Op-Ed: Priscila Magossi On Giving Credit in Camming Industry

If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.- Isaac Newton If there is a light on, we should always remember that someone’s ideas took form in the real world. Thomas Edison is credited with the invention of the lightbulb and there are so many other developments, such as the computer you are using, because of this invention. But I am not trying to say that Edison invented the computer. These steps forward would not have been possible if it weren’t for the tech that preceded it.  Knowing what and who made something possible allows future generations to return to the source and find alternatives to address the issues in a more precise way. Besides, showing the audience knowledge of the source grants reliability and logic to the argument being put forward. This seems obvious regarding technology, which is based on science that must show where the knowledge came from. Why should it be different in business?  Has it come to your attention that no one quotes anyone in the camming business? Is it hard to believe that the current state of affairs is not built upon the ideas of yesterday? What are the consequences of not knowing where ideas come from?  Let’s look at the pros and cons of living in a lawless land!  At first, it might seem like a great advantage to operate in a market segment that does not demand to cite any source. And when the relationships are based on a sponsorship deal, since everything can come apart at any moment without any reason and anything can be said recklessly, with no commitment to the source of the thoughts. Nevertheless, it is self-sabotage to conduct business like this because although it seems to work at the moment, the mid- to long-term effects can be catastrophic. Such is the case with greenwashing, when a business pretends to be environmentally friendly. The environmentally conscious mindset of their customers will benefit these businesses, but once they are found to be misleading with their marketing spin, they lose face. Remember Volkswagen, who claimed to have the cleanest diesel engines and had configured their vehicles to produce fewer emissions during the environmental tests, but after being exposed by scientists, they lost a lot of money in fines and endured a lot of negative publicity trying to recover some of their market share.  The same takes place in the camming scene with companies that try to come closer to mainstream entertainment by trying to pass the image of a socially fair and friendly business model. It is necessary to be careful because if the company is devoid of this as a purpose, the strategy could backfire and the company will damage its own reputation. Let’s keep in mind that some camming industry practices—such as demanding a vibe toy on all day long inside of a woman’s body in order to be placed on the first page of the site—are only acceptable in the adult scene and do not contribute to having good mental and physical health. Thus, before kicking off a marketing campaign, there should be more than just money that comes into the equation: being socially and environmentally responsible, along with other commitments, demand actions and not only words. The foundation of the neutral: to nullify the other In business, it is commonplace for individuals to try to be pleasant and exhibit neutral behavior in order to leave every single door open, allowing one to be desirable to these businesses in the future. Nevertheless, it is interesting to reflect on this: is it really necessary to leave every single door open? The issue stems from having a business or career that is built upon a meaningless relation, where the bonds are very weak and could come down crumbling at any moment. The lack of any substance makes it easy for some of the players to look for immediate benefits, thus resulting in betrayal and other inconsiderate practices. It is easy to realize this in any conflict in the camming business. Everyone watches curiously, but rarely does the audience take sides and join in. Not even the people in the same company speak up on their behalf if they are not being paid to do so. After all, taking sides in something requires believing in it. Another interesting point about this kind of relationship is the lack of recognition for the work that has been done. In practical terms: if any source of reference is requested and if no credit is given to anyone, then this means that plagiarism is consented to openly. What’s more, this is the foundation of the neutral: to nullify the other.  Psychology relates the narcissist character type to an attitude of superiority that remains neutral or even tries to depreciate others in order to stand out. This is precisely what happens so often when individuals hide their sources to make it seem like they have reinvented the wheel, misleading their audience by depriving them of the source, hence appearing to be an innovator that introduces new paradigms. One reason for them to do this is the fear of being exposed by those who know more than them. That’s why they love roles that grant them power because in these roles they are not contested. They can rule without having to justify the incoherence of their actions. They fear that others are able to contest them—people who have read more and done their homework—who have a lot to say and are willing to credit from whom they learned their information.  Partnerships based on values: long-term success More important than finding good opportunities is our ability to better reflect on the people we associate with. And here there is a double catch: short-term goals are easy to see, but don’t necessarily lead to long-term success. It is necessary to be realistic and understand that a business is not a “united cam community” (as it is often said) and that everyone is a “happy family." The term community stems from Latin (communitas) and means “communion”; “union." It has nothing to do with the reality of camming as a business practice. The reach of the camming industry is massive but the number of big players is small, which means that almost everybody follows the rules they impose.  In situations of injustice—such as when a cam site pays only 12% of the commission to a camgirl—there tends to be three kinds of individual responses: those who know exactly what they are doing; those who know but don’t care because they are following orders; and those who suffer but don’t have a voice. Unfair practices often continue because the oppressor knows that the oppressed will stay silent. So, if you are one of the oppressed, be aware that more aggressive practices could get even worse. Yesterday’s 30% has become 12% and who knows what it will be tomorrow if silence prevails. That’s why it is really necessary to take action, choose sides and defend humane practices in business. On top of that, the strength that comes from numbers is why this is not pure utopia. One swallow does not make a summer. The relevance of picking a side publicly is to try to unite partnerships based on mutual values.  Final Considerations: if a castle is made of sand it will crumble upon the first wave It is not possible to know what side one is on just because of a commercial deal. By citing the source, it is possible to know why something makes sense or not, and where this idea came from. No man is an island and we all need meaning, which is related to what we believe in. Because beliefs are the flipside of actions, and vice-versa, it's important to practice what you preach and not live a double life. In a fast-paced world that allows no time to really think and consider how our lives happen, it is easy to wake up one day and notice it is too late to change and to do the things we wanted. Back when the time was right, we were all too busy trying to make money. Because of our lack of critical reflection, we didn't take the time to notice what was important for us and act. One of the main roles of the New Camming Perspective (NCP) is related to the development of a scientifically based theory that includes a practical approach to improve working conditions in the adult entertainment industry. The name perspective implies that a bigger picture can be captured and explained through a theoretical strategy of seeking the totality in opposition to alienation and fragmented understanding of the world that comes from modern life. It is the critical thought that allows the very questioning of all that is established. As a result, the actions of those who accept the proposition of value that comes with treating all the subjects as human will participate in the building of a world of freedom from oppression.  ________________________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Priscila Magossi is a journalist (Mackenzie-SP/Brazil, 2002-2005), with a Master’s Degree (2006-2008) and a Ph.D. (2010-2014) in Communication and Semiotics (PUC-SP/Brazil). Since she has started her journey in the communication field, she has been studying the impacts of the mass media and the cyberculture in the post-modern society, focusing primarily on the social bonds’ dynamics. Regarding her main activities in the camming industry, Magossi is the author of the New Camming Perspective (NCP): a formal study about camming, a struggle for human rights in adult and a training program for premium models. This new approach is centered on the main concepts of (1) Building Connections between models and members through the (2) Social Aspect of Camming, which is only possible to be developed when in touch with access to the (3) Social Traffic. The sum of these factors leads to the idea of (4) Mainstream Camming: a huge harm reduction that allows models to present themselves socially, which results in female empowerment and better earnings from the repeat customers that treat them in a more humane way.