-=> Quoting Darryl Perry to Scott Adams <=-

 SA>      Well problem is the market.  Is there enough demand just for
 SA>      this niche.  A decade ago I'd say yes.  If your going for
 SA>      mostly adult folks they tend to be on no bbses in the
 SA>      first place like porn sites :)  Its clear the day of specialized
 SA>      boards is gone.  To meet the low supply of users one must
 SA>      diversify into general areas.  Course with that said.  Give
 SA>      it a try.  Who knows.  You could always advertise in adult
 SA>      oriented places like adult porn sites or adult magazines.
 SA> 
 SA>      Personally I never covered the stuff.  Never liked much of it.
 SA>      See one movie see them all kinda thing :).  I specialize
 SA>      in other areas.  I have covered adult echos though but those
 SA>      are tame compared to some out there.

 DP> I agree, that's why I wouldn't ordinarily be carrying any such thing.

   That's good.  Be original :)

 SA>      As to protecting.  Theres call back doors that require caller
 SA>      ID and some form of id like a mailed in or faxed ID proof
 SA>      of age.  There might be porn site type verifiers out there for
 SA>      bbses as well.  The honor sysem is always out there but you
 SA>      can cover yourself with a good disclaimer or two on the board.
 SA> 
 SA>      Legal wise as long as you have enough disclaimer that the user
 SA>      says he is 18 then that's fine.  Course you should check with
 SA>      your state laws and a lawyer if you have one.  If you carry
 SA>      just plain old porn then you should not even be cared abo
 SA>      to get into trouble.  Its when you carry things like child porn
 SA>      which I know you won't or som ultra stuff (rape, animals, gore, etc.)
 SA>      You might get attention.  I do recall the Rusty stuff.  Boy that's
 SA>      been a long time.  I forgot the details though.  

 DP> I don't expect to carry any porn, except for text files and stories.  
 DP> My plan isn't to really have a porn site, but rather a user interactive
 DP> site.

     Good luck.  Still have to worry about the parents and kids and
     authorization.  I recall one time one kid called the bbs here
     and later his mom called and chewed me out.  She agreed to
     call me and I explained HER son gave WRONG info.  Went against
     the rules and all other verifiers.  She still thought it
     was my fault.  Hilarious her little son was soooo innocent.

     She later apologized when i offered proof and everything
     i said.  Since I keep logs in depth at the bbs going back
     10 years on CDs :)

 SA>      You won't be able to get away with charging like bbses did
 SA>      a decade ago for porn.  Why should a user pay you money when
 SA>      they can go to any porn site for free.  No.  It should be
 SA>      unique stuff like exclusive material, adult cartoons or adult
 SA>      oriented echomail areas that are more fun than spam oriented
 SA>      Newsgroups.

 DP> I don't expect to charge, except for one way of insuring proper user
 DP> age.  One suggestion I heard about was to have the user mail in a check
 DP> for $1.  Have all the same address information on the check as the user
 DP> account on the BBS, and have the user sign the check.  I would hold on
 DP> to the check and never cash it.   However, with this age of identity
 DP> theft, I don't see that as being an option.  We prolly can't even have
 DP> them send in copies of their DL's any more.

     That was my suggestion :)  A dollar is cheap but legally makes
     it a charge therefore any violation of the law can be
     taken by you.  You could have them photocopy and then erase
     the SSN#s.  That's the main thing of Id theft.  



... "Could you continue your petty bickering? I find it most intriguing."
--- Fringe BBS