What’s the hardest part about camming that nobody talks about?

[VanessaFox]

Cam Life Poll!

Keeping energy up on tough days
Handling weird or rude requests
Balancing personal life & work
Constantly learning new tech/tools

 

[tothemoon]

All of those are so real. For me, it’s the emotional burnout that sneaks up on you. Like, putting on a smile when you're mentally drained or dealing with personal stuff but still needing to perform. Also, the weird loneliness, you're talking to people all day, but it can still feel isolating. Not enough people talk about that side of it.

 

[LaceyRoyce]

Burn out and stigma. None of the above.

But I think people talk about all of these

 

[CallMeMaria]

Stigma and the unpredictability are the two toughest ones. Never being able to relax as any time off feels like money left on the table.

 

[VanessaFox]

All of those are so real. For me, it’s the emotional burnout that sneaks up on you. Like, putting on a smile when you're mentally drained or dealing with personal stuff but still needing to perform. Also, the weird loneliness, you're talking to people all day, but it can still feel isolating. Not enough people talk about that side of it.

Totally feel this Emotional burnout is the silent beast of this job. Smiling through personal stuff, staying “on” even when your soul just wants a nap, it catches up fast.
And YES to the weird loneliness. You're chatting non-stop, yet somehow it feels like no one really sees you. It’s wild how you can feel alone in a room full of people, even virtually.
More people need to talk about this side, not to scare others off, but to remind each other we’re not alone in feeling it. Let’s normalize rest, not just hustle.

 

[VanessaFox]

Stigma and the unpredictability are the two toughest ones. Never being able to relax as any time off feels like money left on the table.

Ugh yes, that part. The stigma is heavy enough, but the constant pressure to always be “on” is its own beast.

 

[VanessaFox]

Burn out and stigma. None of the above.

But I think people talk about all of these

Totally fair, burnout and stigma hit hard, and honestly, they don’t always get the depth of attention they deserve. Everyone mentions them, but it’s like… the convo stays surface-level.
The real toll of constantly feeling “not enough” or “too much” for society and your own audience? Whew. That’s a whole therapy session.
Appreciate you pointing that out, sometimes the quiet parts need to be said louder.

 

[LaceyRoyce]

Totally fair, burnout and stigma hit hard, and honestly, they don’t always get the depth of attention they deserve. Everyone mentions them, but it’s like… the convo stays surface-level.
The real toll of constantly feeling “not enough” or “too much” for society and your own audience? Whew. That’s a whole therapy session.
Appreciate you pointing that out, sometimes the quiet parts need to be said louder.

I don’t think the conversation stays surface level at all. In industry only spaces, support groups, places like pineapple support. I have plenty of deep conversations about this.

 

[BrownSugarX33X]

Handling weird or rude requests for me.
I really don’t like letting people down, and it makes me a bit uncomfortable when I am trying to explain I don't want to do something and they just keep pushing...

 

[AudriTwo]

Sock accounts.

 

[KingMarti]

Handling weird or rude requests for me.
I really don’t like letting people down, and it makes me a bit uncomfortable when I am trying to explain I don't want to do something and they just keep pushing...

make the ban button your best friend and life becomes a lot happier and a lot simpler

 

[Vixxen81]

make the ban button your best friend and life becomes a lot happier and a lot simpler

This. Never feel guilty about it. Also, now that we can report people in chat, that really helps.

 

[Marceline]

Sock accounts.

Dudes larping as women or other cam models and thinking that we’re oblivious and don’t see right through their charade.

 

[omni]

Shit, just my time on twitch gave me anxiety and depression triggers from hyper-focusing (yeah, prob some adhd, too) on user count/engagement needs for stream promotion.

And the emotional fatigue/burn-out is too real for too many, even when the users are great, chill, and genuinely engaging. Throw in the constant verbal abuse from rando users, and I'm not sure everyone doesn't deserve some form of post-stream emotional release/decompression/dump therapeutic buffer to help that switch move to 'off' position.

 

[Susperia]

Stigma and the unpredictability are the two toughest ones. Never being able to relax as any time off feels like money left on the table.

This totally!

 

[MarieElise]

I have a very specific part that I struggle with; the hypocrisy of most people who consume porn. They consume it at a rate of naughts, but at the same time judge those of us who make it. It's a disgusting double standard. I guess that falls under "stigma".

Every day shift I work on SM guys admit all day long that they are at work looking at porn. I never once went to a porn site when I worked traditional jobs, which I did for 20 years. When I ask why that is necessary, the main feedback I get is; well that's the one place the wife ain't watching.

Jesus fucking Christ people! Don't get and stay in unhealthy relationships where you can't stand your ground and just be you! So disappointing!

The amount of times I've done c2c shows with guys pulled over at the side of a highway.
Although I'll just go ahead and be grateful they at least pulled over, because a small percentage continue to drive!

It's fucking sad that so many people are living life this way! And conservatives are trying to blame video games, saying Milennials won't work because they are busy playing video games. Uuuum if only you knew what your office full of guys is actually doing 9 to 5.

 

[BrownSugarX33X]

make the ban button your best friend and life becomes a lot happier and a lot simpler

A lot simpler yes but also a bit poorer I get it though, they’ve gotta be seriously pushy for me to go that "far"

 

[KingMarti]

A lot simpler yes but also a bit poorer

Not really, guys that act like that are rarely big spenders and put off other people spending and also the deterioration of your mood has a negative impact on member spend. Overall your probably losing more keeping them in the room than getting rid of them.

 

[stormythunder]

Not really, guys that act like that are rarely big spenders and put off other people spending and also the deterioration of your mood has a negative impact on member spend. Overall your probably losing more keeping them in the room than getting rid of them.

I agree. Also, the reason I left traditional work was to avoid that feeling of having to do things that go against my instincts, so it would be a shame if I slipped right back into that "anything for a check" mentality when I don't have to....

(at the same time though I don't blame models in more precarious situations who really need that money for doing what they have to do. I worry the first half came off as holier-than-thou; I totally am privileged to be able to work under my own terms)