As an occasional Kink.com model, I couldn't agree more!

The "so what?" here is that porn businesses aren't eligible for the training funds. Whether the guy who wrote the article dislikes Kink.com is immaterial as the rules on funding were being at least bent, if not broken.

Kink.com is a fine upstanding business that is very fair to its employees, pays its taxes, supports its community, maintains it facility (after decades of neglect), Keeps its business very private and unobtrusive, respects its neighbors, enlightens and entertains millions of its customers, encourges its staff to continue getting educated and improve technical skills so they can advance in the film field, supports community events, and is a pleasure to have as a Bay Area neighbor.

I think that Kink is as entitled to whatever funds it is qualified as a business to get from any source for education or to stimulate the flacid economy (sorry, I couldn't help myself).

My $.02 worth!! Bacchus

The real scandal here is that Kink employees are eligible to pay for this training through their employment taxes, but they're not eligible to receive the benefits.

Kink.COM is the shining example of a company that follows all the rules...what part of LEGAL am I missing, here?

--Mick Luvbight

It's been fantastic to see the Guardian, XBiz, Sword, SFist, and many others post support for Kink.com and the BDSM community.

If Kink is able to gain the approval of the board, perhaps a positive outcome of this will be a stronger community with better laws to ensure a system that is not only legal, but fair.

I couldn't agree more Tim. Workers, are workers, are workers. Stigmatizing and sensationalizing everyone and everything is what the SF Weekly seems to be all about. Cheap tactics like these continue to diminish their credibility.

Ok - how's this?

I participated in the free training program when I worked at CNET News.com so that I could perfect my skills of video production so that I could leave corporate america and pursue my calling to work in the adult entertainment industry!

Since parting ways with CNET, my career has blossomed and I'm now the Creative Director of the largest gay porn company on the east coast, Lucas Entertainment. Thank you!

haha...how do you like that? lol!

Lay off Kink.com, they are top notice, extremely professional and treat their employees, fans & SF community like royalty. Miss you guys!

EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CHOSEN CAREER PATH SHOULD BENEFIT FROM TRAINING PROGRAMS... END OF STORY!

your fan...
mr. Pam

The REAL scandal is that Matt Smith has personally taken classes and benefited from ETP training. CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

M. Smith's pearl-clutching would be laughable if it hadn't interfered with real, honest-to-goodness career training for real, honest-to-goodness people. But I think I take more issue with Melissa Farley's quote as some sort of evidence that there's nonconsensual shenanigans:

"In this economy, this is something women would rather not do, but they feel they have to," she said. "This is a form of economic coercion."

I am tired of being told what I, as a woman, would rather do or not do, even when the speaker has good intentions. I'd much prefer to take a sound flogging than work a cash register, and that's a fact. And why is it so hard to believe that I -- or any woman -- might go in front of a camera for the love of the game alone, finances aside?

Agency: I has it.

Mr. Smith is trying to gain notoriety as a shock-jock; it lessens his relevance, not to mention his credibility in the SF Bay Area. Ms. Farley, I agree, is the more offensive of the two. I have spent 43 years of my life as a professional submissive and model, mirroring my personal rituals in professional scenes. This woman speaks of coercion? How DARE she slander me, and anyone like me, for expressing myself as I desire? Why does she think she speaks for all womankind? Sister, kindly desist; you don't speak for me!

Thank you for getting involved.

I notice that Matt has responded, twice (I will not credit him with a link), by first adding insults to your paper to the insults to the rest of us, and, at the news of boycott, whining about his Free Speech rights.

Ironic, considering that he defended the government's right to pick and choose whom to patron, which is no different from us choosing not to pay his salary.

the original article has near 70 comments, and the word is being spread on numerous local blogs. Boycott fliers are already showing up in Castro, with a promise of more to come during the weekend.

I'm thrilled to see the united response of San Francisco BDSM community, as well as other citizens and publications who will not stand for hate mongering, and proud to be a part of it all.

It's been two years since I wrote and published this article on AVNOnline.com about Kink's acquisition of the SF Armory - seems timely based on the substandard "Witch Hunt" article the SFWeekly regurgitated the other day. Enjoy - http://bit.ly/ATgoV

Thanks for the consideration.

I have to reiterate what other models have said here already - kink.com is an exceptional company to work for. To be considered a victim of "economic coercion" is not only inaccurate, it is downright insulting. This is my response - http://www.lillakatt.com/2009/04/gagged-but-not-silent.html

Matt Smith and the SF Weekly have a long history of sh$TTing in their own back yard. They consistently write sex negative shame based articles about the sex industry when they are receiving literlly zillions of dollars from sex industry workers in the form of adds listed in the back of their rag. Those earning pay for Matt's salary.
Hello?? Time for a boycott on the SF Weekly?

Matt Smith should be clocked. Lets find a way to risk his job? Since The SF Weekly takes our monies to post in their paper. Under the erotic service pages. That is funding for that paper. Lets boycott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Utter BS. Hay Matt Smith when you get to hell ask for me.
Josie Viper.

I posted about boycotting the SF Weekly for their use of the word "torture" in connection with BDSM.

I firmly believe that advertisers should pull thier ads until an apology has been issued the community for these hateful remarks.

Instead of talking about the real story, Matt and the equally responsible SF weekly gave a mouthpiece to hatred in a city which is beloved for it's tolerance. These comparisons can have dire consequences.

I am not a pornographer. I do not work for Kink.com.

Redmond, as usual you're comments are completely moronic. The SF Weekly article doesn't complain about what Kink.com does--the complaint is that taxpayers have to pay for it. Seriously, how did you get to be so friggin' stupid? Wait, I know, it's just an occupational hazard of being in the same room with Bruce B. for so long.

Fuck the SF Weekly

I now name it the SF Weakly

now buy a shirt:
http://www.cafepress.com/loopdeloop

ebw343:

You are correct in that Smith falsely claims taxpayers are paying for it. But like Matt Smith, you don't appear to know the facts. Taxpayers are NOT paying for any such thing.

Only problem with this, at least for an adult bizn-ass, is now you WANT to put your adds in the stupid Weekly. Why? Who is the Weekly attracting? Those conservatives, that uptight guy in suit and tie, that's who. And WHO spends money on us hos? That guy! That's who you want your add to reach.
Liberal, arty, hippy DIY types, they don't spend 5 Gs on an evening entertainment with a lady(or tranny or boy). And, even if they have the cash, they won't give it to you, because they don't want to "exploit you". (Rather, they think you should give it to them for free, because they are "cool". Believe me, I've encountered this many, many times.)
So, hey everybody, when you say you support sex workers, put your money where your mouth is..umm..err...well, you know what I mean, and SUPPORT SEX WORKERS. Go, get that lap dance, happy ending massage, or spanking from a pro. And don't forget to tip!
Otherwise it's just lip service..no really.

Sean A.

"You are correct in that Smith falsely claims taxpayers are paying for it. But like Matt Smith, you don't appear to know the facts. Taxpayers are NOT paying for any such thing."

So who pays for it?

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