Dealing With Incompetence

About Dick Hunter Dick Hunter has been webmaster of popular gay sites such as RateARod and QueerFetish.com since 1999. In 2004 he began directing hardcore videos, such as his latest release "An Army Of Fun". In 2006 he launched this website, GayWebmasters.com.

One thing I learned shortly after I started my first business was to expect incompetence. It’s an inevitable part of life, and especially life on the web. I’m not talking about why your Grandma wears depends. That’s something else. I’m talking about people you depend on not doing their job right. I’m talking about mind-boggling levels of utter incompetence that, if you’re not careful, could have you pulling you hair out!

Perhaps incompetence is too strong a word, but it’s the one that always comes to my mind when I find myself in these situations. What situations? I won’t get into specifics, but they’re bound to come up. And when they do, it’s important that you just take a deep breath, and roll with it. If you expect incompetence, then when it occurs you won’t have a meltdown. And when it doesn’t, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I had a porn star friend who was trying to put together a website. He’d hire someone, tell them what he wanted, and then actually expect to get it. And when they didn’t meet the deadline, or got something wrong, or had some broken images, he’d freak out, scrap the whole project, and start all over with someone else. He did this like three or four times! It’s was crazy. He had all these half finished websites, but nothing online.

The lesson he needed to learn was to expect incompetence, and not freak out when the people he’s working with screw up. Deal with it and move on. Don’t get all frustrated and worked up. Don’t freak out. Don’t do and say a bunch of shit you’ll regret.

He ended up retiring to New Jersey, with a woman no less. Considering he couldn’t deal with incompetence, in this industry it’s probably for the best.

 Crazy Models—Whose Fault is It?

About XXXWriterDude Ken Knox is an adult industry insider who has written for a number of industry publications, including Unzipped, Men, Freshmen, Honcho, In Touch for Men, and X-Factor. He is the associate editor at AVN Online magazine, and is the former associate editor of GAYVN.

Today I just received an email noting that an up-and-coming gay adult model was returning to the industry after a short hiatus. This email came just a month after the model had allegedly left the industry in a mad huff, claiming he was “done with porn” for good and having pissed off several of the producers that he’d previously worked with. This, of course, sparked several adult directors, producers and webmasters to cry foul, proclaiming that said model’s career was “over,” and that they “would never work with him again.”

How soon they forget.

Now it seems as if the model has kissed (or is it sucked?) and made up with all of the enemies he made, and is once again looking for work. While it remains to be seen just how many of the people he allegedly “screwed over” want to work with him again, it got me to thinking: In a business in which models are primarily rewarded for purely superficial reasons, is it any wonder that they end up acting like children?

We’ve all heard the stories. Some young little diva with a sense of entitlement shows up hours late on a set and keeps everyone waiting, then generally misbehaves and causes tons of delays during production. Such erratic behavior has become, sadly, par for the course in porn, but it’s also behavior that we consistently reward and sanction by continuing to hire these models again and again. What’s more, by stressing the importance of big dick size, huge muscles and Hollywood good looks, porn producers have helped to turn these models into ego-swelled monsters who feel like they can afford to get away with murder because of how hot they are.

The porn business can be a great place to explore your sexuality. It can also be a place to lose yourself in a sea of unending narcissism and ego wars. A young 20-year-old with no discernable skill other than sucking cock can make a great living taking it up the butt on film and turning tricks on the side, but what does he learn about himself in the process—other than how hot he looks when he’s on his knees? I keep wondering if there isn’t a way that we, as producers, directors, agents, journalists, etc., can help these kids understand that there’s more to this business than just looking good and making money? Is it possible—in a business that essentially commoditizes and objectifies people as “trade” rather than human beings—for us to rear mature, respectful porn stars?

I’m not sure. Sadly, in today’s world, porn is really all about the bottom dollar. It didn’t used to be. It used to be about the sexual exploration and liberation on film—a collective discovery of our identities to be shared with anyone brave enough to walk into an adult theater or rent a VHS tape from their local video store. Today it’s all about content delivery, units sold and special effects. We’ve dehumanized the business, and in essence dehumanized the people who take part in it. That a 24-year-old Abercrombie-hot jock with a fat 8-inch cock behaves like a spoiled rotten child comes as no surprise to me, but it still makes me just a little sad that it has come to this. After all, it’s one thing to raise your own kid, but to have to raise a supposedly adult porn star is something that none of us should have to deal with.

 Let’s All Step Up To Fight 2257 By Opening Our Wallets

Many are called, but few are chosen, its time for Gay Professionals to pull together.

When I speak with our Straight Colleagues in Distribution and Retailing there is always the issue of Regional hostility.  No one seems to get along or value each others opinions and in particular recognize competitor’s successes.  I often talk about my two favorite men in distribution and retailing who both have impeccable reputations, but hate each other over something that happened in the 70s.  I equate this to a bunch of dysfunctional relatives all living on the same cul-de-sac.

In the gay market we embraced the Internet (with the exception of myself) very early so the distrust of Brick and Mortar and Internet and the (you’re going out of business) attitude did not really prevail in our market.  There of course are hostilities and baggage like everyone else but I believe even the most successful competitive leaders in both MFG. and Internet have some semblance of respect for one another.

The appointment of Tim Valenti from Naked Sword to the FSC Board brought in one of the top All Male Market Techno professionals. There are now two representatives of the gay industry on the board.  You all have an opportunity to participate with Free Speech, and any time you can attend a quarterly in Woodland Hills or at a trade show please do so.  Members can run for the Board of Directors. If you’re not a member, become one.  The nominal fee places you on an e-mail and publications list with a wealth of information, just the 2257 compliance information will save you thousands of dollars in legal fees.  If you are a “secondary” producer, current membership includes coverage of an injunction from 2257 inspections.

You should be aware that champions of Free speech, your fellow adult professionals, have joined FSC in our action in the 10th circuit in the case of FREE SPEECH V GONZALEZ.  These colleagues are Lenny Friedllander of New Beginnings, Dave Cummings, and others who have stepped forward to testify as witnesses.  This litigation does not come cheap.  The Attorneys are willing to work at a reduced rate, and to be paid at a not so rapid rate.  We need to support this very important litigation that affects all of us.

I would ask that you not only support this litigation personally by having everyone in the office donate to this very important cause, but that the owners of your companies also donate contributions earmarked for litigation .  This can be done by fax or mail. Simply go to http://www.freespeechcoaltion.com/ContributeForm.htm .  Please earmark these monies for the 2257 DEFENSE FUND.  Your money will be well spent, and we all need to pull together.

I have shot a trailer pilot for Spanky’s Boys, and many of you have volunteered to do likewise to raise monies for Free Speech.  Scott Lowther is handling this at FSC. He can be reached at , or by phone at (818) 348-9373.

Gay people throw great parties, so why not have your own 2257 Legal Defense Benefit.  I am confident we could line up the talent in your community!  If you have any idea’s or would like to do something to support this very important litigation, please contact me personally at (877) 886-7688 or e-male me at .

GREGORY B. (SPANKY) SHEARER
Member, FSC Board of Directors
(877-886-7688)