Originally Posted by
gaybucks_chip
Dean,
I think the issue of boundaries in our business is one of the toughest things to deal with, and I don't think there's any black-and-white answer about what is or is not right.
The more you work with twinks, the more you find that a lot of them have issues. We have probably a half dozen that have been on their own since 14 or 16. Some, like Jesse, have taken that opportunity to grow into strong, self-reliant people and have been driven to find ways to help others as a result of their own misfortune. Others are totally the opposite and are very beaten down by their experiences.
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to help someone, but I would suggest that before doing so, you give some serious thought to what it means, in terms of your business and personal life, to get involved helping your models, and to what extent you're willing to do that. Then, if you choose to help any of your models, you can clearly explain what those boundaries are (when is it OK to call you / will you help them out with money, if so, how much / are you the person they call if they have no place to stay / etc.)
In other words, think about your own boundaries and what is and is not ok for you. If you do that, you'll be able to enter into the situation with a clear understanding, and you'll likely be able to help. If you don't, then most likely, the person you're trying to help may end up taking more from you than you're prepared to give, and both of you will probably end up unhappy... or worse, you'll create a weird power dynamic that will end up hurting the model's self esteem even more.
Hope that 's helpful.
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