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A former employee of EdenFantasys recently sent me this letter along with permission to post excerpts from it. Make of it what you will:

I worked for Eden Fantasys for approximately eight months. I was hired for a full-time position with the impression that I’d be an employee. My paperwork was set up as an independent contractor, however, which has a number of disadvantages and is generally reserved for project, part-time, or freelance work (none of those applied to this job structure). I discussed this with Fred, who encouraged me to remain as an independent contractor but told me that it was my choice, so I chose to be an employee. This was simply his way of trying to avoid taking on the tax burden of an additional employee.

One of the first suggestions I had for Fred was to change the main toy categories, which are broken down into toys for men, for women, for couples, for gays, and for lesbians (the latter two categories have since been removed, and gender has been added). My main concern was that organizing products in this way, rather than by type, involving stereotyping and alienating most people in one way or another. At that point in the site’s history, a woman looking for a strap-on to fuck her husband with would find that in the toys for lesbians section. A guy who liked to play with vibrators would find those in the toys for women section. Get the point? Fred, the VP, and I discussed reorganizing categories for short period, but ultimately Fred discarded it. A comment from him to me on that topic:

“Therefore, I see having categories like Gay/Lesbian/Queer (or any other) is just a marketing stunt*: We are saying that we Do know/Do care/Do cater/ to these markets. That’s it.”

…read more after the cut…

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From time to time someone gets cranky about an aspect of our insular little world and pops off a comment referencing the “in” group of sex-bloggers, whose members they invariably characterize as sycophantic, humorless and exclusive. Every time this happens I have to shake my head because in nearly five years of writing in this genre, I have not yet met such a creature.

Who are its members? Where are its members? What passwords or secret handshakes exist to grant one entrance? I don’t know! I’ve never heard of anyone who does know, nor even a breath of a whisper of a hint that would suggest the reality of this “in” group, and you know why? Because there is no “in” group. There are, however, many of us who feel passionately about certain topics, including two or three which have caused quite a kerfuffle lately — and rightly so.

The glorious interconnectedness of the ‘net means that if you post a blog about a topic abhorrent to me and I’m hosting your ad, your assholery rubs off on me. I look like a jerk by proxy, and trust me when I say that I do a fine enough job of looking like a jerk without anyone else’s help.

This phenomena seems to be getting more pronounced as Twitter, Facebook and other social media draw us into an ever more tightly woven network. The growing pains are sharp but they’re not nearly over. Companies have to be more cognizant than ever about how they look to their customers:

So what is the point of all this?  The point is, FORGET YOUR BRAND.  You don’t own it because it is literally nothing.  You can spend all sorts of time and money trying to manufacture public opinion, but ultimately, that’s up to the public, now isn’t it?

You know the best way to get the public to respect your brand?  Have a respectable brand.  Offer a great, innovative product and make responsible, ethical business decisions.

I’ll add this: When you fuck up — and we all fuck up — have the ovaries to admit it. Face your failure, apologize for the misstep and promise to make things right. Look, it’s dead simple:

  • “Our current linking strategy really isn’t building the kind of collaboration we want to encourage. Give us a week to reevaluate, during which we’d love to have your constructive feedback in our forums; at the end of this time we’ll roll out a new policy that will be fair to everyone.”
  • “Our company makes products specifically designed to help people explore and enjoy their sexuality no matter what their body type. We’re saddened and embarrassed to have posted an article that suggests otherwise. We have removed the piece in question and in the future we’ll hire more qualified writers and better vet their work before allowing it on our site.”
  • “After receiving an enormous amount of feedback on this topic we’ve come to the conclusion that linking to someone who put a bounty on sex workers was ill-advised at best. We’re proud to fight for sex-workers’ safety and human rights, and in the future we’ll do better to respond to their concerns promptly.”

Kindergartners know to do this when they’re wrong. CEOs should follow their example.

Should companies about-face with every complaint? Not hardly. But when dozens or hundreds start flowing in, it’s time to realize that those messages come not from anonymous nobodies but actual human beings who may in fact work in the very fields they’re critiquing and who quite literally put food on your table and a roof over your head. Consumers have more ability than ever to know you and contact you. Expect to be held accountable. Expect it if you are a blogger writing to an audience of dozens or if you are the President of a Fortune 500 company.

Do your opinions on these topics differ from mine? That’s ok. Economics being what they are right now, I cannot condemn anyone who keeps their ties to a company I’ve criticized. It’s hard to turn down affiliate checks no matter how small; it’s even harder to contemplate giving up full-time employment based on the experiences others have had. Affiliate away. Work away. But for the love of God have an exit strategy because my gut and overwhelmingly ample evidence tells me that sooner or later you will need it.

You don’t need an “in” crowd to tell you that.

Katie writes:

I’ve been an occasional blogger for a while now. I have a bit of a hectic life, though it’s starting to calm down. When I first started I received quite a few comments, but they kinda stopped happening and I think that’s part of why I got irregular at putting stuff on the blog.

If I think about it, the interaction online is what I like, but because of the hit-and-miss way I blog I don’t interact as much as I perhaps should with others online.

Do you think I should I put myself on blog listing sites? I have to wonder if it is worth doing, especially after reading about how people like EdenFantasys seem to mess around with their links back to bloggers. And if so, without me being able to spend a long time online, am I just going to be a blogger also-ran?

I would really appreciate advice from an experienced blogger.

Katie, while you might get a few hits from blog listing sites, I’d suggest that you spend your online time otherwise:

  • Add blogs in your niche to a feed reader so that you can find updates easily. This might take an hour to set up initially (less if you’re already familiar with using Google or another RSS reader) but it will be well worth it in the long run. If you’re just starting, choose twenty to thirty sites so that you don’t get overwhelmed.
  • Read your updates daily. If you’ve selected a moderate number of blogs, it shouldn’t take too long to skim most of them and concentrate on a few that really catch your interest.
  • Leave at least five meaningful comments on blogs from your reader each day. “Meaningful” is the key word here. Take the time to respond thoughtfully to the topic. Make sure that you leave your URL with your comment and set up an account with Gravatar. This will help the blog’s author and readers remember you.
  • Link to blogs in your niche. They might link back to you. If they don’t, you are not allowed to whine.

Once your reader is all set up, Katie, you should be able to read and comment in under a half-hour a day. I think this will help you find some of the interaction you’re after, but I bet my readers can suggest more ways.

Readers? Have at it.

May 25th, 2010 at 06:46 | #12

Eden’s technical guru says they will continue to use javascript because it is the way of the future. Which is fine. No one’s asking them to stop using javascript. They’re asking them to stop using the code they’re using. To stop hiding outbound links from search engines.

The “everyone uses JavaScript” arguments EdenFantasys is making are a red herring, a misdirection, a distraction that tries to complicate an issue that is really quite simple. Like you said; no one’s asking EdenFantasys to stop using JavaScript, they’re asking them to stop using it to hide links from search engines. Therefore, any argument whose premise is similar to “but we need JavaScript!” is more than merely an obvious decoy, it corroborates suspicions.

I not only understand but commend your willingness to be generous towards EdenFantasys. None of us can divine intent. However, there is nothing in the code I saw, Fred Petrenko’s explanation, the explanation of his technical team, the code in the syndicated content, the content of forum threads, and especially the overly aggressive silencing of requests for honesty that indicate goodwill on EdenFantasys’s part. Eventually, this became clear beyond a reasonable doubt: their unethical behavior was intentional, it was strategic, it was deliberate, and widespread knowledge of its prevalence is so damning that not even graceless back-peddling is helpful now, as you’ve no doubt noticed.

We are each free to choose what “beyond a reasonable doubt” means to us, and rightfully so. We’re way, way past that point, for me.

M seems to think that it should be a quick fix. He thinks that if the website’s programmed optimally, it shouldn’t take more than a few hours, and it should be relatively easy. Of course, He doesn’t have access to anything more than the source code on each page, just like the rest of us, so He could be wrong. But it’s not likely.

I’d say that’s a sound assessment.

One of the reasons I didn’t publicize this issue with the links until I had completed my write up (which took some time) is precisely because there very well may be a “quick fix.” That is, whatever system EdenFantasys is using to obscure their so-called “links” behind sneaky JavaScript redirects that Google can’t understand might have or might have had an off switch. If it did, and I started talking about the issue before I published my article, they would have used it immediately, before I published my article, so that anyone who tried to independently verify my work would not be able to do so.

Clearly, since little has changed have changed with Web Merchants, Inc. aka EdenFantasys (except their TOS and legal disclaimers, of course), there are two possible realities. One possibility is that a literal or metaphorical “off switch” or “quick fix” that would convert all the fake links into real links does not exist, in which case fixing all the links is a relatively expensive proposition and one that you probably shouldn’t hold your breath for. The other possibility is that a quick fix does exist and they are unwilling or unable to use it, in which case you still shouldn’t hold your breath for something to change.

Like I said, either way you slice it, this situation sure feels like it’s past the point of rationally offering them the benefit of the doubt. That’s my assessment, anyway.

Read the whole post here.

May 212010

Does this make your spidey-sense tingle? It sure does mine:

Dear contributors,

I want to address recent concerns about EdenFantasys’ linking practices.
I am talking about multiple links placed on our website by thousands of contributors: reviewers, forum participants, manufacturers and general users.

Thousands of users post daily on EdenFantasys. These are posts on the forum, reviews, commentaries, personal profiles and today we even opened up our video platform EdenTube. This is all user-generated content (UGC) which requires special handling to assure our website is not damaged with malicious software that could compromise our commerce operations, credit card security compliance procedures, and overall could shut down the website.

Continue reading »

Maymay was asked for his opinion on Fred Petrenko’s defense of his company’s unethical linking scheme. Here’s what he had to say:

I read their response, and investigated (briefly) some of the other sites they claim are using “encapsulation,” a term I’ve never heard of in this context before. I believe they are using a classic smoke-and-mirrors tactic, a classic “we’re doing it for your your own good, your safety, your security” misdirection, which is disingenuous. I call bullshit on EdenFantasys’s response, because the proof of the other websites’ innocence is underneath the “View source” button, just like the proof of their guilt is.

Here is a snippet of code of a link from one of the sites Fred mentioned, Lifehacker:

Continue reading »

Maymay’s post was discussed on the EF forums last night and this morning until EF, the bastions of transparency and community, removed it.

Never fear. Britni saved a screen shot:

Continue reading »

I take a risk in continuing to write about the many issues caused by EF; to wit, that people will see me as nothing more than a rabble-rouser with an ax to grind. Never fear — I have broad shoulders. I can tolerate that risk. Why? Because this is an issue that does not affect just one person who we may or may not know or even like. This issue affects the entire sex-blogging community. It affects every person who gives their time, energy and work to EF.

It affects even those who have been the most vocal in defending EF. Have a look at the screenshot below, taken from the profile of EF contributor Red Roulette, who blogs at Champage and Benzadrine:

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Note: This piece was written by maymay from Maybe Maimed but Never Harmed. You are encouraged to excerpt, tweet, and cross-post it with proper attribution. Update: To report website spamming or any kind of fraud to Google, use the authenticated Spam Report tool–aag

————

A few nights ago, I received an email from Editor of EdenFantasys’s SexIs Magazine, Judy Cole, asking me to modify this Kink On Tap brief I published that cites Lorna D. Keach’s writing. Judy asked me to “provide attribution and a link back to” SexIs Magazine. An ordinary enough request soon proved extraordinarily unethical when I discovered that EdenFantasys has invested a staggering amount of time and money to develop and implement a technology platform that actively denies others the courtesy of link reciprocity, a courtesy on which the ethical Internet is based.

While what they’re doing may not be illegal, EdenFantasys has proven itself to me to be an unethical and unworthy partner, in business or otherwise. Its actions are blatantly hypocritical, as I intend to show in detail in this post. Taking willful and self-serving advantage of those not technically savvy is a form of inexcusable oppression, and none of us should tolerate it from companies who purport to be well-intentioned resources for a community of sex-positive individuals.

Continue reading »

You could say that they once again have acted like colossal douchebags; alternately, you could say that the sky continues to be blue. Read Epiphora’s account:

I’m completely locked out; I cannot access my profile, my wishlist, my past orders, anything.

But don’t worry — the forums [link removed by aag; I will not link to EF] have an explanation!

‘We at Eden work really hard for the community — making it a safe, fun, and informative place to visit and to be enjoyed by any person. This is a 24/7 job, which requires all of our passion, attention and collective efforts.

However, there is a member of our community, Epiphora, that is having an adverse effect on the positive culture at EF — we get continuous complaints about her drama, rudeness, and overall negativity.

Today we collectively decided to ban her from the community. The decision is final and supported by the owner.’

For anyone considering associating themselves with this company, let me make clear to you what you should expect. Your progress will go through seven distinct stages:

1. Romance: “We love your work so much. Come work with us. You’ll be awesome! In fact you’ll be so much better than everyone else.”

2. Honeymoon: “You are amazing. Your predecessor never did this kind of work. We want you with us forever and ever and ever and you’ll make so much money and have so much responsibility.”

3. Danger: “We have some problems with your work. This is not what we expected from you. You must do more, and better, and faster.”

4. Threats: “If you can’t do better we will cut your payment rate/ban you.”

5. Divorce: “You’ve not lived up to our expectations. You’re fired/banned. This is final. We will not discuss it with you.”

6. Condemnation: “That person was awful for the community because of  this issue which we will explain in painful, humiliating (and largely fictitious) detail, as well as whole bunch of stuff you couldn’t possibly understand. But we wanted to tell everyone all about it because we are transparent! And we love everyone! Except for the increasingly long list of people we’ve banned/fired/not paid. Everyone! Really!”

7. Repeat: “Come work with us! It will be awesome.”

Every organization has a culture; unfortunately EF has demonstrated time and time again that theirs is anything but “positive.” Epiphora, I’m sorry you had this experience. I’m sorry that they chose to write ridiculous things on their site. I’m sorry that they closed your affiliate account with money still in it. None of these things should have happened.

Regardless of how many other wonderful things EF might have done, it has a long history of treating its employees and contributors poorly. Is this the kind of company to whom you want to give your money, your time, or your work? Are you comfortable having your name attached to them?

Do you think there is something so special about you that EF will not treat you the same way it has treated many others before?

————

For More Information:

from Epiphora: What the fuck, EdenFantasys?
from Britni: Bad Move, Eden Fantasys
from Essin’ Em: My Take on the EdenFantasys Drama
from That Toy Chick: A Tale of Intriguing Timing
from aag: Problems with EF
and Update on EdenFantasys.com Problems
from Ask Garnet:  A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
from Sarah Sloane: Money, ethics, and real sex-positivity

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