If Literotica Closed

[dr_mabeuse]

I saw Millenium Bard's posting about the death of his brother Seasparks (my deepest condolences) and it made me think about the other people who suddenly seem to vanish from the boards. Some we notice right away, some we don't think about until someone mentions their name and we realize we haven't seen them for awhile.

That in turn made me think about what it would be like if they actually shut down Literotica as part of the fight against internet porn.

I imagine we would see it coming. Probably they'd go after more high-profile sites first: pay sites. I don't think they'd actually come and pull the plug on Lit. I think what would happen is that Laurel and Manu would see the writing on the wall, the fines and criminal charges being levied, and they would shut it down themselves. They'd no doubt give us notice.

What would you do then? Do you have enough email addresses to stay in touch? You wouldn't be able to PM anymore, so you'd need to email. Would you want to stay in touch without the porn?

For all the doom and gloom, I don't really see it happening, but stranger things have happened. It's maybe worth thinking about. You never know what you've got until you lose it.

---Zoot

 

[impressive]

You nenver know what you've got until you lose it.

---Zoot

Funny, 'cause we always know what we WANT before we HAVE it.

As for keeping in touch, I imagine there'd be an underground speakeasy Lit somewhere. Perhaps we need a rendezvous point, like they teach the elementary school kids in fire drills. If we get separated, we'll meet ... by the spruce tree at the end of the driveway.

 

[Guest]

What would you do then?

---Zoot

Funny, I was talking about this to someone just today.

I'd start up a new (British) version of Literotica. Fear ye not, a back up plan would be put into action.

I "think" I've got enough email addresses of people to keep in touch well enough, and maybe spread the word of my "safe from them" alternative.

Lou

P.S. I can't see it ever happening, though, because erotica is not technically porn. The picture threads might have to go, though.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

There's an idea.

Anybody interested in setting up a mirror site in Britain or Australia, just in case

 

[MLyons]

It could happen very easily...

It's not that Lit would be in danger of being prosecuted themselves... it would be that all Lit's revenue generating sources would be gone... the paysites... the banners on Lit that actually generate money when people click on them and sign up for the sites.

With new proposed rules for record keeping requirements of porn producers already on the table in the US (18 U.S.C. Section 2257 Compliance), this is all actually much more real and immediate than most of you think...

 

[Colleen Thomas]

If lit were to close, it would be a serious blow to me, this is where most of my friends are. i have a lot of email addys, but no where near enough if that were to happen.

 

[Guest]

It could happen very easily...

It's not that Lit would be in danger of being prosecuted themselves... it would be that all Lit's revenue generating sources would be gone... the paysites... the banners on Lit that actually generate money when people click on them and sign up for the sites.

With new proposed rules for record keeping requirements of porn producers already on the table in the US (18 U.S.C. Section 2257 Compliance), this is all actually much more real and immediate than most of you think...

Very true, but there are plenty of alternative porn sites based in Europe, and hosted on European servers, to replace the ones lost.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

During Regan's administration Ed meese went after porn. Even with regan's mandate they had little success. Traditionally, porn is the one bussiness you want to be in, it's strong during boom or recession.

Considering the case law and precedent, I find an all out blitz on porn to be far fetched. Controversial site, sites with content that is extreme might face a whirlwind, but I think main stream sucky-fucky sites will be lef talone for the most part. Even your average republican guy likes sex and you risk alienating a hell of a lot more voters than you will please if you really cracked down on porn.

I suspect you will see a lip-servie crack down on the worst sites to please the fundys. at least I hope that's the worst you will see.

 

[millennium_bard]

If Literotica closed, I would likely hunt for a server well out of the US and open a similar site.
I have a few e-mail addy's but nowhere near enough, but maybe through networking the word would spread to other Litizens.
With other people from here setting up similar sites, (we are a determined and contrary bunch) I think that there would always be something like Lit somewhere.

On another note.

And thanks to all who have expressed their condolences for the loss of seasparks.

I will try to do a better job of editing future parts of his story before submitting them.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I should hope that this site is still protected by freedom of speech. Think of the consequences:
Porn, like arms and drugs would go underground, it would not go away.

As far as Lit goes, it's not all erotica either and it is a place for writers. Period.

I have some email addys and would never want to lose touch with some of the people I've met here. This is an extended family, dysfunctional, but family. I now have brothers and sisters, not just in the states, but around the globe. People whom I can talk to about anything, they just happen to all be linked by this wonderful desire to write.

The people here are real to me, they are real period. The government will not keep me from losing them, they are a part of me.

 

[Guest]

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You'll just have to open 'Abstrusions' for real. Franchise it with real time hook ups so we can drop by at any location and read our works to the whole chain. You'll be rich, I tell ya, rich!

Sweetie, if I could do that, every Litster would have a lifetime membership, stock in the company and my ear to bend.

 

[Guest]

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Trying to find a bright side, at least we would finally have a clear winner to "The last person to post here wins..." thread.

 

[Guest]

Trying to find a bright side, at least we would finally have a clear winner to "The last person to post here wins..." thread.

Yep, that is a massive plus! TFFT, I'd say.

 

[MLyons]

During Regan's administration Ed meese went after porn. Even with regan's mandate they had little success. Traditionally, porn is the one bussiness you want to be in, it's strong during boom or recession.

Considering the case law and precedent, I find an all out blitz on porn to be far fetched. Controversial site, sites with content that is extreme might face a whirlwind, but I think main stream sucky-fucky sites will be lef talone for the most part. Even your average republican guy likes sex and you risk alienating a hell of a lot more voters than you will please if you really cracked down on porn.

I don't want to be a doom-sayer. Lord knows we have enough of those. I'm a chronic optimist anyway--and I do have to admit... Colleen does have a point there.

Anyway, to get back to the real topic of the thread, yes, I have a few emails of my closest friends on Lit. I would keep in touch with them as long as they were willing to keep in touch with me. I would share my stories with them, and I hope they would share theirs with me as well. That said though, I don't have near enough to be able to replace Lit. should it close. That would be a terrible blow. As Dr. M said, it is something to think about... and perhaps something to prepare for, even if it never happens.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Just your ears?

yes, other than that, I'm quite unbending.

 

[maggot420]

I would be crushed if Lit ever closed.

This is the first time that I've ever been able to talk to another writer. I had always felt isolated before I found this place and even though I'm fairly new to Lit, I've been blown away by the kindness, concern, and supportiveness that the few authors I've spoken to have demonstrated.

 

[R. Richard]

Abstruse says:
"I should hope that this site is still protected by freedom of speech. Think of the consequences:
Porn, like arms and drugs would go underground, it would not go away."

I would like to think that a site like Literotica would have a chance to defend itself because of the literary content (both porn and non-porn).

Some of the girl meets dog sites might have a tough case proving freedom of speech/expression, but Literotica would have a MUCH stonger case.

JMHO.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

If they could ban D. H. Lawrence, James Joyce, and Mark Twain, somehow I doubt that the literary content of Literotica will be found sacrosanct.

 

[shereads]

What would you do then?

I'm less optimistic than you are, Doctor. I see it coming. It was the previous three years I didn't see coming. What would I do? What the rest of you will do of course: apply for Pornography Asylum in Sweden or Denmark.

 

[tolyk]

Why all the way in Denmark or Sweden? There is always freedom in Canada

 

[rydia57]

I would be crushed if Lit ever closed.

This is the first time that I've ever been able to talk to another writer. I had always felt isolated before I found this place and even though I'm fairly new to Lit, I've been blown away by the kindness, concern, and supportiveness that the few authors I've spoken to have demonstrated.

Hi,

I agree here. Before Lit, I had always been looking for a place I could discuss writing with others, and the aspect of writing porn was thought too bad to go into first so what was I gonna do with it. I have grown to know alot of people here, and I don't have enough addys to fulfill what I do here in a day. I suspect that Lit would perhaps find another site, and email all the members here telling us we could relocate there. The ones they couldnt' get ahold of, maybe one of us could. That's a cold thought Dr. M, but I suppose it could happen....

 

[tolyk]

Re: Re: If Literotica Closed

People might find this funny http://marryanamerican.ca/

 

[Guest]

Don't worry. It'll be fine.