(If this is the wrong forum for this topic, mods, feel free to move it.) The other day I was reading the "bio" page for Chloe at Adult DVD Empire and one of the first things mentioned is how Chloe feels entering the porn business saved her life. She says she had a serious meth problem and probably would have OD'd if she hadn't started working in porn. I thought that was very interesting because most reports would have you believe porn screws up people's lives. (Like the "20/20" report about Belladonna.) But here's someone who says it helped her a lot. Are there any other performers who have said their lives would have gone down the drain if they hadn't gotten into porn? There was an article in "Hustler" years ago about the "epidemic" of porn stars committing suicide (this was shortly after Savannah's death). The article said that it really wasn't that bad and it wasn't happening any more than in other industries, but it just seemed like a bigger thing because of the higher profile nature of porn. I know a guy who had a very well-paying, prestigious job. But with all the money and perks came a lot of pressure, and he couldn't handle it and became an alcoholic (even though there was no history of alcoholism in the family, I think anyway).
I think porn "saves" people like street gangs or organized crime saves people. People who love you for what you do for them. Dysfunction family but still family.
I seem to remember Briana Banks mentioning something in an interview about being seriously broke an unable to take care of herself or her little sister, that is until she got into porn. I think after that she was okay.
I'm sure porn has saved some girls. Girls who for whatever reason weren't getting by in the regular 9 to 5 universe. That world simply doesn't work for everybody and for those girls I'm sure that it's done a lot of good. Just like I'm sure the Military has saved lives. Comparing them to Street Gangs is ignorant. Seems to be a trait with a certain poster though. Hell even the anology is wrong. It wouldn't be that they love you for what you do for them it's that they love you for who you are. They don't anything wrong with the actions you've chosen.
Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink. ― Charles Bukowski 88 Posts 9/07
Posted - Mar 26 2008 : 12:58AM
This industry saved me. I was miserable at my previous job and eventually hit rock bottom (depression not drugs). It wasn't until I discovered a career in porn that I realized that it was possible to enjoy a job and be happy. Not to mention it also opened up the opportunity for me to finish my degree. Most of our society sees this industry as being full of drugs, mental disfunction, and misfits. I just think some people are more open about certain things because they know they can be here. That is one of the reasons why i love a lot of the people as well. I never feel as much judgment in this environment as I did before. Everyone has problems everywhere it is just that in the mainstream world everyone is a closet case.
sounds like the job change itself is the thing that saved you, not the porn industry. you could've started working at a pet shop and found job satisfaction.
Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink. ― Charles Bukowski 88 Posts 9/07
Posted - Mar 26 2008 : 2:45AM
No... it was the industry. I have had A LOT of jobs but my background stems from performance (the sex is a major perk). There is nothing else I would rather being doing at this point in my life.
Comparing porn industry to the Military is pretty ignorant as well. Porn like street gangs is a life choice which extremely difficult to run away from once you've made it.
Rider some people think everyone should be put in to the same box. Alto most people are not in the box, but are desperately clinging to the side of the box hoping no one notices they are not in the box. Good for you, I hope you save your money and always find success and happiness. Porn is an honorable and worth while career.
I'd actually be interested to see the stats compared. Military people have higher divorce, accident, suicide and depression rates than the general population. I can't remember where I read the stats right now but last I checked more Military men and women had killed themselves in the last 5 years than the war had killed. I know I hear a lot about pornstars having higher rates, I'd be curious to see them held up side by side. Might not be as insane as you think.
Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink. ― Charles Bukowski 88 Posts 9/07
Posted - Mar 26 2008 : 10:56PM
As far as individual experiences, it really depends on how girls use the industry and their mentality going into it. This is one of the flaws some girls have who enter at a young age, it is not a career to take lightly. I am dealing with a lot of industry criticism right now in my women's studies class (it's my major) which is extremely frustrating. The basic stereotype (which is definitely not disregarded) of the drug addicted/abused pornstar is unfortunately being used to represent the entire profession portraying us as victim's of society. It is hard for them to believe that sex can actually be empowering. Sorry for going a little off topic...
No it doesn't. The military had higher rates of all these things before the war started. They have increased since the war began but they've always been higher than the general population. Even amongst people who've never been deployed even on routine Japan/Germany deployments.
Where do you get your figures from? The military's suicide rate has always mirrored the general population for males. According to the WHO 17.9 per 100,000 US males killed themselves in 2002. The soldier rate was about 11 per 100,000 during the same period. Its the war that has put it over the top. In garrison, the soldier has many resources to deal with stress. A chain a command who was responsible for looking after the soldiers well being. War puts out stress that others who's never been can imagine. The intensity level would probably be similar to a civilian having to deal with an armed gun man randomly shooting up the workplace once per week. The human mind can only take so much before it breaks. For the record, Japan/Germany deployments were very popular with soldiers.
Interesting question ! Its true, that you usually only get the reverse question. And the usual answer is: Porn destroys life. There are some tragic cases, where this was true. But the opposite is true too. Why have we heard a lot from the "porn-destroyed-me" girls ? Because mass media is more interested in them, big headlines, some models had a long career, after they have resigned, they suddenly discovered that porn destroyed her lives. I am especially sceptical, when victims of porn cash in, write several books, run from talkshow to talkshow. If you really are mentally down, you cant do this. We also hear very few of the other girls, because they are in a sort of paradox trap. They have to open up and talk about private problems, but at the same time they have to act before the camera and the porn viewer wants to be entertained by their lustful performances. If they talk about their problems openly, their career would be in a cul-de-sac. Or finished. So they dont talk. If they someday quit the adult biz, its often not easy to return to "normal life", why should they talk about former problems then ? Ive talked with two northern european models years ago, they started at a young age, they were two totally different personalities. The first one was very shy, couldnt talk a word in public and was very closed, but very attractive and dared to go to a casting. She gained a lot of selfconfidence and opened up. It was a clearance for her. She couldnt believe, what she did in front of the camera, until she had her first video in her own hands. The feedback was very positive. The other was a whirlwind, a very open minded girl, about 3 years more advanced as girls of her age, she was crazy for sex and posed in front of every camera. Because her parents were really wealthy, she had no financial problems at all, but felt dependent on her parents. She was also depressed about prude and conservative girlfriends of her age, so she entered the porn biz to enjoy her way of life. It was a sort of self-realization. I think much more positve experiences exist, but only very little talk about it, because you have to go into details of your private life. Edited by - Caroline-NL on 3/28/2008 5:04:08 PM
Audrey Madison Interview
Posted - Mar 24 2008 : 5:28PM
