The New Bankers Of Internet Porn
from the such-a-stigma dept
It's not entirely clear why legal porn gets such a stigma. Yahoo was forced to stop selling porn DVDs years ago because one reporter noticed that they had this option in their stores -- even though everything there was completely legal. Now, a lawsuit over a bank ditching iBill, one of the more popular payment services for porn has people looking at the new bank that handles the merchant accounts for iBill and, apparently, for competitor ccBill. The article also notes that iBill's deal to be acquired was canceled last week, over concerns that the acquiring company would be delisted for handling the credit cards on porn sites. While I really couldn't care any less about what happens with porn sites, I'm wondering why there's so much attention being placed on companies associated with the industry. If they're not breaking any laws, then what's the problem? If they are breaking laws, then someone should accuse them of actually breaking laws.
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Legal does not equal moral by NotActive Jeff on Sep 27th, 2004 @ 3:43pm
Just because an activity is legal, does not make it moral. It was legal for Bayer to conduct experiments on Jews during WWII, because legally in Germany they were no longer considered human. Does that mean it is OK to do business with Bayer? Some people will not do business with them even after all these years.
I resigned from a job because the struggling company I worked for decided that hooking up with an online port distributer would quickly solve their cash problems. Sorry, but I just dont want that on my resume thank you very much.
The industry may be "legal" in this part of the world, but in others it is not legal. It is a moral issue. Enough people (me included) feel that the porn industry is immoral and objectionable in every way. It victimizes women and children, and destroys true intimicy between married men and women.
Like it or not, enough people share my view as to not want to do business with those that support porn.
Just thought you would like an explanation.
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Chargebacks by Joe Schmoe on Sep 27th, 2004 @ 3:53pm
Not a morality issue so much as a financial one.
It's been said that porn related purchases result in a larger percentage of chargebacks and contested payments (be it with dissatisfaction or the anecdotal spousal factor - "Honey, I didn't do that. Must be a mistake - I'll call the card company and get it reversed.")
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The New Bankers Of Internet Porn by Fazookus on Sep 27th, 2004 @ 7:29pm
The big deal is because sex is Evil! Ashcroft spent $8,000 to cover up a stone (or was that aluminum?) boob!
We are a stupid people, we Americans.
Faz
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Re: Legal does not equal moral by Loraan on Sep 27th, 2004 @ 8:09pm
If we assume that pornography victimizes those who participate in its creation, then wouldn't porn victimize women, children, AND men? Or are men somehow immune from being victimized because of their penis?
I believe that this omission demonstrates a cultural bias against males and towards females as victims. Neither characterization is fair or accurate.
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moral vs legal. by Monty on Sep 28th, 2004 @ 5:11am
To be upfront, I'm a catholic who does not watch porn nor will I allow such a thing in my home. Seen enough when younger to understand how much of a "fantasy" world they create.
NotActive Jeff said
"It was legal for Bayer to conduct experiments on Jews during WWII"
Bad example since the experiments were done against the wishes of the Jews. No one in porn is forced to make it, watch it or pay for it.
And if morality was so tied to doing the "right" thing, then why are the largest users of porn located in the bible belt? Don't believe me, go check the numbers. Before the internet, "adult" entertainment was limited to large cities and in certain areas. NY, Boston, LA were the hot spots. When internet porn became available the demographics changed practically over night.
The adult business is a multi-billion dollar industry yet everyone is against it. The truth is the majority of people want access to it, but without anyone knowing.
Can you say hypocrits?
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Legal vs. social sanction by bob on Sep 28th, 2004 @ 5:14am
I can't tell if your objection is to (1) customers that decline to deal with a bank that provides services to porn vendors (I wouldn't think you are suggesting that they be compelled to bank at a particular place), (2) banks that decline to do business with porn vendors, possibly because they wish to target customers in category 1, or (3) reporters/publications who write/publish stories about banks declining to serve porn vendors, presumably because they believe they'll sell?
The fact that a particular form of commerce is legal (that is to say, not illegal) does not make it compulsory. Deciding to target certain classes of customers is a business decision. So long as there is no violation of law (e.g., by discrimination against a protected class), one step in that targeting might be to decline to serve other potential customers. Management makes such decisions - the shareholders have the right to agree or disagree. Customers, of course, vote with their money, as always.
It seems likely that there is a place for social sanctions that are beyond those encoded in law. Etiquette, for example, is a semi-codified version of social sanctions. Does everyone agree with every social sanction? Of course not - but then not everyone agrees with every law.
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No Subject Given by Anonymous Coward on Sep 28th, 2004 @ 7:50am
Sorry, this just seems plain stupid. Trying to base you business decision on morals only works for the individual, not for a business.
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Re: moral vs legal. by Lewis on Sep 28th, 2004 @ 8:56am
"No one in porn is forced to make it"
The most famous counterexample is Linda Lovelace, the star of "Deep Throat," who claims that her husband forced her to act in porn. Details in her autobiographies.
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Re: Legal does not equal moral by Anonymous Coward on Sep 28th, 2004 @ 8:25pm
Disliking porn does not make it immoral. If I didn't like red sneakers, I don't have a moral issue, just a prejudice.
Prehaps you have heard, but maybe not. A study in Australia has found that porn is not harmful, and my infact be health.
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Re: moral vs legal. by Monty on Sep 29th, 2004 @ 10:55am
I'm glad you brought that up because it proves that the industry has nothing to do with it. I'm guessing that if she wasn't married to him she wouldn't have listened. I haven't read the book so that's just my $0.02.
thanks for the info.
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Re: Legal does not equal moral by Katherine on Nov 16th, 2005 @ 12:42pm
I just had to reply to your statement when you said. Disliking porn does not make it immoral.
By making that statement goes to show that you SIR don't know your own ass from porm, porm has broken up so many families I guess if you were to be a fly on someone wall that's dealing with those issues right now and if you were to listen to a child's cry because one of his parents has broken the marriage rules and has crushed the family, then you might know how to put the meaning moral and what's immoral in perspective.
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