Erotic site ! should / shouldn't ?

[Voodoo Star]

Ok , this afternoon I got an offer to make a site that will contain erotic stories from soft to hardcore porn. The best part about this site is that it'll be database driven & all the actors in the story will be dynamically choosen by the visitor - for eg say you fantasize 'bout xyz then the story will be about you & xyz. Nice concept & also acheivable by me. The folks who want this are ready to pay me handsomely & they don't want a single pic on the site.
Now I have a few doubts. I am from India & am not aware of the cyber laws here. Is it ok if this site is hosted on a foreign server & made by an Indian & is it ok if I have my name on the site. I don't wanna end up on the wrong side of the law.
Next, this site will be made using PHP & a MySQL database. Since this site will require a lot of intelligence on my part I would like to reflect the same on my CV. Is it ok if I have "Developed an Erotic site for ....." on my CV.
The site sholud abide by the standards laid down by different authorities. So if you know how content can be regulated so as to disallow underage users plz direct me to the relevant URL's. Currently I can only think of ICRA.
My opinion - The money is good & I could do with it in my current situation ( no new projects available as a freelancer ) & the site will be quite a challenge.
Your opinions & guidance will be really appreciated.

[Rufus BugleWeed]

John Ashcroft has been after the kiddie porn folks.
This sounds better than working for the Columbian drug cartel somebody else posted about.
As an employee and not the owner, I don't think you have too many legal hassles.
Putting erotica or lurid company names on your resume may offend some potential employers. You might call it interactive role/fantasy game development.

[Jason Menard]

Or simply call it a web application designed to facilitate the retrieval of text documents. Or something like that.

[Shura Balaganov]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
Or simply call it a web application designed to facilitate the retrieval of text documents.

And when they'd ask for sample pages, deny it politely due to undisclosure agreement
Also, once done, feel free to post some user names and passwords for lonely JRanchers
Shura
[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Shura Balaganov ]

[Mark Herschberg]

Originally posted by Shura Balaganov:

And when they'd ask for sample pages, deny it politely due to undisclosure agreement ;) :p

No, when they ask for a sample page, create your own fantasy involving Java and XML :-)
Seriously, unless you have a moral problem with it, I say go for it. As others have pointed out, some employers may be a little hesitant, but if you spin it right on the resume, you should be ok.
I have a friend form college who reverse engineered the search engine algorithms back in the mid 90's. He created his Age Detector to allow only people over 18 to view his porn collection. He then got this to be the first site to come up when you enter key words like "sex". Some porn companies found this and paid him lots of money to make their sites come up first.
(For more info on the age detector, go here.)
--Mark
[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Mark Herschberg ]

[pamchau]

Can I sell my x-rated soap on your page?

[Nanhesru Ningyake]

>Can I sell my x-rated soap on your page?
On Javaranch? You can probably feed the cows by buying banner space. But I wonder if the Fuhrer would allow it...
X-rated soap... aaah, the imagination runs wild... the brand name 'Soft Soap' acquires a whole new dimension
So can these soaps be actually "used" or do they sit in my erotic art museum? Are these the usual statuettes of ithyphallic men and buxom lasses - or does it also involve the aforementioned characters commingling in mutually pleasurable activities?
[ September 12, 2002: Message edited by: Nanhesru Ningyake ]

[Voodoo Star]

Mr. X wrote to me
Why would you choose to participate in something about which you would not be proud? If money can persuade you to do this, then what else will you do if the price is right? Speaking for myself, no amount of money can make me do something that is not right. Pornography is not right. I wouldn't develop a porn site for a million bucks. I guess some people justify their involvement in such things saying "hey, I've gotta pay the bills" or "it's not like I'm making anyone look at this stuff." Consider the damage done to women exploited by the pornographic industry. Consider the damage done to young men to develop an addiction to pornography as teenagers. Consider the marriages damaged and broken when married men become addicted to online porn. Do you believe in God, Voodoo? Take this up with Him. What do you suppose He has to say about this? Is there really any question?

This is exactly what I had in mind, the whole of last nite. But then I reasoned that "This site is not exploiting woman. It's just stories. There are no pics on the site that show the act or for that matter any of the beings in their birthday suits. Erotic stories - thats all". I don't know if erotic stories are as bad as pornography ? Besides prostitution is the oldest proffession known to mankind & it is a necessary evil. If not me someone else is gonna do it anyways.
Lets see, I'm a SCJP & I have more than 1 year of PHP & MySQL development experience. I don't get a job so I freelance from afternoon to like 8 in the night. Then it's to a domestic call center for the nights. I barely make enuff & I have to pay the fees for my wifes CGFNS exams.
The sad part is that morally I'm not for pornography. Heck , I have a great regard for women. I don't know why GOD put me in this place
I don't know , I'm still in a fix. Maybe GOD will help me. Even if he gives me a project that will fetch me 1/4 th of what I'll get from the erotic site I'll call it quits.
And while you guys are at it , could you plz provide me with links to how can I restrict underage users.
Thanx for the link Mark
Plz do not attack the judgement of Mr.X as what he said does make sense.
Thanx

[Javed Sardar]

Hey,
I dont have any comments about the moral part.
Lets say, U dont want to take up this job, what do u get? Its nothing, u will not put anything on ur cv, u dont get any money. All is well, If not getting money is ok with you
On the other hand, u take up this job, do it and take the money. U dont put it on ur cv(if you think that will project a bad impression). So what do you lose? Nothing, Its as good as not doing this project except you get some extra bucks.
I hope you got my point

[Anonymous]

Most pornography do exploit women...that's why your site must be sure to exploit men and women equally.
To treat addicting teens, your site must also supply articles about the dangers of sex (STD's, unwanted babies, she-males, etc.) and the dangers of porn (objectifying people, sexual discrimination, addiction, etc.).
Like beer, cell phone usage, masturbation and all good things, pornography is ok only in moderation....
Does that make you feel better?

[David O'Meara]

Originally posted by Javed Sardar:
( a lot of stuff that was difficult to read )

I don't want to spark the whole 'Y do u do this 2 ur posts' discussion again, but can you please reduce the contractions in your posts? Please try to promote understanding rather than limiting it.

Dave

[David O'Meara]

Not saying that my morals are right and yours are wrong, but personally I wouldn't touch it.
Then again, if there's one thing the internet teaches, is that there is someone prepared to do anything for a dollar. If you don't, someone will.
Still doesn't make it worthwhile.

[Jason Menard]

On the other hand, it's just a story site. He's not talking about posting pictures of actual people all over the place, only stories made up in somebodies mind. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the patrons to such sites were women anyway.

[Al Khalid]

There are millions selling cigarates in small shops, there are bars selling liquor...are they all morally wrong? There is no standard yes or no answer because the demarkation line of morality varies from person to person.
A heavy smoker may consider going to brothals as immoral, while a teetotalar may believe that drinking is immoral....a priest may believe that even looking at women is immoral.
Where do you fall in? It depends on your requirement/situation. A small shop owner probably isn't very happy selling cig./liquor, neither is a prostitute selling herself...but they are doing what they are....to live. They are suppliers.
Then, probably a sex starved person who goes to brothals may believe that raping is immoral while a raper may believe that child molestaion is immoral...some nut case may believe that even having sex is immoral. They are all consumers.
So, the writer porno stories is immoral or the reader is immoral?
Consider a scale like this:
Womanizer | Porn reader | porn writer | website owner | website s/w designer | website s/w developer | website hosting provider | guys who invented internet , language etc | network providers and so on.
Where will you put the demarkion of morality?
It's all relative man. I would go for it if I were in your situation but not in my present situation.

[Anthony Villanueva]

Mr Voodoo, have you asked a lawyer about this? From a pragmatic point of view, you should check if doing this is either illegal or not. If it's illegal then don't.
As for morals, only you can decide. Put the issues of money and technical challenge aside for the moment. What does your moral sense tell you to do?

[Voodoo Star]

Got my mind made up . Don't wanna do something I'd regret later . So calling it quits with this one .
Thanx for your feedback