Pornography

[thaiman]

I have seen many porn websites comming out of Thailand.  Does anyone know if this could be a potential business opportunity.  I don't mean to offend anyone with this material, but I've entertained the idea before.  Obviously, the talent would be cheap and there is a large demand world wide for adult entertainment.  Also, what are the Thai laws concerning this?

[dazdaz]

Unfortunately i'm not an expert on this topic, but you don't see much porn in Thailand.  I think this is because of Thailand's traditions.  Exactly why Buddhism does not allow pornography, I don't know, but it's a very good question, something i'd like to know the answer to.

I think it would also depend upon how you define pornography as well.  Soft or hard?  Soft or very soft.

And I also think it would depend if this is a strictly export business or not, I think if it were then it may be easier.

It's also worth scouting the market, pornography is just an industry I suppose, what existing industry exists?  

Regards

[singa-traz]

Looking to make this extra 200K THB a month ...

- Bangkok Post, 12 June 2003, http://www.google.com.sg/search?....e=UTF-8

Looks like an illegal business ... and maybe more ...

[LPCustom69]

My guess is that they would love to bust a farang or two working in this business. It would make them look tough on this type of crime, and lock up another foreigner in the process. The money might make it worth a shot, although you never know.... Might want to bounce it off a server or two outside the country, just upload and go.

:cool:

[D80]

Ummmm, legally (stressed 'legally' as in black letter law), pornography is illegal in Thailand.  

In practice, there are loads of them everywhere.  So, if you're really serious, then I would say you have to be very careful about the whole thing.  

Personally I don't think it's worth the risk since if the Thai authority catch you, they will be really harsh on you.  Most Thais (ordinary Thais-not those in nightlife biz) will find it offensive and will see it as an insult to base your porn biz on Thai women, especially if you are a foreigner.

As regard to Buddhism, it's not so much that the religion disallow pornography, but the focus of Buddhism is to eliminate or at least diminish desire.  Pornography is seen as encouraging physical desire and therefore should be avoided.

[dazdaz]

Ah thanks D80 that's an extremely interesting point.

Although of course mastering desire does not happen by taking away a subject, that's not mastering, that's avoiding.

To master you have to be able to view pornography and then still to have no desire.  No desire, then no attachment, then your well on the way to Englightenment  

I'm just highlighting the common mistakes made by society here from which of course the legal system follows.

The issue of Thailand being third world, seems an extremely politically charged and sensitive one, and those who may take advantage of this.  I suspect the authority's would make an example of you, like they have done many times previously with farang.  Be warned.

Regards

[D80]

Dazdaz,

Good point!  That could be why the Thais actually allow all these porno VCD to be sold on the street!  So that we all can view the flesh and master our desire.     I don't know if it's working though heheheh!

::  ::

[dazdaz]

Well from my observation, i've noticed that although Buddhism is a fantastic thing (it's not a religion btw), many Thai's suffer greatly from what Lord Buddha says is the cause of suffering,  desire and attachment.  The strange thing is that the Thai's have a huge amount of desire and attachment.

It's a known fact, although some here may be offended by the truth, that some of the monks don't follow the strict teachings, i.e. they smoke, drink, gamble and have sex.  I'm not going to judge what's right and wrong but was very shocked when I first learnt this.  I had always thought they were holier than thou and all genuine.  Thai society from what I have seen treats them as special, but not all are entirely what they seem.

Everyone has the same flesh, it's just society's interpretation over thousands of years in how to interpret that flesh that has caused problems.  By banning something, you create a rebellion, and I would'nt be surprised if the law changed sometime.

Regards

[D80]

Dazdaz,

May be a little off topic.  I don't think it's the Buddha's teaching that's the cause, it's more the people's interpretation of it.  

Monks aren't supposed to be treated as holy.  Even Buddha himself said he should not be treated as anyone holy.  We're only human and Buddhism teachings are just suggestions to the ways one may live their lives.

Buddhism doesn't really teach you to avoid desire (although the society and the way people interpret the teaching often seem that way).  The teaching is for you to recognise the desire and try to deminish it.  The Buddha himself had a wife and a son.  Some sects of Buddhist monks allow them to have wives and drink alcohols (like in Japan).  Although Thailand claimed to be a Buddhist country, Thais very often mixed Buddhism with animalist and many other beliefs.  The teaching is often so mixed to the point that it's pretty difficult to recognise which is which.

There are a few good monks around.  I'm not a strict Buddhist but I am interested in finding out more about it.  I've talked to some good monks in my time and learn a lot about many things.  I think it's good to be critical as you are now, really.  

[thaiman]

It seems like it would be a risky venture!  I wonder how these guys pull it off though.  Are they "flying under the rador" as they produce pornography?  Are they providing the Thai authority with bribes to avoid punishment?  Has anybody heard of a specific incident where one was prosecuted for an endeavor like this?  One of you mentioned that the Thais have made examples of farang in the past for their wrong doings.  What kinds of examples were made and what were thier crimes.

[mrvietnam2001]

Yu'll do time, your money will be hijacked and then get deported permanently when you're caught.

Mr Vietnam

[chuang]

Hi D80, correct me if I am wrong, the prince has a wife and a son and only when he gave up everything to attained englightenment, he became a BUDDHA...

[D80]

Chuang,

You are right, indeed that he gave up the life with his wife and son and seek enlightenment.  The Buddha's son's name is 'Rahul' meaning, a trap/a loop of rope which can bind you as he sees that the love for his son is something that will lead to attachment.  In the end, his son and wife was ordained as monks as well.

However, there are different interpretations of Buddhism.  Some think it's a religion that should evolve with time.  Therefore some sect of Buddhist monks (or those who derive from Buddhism anyway) are allowed to have wives and kids and some interprete it some other ways.  

Buddhism for me is all about choice, what you aspire to be and what could make life as problem free as poss.  Lots of things are up to you and what level you want to practice it.  

Without wanting to go off topic (again), I'm just trying to explain how I take the religion.  I'm not strict by any measure.  I think one should be critical about one's religion really.

[chuang]

D80,

Well said, it's always informative to read your reply..so long..

[dazdaz]

Interesting.  I was going to say "Buddhism is not a religion", which many people must of heard, but after a web search, I came across this article.

http://members.aol.com/turkseven/religion.html

Then I read here.

http://www.zhongnanshan.net/english/buddhism7.htm

I think you can decide for yourself which one it is.  Of course you can't really decide from a couple of webpages, only pre-judge it into a slot.

Regards

PS sorry to be offtopic.

[GlenTuk]

Could Buddhism be a religious term ?! I mean there are so many different strains of Buddhism i guess you choose the one that most fits you best !? But i think that they all aim in the same direction. Khun Wifey is Buddhist and belongs to a huge Japanese Buddhist organisation. I have looked into what it is all about, attended meetings etc,very interesting, When  i first met my wife she thought that the world was on her shoulders and that everything/everyone was out to get her !! This made her very angry at her family and my family, she already had Buddhism and she was aware that she could and should make use of it !, It wasn't until i discovered that where i live in the UK there is a massive Buddhist communtity which i was unaware of...(I guess that my pereception of Buddhists were all to be Monk like or Soap Dodger types !) My wife was assigned a Guru/Mentor and the change has been radical (for the better) My wife now is very strong willed and seems to be at peace with herself and those around her, This seems to rub off on others as in general we have a very happy household, My wife has strong belief that through her study and chanting for Buddha/herself and others that she and her loved ones are protected by her Buddha . I can't really comment any further as i do not practise myself but i support my wifes belief as it has changed her life and made her realise that she has "life" and is learning the art of living it.

Geez so we have now gone from Porn to Buddhism in one string !! How off topic is that...Sorry for all you out there who were hoping for a porn related post but i'm all porned out !    ???

[simon43]

I'll add my comments here    My UK business is er..hum, closely involved in the 'adult entertainment' sector.  Over in the UK and Europe, it is not difficult to operate a porn business that meets the legal requirements.  I did consider doing the same in Thailand but dropped this idea within a few minutes.

Why? - Well, I certainly do not think that running a porn business in LOS would go down well with the Thai authorities, whatever the rulebooks say.  Secondly, the adult sector always has dubious and shady characters (no not me!!) - I certainly would not want to upset the local Thai porn mafia...

Finally, although there are many porn sites that offer 'Thai babes' etc, these sites are not hosted in Thailand. There is little technical reason to actually host the site on servers within Thailand. Most are hosted from the US or from the Netherlands or Germany....

If you really want to look into this further, then maybe check out www.pornresources.com.  But a warning!  There are thousands of porn sites and many of them only generate small revenues. So it is not necessarily the easy money-spinner that you might think  

[DaveYo]

I would like to make a comment here about the pornography in Thailand.  Yes many are in this business because of the ill repute reputation of it being the Sex Capital of the World.  There is so much going on, but I would like to say some of the warnings given from others concerning this is for real, and many countries are passing laws to curtail such venture so to speak.  If one is going to do this, first be darn awful sure the so called stars of the film are at least over 21 to be on the safe side.  Secondly Thailand considers this aspect as illegal, so don't try for a work permit unless it is done in the red light district.  Last of all, for heavens sake doesn't anyone take notice of the arrests being made on foreigners involving the sex industry?  I am not seeing the Thais being busted.  So this should be a serious tip off to us expats of what the Police are doing.  Oh and two other things, smuggling porn in or out of the country is illegal and if one gets caught it is persona non grata! The other is one having to pay off the procurers in the streets, and who knows if someone is not kept happy,  the Police is a phone call away and bingo they knock on your door, and if that is not scary how about this, they can bump you off and say adios!   Why have the headaches?  Do something legit!   This is my opinion.  Besides there is enough girls there to keep any man happy and they will truly cater to you if you play your cards right.    :blues: