SCAM ALERT

[Zoomer]

Fraud is not victimless, as you appear to indicate in this instance. I would point out that to nearly all of us - time is money. In any job which doesn't require some physical expenditure upon resources, you could find yourself in the same situation. To be told "Its your own fault" ... well.

As for "she didn't lose $1200 as it never existed" - how about the ability to make money with said time that's been eaten up by that fraudulent Skype show? Or are you saying that time != money, and it's not real work is it. She didn't lose anything out because, lets be honest, it isn't a real job is it?

That appears to be your implication at present. She shouldn't moan, she should have known - and anyway, she's not really losing anything out as it's only her time and her time / effort has no monetary value anyway...

Any models want to comment on that?

 

[Anonymous]

In fact, sex has nothing to to with this. In order to be a sex worker, it is necessary to think in terms of sales, services and products, and not treat sex like a precious gift or a delicate flower. Sex workers can't expect society to treat sex work as just a normal part of life if they themselves insist on it being treated like something different.

I think this right here really hits home as the core of the topic. Stripping it all down to it's foundation means getting personal with yourself and really learning about who you are, how you view sexuality, the opposite sex and your personal belief systems.

That said, normally I wouldn't take such an interest (probably too much interest) but I'm curious about you. some of your finer viewpoints as stated here can be seen frequently in my guest chat, and guest chats all around the web. I feel I have some things to learn from you. It's a great discussion...

My personal philosophies of your overall messages without too much in-depth elaboration but enough to give you something to think on:

It has nothing to do with sex--- It has EVERYTHING to do with sex. We live in a world of conflicting messages and hypocrisies when it comes to women, sex and sexuality. There's reason it sells. There's reasons people sell it.

In order to be a sex worker, it is necessary to think in terms of sales, services and products--- Within boundaries. If you ever saw "Pretty Woman" one of the most memorable scenes is where she reveals "there will be no kissing". Some things are off limits. Not everything is for sale. Not everything has a price.

Sex is a precious gift AND a delicate flower--- Yes, it is which is why cam models spend some pretty serious introspective time with themselves before turning on the cam for the first time. From that introspection we form boundaries, an on cam persona and appear to you in a 680 X 420 window as opposed to a panoramic view.

Sex workers can't expect society to treat sex work as just a normal part of life if they themselves insist on it being treated like something different--- This is a point I ponder frequently as a nude/fetish model and is very a important point for all to consider. The end result is what is what you see on cam and is ever evolving.

That said, there are only two types of men whom I voluntarily share myself with ;

1) Ones who see my body and sexuality as an erotic art form and compensate me for it. This is my camming life i.e. the business side.

2) The very rare and elusive man who eventually becomes my lover. this is a side of my sexuality that is not seen on cam. He is a person who I allow into my life on a more personal and intimate level and have a much different set of boundaries and rules that change as we grow together and establish trust. It is the personal side.

3) There are no others. Sex and sexuality is not an entitlement. It is mine to give and take. It is my right. It belongs to me! With all due respect, you seem to think it's an entitlement. The jerk who took back his payment in such a predatory fashion clearly manipulated her to reinforce his feelings of entitlement in a power play as displayed by a true needle dick coward. To compare the two of you is unfair but in fair play.

...and while we're at it, I really hate the term, "sex worker" when applied to camming. I am not a sex worker. I am a fetish model. I utilize YOUR imagination to portray an image. I am self employed in the privacy and safety of my own home. I do not come into direct contact with my customers. I am also celibate as many cam performers are.

It irks me to no end that someone who may be a dentist is given more respect based on a title despite the fact she may be sleeping with the entire office building and then some, all the while I am home alone snuggling with my cat in front of a good movie at the end of the day.

 

[Anonymous]

Mymilkshake, your posts are on point, and I like you. Welcome to the forum!

 

[KayleePond]

...and while we're at it, I really hate the term, "sex worker" when applied to camming. I am not a sex worker. I am a fetish model. I utilize YOUR imagination to portray an image. I am self employed in the privacy and safety of my own home. I do not come into direct contact with my customers. I am also celibate as many cam performers are.

It irks me to no end that someone who may be a dentist is given more respect based on a title despite the fact she may be sleeping with the entire office building and then some, all the while I am home alone snuggling with my cat in front of a good movie at the end of the day.

I'm sorry to jump off of the tracks for a moment here, but this is slut shaming and it is not generally something that we like to do here.

Any person should be able to sleep with however many people they please, as long as everyone is safe and consenting, and still get the same amount of respect as a person who chooses not to. It doesn't matter what their job is. Of course this goes both ways and considering our profession it is in our best interest not to shame other people for their sexual choices.

These are the types of stereotypes that our industry faces daily and I feel that it helps us immensely to set the best example that we possibly can. You might not consider yourself a sex worker (if you are not a nude model and don't do anything sexual on camera it might not feel like it applies as well) however camgirls in general are indeed technically sex workers and members of the sex industry. This is not a negative or degrading thing though! I am really proud of my job and I like to think that I've opened up the eyes of a lot of friends and acquaintances just by talking about my job in a confident and empowered way. Especially if we continue to be awesome, intelligent, responsible representatives of our profession and community we can continue to move our industry in the right direction and do a better job of supporting one another, too.

 

[PunkInDrublic]

I am not a sex worker. I am a fetish model.

lol

It irks me to no end that someone who may be a dentist is given more respect based on a title despite the fact she may be sleeping with the entire office building and then some, all the while I am home alone snuggling with my cat in front of a good movie at the end of the day.

Becoming a dentist requires years of discipline, hard work, etc. whereas becoming a sex worker/fetish model has like zero requirements. Which profession you got more respect for? Fry guy at Mickey D's or a doctor? I didn't even know that I was supposed to be deciding how much I respect a woman based on number of partners she has had. I was showing women that have had lots of partners the same respect as women that haven't had many. How embarrassing. Been doing it wrong for years now.

 

[IsabellaSnow]

This is kind of off the point of scams, but I always find it funny how people come to models wanting us to be real. Wanting us to genuinely want to be there, to genuinely enjoy our regulars company, to genuinely love all these orgasms we're having in front of total strangers/dudes we're not remotely into. Wanting us to feel the same kinds of feelings as the members on the other side of the screen are feeling.

Yet then these same members then also want us to treat it all as a business and a product and get annoyed when we reflect on things like the mood we're currently in and don't do shows because of moods, health etc.
You cannot have it both ways. Either we treat the shows we do in camming as something we are there to genuinely enjoy, or we can scratch that, be all business and for the most part, fake it.

I've heard a few members on here moan about models being unprofessional because, as Sevrin said, we're treating sex as a "delicate flower", yet sex being that delicate flower is exactly the reason "sex workers" can make so much money.

I don't make money from being cold and calculating and all business, like I might be in another line of work. I make money from being warm, friendly and creating a relaxed atmosphere. I will agree that there is a line where we need to try our best to stick to schedules and deliver products and such on time, so there is a large element of being professional, but if someone is paying for an experience where I'm enjoying myself and having a genuinely good time, then I can't fulfil that act if I'm not feeling up to it full stop. Sure I could probably go through the motions, but I'd be hating life.

I'm sorry but camming is different and it always will be. Not just because how models feel about the sexual aspects, but because of how members feel about it. All these things that a few members don't like about models are actually what the masses do like about models. It's not dissimilar to normal relationships, you like your friends because they make you happy, but you also understand and enjoy that they're not always in the same mood, they might feel different certain days. Most people want things like sex and friendship to be a mutual thing. Camming simulates that. It simulates a more realistic relationship rather than something impersonal and robotic.

 

[Anonymous]

...and while we're at it, I really hate the term, "sex worker" when applied to camming. I am not a sex worker. I am a fetish model. I utilize YOUR imagination to portray an image. I am self employed in the privacy and safety of my own home. I do not come into direct contact with my customers. I am also celibate as many cam performers are.

It irks me to no end that someone who may be a dentist is given more respect based on a title despite the fact she may be sleeping with the entire office building and then some, all the while I am home alone snuggling with my cat in front of a good movie at the end of the day.

I'm sorry to jump off of the tracks for a moment here, but this is slut shaming and it is not generally something that we like to do here.

Any person should be able to sleep with however many people they please, as long as everyone is safe and consenting, and still get the same amount of respect as a person who chooses not to. It doesn't matter what their job is. Of course this goes both ways and considering our profession it is in our best interest not to shame other people for their sexual choices.

These are the types of stereotypes that our industry faces daily and I feel that it helps us immensely to set the best example that we possibly can. You might not consider yourself a sex worker (if you are not a nude model and don't do anything sexual on camera it might not feel like it applies as well) however camgirls in general are indeed technically sex workers and members of the sex industry. This is not a negative or degrading thing though! I am really proud of my job and I like to think that I've opened up the eyes of a lot of friends and acquaintances just by talking about my job in a confident and empowered way. Especially if we continue to be awesome, intelligent, responsible representatives of our profession and community we can continue to move our industry in the right direction and do a better job of supporting one another, too.

Hi Kaylee.

I just want to clarify, when I post, I do my best to make it clear I am not a representative of an entire industry, only of myself. That said, you are absolutely right! Very good points and I appreciate your response. It's given me more to think about. I always love these types of discussions because they challenge me (and maybe anyone else who reads them) to expand my thinking and to continue to keep an open mind and open heart.

 

[Tristyn]

Becoming a dentist requires years of discipline, hard work, etc. whereas becoming a sex worker/fetish model has like zero requirements.

Excellent! The next time I decide to pursue real-time domination again, I'll be sure to pass that on to my clients! Thanks! :thumbleft:

"Don't worry, baby. I haven't had any training because I'm just a silly sex worker and hard work isn't a part of the job description! But you should TOTALLY trust me to stick this giant rod down your dick, or put castration rings on your balls (and know when to remove them before there's permanent damage), or cane you until you're black and blue (without, you know, accidentally striking a kidney or shattering a tailbone in the process)."

It's not like I've spent the last 6+ YEARS learning how to do various types of play and fetishes safely or anything. You know, by going to classes, training under other dominants, attending conventions/workshops, or having practice and/or mentoring sessions with experienced bottoms and tops. Oh, wait... :roll:

I'm sure you're right, though-- sex work takes no hard work, discipline, or training at all. I'm sure that my clients will find that very comforting!

 

[mynameisbob84]

...and while we're at it, I really hate the term, "sex worker" when applied to camming. I am not a sex worker. I am a fetish model. I utilize YOUR imagination to portray an image. I am self employed in the privacy and safety of my own home. I do not come into direct contact with my customers. I am also celibate as many cam performers are.

Not to derail things any further, but I can't help but feel we're getting into semantics here. What a cam model chooses to describe her profession as is her business, but the term "sex worker" is an accurate descriptor for the vast majority of girls in the camming industry. To take offence to the term "sex worker" is to create this artifice with which you try to distance yourself from porn actresses, or strippers, or escorts. It suggests that you view what they do as immoral or beneath you, and what you do isn't comparable, even though you're all a part of the same industry and you all make your money doing the same thing - providing sexual gratification for monetary gain.

And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with that. The term "sex worker" has negative connotations, but the way to change that is not to dismiss the term or take offence to it, or to claim that it applies to those other girls but not you. That only reinforces those negative connotations, ya know? :twocents-02cents:

 

[PunkInDrublic]

I'm sure you're right, though-- sex work takes no hard work, discipline, or training at all. I'm sure that my clients will find that very comforting!

Never said anything about it not being hard work to be a sex worker/fetish model. Said it has no requirements to become one. You don't have to put in years of work to become a sex worker/fetish model.

 

[AmberCutie]

I'm sure you're right, though-- sex work takes no hard work, discipline, or training at all. I'm sure that my clients will find that very comforting!

Never said anything about it not being hard work to be a sex worker/fetish model. Said it has no requirements to become one. You don't have to put in years of work to become a sex worker/fetish model.

To be a good one, you do, and I think that's why Tristyn jumped on the comment. I know what you're saying though, Punk.

 

[Tristyn]

I'm sure you're right, though-- sex work takes no hard work, discipline, or training at all. I'm sure that my clients will find that very comforting!

Never said anything about it not being hard work to be a sex worker/fetish model. Said it has no requirements to become one. You don't have to put in years of work to become a sex worker/fetish model.

I would argue that it would depend on the flavour of sex work you were offering, and where. I know of dungeons (I believe that Salon Kitty's in Sydney was one of them, when it was still open) that require an unpaid training period of one year (minimum) before you're allowed to take on paid clients. So yes, at times there ARE training requirements. Sometimes officially, depending on where you choose to work, and other times just because it would be nice to be able to do heavy play without injuring your clients, or because you would like to be successful at what you do.

To be a good one, you do, and I think that's why Tristyn jumped on the comment. I know what you're saying though, Punk.

Yes, that was my (tongue-in-cheek, admittedly) point exactly.

 

[JerryBoBerry]

Excellent! The next time I decide to pursue real-time domination again, I'll be sure to pass that on to my clients! Thanks! :thumbleft:

"Don't worry, baby. I haven't had any training because I'm just a silly sex worker and hard work isn't a part of the job description! But you should TOTALLY trust me to stick this giant rod down your dick, or put castration rings on your balls (and know when to remove them before there's permanent damage), or cane you until you're black and blue (without, you know, accidentally striking a kidney or shattering a tailbone in the process)."

It's not like I've spent the last 6+ YEARS learning how to do various types of play and fetishes safely or anything. You know, by going to classes, training under other dominants, attending conventions/workshops, or having practice and/or mentoring sessions with experienced bottoms and tops. Oh, wait... :roll:

I'm sure you're right, though-- sex work takes no hard work, discipline, or training at all. I'm sure that my clients will find that very comforting!

Is anyone else really turned on right now?

 

[Tristyn]

Excellent! The next time I decide to pursue real-time domination again, I'll be sure to pass that on to my clients! Thanks! :thumbleft:

"Don't worry, baby. I haven't had any training because I'm just a silly sex worker and hard work isn't a part of the job description! But you should TOTALLY trust me to stick this giant rod down your dick, or put castration rings on your balls (and know when to remove them before there's permanent damage), or cane you until you're black and blue (without, you know, accidentally striking a kidney or shattering a tailbone in the process)."

It's not like I've spent the last 6+ YEARS learning how to do various types of play and fetishes safely or anything. You know, by going to classes, training under other dominants, attending conventions/workshops, or having practice and/or mentoring sessions with experienced bottoms and tops. Oh, wait... :roll:

I'm sure you're right, though-- sex work takes no hard work, discipline, or training at all. I'm sure that my clients will find that very comforting!

Is anyone else really turned on right now?

Wanna play? It'll only hurt a little! :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

To take offence to the term "sex worker" is to create this artifice with which you try to distance yourself from porn actresses, or strippers, or escorts. It suggests that you view what they do as immoral or beneath you, and what you do isn't comparable, even though you're all a part of the same industry and you all make your money doing the same thing - providing sexual gratification for monetary gain.

World English Dictionary
sex worker: (noun) - a prostitute

British & World English Dictionary
sex worker; Syllabification: (sex work·er)
noun - used euphemistically to refer to a prostitute.

Oxford Dictionaries
sex worker
noun
a prostitute: there were separate clinics for female and male sex workers

The above listed publications are all standard resources used universally around the world. Your assumption would be correct. I do distance myself from the term "sex worker". While I am sure there are cam models who do cross over into sex work, I am not one of them. My personal boundaries do not extend this far. Am I judging anyone who does have wider boundaries than my own? Absolutely not, and I am really upset you would attempt to persuade anyone otherwise! That really just... grr assumptions, man, just don't do it. I am not on this earth to judge another human being, nor am I in a position of authority to judge another human being and to insinuate, assume or imply as such is wrong.

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist. The REASON I do not wish to be clumped into the same category as, "sex worker" is because camming in and of itself is stressful enough. I can't find anything more irritating than having someone log into my chat room, especially the ones sent to us by unscrupulous affiliates who make profiles on dating sites, misleading them into and under the belief that we are all here just waiting to lay them! We aren't here to lay them. We're here to entertain them, not to meet them in person for gratuitous sex!

I personally would prefer to keep the lines less blurred. It makes MY job easier and the expectations of our viewers a lot less blurred. I'm not saying that some viewers aren't always going to believe we are here to meet them in person, what I am saying is, lets not encourage it.

 

[AmberCutie]

Generally speaking, porn, camming, stripping, domme/sub services, phone sex operators and escorting all fall under "sex work".

wikipedia may not be a dictionary for a definition, but it's likely to be more current and include recent popular opinion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_worker

It means that the nature of the business we deal in is sexual in nature, not literally that we all "have sex" for money.

 

[KayleePond]

To take offence to the term "sex worker" is to create this artifice with which you try to distance yourself from porn actresses, or strippers, or escorts. It suggests that you view what they do as immoral or beneath you, and what you do isn't comparable, even though you're all a part of the same industry and you all make your money doing the same thing - providing sexual gratification for monetary gain.

World English Dictionary
sex worker: (noun) - a prostitute

British & World English Dictionary
sex worker; Syllabification: (sex work·er)
noun - used euphemistically to refer to a prostitute.

Oxford Dictionaries
sex worker
noun
a prostitute: there were separate clinics for female and male sex workers

The above listed publications are all standard resources used universally around the world. Your assumption would be correct. I do distance myself from the term "sex worker". While I am sure there are cam models who do cross over into sex work, I am not one of them. My personal boundaries do not extend this far. Am I judging anyone who does have wider boundaries than my own? Absolutely not, and I am really upset you would attempt to persuade anyone otherwise! That really just... grr assumptions, man, just don't do it. I am not on this earth to judge another human being, nor am I in a position of authority to judge another human being and to insinuate, assume or imply as such is wrong.

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist. The REASON I do not wish to be clumped into the same category as, "sex worker" is because camming in and of itself is stressful enough. I can't find anything more irritating than having someone log into my chat room, especially the ones sent to us by unscrupulous affiliates who make profiles on dating sites, misleading them into and under the belief that we are all here just waiting to lay them! We aren't here to lay them. We're here to entertain them, not to meet them in person for gratuitous sex!

I personally would prefer to keep the lines less blurred. It makes MY job easier and the expectations of our viewers a lot less blurred. I'm not saying that some viewers aren't always going to believe we are here to meet them in person, what I am saying is, lets not encourage it.

From Wikipedia

A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry.[1][2] The term is used in reference to all those in all areas of the sex industry including those who provide direct sexual services as well as the staff of such industries. Some sex workers are paid to engage in sexually explicit behavior which involve varying degrees of physical contact with clients (prostitutes, escorts, some but not all professional dominants); pornography models and actors engage in sexually explicit behavior which are filmed or photographed. Phone sex operators have sexually-oriented conversations with clients, and do auditive sexual roleplay. Other sex workers are paid to engage in live sexual performance, such as web cam sex[3] and performers in live sex shows. Some sex workers perform erotic dances and other acts for an audience (striptease, Go-Go dancing, lap dancing, Neo-burlesque, and peep shows).
Thus, although the term is sometimes viewed as a synonym or euphemism for prostitute, it is more general. Some people use the term to avoid invoking the stigma associated with the word prostitute.[4]

Webcam modeling DOES fall into the category of sex work. We ARE sex workers. I think that if your show is completely non-sexual, non-fetish, non-nude and you do nothing that gives anyone any sexual gratification, you might not technically be a sex worker but otherwise, that is technically our industry.

 

[AmberCutie]

Lol, Kaylee and I were on the same brain waves at the same time.

 

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking, porn, camming, stripping, domme/sub services, phone sex operators and escorting all fall under "sex work".

wikipedia may not be a dictionary for a definition, but it's likely to be more current and include recent popular opinion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_worker

Personally I would prefer NOT to adopt it because it already has implications attached to it. I think as a community we could serve ourselves much more justice by pushing for our own definition. If for any reason other than to keep the viewing population in sinc with the models.

 

[Anonymous]

I feel like we are derailing the original topic. Should we start a separate one?

 

[KayleePond]

Lol, Kaylee and I were on the same brain waves at the same time.

Omg awesome. High five!

 

[AmberCutie]

Generally speaking, porn, camming, stripping, domme/sub services, phone sex operators and escorting all fall under "sex work".

wikipedia may not be a dictionary for a definition, but it's likely to be more current and include recent popular opinion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_worker

Personally I would prefer NOT to adopt it because it already has implications attached to it. I think as a community we could serve ourselves much more justice by pushing for our own definition. If for any reason other than to keep the viewing population in sinc with the models.

Old-school implications. I believe in this day and age we are moving away from that, and it would strengthen the industry that we are in if it became more common place than to keep a stigma on it like you seem to want to.

 

[Gen]

I actually really hate the term "sex worker" as it's used because I think it's TOO broad, and that trying to encompass so many related-but-different jobs under it actually hurts the cause. Personally I think the similarities between camming and prostitution are minimal, and I don't feel like it benefits either side to try and link them together. I understand the point of selling sex or sexy stuff, but I feel like the risks, work environments, hustle, etc are so different that it doesn't make sense to me, semantically, to link them. I think trying to share one title for some many things just complicates and confuses. I don't think we can talk about the legality or sex work or sex worker safety/rights/etc and be encompassing all of the many jobs under the umbrella. If we call everything sex work (or everyone sex workers), then how do we discuss prostitution laws without it referring to all of us, you know? Sex worker (as far as I know) was a term coined for prostitutes by prostitutes, and I am all for the evolution of language, but if we have to then distinguish "by sex worker in this case, we mean prostitutes", then we're just back at square one. And prostitutes face so many different risks and dangers than, say, camgirls or phone sex operators that I think a distinction is incredibly important.

Even just the distinction between sex workers who physically see clients (like escorts/strippers/etc) and ones who don't (like camgirls/phone sex operators/etc) seems important to me (although not sure where you'd put porn actors in there). Our jobs entail so many different things; and I don't think it's about trying to distance ourselves from negative connotations or being like "oh yuck I'm not like THAT girl" (although certainly some girls try to do that and it makes me roll my eyes). But just...they're different. And that's okay! And we can share an industry and common experiences without being the same.

I can understand and empathize with the use of the term "sex worker" as a way to reinforce the work aspect of it, to show solidarity amongst all the different types of industry workers, and to have a catch-all term particularly for those who work in lots of facets of the industry. In my ideal world, we'd just call all of this the sex industry, and use "sex worker" to describe people who have sex (escorts/prostitutes/massage parlour girls/etc), and then we'd have camgirls, strippers, phone sex operators, etc just described by those job titles. I think there's much less stigma involved with the term 'camgirl' or 'webcam model' because it's so new that a lot of people don't even know what it is, so we don't need the term as a departure from stigma like prostitution does.

This is definitely semantic, though. But I think it's an interesting discussion and I like reading everyone's thoughts on it.

 

[mynameisbob84]

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist.

Okay, that's fair. I apologise for inferring something you didn't mean to imply.

But I stand by my overall point that adult camming is sex work, regardless of whether the physical act of sex is involved; and that disputing that label, regardless of intent, only serves to reinforce the negative connotations that already exist in that term.

 

[Gen]

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist.

Okay, that's fair. I apologise for inferring something you didn't mean to imply.

But I stand by my overall point that adult camming is sex work, regardless of whether the physical act of sex is involved; and that disputing that label, regardless of intent, only serves to reinforce the negative connotations that already exist in that term.

Can I ask why/how it reinforces negative connotations, aside from the assumption that it means we're trying to distance ourselves from other types of jobs (which makes it's own assumption that camgirls are never also strippers/escorts/prostitutes who are speaking from that experience)?

I don't mean to be argumentative and I think sometimes the way I word things comes across more aggressive than I want it to! I am just curious about your reasoning.

 

[AmberCutie]

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist.

Okay, that's fair. I apologise for inferring something you didn't mean to imply.

But I stand by my overall point that adult camming is sex work, regardless of whether the physical act of sex is involved; and that disputing that label, regardless of intent, only serves to reinforce the negative connotations that already exist in that term.

Can I ask why/how it reinforces negative connotations, aside from the assumption that it means we're trying to distance ourselves from other types of jobs (which makes it's own assumption that camgirls are never also strippers/escorts/prostitutes who are speaking from that experience)?

I don't mean to be argumentative and I think sometimes the way I word things comes across more aggressive than I want it to! I am just curious about your reasoning.

I believe the more simple minded masses may think that if people are trying to avoid and get away from a word/title then it must be bad. I believe that the broader base the title covers, the more mainstream it can be. And more mainstream titles are easier to accept in society.

 

[mynameisbob84]

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist.

Okay, that's fair. I apologise for inferring something you didn't mean to imply.

But I stand by my overall point that adult camming is sex work, regardless of whether the physical act of sex is involved; and that disputing that label, regardless of intent, only serves to reinforce the negative connotations that already exist in that term.

Can I ask why/how it reinforces negative connotations, aside from the assumption that it means we're trying to distance ourselves from other types of jobs (which makes it's own assumption that camgirls are never also strippers/escorts/prostitutes who are speaking from that experience)?

I don't mean to be argumentative and I think sometimes the way I word things comes across more aggressive than I want it to! I am just curious about your reasoning.

I believe the more simple minded masses may think that if people are trying to avoid and get away from a word/title then it must be bad. I believe that the broader base the title covers, the more mainstream it can be. And more mainstream titles are easier to accept in society.

Pretty much exactly this.

There's a stigma attached to sex work and a perception that all sex workers are victims, that sex work is a last resort, that it's blighted by criminal activity, etc. etc. Cam girls are in a position to help change that perception. Cam girls are their own bosses, are making lots of money, are not being exploited by anyone and aren't doing anything they're not comfortable with (generally speaking). By claiming not to be sex workers, the narrative switches from "well, many of the assumptions I've made about sex workers are being challenged by the influx of happy, independent, successful cam girls. Maybe my perception of sex workers is misguided" to "well, these cam girls seem happy but clearly they're not representative of sex workers in general. In fact, they resent being categorised as sex workers. My perception of sex workers is vindicated".

 

[Sevrin]

Sex worker of the future.

Sex work has had it's ups and downs throughout history and across cultures. Courtesans have risen to positions of great power and influence, and not all of them put out, either. Geishas likewise. They too, would likely be appalled to be considered "sex workers", but I'm not aware of geishas (okay, I'd be lying if I said I was personally acquainted with *any* geishas) who aren't females catering to a gynophile clientele. A guy can play music for another guy, and pour another guy tea, but for some reason, one requirement for being a geisha is appeal to gynophiles. In that context, it's pretty hard to argue that cam modeling on a site like MFC or SM isn't sex work.

I guess, you could call it "gender work", but I don't think anyone would be fooled.

 

[Nordling]

I kind of like "adult entertainer."

"Sex worker" just seems ambiguous to me. But then, I think the word "sex" itself is overused...and abused.

 

[Just Me]

To take offence to the term "sex worker" is to create this artifice with which you try to distance yourself from porn actresses, or strippers, or escorts. It suggests that you view what they do as immoral or beneath you, and what you do isn't comparable, even though you're all a part of the same industry and you all make your money doing the same thing - providing sexual gratification for monetary gain.

World English Dictionary
sex worker: (noun) - a prostitute

British & World English Dictionary
sex worker; Syllabification: (sex work·er)
noun - used euphemistically to refer to a prostitute.

Oxford Dictionaries
sex worker
noun
a prostitute: there were separate clinics for female and male sex workers

The above listed publications are all standard resources used universally around the world. Your assumption would be correct. I do distance myself from the term "sex worker". While I am sure there are cam models who do cross over into sex work, I am not one of them. My personal boundaries do not extend this far. Am I judging anyone who does have wider boundaries than my own? Absolutely not, and I am really upset you would attempt to persuade anyone otherwise! That really just... grr assumptions, man, just don't do it. I am not on this earth to judge another human being, nor am I in a position of authority to judge another human being and to insinuate, assume or imply as such is wrong.

Please don't assign attributes to my words that don't exist. The REASON I do not wish to be clumped into the same category as, "sex worker" is because camming in and of itself is stressful enough. I can't find anything more irritating than having someone log into my chat room, especially the ones sent to us by unscrupulous affiliates who make profiles on dating sites, misleading them into and under the belief that we are all here just waiting to lay them! We aren't here to lay them. We're here to entertain them, not to meet them in person for gratuitous sex!

I personally would prefer to keep the lines less blurred. It makes MY job easier and the expectations of our viewers a lot less blurred. I'm not saying that some viewers aren't always going to believe we are here to meet them in person, what I am saying is, lets not encourage it.

If you don't like sex worker, would you rather prostitute? I am pretty sure many would not feel they are or would use that word to describe themselves, but if we are going by purely dictionary meanings it would fit cam models too. I am not throwing this out there to insult anyone but to point out the pure definition of word might not be what we think but has been appropriated within society to have positive or negative connotations.

pros·ti·tute
ˈprästəˌt(y)o͞ot/Submit
noun
1.
a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment.
synonyms: call girl, whore; More
a person who misuses their talents or who sacrifices their self-respect for the sake of personal or financial gain.
"careerist political prostitutes"
verb
verb: prostitute; 3rd person present: prostitutes; past tense: prostituted; past participle: prostituted; gerund or present participle: prostituting
1.
offer (someone, typically a woman) for sexual activity in exchange for payment.
"although she was paid $15 to join a man at his table, she never prostituted herself"