You keep using that word…

The word, in this case, is “professional.”

Occasionally, calls for submission show up on Fetlife. Today, I came across this gem (names removed to protect the ridiculous. Emphasis mine):

I am the CEO and owner/founder of {redacted}; the most prolific creative design studio working exclusively in Adult Entertainment. Our studio is responsible for the creation of a vast chunk of the European pornographic film box art and advertising. We work with the biggest producers and performers in the business.

We are looking for TALENTED writers for our website {redacted}

Blogs, articles, satire, reviews, stories… I have personally dedicated thousands of hours to my business unpaid to give myself an artistic launchpad. Anyone who inquires as to how much money per article can go and fuck themselves. What we are offering is high-end graphics, branding and marketing to ALL of our writers and the exposure of the whole Adult Industry.

I am looking for a few outstanding individuals… that is why I am looking on Fetlife. Many of you will pass on this opportunity because it’s human nature. Others of you will scoff… that too is human nature. The bright, opportunistic individuals that I’m looking for already started replying… even before they began to read this paragraph.

My response to this person was… well, somewhat less than professional:

Anyone who expects talented writers to work for the exposure can go fuck themselves. We have to pay bills and eat, too.

The resulting screed has been interesting.  Did you know that if you expect to be paid, then you’re not a creative professional?

Funny, I always thought exactly the opposite.

Remember, children. Don’t work just for exposure. People die from exposure.