Why we retired from porn.

[Paul Markham]

After a successful career shooting and selling porn we were hit by two disasters.

First my wife was in a near fatal car accident and expected to die in the night. She thankfully survived after 10 days in an induced coma in the trauma ward then 6 months in body caste.

Then I discovered the lump on my neck was cancer which was stage four. After intensive chemo and radiation it took another year to bring me back to anything like healthy enough to look after myself.

This happened mid 2007 to the end of 2009 and by then major customers in the US and UK had stopped buying any new material. This was a major problem losing large part of our magazine business meant we could no longer make the money we used to. Because online porn was never going to pay as much as offline porn.

I was also 60 years old and with money in my private pensions, money still coming in from the sites I decided to enjoy the last years of my life. Recently my kidneys gave in, due to the chemo, and I'm housebound.

So please stop saying I failed because I didn't make as much as people you pretend to know.

[King Mark]

I don't wish all that on anybody.

But you won troll of the year on here a few times. Most people probably assumed you had thicker skin and could roll with the insults.

You on a kidney list?

[CaptainHowdy]

This is GFY, Paul . . . Failure is the first epithet they'll swing at you in an argument.

[Ferus]

Your Customer stoped buying your content 12 years ago - your own words. So you failed in my point of view.

I wish you no harm, but I do wish you stop pretending you know how things work today.

[Beaver1]

After all these things I would open a "goodbye gfy" thread
to then spend the last part of my life with my family, friends or hobbies.

The last thing I would do, is go back to an internet forum every day and to talk about things that i am retired from.

Best regards

[trevesty]

Originally Posted by Ferus

Your Customer stoped buying your content 12 years ago - your own words. So you failed in my point of view.

I wish you no harm, but I do wish you stop pretending you know how things work today.

Sums up my thoughts exactly.

[PR_Glen]

Failure gets a bad rap...

Nobody in this thread hasn't failed at something, including myself. Nobody in this industry hasn't failed at some point, even the ones who scored big and we tend to admire. It doesn't stop there either. Any major success you can think of in history (who is honest) has ever spoken or written of their journey have stories of failures along the way, both before and after their successes.

You clearly had a ton of success with the offline part of things and I can't imagine anyone around here trying to deny you of this accomplishment. I don't think anyone here could even criticize how you handled it ending as it was a tough adjustment to even try to move things online, i'm sure. I may not know all the details of your online adventures but I do know what you have been saying over the years with regards to both content and the online industry and most of it has been incorrect, assumption based, and overall bad info.

That being said, you didn't have success with online sales? who cares? most of us here never came close to what you did offline and never will so who says you have to be great at everything to have a qualified opinion? I may disagree with most of them in regards to content and online business but you still have a lot of experience that we can all learn a bit from. Personally, i wish you would just stick to your strengths as both online biz and politics are not your strengths ;)

but at the end of the day you don't owe anyone here an explanation for anything.

[nikki99]

death will retire me

[Brian mike]

Originally Posted by beaver1

after all these things i would open a "goodbye gfy" thread
to then spend the last part of my life with my family, friends or hobbies.

The last thing i would do, is go back to an internet forum every day and to talk about things that i am retired from.

Best regards

^^^ this ^^^

[Kittens]

Originally Posted by trevesty

Sums up my thoughts exactly.

Agreed whole heartedly.

[JesseQuinn]

all your trials and tribulations are called life. I've run a biz through multiple deaths of loved ones (most of my fam was in their 30's at min when I was born), serious personal health issues and yes, a car accident when a drunk driver hit me and kept me from dancing properly for months. not comparing that to being in a coma but honestly I wished I was in one as I recovered. being so limited in my movement was so painful in my head more than even in my body

yet I still ran my biz and banked throughout

yes you had success back in the day when your stat quo and frankly really boring content was in demand as most people didn't have 24 access to T&A on the internet for free so I guess looking at the female body was titillating. these days, you gotta be interesting and you never captured that. that's why you failed in the digital age, totally

you spend day after day here shitting on people, being mean and spiteful and bragging about success that was really easy to achieve in your era. you're bragging about the equivalent of A's in a non-advanced high school english class as an EFL and it's pathetic. pardon me while I get all up on my high horse over the boards I used to paint when I was a kid. all other personalized skateboard designs since I was 13 suck, they didn't have my talent. that's you

it wouldn't be pathetic if you accepted your retirement gracefully and didn't attempt to be so mean on your way out

this post itself is mean, I get that. I'll own it as you're deserving of some truth

you let the industry move on without you, and you are so angry about that

enjoy your well-earned retirement spending your days being a dick (for real, you are really mean, spiteful as well) on the net while a cam girl turned porn studio earns her second PH award in a row

that girl is a good friend of mine (actually she is a dual second in line in people I trust completely only second to my mom and above even my life partner) but of course she would need your vision in 'directing' her

she would have no idea what her paying clients want and are down to spend upon. she couldn't possibly create some of the most creative content I have ever seen on her own

you clearly get your 'talents' aren't needed anymore, why be an azz about it? not an age thing btw, two of my grandparents when they were alive were much more interesting, kind and curious than you

keep ranting though. dare you to read one of the insulting posts you write back to the mirror as you look into it

[CaptainHowdy]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

. . .

"There she is - the one that's different. She's not coy or cute or corny. She's a good guy . . . She speaks her mind and she knows what she wants."

[Mediamix]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

So please stop saying I failed because I didn't make as much as people you pretend to know.

I have mad respect for what you did in this industry, but sometimes you think you have all the knowledge about the online adult world.. You don't.

But we've got a lot to thank you for and I take my hat of for you!

[Speigelau]

I don't think anyone is saying you failed in "adult", but more so that you were never successful transitioning your offline business to online, thus failed at online sales.

What has been especially annoying with many of your threads over the years is that your negative attitude towards online adult seems to be rooted in your lack of success with online sales, thus you stereotype the entire industry with your negative outlook because it somehow makes you feel better with your lack of online success.

[HairyChick]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

all your trials and tribulations are called life. I've run a biz through multiple deaths of loved ones (most of my fam was in their 30's at min when I was born), serious personal health issues and yes, a car accident when a drunk driver hit me and kept me from dancing properly for months. not comparing that to being in a coma but honestly I wished I was in one as I recovered. being so limited in my movement was so painful in my head more than even in my body

yet I still ran my biz and banked throughout

yes you had success back in the day when your stat quo and frankly really boring content was in demand as most people didn't have 24 access to T&A on the internet for free so I guess looking at the female body was titillating. these days, you gotta be interesting and you never captured that. that's why you failed in the digital age, totally

you spend day after day here shitting on people, being mean and spiteful and bragging about success that was really easy to achieve in your era. you're bragging about the equivalent of A's in a non-advanced high school english class as an EFL and it's pathetic. pardon me while I get all up on my high horse over the boards I used to paint when I was a kid. all other personalized skateboard designs since I was 13 suck, they didn't have my talent. that's you

it wouldn't be pathetic if you accepted your retirement gracefully and didn't attempt to be so mean on your way out

this post itself is mean, I get that. I'll own it as you're deserving of some truth

you let the industry move on without you, and you are so angry about that

enjoy your well-earned retirement spending your days being a dick (for real, you are really mean, spiteful as well) on the net while a cam girl turned porn studio earns her second PH award in a row

that girl is a good friend of mine (actually she is a dual second in line in people I trust completely only second to my mom and above even my life partner) but of course she would need your vision in 'directing' her

she would have no idea what her paying clients want and are down to spend upon. she couldn't possibly create some of the most creative content I have ever seen on her own

you clearly get your 'talents' aren't needed anymore, why be an azz about it? not an age thing btw, two of my grandparents when they were alive were much more interesting, kind and curious than you

keep ranting though. dare you to read one of the insulting posts you write back to the mirror as you look into it

^^^^^ 1000% truth ^^^^^

I’m surprised that the original post didn’t include million-dollar income claims

[HairyChick]

Originally Posted by Speigelau

I don't think anyone is saying you failed in "adult", but more so that you were never successful transitioning your offline business to online, thus failed at online sales.

What has been especially annoying with many of your threads over the years is that your negative attitude towards online adult seems to be rooted in your lack of success with online sales, thus you stereotype the entire industry with your negative outlook because it somehow makes you feel better with your lack of online success.

Another accurate post.

The negativity toward industry people and the sites is not going to the win you points. People who do well aren’t sitting on their asses and bragging on gfy. Nor are they putting down anyone else in the industry.

I was forced to retire due to health issues. It isn’t easy to let go or stop coming up with ideas. Things end and that’s life.

I didn’t do as well online as I did offline but I did well enough to live easy and buy houses for my future. I don’t compare my earnings with others because no two people work alike.

[AdultKing]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

So please stop saying I failed because I didn't make as much as people you pretend to know.

You are viewed through the prism of your posts on this forum, that is your problem.

[pimpmaster9000]

the first disaster was pauls photography skills...

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by King Mark

I don't wish all that on anybody.

But you won troll of the year on here a few times. Most people probably assumed you had thicker skin and could roll with the insults.

You on a kidney list?

I can now. It's the constant garbage that I failed from idiots who made less than me, so they failed as well. Plus every other content producer who worked online.

Told my doctor to give any kidneys they have to younger people.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by CaptainHowdy

This is GFY, Paul . . . Failure is the first epithet they'll swing at you in an argument.

True, when you have nothing else it's all that's left.

[Ferus]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

I can now. It's the constant garbage that I failed from idiots who made less than me, so they failed as well.

.

Yeah, Tommy and I made so much less than you... You dont even know what we do.

Right now Im on my way to Sweden and that one day will make me more than the best month you ever had. And I dont even need the money anymore, I work for fun and making the world a better place.

This year I made 58000 squaremeters of new forrest.. What did you do Paul?

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Speigelau

I don't think anyone is saying you failed in "adult", but more so that you were never successful transitioning your offline business to online, thus failed at online sales.

What has been especially annoying with many of your threads over the years is that your negative attitude towards online adult seems to be rooted in your lack of success with online sales, thus you stereotype the entire industry with your negative outlook because it somehow makes you feel better with your lack of online success.

Quantify what you call success for a content provider online.

Is it selling exclusive sets and videos for a lot less than you get for them offline and via the content stores?

Any content provider who can't sell his content online 10 times is producing pretty bad products. 10 x $60 = $600 for a solo girl set and video. Most sites won't pay $400 for a solo girl set and video.

Is it because I didn't stop shooting for magazines, who paid 10 times what online, and open a paysite. Then everyone who didn't open a paysite "failed".

No it's the belief that online was the best place to be. But the truth is offline porn made far more money than online. All online did was discover the huge amount of money to be made from selling porn and didn't ever think the money was always there.

[Paul Markham]

I'm a content producer who sells his work for as much as he can get.

Any site that wanted to pay a price that competes with what we could make selling our content can tell me to shoot what they want. So that price is $5,000 for a solo girl set and video and I retain copyright. Lesbian and B/G goes for more. This isn't for a one off shoot, this is for constant buying.

Anyone who doesn't think content can be worth this is not very clued up on the industry.

As are people who keep saying online content is different from offline content. The customers doesn't change his personal porn tastes and preferences because he's online, doesn't have a clue. The only difference is what you can afford to produce or buy.

Anyone who thinks PH awards are more important than money in the bank isn't thinking straight. Just because you know one person who does well doesn't mean anything. I know people who did far better.

Did you ever stop and think I have to kiss your asses to make money?

[AdultKing]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

But the truth is offline porn made far more money than online.

You're joking right?

Pornography was a small brown paper bag market before online porn disrupted that.

Now there is no tangible offline market, the market is online. It's also exponentially larger.

You're like a taxi driver sitting in the taxi queue at an airport wondering why people are taking an Uber instead.

[Struggle4Bucks]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

Any site that wanted to pay a price that competes with what we could make selling our content can tell me to shoot what they want. So that price is $5,000 for a solo girl set and video and I retain copyright. Lesbian and B/G goes for more. This isn't for a one off shoot, this is for constant buying.

Anyone who doesn't think content can be worth this is not very clued up on the industry.

You were overpayed. Period.

[pornmasta]

Problem to make money in the porn industry ?
Better call paul...

[Ferus]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

But the truth is offline porn made far more money than online.

WTF are you talking about? They dident even make 10% of what the big online corps make today... Not even close.

[thommy]

so much truth is written here - too bad that paul ignores it and keep on repeating the same bullshit again and again.

the adult online family is something very rare in this world. hard but cordial. and i believe that none of us has fun to teach someone like paul every day (unsuccessfully) anew. i don't know how you feel but paul triggers something in me that we call in german "fremdschämen".

the word describes the feeling you have when you are ashamed of(for) someone else that you would rather respect and be proud of.

it feels like your grandfather hates his grandchildren for still being able to run marathons. it's like travelling back in time when the world was still flat and wanting to tell people that it is round.

paul would probably be the one who would be happy to light the pyre on which we would end for the truth.

[trevesty]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

all your trials and tribulations are called life. I've run a biz through multiple deaths of loved ones (most of my fam was in their 30's at min when I was born), serious personal health issues and yes, a car accident when a drunk driver hit me and kept me from dancing properly for months. not comparing that to being in a coma but honestly I wished I was in one as I recovered. being so limited in my movement was so painful in my head more than even in my body

yet I still ran my biz and banked throughout

yes you had success back in the day when your stat quo and frankly really boring content was in demand as most people didn't have 24 access to T&A on the internet for free so I guess looking at the female body was titillating. these days, you gotta be interesting and you never captured that. that's why you failed in the digital age, totally

you spend day after day here shitting on people, being mean and spiteful and bragging about success that was really easy to achieve in your era. you're bragging about the equivalent of A's in a non-advanced high school english class as an EFL and it's pathetic. pardon me while I get all up on my high horse over the boards I used to paint when I was a kid. all other personalized skateboard designs since I was 13 suck, they didn't have my talent. that's you

it wouldn't be pathetic if you accepted your retirement gracefully and didn't attempt to be so mean on your way out

this post itself is mean, I get that. I'll own it as you're deserving of some truth

you let the industry move on without you, and you are so angry about that

enjoy your well-earned retirement spending your days being a dick (for real, you are really mean, spiteful as well) on the net while a cam girl turned porn studio earns her second PH award in a row

that girl is a good friend of mine (actually she is a dual second in line in people I trust completely only second to my mom and above even my life partner) but of course she would need your vision in 'directing' her

she would have no idea what her paying clients want and are down to spend upon. she couldn't possibly create some of the most creative content I have ever seen on her own

you clearly get your 'talents' aren't needed anymore, why be an azz about it? not an age thing btw, two of my grandparents when they were alive were much more interesting, kind and curious than you

keep ranting though. dare you to read one of the insulting posts you write back to the mirror as you look into it

Very well said.

[Grisey]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

on the net while a cam girl turned porn studio earns her second PH award in a row

Since when has winning a PH award mean you've fucking "made it"

I liked everything else in your post but thats retarded,

https://www.pornhub.com/awards/nominees

Not award for best producer, so would be hard for paul or any tog to win an award that doesn't exisit.

[kmanrox]

Get well, Paul. Respect.

[JesseQuinn]

Originally Posted by Grisey

Since when has winning a PH award mean you've fucking "made it"

was trying to make an example Paul could understand without outing her and the well-deserved income she earns off ph that is no one's business but hers

she owns her own studio, through that her content has twice won categories in the awards. Paul could never win one of those even if they allowed porn studio as a category. kinda the point, no one is interested in "what you are". it's what you do

something I can state without worry as it applies to me, Paul is selling 880 generic and uninspired videos for 5 bills. second last custom I made recently had a higher price point as my niche is rare and for him he likes that it's me in the clip

I'm almost 100% in adult these days so time to go collect cans to hopefully afford another hour of internet

[celandina]

wow, I never have seen so many ill willed folks as in this thread. I do not know Paul, but believe him and what his causes are. You should congratulate him on his longevity and beating the odds instead of "pissing on him" here ( and in other threads). If nothing else, you should respect his age if not his wisdom... so : All the best to you Paul, and all the " naysayers" can go and

[Ferus]

Originally Posted by celandina

wow, I never have seen so many ill willed folks as in this thread. I do not know Paul, but believe him and what his causes are. You should congratulate him on his longevity and beating the odds instead of "pissing on him" here ( and in other threads). If nothing else, you should respect his age if not his wisdom... so : All the best to you Paul, and all the " naysayers" can go and

What? You want US to respect him while he disrespects everyone not doing what he did? Because he is old?

There is no ill will from anyone, people are just Done with him trying to pass himself of as someone who know anything about the business. Look at his content FFS! It's outdated 15 years ago. Look at his business - it was a mom-and-pops store at best.

If he wants respect, he have to earn it

[incredibleworkethic]

I didn't know of you back when your work was more popular. But I respect your accomplishments during those eras. I too, wish you no harm. I hope you enjoy your life as best as you can given your kidney situation and take things like GFY lightly. What's the point of stressing out over this and caring what anyone has to say. You killed it in your time. That's pretty successful if you ask me.

[Kittens]

Originally Posted by celandina

wow, I never have seen so many ill willed folks as in this thread. I do not know Paul, but believe him and what his causes are. You should congratulate him on his longevity and beating the odds instead of "pissing on him" here ( and in other threads). If nothing else, you should respect his age if not his wisdom... so : All the best to you Paul, and all the " naysayers" can go and

Respect is earned not given. You want respect, you give respect.

Paul has done no giving of respect. He just expects everyone to respect him because he was old enough to start early then failed to adapt.

[Kittens]

Originally Posted by Ferus

This year I made 58000 squaremeters of new forrest..

You deserve 58000% more respect than Paul.

[CaptainHowdy]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

so time to go collect cans to hopefully afford another hour of internet

Guess we have something in common after all . . .

[RyuLion]

Dear Paul,

As you've noticed, the industry has changed, a lot!
In Summary, we need to adapted! Come on..!

[astronaut x]

Paul and I have had some words, but I still have alot of respect for him.

When I was younger and buying a bunch of porn mags, I didn't know I was looking at his work. But after getting into adult, I recognized his work.

Paul is somewhat of a pioneer. A legend some might say.

And Paul, you are not a failure. I also had a pretty good ride. But It was in the online realm. You have been a pretty influential force in porn in general.

Good things don't last forever.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by AdultKing

You're joking right?

Pornography was a small brown paper bag market before online porn disrupted that.

Now there is no tangible offline market, the market is online. It's also exponentially larger.

You're like a taxi driver sitting in the taxi queue at an airport wondering why people are taking an Uber instead.

So tell me how much porn shops, x rated tv, telephone lines, magazines made in Germany and the US.

Agreed about offline customers now consuming free online. That's where most of your customers came from.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Ferus

WTF are you talking about? They dident even make 10% of what the big online corps make today... Not even close.

Bullshit. Tell that to Flynt, Hefner, Gold, Sullivan, etc.

Stop displaying your lack of knowledge about everything.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

was trying to make an example Paul could understand without outing her and the well-deserved income she earns off ph that is no one's business but hers

she owns her own studio, through that her content has twice won categories in the awards. Paul could never win one of those even if they allowed porn studio as a category. kinda the point, no one is interested in "what you are". it's what you do

something I can state without worry as it applies to me, Paul is selling 880 generic and uninspired videos for 5 bills. second last custom I made recently had a higher price point as my niche is rare and for him he likes that it's me in the clip

I'm almost 100% in adult these days so time to go collect cans to hopefully afford another hour of internet

Today anyone earning a six figure income is doing well and you point that out with your posts.

[Grisey]

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

was trying to make an example Paul could understand without outing her and the well-deserved income she earns off ph that is no one's business but hers

Zero point in bring her into a comment

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

she owns her own studio, through that her content has twice won categories in the awards. Paul could never win one of those even if they allowed porn studio as a category.

Now nope paul wouldn't, BUT back in the day paul would win all the time because the amount of producers was so small he had hardly any competition, the same reason his content was in every single adult magazine going. Now magazine have loads of choice about who to work with and which content to use and buy.

Originally Posted by JesseQuinn

something I can state without worry as it applies to me, Paul is selling 880 generic and uninspired videos for 5 bills. second last custom I made recently had a higher price point as my niche is rare and for him he likes that it's me in the clip

Shooting custom content thats so niche that one guy wants to wank over is totally different then 30 year old content package together of generic teens.

Paul charged $5k for a pic and video scene, so back in the day paul wins.

Adult Magazines here in the UK still pay $500 for 1 picture set.

Paul didn't adapt and thought the internet was fad, that was his biggest downfall then and being bitter about it ever since.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by celandina

wow, I never have seen so many ill willed folks as in this thread. I do not know Paul, but believe him and what his causes are. You should congratulate him on his longevity and beating the odds instead of "pissing on him" here ( and in other threads). If nothing else, you should respect his age if not his wisdom... so : All the best to you Paul, and all the " naysayers" can go and

All I do is point out the failure of giving away for free in order to sell porn. That pisses the ones who have no alternative off big time.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Ferus

What? You want US to respect him while he disrespects everyone not doing what he did? Because he is old?

There is no ill will from anyone, people are just Done with him trying to pass himself of as someone who know anything about the business. Look at his content FFS! It's outdated 15 years ago. Look at his business - it was a mom-and-pops store at best.

If he wants respect, he have to earn it

If I was a mom and pop store at best where's your site so we can see how good it is.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by incredibleworkethic

I didn't know of you back when your work was more popular. But I respect your accomplishments during those eras. I too, wish you no harm. I hope you enjoy your life as best as you can given your kidney situation and take things like GFY lightly. What's the point of stressing out over this and caring what anyone has to say. You killed it in your time. That's pretty successful if you ask me.

I'm not exceptional for offline content creators. A lot of us made far more than online guys did.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Kittens

Respect is earned not given. You want respect, you give respect.

Paul has done no giving of respect. He just expects everyone to respect him because he was old enough to start early then failed to adapt.

I also give respect where it's due. The problem is I can't respect a business that from the beginning has tried to give away more than it needed to.

Why adapt to a market that paid far less? How does one adapt to a business like this in your opinion, what did I do wrong?

[Grisey]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

Bullshit. Tell that to Flynt, Hefner, Gold, Sullivan, etc.

According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, Sullivan is worth £1.15 billion

^^^^^

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by astronaut x

Paul and I have had some words, but I still have alot of respect for him.

When I was younger and buying a bunch of porn mags, I didn't know I was looking at his work. But after getting into adult, I recognized his work.

Paul is somewhat of a pioneer. A legend some might say.

And Paul, you are not a failure. I also had a pretty good ride. But It was in the online realm. You have been a pretty influential force in porn in general.

Good things don't last forever.

Thank you.