Playboy, Suicide Girls, and the lot are all magazines/websites that pay models for their photosets. They pay people to be nude and/or naked (yes, there is a difference) for a few hours while someone takes a few pretty pictures. So why don’t more girls try out for it? Societal rules and views? Personal comfort? Religious expectations? Why is it such a shame to be naked? And to be naked and get paid for it?? I mean, the majority of us are naked every day, at least to take a shower or bath. Many people who live on their own cherish the time they can take to run around their apartment or home in all their naked glory. It’s freeing. It’s freedom. So why don’t people do more things where they get paid to be so free and comfortable?
Probably the same reason people in general simply don’t pursue the careers they love or spend their time doing the things they enjoy most. Rules, expectations, and obligations. Does it pay enough? Can I make a living doing it? Is it going to be okay with so-and-so?
Which brings me to a point that’s more pertinent to my financial theme. It’s sad to know that the majority of people don’t do the job they love or take chances at trying new things because it won’t pay them enough to meet their financial obligations. I’m working at a company that has plenty of issues, and although I am good at the job, I’d prefer to be out running around with a Nikon D40x in hand, snapping shots of everything and anything and getting paid for it. But it simpy doesn’t pay well enough for starters and requires what to me is a large investment (about $1000). So instead, until I can build up my savings/checking enough, I must make it a hobby.
Lesson:
1. If you can’t do what you love, do a job you like (NOT a job you hate) for long enough to save enough money to be able to afford to do that job you love.
2. If you can’t do what you love, use some of your free time outside of doing the job you like to develop some aspect of what you love into a hobby. This will allow you to gain experience, do what you love, and not have to worry about your life hinging on whether it will pay enough (for now!).
Balances:
Checking: $80
Savings: $125
Stumble It!
May 13th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
There is a more important reason why people don’t get naked for pay, the end result of the work. Being an artist is one thing, and I very much agree with you. People SHOULD live every day of life doing what they love to do. I think a lot of people do that but are too ashamed to express that they enjoy pushing paper, or the common cooler anecdote. But not all people are strong and many are weak and easily influenced by society and social anxiety, which is hardwired into this species. You can’t really get away from it and although social norms change from country to country you will see that people themselves generally do not very much and people try to fit in whether its in a tribe or in New York City.
To return to being naked. There is a specific reason people look away from that line of work. It’s pretty much a step away from prostitution. It’s a demeaning form of getting money. Its just like you wouldn’t like to have someone pay you so that they could degrade you in public (unless you like that sort of thing) most girls (I’d like to assume since I’m a guy) wouldn’t like to be looked at in that way. Of course people will say they read playboy for the articles but thats just them trying not to look like perverts.
I say good for them for those people who chose that line of work but deep down I really cant help but think to myself that instead of living life posing for other people’s pleasure couldn’t there be other things they could be doing? Then I realize, that’s just how I am and thats why I could never do that sort of thing and perhaps one of them would say the exact same thing about how I live my life.
-djb