Every time you walk out your door you decide to trust the world around you. You trust that you'll make it safely to your car. You trust that while you're in your car you'll arrive safely at your destination. You trust that when you get to where you're going, the place will be there. Each time you interact with the world you make a choice to trust that world.
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"Our industry is brilliant when it comes to outing cheaters. We don't hide behind memos and spin-doctors. Our criminals are tried on message boards and websites. " |
When it comes to the people around you, trust isn't so easy. People lie, steal and break your heart. People smile at your face while they stab you in the back. People are sneaky, duplicitous and unpredictable. People are no damned good.
Maybe that's why so many people choose to be adult webmasters. This is an industry of individuals in control of their destinies. We're independent operators who need no one. No one except for hosts, billers, designers, content producers, traffic brokers, sponsors, affiliates and oh yeah, surfers.
The truth is whether you're a one-person business or employ a team you will have to deal with people. Nobody gets along completely alone. Eventually you will have to trust someone. Eventually you will have to take a chance and hope for the best.
If you are extraordinarily lucky you'll never be betrayed. If you're like everyone else, you'll get screwed. Almost all veteran adult webmasters have a tale of treachery to tell. Some involve theft. Some are all about lies. Some are stories detailing incredible disappointment. Newbies have stories. Veterans have stories. If you don't have a story, just wait. You will.
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I tell you this not to scare you off. I tell you this because that is the way things are. Theft, deception and betrayal aren't exclusive to the porn industry. There's plenty proof that these things happen in every profession. One has only to turn on their television in order to learn about how dishonest captains of mainstream industries can be. An adult webmaster pilfers a few thousand dollars whereas former CEOs steal millions. We're constantly informed of seemingly respectable people who end up to be no better than common pickpockets. Many cyber porn slingers (who have experience in the corporate world) will state that the adult web is a far more honest place than the offices of Wall Street.
Nevertheless, there are dishonest adult webmasters. Sadly, the worst crimes are enacted by those we trust the most. A reputable company or webmaster will be exposed as a criminal. After the shocks wears off and the truth wills out, we're all a little heartbroken. We reexamine the steps that led to downfall. We try to figure out if there were any discernable signs we missed. We wonder why they did what they did. We look for excuses to their behavior. We begin to distrust everyone. We question the motives of anyone we deal with. Our reasoning becomes specious. If one biller runs off with the money, all billers will do so. If one designer screws people over, they're all suspect. If one gallery reviewer steals traffic, all reviewers will follow suit. It's a vicious kind of cycle that can drive one to drink.
So what do you do? Do you leave the business? Do you become as paranoid as Scrooge? Do you decide that if others steal, then you might as well join the club? Do you think that just because you're in porn, it's okay to be a scumbag? When you find a hole, do you exploit it just because you can?
I hope you don't. I hope that you realize the world isn't nearly as corrupt as it appears to be. Yes there are liars. Yes there are thieves. Yes, there will be people who'll break your heart no matter what business you're in. But I hope you also understand that creeps really are in the minority. Most adult webmasters are good, honest people just trying to make a buck. Most operate within the law and are reliable. They have to be. If they aren't, they'll be exposed. Our industry is brilliant when it comes to outing cheaters. We don't hide behind memos and spin-doctors. Our criminals are tried on message boards and websites. If someone fucks us, everyone finds out.
The consequence of trust is that one day, you will get burned.