GoFundMe Campaigns and Amazon Wishlists – How Much Is Too Much?

$10,000 to write a book about his experiences.

$25,000 to “possibly” start a new line of supplements.

$5,000 to fund his wedding. To a girl.

$6,000 for custom-painted red rims.
“Please make sure they are the red and black 22” rims for a 2001 Chevy Suburban and a set of 4 with the cheapest tires on the site in the package.”

$8,000 for a Rolex.

$1,700 for a 5-piece bedroom set. Queen-sized. (Highest Priority).

$3500 for a tuba.

And “Rings”.

I know at this point, you're probably like:

I know I am.

But anyway...

What do all these things have in common?

They’re all things porn stars have asked for in the last year, via GoFundMe campaigns, Amazon wishlists, and the like.

While I understand why the guys do it – porn not paying nearly what it used to, and these outside monetary gifts showing the impact they’ve had on the industry, among a few of the many reasons – there are also many reasons to not. For instance, there’s nothing wrong with paying for what you have, and not asking people to help you.

Is there a line (not) to cross?

Reasons For

It’s easy to see where porn stars come from, creating GoFundMe campaigns and Amazon Wish Lists. We owe a lot to gay porn. Besides being something many of us fap to, it’s even a form of gay sex-ed for many of us, be it however bad. Gay porn, and gay porn stars, in turn, are a big part of gay culture. Therefore, showing a porn star the impact they’ve made through gift may make sense.

Not to mention, porn just doesn’t pay what it used to. Back before the Internet, the most popular porn stars could live solely off the money they made from porn. Now, because of many reasons – piracy, the rise in amateur porn, an ever-increasing amount of studios, essentially a lower barrier to entry, profits that studios make are down, so the amount performers get paid is drastically reduced. Many performers take extra work – escorting, appearances, webcam shows – to make up the difference. And we all have our favorite porn stars (*waves to Adam Killian and Rogan Richards*).

So instead of contributing to a STUDIO and buying your favorite’s scenes, revenue your favorite may never see, because they’re a paid a flat rate up front – buying directly from their Amazon wish list of GoFundMe campaign may be wiser…to show you care.

Reasons Against

This goes without saying, but, at least from an outsider’s point-of-view, asking strangers to buy you presents is incredibly narcissistic. It basically says “Hey. Do you think I’m hot, like watching me have sex, and feel a connection with me, be it however superficial? Then buy me a gift.”

And if you buy a gift for Levi Michaels, He may even take a video of himself opening the presents, and he may even put it on YouTube; you may even get an “aw thanks” from him in the video.

I stopped the video after 2:19; it felt like the equivalent of taking a picture of you eating and sending it to a poor person. How far did you get?

Another reason people are against GoFundMe campaigns and Amazon wish Lists is because they are selfish. Though porn pays considerably less than it used to, it still pays a wage to its participants. Not to mention that many performers do take on extra work, including escorting, appearances, and cam shows, to make up the difference in what porn pays, so many performers DO make money. If they want the things on their lists, they could use some of the money they make and buy the things they’d like. It’s the American Way. (Or finance them until they’re up to their eyeballs in debt; we all know THAT is the real American way.)

Essentially, I agree with everything Diesel Washington has said about porn stars, Amazon Wish Lists, and GoFundMe campaigns:

I could never make a Amazon wish list..because its illegal to sell weed via internet. Amazon when start seling weed I'm there...

— Terrance Ingraham (@DieselWashXXX) January 7, 2015

My Amazon wishlist : Bubble butts, bubble butts attached to a huge dick, bubble butts, huge dicks, and cute faces.and so on and so on..

— Terrance Ingraham (@DieselWashXXX) June 3, 2014

Looking at a pattern of porn stars using GoFundMe pages..Amazon wish lists..I should cash myself...but I'm a proud Whore..buy it myself..

— Terrance Ingraham (@DieselWashXXX) March 20, 2014

But what about you? Have you ever bought anything for a porn star off Amazon? Would you? Is it appropriate for them to ask for gifts? If it is, is there a line to cross? DO YOU LIKE QUESTIONS?

Let us know in the comments.