An online prison wrought

with the thoughts, designs and

deliberations of Henry J. Hoffman

The XXX Web Designer's Conscience

The adult industry is a rather disjointed state-of-affairs, with participants, consumers and opposers equally fiery with their opinions and usually equally misinformed in their arguments. A substantial amount of evidence has been collected proving and disproving the harmful affect pornography has on the consumer and when combined, seems to conclude that the direct affect depends on the stability of the consumer's mentality; much like heroin . . . or chocolate. Either way, I am not going to go into the science behind exposure to pornography because as a web designer it boils down to the bare bones of personal ethics as to whether you wish to support, challenge or accept the industry through web design.

It is indisputable that the internet is one of the primary tools used by the adult industry to drag the pornography scene from the social gutter into the public's tolerance and acceptance (subject to location). Whilst it is clear eroticism and adult entertainment has been around for centuries; it has never been so openly embraced by popular culture or so graphically portrayed and easily accessible.

Web designers face a number of moral dilemmas when approached by the industry for work and are in effect a cog in the machine and bare the same responsibility as anyone else working in porn. If approached by the adult industry for work, as a web designer, I would recommend asking yourself the following questions:

Would you be happy for your children or younger relatives to be around you whilst you work on such a project?

The biggest group of Internet porn consumers are aged 12 - 17. (Boston Globe, 2005)

Would you wish for the work you are involved in to be directly linked to the development of mental illness?

It is estimated that 15% of people using Internet pornography develop a compulsive habit that disrupts their lives. (Paul, 2004)

Do you want to spend time developing your portfolio with high quality web designs that you are proud of and that can ensure future employment/commission opportunities?

Of course!

Why degrade yourself through the promotion of degradation, when you can work to produce websites you are proud of and have the opportunity of securing future work. Money is the key argument here; however you are running the risk of a quick financial gain ruining the possibility of long term financial success. That is, unless you wish to work in the porn industry, in which case you would have no doubts regarding the previous questions and either are lacking conscience, information or are pleading ignorant.

Whilst I can throw around derogatory terminology towards web designers in the adult industry until the cows come home, it bears little fruit and this is why I ask them this: Why create something that you don't wish to take credit for? I create literal shits on a daily basis, but this is because of my anatomical structure and something which I have no choice in. Choice is what makes us human and either you feel you have made the right choice or you have sacrificed that element of your humanity on behalf of financial gain.

I believe that you needn't have to resort to porn no little as you would resort to prostitution.

From an existing consumer perspective; if you must be exposed, illegally download it, you get it for free and you undermine the pornography industry. If this was to happen on a greater level it would bring about the socialisation of the pornography industry and the end of the degradation, sexism and abusive undercurrents that flow through the porn empire.

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