I usually save the bitching for my close friends over beer, but this issue is so relevant to my intentions with why I make erotica in the first place.
ModelMayhem.com is a website where models, photographers, stylists, and makeup artists can post portfolios and network for free. There are forums, 20 pictures slots, ways to link credits to people involved in the creation of an image, and lots and lots of drama.
Did I mention that almost everyone I have ever worked with has a page on this ModelMayhem? It is just that popular.
Now, I have gotten a lot of headaches on this site. There are a lot of people who shoot strictly TFCD that flood the forums with non-professional casting calls, but that I can overlook.
There are a lot of so-called professionals who refuse to discuss industry techniques. Maybe it is such a competitive industry that they feel insecure about their ability to maintain their status. This I can overlook. I am confident in my skills.
There is a seemingly, underlying, (and publicly stated) agenda for model mayhem moderators to try to push alternative models, fine art, and nude models off the site entirely. They seem to feel that they would like things better there if all the WHORES left to do WHORE things. Because everyone knows that being seen nude by a photographer makes you a porn star. and everyone knows that Playboy is Tasteful. And Suicide Girls is art.
Boring!
I had a moderator tell me that they were removing my portfolio (which gets several hundred hits per day on model mayhem.) in 24 hours if I did not remove all PORN LINKS.
“Links” and “porn” are not well defined words of the English language on model mayhem. In the fashion guidebook followed by all elitist pricks on ModelMayhem, PORN is defined as “Eww” and “Link” is defined as any reference to something, whatsoever, no matter if you have to google a phrase, find a site, sign up for a subscription, and dig 5 pages deep before you get to see any vagina.
OMG! REFERENCE TO MY VAGINA IS RUINING FASHION!
So, with 24 hours to remove all reference to all my web clients from my portfolio, I was left a hole in my resume.
Did I mention Female nudity is allowed on modelmayhem. Penis is not. Female Nipples are not allowed to be avatars. I wonder if I photoshop some male nipples onto a woman’s body, if that will save the fashion industry from the evils of human sexuality?
I removed the one HYPERLINK (because I am smart and can read a dictionary) from my page. Done. 12 hours later, the MOD tells me I have a few more hours to complete their request or I will be banished. Wait, let me just post our conversation: [Link]