AgPete
03-26-2004, 05:49 PM
Just in case any of you ever run into this problem, don't say I never tried to help. :D
http://slate.msn.com/id/2096902/
Dear Prudie,
I am self-employed and work at home. To my shame, and occasional self-loathing, I check out free pornography sites from time to time. (I have never gone further and actually paid to see more.) The other day I came across a porn scene featuring a female actress who, I swear, looks just like one of my cousins. Because the film clip is so brief, I can't be sure this person is my cousin. I'm not sure what my obligations are in this case. This cousin has been through some rough times recently (divorce, custody battle), and I would hate to think she felt she had to resort to porn to make ends meet. Our family has the resources to help her out. To verify her identity, or disprove it (I hope), I would have to pay $5 for a temporary membership. I've never wanted to do this for all kinds of reasons. The most practical of the problems: The charge would pop up on my credit card statement, which, in turn, would be spotted by my wife. What should I do? (And I also worry that I have a minor addiction to porn.)
—Dilemma From My DSL
Dear Dil,
Prudie can solve your problems (except maybe the one about looking at freebie porn, then feeling guilty). Regarding the woman you think might be your cousin, there is no need to phone her and ask if she's made any blue movies lately. How about a phone call to her saying you just wanted to know how she was doing, considering all the difficulties she's had? If she gives you any clue that money is a concern, then you can offer a helping hand. That way, if the "actress" was, indeed, your cousin, she need not suffer the humiliation of having been recognized by someone in the family. If the actress is merely a doppelgänger, you have not offended your cousin with the idea that you thought such a thing was possible.
—Prudie, decorously
http://slate.msn.com/id/2096902/
Dear Prudie,
I am self-employed and work at home. To my shame, and occasional self-loathing, I check out free pornography sites from time to time. (I have never gone further and actually paid to see more.) The other day I came across a porn scene featuring a female actress who, I swear, looks just like one of my cousins. Because the film clip is so brief, I can't be sure this person is my cousin. I'm not sure what my obligations are in this case. This cousin has been through some rough times recently (divorce, custody battle), and I would hate to think she felt she had to resort to porn to make ends meet. Our family has the resources to help her out. To verify her identity, or disprove it (I hope), I would have to pay $5 for a temporary membership. I've never wanted to do this for all kinds of reasons. The most practical of the problems: The charge would pop up on my credit card statement, which, in turn, would be spotted by my wife. What should I do? (And I also worry that I have a minor addiction to porn.)
—Dilemma From My DSL
Dear Dil,
Prudie can solve your problems (except maybe the one about looking at freebie porn, then feeling guilty). Regarding the woman you think might be your cousin, there is no need to phone her and ask if she's made any blue movies lately. How about a phone call to her saying you just wanted to know how she was doing, considering all the difficulties she's had? If she gives you any clue that money is a concern, then you can offer a helping hand. That way, if the "actress" was, indeed, your cousin, she need not suffer the humiliation of having been recognized by someone in the family. If the actress is merely a doppelgänger, you have not offended your cousin with the idea that you thought such a thing was possible.
—Prudie, decorously