BOINKOLOGY | Is This The End Of Sex Writing?

BY Lux Alptraum
October 6, 2008
1,194 views
6 Comments

Is This The End Of Sex Writing?

Over the past few weeks, a rather substantial blow has been struck against smart sex writing, with more than a few sex writers (including one of my earliest sex heroes, Tristan Taormino) finding themselves axed due to budget cuts. Audacia Ray and Amber Rhea both have excellent pieces discussing the issue (which I encourage you to read), but I figured I’d throw in my own two cents.

Personally, I think it’s very important to realize that — in most cases — these cuts are not about sex writing, specifically, but about the collapse of the economy. Melissa Gira Grant was not cut from Valleywag because there was no place for sex — she was cut because there was only room for two writers, and the two at the top were privileged above everyone else (both Jackson West and Nicholas Carlson, neither of whom are sex writers, also got the ax). Similarly Tristan Taormino, who lost her column more because of the Voice’s budget crisis than because of her love of porn.

That said, it’s still a tragic loss, and one I think we should all be mourning. But at the same time: isn’t it better to think that we’re losing these writers because of something mundane (and hopefully fixable, eventually) like the economy — rather than something far more intractable and sinister, like a global anti-smart sex movement?

[Photo by magisterludi]

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Comments

secondlastwish says :
I sort of think it IS about sex. Mostly because in my universe (because it is about my universe right?), everyone around me is being laid off. Like on an epic, gather-your-canned-goods-and-battery-powered-radios kind of way. And by everyone, I mean preventive health type folks and educators. And usually anything that is about promoting health and sanity (such as good, healthy sex) will be cut first.

I’m in California, so maybe others have different perspectives. This just strikes a chord because I’m NOT in the media and I was already feeling like all the good sex educational work has been cut these past weeks.

It’s totally sinister and diabolical. Pack your dry goods!
October 6th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Amber Rhea says :
Yeah I think it’s about sex *and* the economy. The economy may certainly be driving the layoffs but we have to ask why so many writers of a certain type of content are getting laid off. And as I said in my post it’s because smart content about sexuality is seen as expendable and non-essential.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Isil says :
Dont ya worry luxter, sex in all its forms will play a very important role when events unfold ( eventually heh)

In the meantime i think it would be grateful to keep all those sex writers in touch and active.
Making a special joint site or here under boinkologists graciousness, with activities and people´s input making up, somehow, for their lack of cash income.

I highly doubt they only wrote and dedicated themselves to sex writing because of the payment, as tough as they seem budget cuts are not a passion cut.

Lets stick together for what all care, for all we believe in deep inside; Boobies and weewees
October 7th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Jackson West says :
I only take umbrage that I’m not a sex writer because I don’t write much about my personal sex life. I did use “fap” at least twice on Valleywag! In the same post! Do I have to admit that fapping forms a large part of my sex life in public to be considered a sex writer? Because I think I just did.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Lux Alptraum says :
Jackson:

I should probably have said “retired sex writer” or “sex writer on hiatus,” former Fleshbot Associate Editor.
October 8th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Being Amber Rhea » &hellip says :
[...] BOINKOLOGY | Is This The End Of Sex Writing? "Personally, I think it’s very important to realize that — in most cases — these cuts are not about sex writing, specifically, but about the collapse of the economy." (tags: sex writing blogging economy) [...]
October 8th, 2008 at 7:35 am

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