Originally Posted by SteveLightspeed

Will, I like you, but you obviously don't know much about me. I was ready to retire before I started Lightspeed. This isn't my first successful career. I started Lightspeed FOR FUN, it's never been about the money for me. I'm sorry if I haven't lived up to YOUR expectations, but that was never my goal.

I could have made a lot more money over the last 11 years. But I chose not to cheat my affiliates, my employees, my models, or my members. I turned down $100k/week to install spyware. I never shaved, I never spammed, I never did hidden prechecked xsales, and I never stole content. Fuck yes, I could have made more money!

I've supported ASACP, FSC, the fight against Acacia, and now the war on piracy. I sponsored dozens of conventions just for the fun of it. I donated to many people here who needed help. But that doesn't matter now, because I'm not running my websites the way YOU think they should be run!

Lightspeed's peak year was in 2005. We were rolling in money. Millions. But I was miserable that year. I turned 40. I almost lost my family. I had a terrible drug addiction. And I was chasing away my closest friends. So I put the brakes on Lightspeed, and started working to fix my personal life. Since then, I've cleaned up, saved my marriage, and spent several wonderful years at home with my children. All worth more to me that money or fame ever will.

So now, I am a "dinosaur" and I'm "out of touch", and I must be only making a fraction of my prior years. No, I'M HAPPY. I hope someday you'll all do something that makes you happy too.

Steve Lightspeed