In fact was not, and (mistakenly) thought that in writing something so completely over the top that my sarcastic tone would be clear. My apologies for the misunderstanding.
Anyone interested in the interaction between a government regulation and a high-risk work environment that comprises exclusively of independent contractors might enjoy becoming familiar with the Alaskan fishing industry's relationship with the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game.
In fact are a number of people I expect to be very uncomfortable meeting in Las Vegas, either at the ADT fete, or in the convention hall itself. Past experience has taught me that face to face meetings, most especially with those with people with whom I have a strong differences of opinion, is valuable.I have had the same thought myself. On the balance, I am grateful that through ADT Steph and Drew have provided what appears to be the only forum where these discusions can take place with any degree of vigor; and where I can forward my vision of what is possible with respect to the creation of sexually explicit film. I readily acknowledge that even my approach is not without a human cost. Perhaps this makes me a hypocrite.I'll leave that answer to Steph and Drew. As to Evil Angel's employee health benefit program, perhaps this is an issue of language and culture. May I humbly suggest looking up the phrase Socratic Irony.This is a pipedream. The only reason SAG has any power at all is because of its alliance with other unions within the fim and television industry; which is to say if you want the expertise of a union crew, you have to incure the expense of union actors.
Even still, as in independent producer, with a $50 ad in backstage I can have 100 card carrying SAG actors lined up in the rain, ready to bolt from their obligations to their union bothers and sisters for the chance to be in a production that's rolling filmstock.
What in heaven's name makes you think porn performers, whose union wouldn't even have the support allied trade unions (an ASC DP on a porn shoot? That'll be the day!) would be any more resolute?
Agreed.
Best wishes to you for the New Year, X-Ray. I'm ever so pleased that you've decided to begin posting again.
Are you saying that "porn addicted raincoaters", who likely would not be moved to change their viewing habit, regardless of what risk statistics were presented to them, are in the minority, but their intransigence is representative producers, performers and consumers as a whole?
Or are you saying that the economic incentives of catering to this minority are so great as to negate any economic impact a change in attitude in that might result from "average" producer, performer or consumer reevaluating their work or viewing choices to favor pornography produced in a less risky fashion?
Out of curiosity and I don't mean to high-jack this thread in any way, likewise flame me if I'm asking a stupid question, but is there an equivalent to AIM over in Europe? Does anyone have links or more info on this subject surrounding the European aspect of these same matters? How is it (the European handling of this situation) the same/different from the US's handling of the same situation (e.g. STD testing, etc.)? Have there been similar outbreaks in Europe? I know about HIV in South America and Africa, but what about Germany, France, etc.
If this is all common knowledge, apologies in advance, just looking for other information on European matters/perspectives of the same sort of issue.
No, there is no AIM in Europe, though we have helped set up a couple of clinics over there to do PCR-DNA testing, which is available in Budapest, Prague and Vienna.
But there is no coordinating organization with a central data base and no established practice regarding regularity of testing or record-keeping.
Many Europeans are still in even deeper denial about HIV than Americans, insisting that it's a problem in the US and Africa, but not for them. Clearly, that denial has a very high price.
The same holds true for Japan, where HIV is regarded with great shame and rarely discussed openly. And in Russia, HIV is spreading at an alarming rate just as a homegrown porn industry is emerging.
On top of all that, if you think that American producers are hostile to condoms, you should talk to some of their European counterparts. One of the biggest producers in Europe said he would completely abandon the US market rather than allow a single scene to be shot for his company with condoms. Now that's some progressive thinking for you.
I'm generally supportive of European attitudes toward sex work, which are more liberal overall than here, and toward the European model of comprehensive social services, but when it comes to porn and performer safety, Europe is a long way behind the US and shows little motivation to catch up.
If there's going to be a truly disasterous HIV outbreak in porn, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened over there instead of here.
Ernest, thanks for the information. I guess I'm really naive when it comes to matters such as this, I had no idea the level of denial was so high across the Atlantic.
I hate to sound like a prophet of doom, but I just get the feeling after reading this thread, the one Z pointed out, and specifically your last comment that this whole situation is just a ticking time bomb waiting to go off (yet again). I hope that comment is not over-dramatic (I know there are various percentages of viral transmission per different sex act, etc.), but I'm just shaking my head in amazement right now. Unbelievable.
Wow what a long thread... I just wanted to reply to the initial topic and say that (health risks aside) ATP is cool as hell to watch... And my favorite scene of Leah Luv's to this day is still one of her first anal scenes in "Dirty Little Double Dippers"... That was a fantastic scene...
