the 'in crowd' specifially within the gay side of the industry.

The good thing about it though is that what they do has absolutely no effect on my business, whether they think they do or not, we have a stable set of companies we work with, the fact that we arent working with specifi people just goes to prove that you dont need to be 'in' to run a successful business, unfortunately, they dont see it like that, to their detriment.

Regards,

Lee

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Originally posted by undermyspell
CTB.. I know precisely how you feel. I put myself so out there with my ideas, attitude and feelings that often it comes back to bite me in the ass. I deal with people the way I want to be dealt with.

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Said much better than I did with the identical sentiment.

It can be a pain being like us at times, but at least we sleep well at night.

Be true to oneself is what I always believe.

:biker:

I do. When it serves business interests to do so.
Just as I avoid them. When it serves business interests to do so.

Cliques in school... departments within an organization... companies within an industry... personalities within a group of people... politics exist everywhere. They're by no means unique - even in degree or extent - to the gay adult industry.

The premise upon which I interact with any and all of you is business. Which isn't to say I don't have people within the industry I consider to be friends and with whom I enjoy a great personal relationship. There definitely are a lot. But even with them, we both understand how it's business first. There are people I don't much like but do business with. There are people I very much like but have no business dealings with.

If we do business together and get along well personally? The getting along well personally is a bonus. It enhances the business relationship. It fosters growth within it. It enables greater successes. But it still comes back to business.

We all play politics. I'd question any claims to the contrary. The people in the "in crowd", if there is one, must like and trust one another to the point they became this "in crowd" in the first place. So are they doing anything different than anyone else? If someone comes to this board asking for design or marketing services or info on a sponsor, are we all not inclined to suggest people we know from here? Is that being cliquey and elitist? Or is it just going with what you know? With whom you've developed a relationship? With what you know could be a favor returned in kind at some point down the line?

I don't think it's a question of whether or not someone does it at all. It's simply a question of to what extent they do it, and with whom. It's only then that differences can be pointed out.

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Do you associate yourselves with the 'in-crowd' in order to better your business

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We have an "In Crowd".. where? who ??

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Originally posted by collegeboyslive
We have an "In Crowd".. where? who ??

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If you have to ask you aren't part of it.

Apparently.

He he.

I'm not part of it, so should I know that?

Now I am really confused, sitting out here on the outer, apparently next to Lee.

He he he.

:wtf:

LOL actually I am suprised the number of times the same names pop up when doing business, also that it seems a small percentage own a large percentage of the gay sites out there.

I have only tried to stand for what is right - if someone thinks they are better than others I avoid them and watch them get knocked down - if someone feels they are worse than everyone else or gets wrongly accused, i will encourage and help them along until they are back on their feet.

I have taken much heat and ICQ's of hatred over my stand for certain people - but its when I look at myself in the morning and like the image back at me I know - that no matter what crowd I am with - if they have values and proper ethics, that is the crowd I am "in" with

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Originally posted by collegeboyslive
LOL actually I am suprised the number of times the same names pop up when doing business, also that it seems a small percentage own a large percentage of the gay sites out there.

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No I disagree with you there :high: You would be surprised how many quality sites and studios that are out there that you can do business with that don't fall in that category. "They" represent a small part of the gay market. So if you choose to do business with them or not, there's a lot more fish in the sea! lol

If I had listened to everything that people in the biz had told me to do and not gone out on a limb a bit myself I dont think my business would have grown. I think you have to think for yourself and weight every option. Sometimes you make really great decisions and sometimes you do not.

I look forward to the shows in general and a chance to see everyone. some people I really like and some I do not whether they are in any "A crowd" or not.

If by the "A Crowd" you are talking about succesful people in the biz then yes I do want to hang out with them and maybe glean a little experience that I do not have. But I also like to talk and spend time to the webmasters who send us traffic from their homes and are looking for their sponsers to spend some time with them.

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Originally posted by edk
No I disagree with you there :high: You would be surprised how many quality sites and studios that are out there that you can do business with that don't fall in that category. "They" represent a small part of the gay market. So if you choose to do business with them or not, there's a lot more fish in the sea! lol

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I'm with Ed.

The "in-crowd" is not about majority or quality of sites.

It's like the schoolyard.

The "in-crowd" is only the "in-crowd" because they think they are, or are perceived to be, the "in-crowd".

That's why the thread is about politics. Bullshit by a different name, and I have a very low tolerance to bullshit.

For mine, the "in-crowd" is wherever I happen or choose to be.

He he.

I suppose that means you are now in the "in-crowd" Lee !!!

:biker:

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Originally posted by CuriousToyBoy
The "in-crowd" is only the "in-crowd" because they think they are, or are perceived to be, the "in-crowd".

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A PEARL!

If only it were over on Oprano ;)

Regards,

Lee

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Originally posted by Lee
A PEARL!

If only it were over on Oprano ;)

Regards,

Lee

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Coming from you Lee, a true compliment.

Thanks ;-)

It might not reach those dizzy heights at Oprano because I am not in the in-crowd there either.

He he.

Look forward to sharing a few drinks and laughs in Vegas mate. Did you get my email?

:biker:

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Originally posted by Lee
Oh i agree on that.

Its even more apparent on GWW when someone starts a post who hasnt been around for a few months then within minutes of them posting about 5 other people who havent posted in months all reply to their thread to bump it.

Then they disappear again until the next time a post by one of their 'friends' is made LOL

it is quite funny though because as you say, they dont realize people know exactly what they are doing and it makes them look bad lol

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LOL funny you should say that Lee because from the beginning of my coming to GWW back in September I've been on most every day and have a daily post average of 8 but in the New Year I'm going to have to cut back and focus more on giving to my business, instead of contributing so much to GWW.

I've got some new sites on the burner and my affiliate program to get up and running.

I hope you don't think I'm like those guys that come and go Lee. I have given three solid months to GWW :high:

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Originally posted by Squirt
LOL funny you should say that Lee because from the beginning of my coming to GWW back in September I've been on most every day and have a daily post average of 8 but in the New Year I'm going to have to cut back and focus more on giving to my business, instead of contributing so much to GWW.

I've got some new sites on the burner and my affiliate program to get up and running.

I hope you don't think I'm like those guys that come and go Lee. I have given three solid months to GWW :high:

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Yeah you better start putting your nose to the grind! so you can pay the webmasters the 100% rev share you're running this month !

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Originally posted by edk
Yeah you better start putting your nose to the grind! so you can pay the webmasters the 100% rev share you're running this month !

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Yeah I think this 100% revshare promo for new Squirtit.com affiliates is good motivation and should fill some pretty deep pockets for the new year! If we continue to get the great response we have, I'll do it more often :high:

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Originally posted by Squirt
bummer we can't delete a double post :high:

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Some of us can ;)

Regards,

Lee

<------------------ Pats Lee on the behind and says "Ah, thanks Lee!" :high:

A very interesting question. My experience is that you don't play the politics of porn for business purposes as it very rarely has any positive influence on your business. As far as I can tell, playing the politics of porn only results in lots of good parties and some good sex, (not that that is a bad thing) but rarely results in any long term positive influence on your business. Even though they may party with you, and have sex with you, and hang out with you, business is business and even their bottom line matters to the "in crowd" so they are not likely to alter their business strategy to accomodate their "in crowd" friends.

That's not saying that having industry friends is not a good thing, and networking with friends has always been a good way to cross promote, build, etc, but making the game of playing the "in crowd" to try and advance your business is not a successful strategy.