Selling Adult Pay Per View?

[Steelhart]

Hello. I’m a college student and have recently started working for a large satellite company. I learned the other day that soon I will be required to assist customers frequently that call in to help them order hardcore adult pay-per-views.
I fight with my own sexual addictions as a single guy, and feel that this is something I shouldn’t do. Am I sinning by helping them? Does that make me any better than someone that sells videos at a porn store?
Anyone have any recommendations?
I’ve been a Catholic almost a year, and may not have time to talk this through with my priest this week

 

[Fergal]

Hello. I’m a college student and have recently started working for a large satellite company. I learned the other day that soon I will be required to assist customers frequently that call in to help them order hardcore adult pay-per-views.
I fight with my own sexual addictions as a single guy, and feel that this is something I shouldn’t do. Am I sinning by helping them? Does that make me any better than someone that sells videos at a porn store?
Anyone have any recommendations?
I’ve been a Catholic almost a year, and may not have time to talk this through with my priest this week

This is fairly clear cut.

Step 1.
Firstly you gotta be upfront with your employer. Tell them that you are not comfortable doing this line of work and would prefer to handle general enquiries. If it is a large company they will be able to facilitate you. If they are good employers they will accomodate you and be very tolerant of your views. if not they will tell you that you have to do it.

Step 2.
The customers are demanding porn. You can help to supply it. If you don’t supply it they don’t get it. You can make it easy or you can make it difficult. If you make it difficult they will move on to somewhere else as their appetite will drive them anyway. Remember that you are in the front line and the Lord is depending on you.

Step 3:
Think. If they are parents they have kids in the house. Therefore by selling them porn you would be implicit in establishing something that is most corruptible into a household that should be safeguarding innocence.
Any enquiries about it you would be advised to ‘stall’ the enquiry or at least make their enquiries as difficult as possible. Again I say to you that they will go to someone else. if they want it they will get it anyway. Thing is you will be commended by the Lord for not letting it pass through your own conscience first.

Step 4:
If you are involved in helping to supply porn, then you are implicit in the destruction of the souls you help supply it to.

A quick question. How did you come about falling into your sexual addictions? Was it through porn? If so then you have first hand knowledge on how devisive it is and how addictive.

 

[Steelhart]

You posted some really good points. I hope that my employer will work with me.
I got caught up into the easy to access internet porn a few years back. I struggle to stay away from it. My new closeness to Christ through the Eucharist and especially the blessed Mother has strengthened my will, conscience, and love for purity.

 

[Fergal]

May God Bless you and reward you for having such confidence in Him.
I will pray for you daily.

 

[BobP123]

Hello. I’m a college student and have recently started working for a large satellite company. I learned the other day that soon I will be required to assist customers frequently that call in to help them order hardcore adult pay-per-views.
I fight with my own sexual addictions as a single guy, and feel that this is something I shouldn’t do. Am I sinning by helping them? Does that make me any better than someone that sells videos at a porn store?
Anyone have any recommendations?
I’ve been a Catholic almost a year, and may not have time to talk this through with my priest this week

Those are very simplistic solutions but it won’t work for our overall economy. Yes, porn is really big business and the company you may be holding stock in (even through a mutual company) may be heavily involved. I heard some hotel chains sold more porn than Playboy. When I found out they were selling porn, I sold a preferred hotel stock once that was paying over 10% dividends only to invest it in another company that went bankrupt. Meanwhile the hotel is still paying dividends. Go figure.

 

[Fergal]

Those are very simplistic solutions but it won’t work for our overall economy. Yes, porn is really big business and the company you may be holding stock in (even through a mutual company) may be heavily involved. I heard some hotel chains sold more porn than Playboy. When I found out they were selling porn, I sold a preferred hotel stock once that was paying over 10% dividends only to invest it in another company that went bankrupt. Meanwhile the hotel is still paying dividends. Go figure.

Not helpful advice Bob. Every house, temple and skyscraper is built from individual blocks. His dilemma is one of those blocks in the world of porn. The more blocks we remove the more unstable it will become.
Go Figure.

 

[BobP123]

Not helpful advice Bob. Every house, temple and skyscraper is built from individual blocks. His dilemma is one of those blocks in the world of porn. The more blocks we remove the more unstable it will become.
Go Figure.

Agreed. You do what you can. My point, however, is how you do that while still being able to survive. On the surface, one might be tempted to say quit that job but where can you go and work for a company that is completely on the high moral ground? That’s the challenge and we’re all in the position to find it.

 

[Fergal]

Agreed. You do what you can. My point, however, is how you do that while still being able to survive. On the surface, one might be tempted to say quit that job but where can you go and work for a company that is completely on the high moral ground? That’s the challenge and we’re all in the position to find it.

Point taken but we have a duty to make Christ and His Kingdom present whereever we are. Where a good Catholic is there is the Church and there is Christ.
I didn’t advise the OP to go quit. I gave him some advice on how to ddeal with the present situation whilst remaining in employment there.
Remember “What does it profit a man to inherit the whole world and lose his own soul?” We can never correlate the things of the soul with the things of this world.
If you entertain the Lord and His ways then He will provide. I have first hand experience of this.

 

[chicago]

I once (only half jokingly) advsied someone who was in this same position to take on the callers.

“Now why would you want to watch THAT?”

“Don’t you know…?”

“Have fun with it!” I told him. Enjoy trying to talk them out of sinning. Then, even if you get fired, you’ll have at least done something valuable and had a good time at it.

To my surprize, he not only took the advice and employed it, but he was able to keep working there, too

Now, if you don’t want to take that route, I would think that the company has an obligation to allow you to at least schlep the call off to another employee.

 

[LilyM]

Interesting dilemma.

I’d have to ask whether this possibility was canvassed with you before you started work with the company. I’d imagine you wouldn’t be the only employee with reservations about doing such work.

In any event, bring it up politely with them, see what they have to say about it. It appears to me that they could hardly fire you for objecting to selling porn channels!

 

[Steelhart]

I converted from a long on/off protestant life in the Bible belt last Easter. I’ve asked allot of family and friends that aren’t Catholic and find I seem to be alone in my thinking. I’m getting things like, “it’s not much different than selling beer or cigarettes, and the will just get it anyhow.” This is really surprising me especially coming from some of the more conservative minded family I have.
I have to ask myself why so many Protestants honestly think I’m not responsible at all.

I did some research and found some of my answers, and a few more questions?

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm
(CCC 2354)

Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.

Would I be considered a vendor then?​

Some good reading I found…
arlingtondiocese.org/offices/communications/boughtprice.html

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Interesting dilemma.

I’d have to ask whether this possibility was canvassed with you before you started work with the company. I’d imagine you wouldn’t be the only employee with reservations about doing such work.

In any event, bring it up politely with them, see what they have to say about it. It appears to me that they could hardly fire you for objecting to selling porn channels!

I’m about to start working for Comast as a tier 1 tech support agent (I’ll be telling you to reset your cable modem when you have a problem, don’t blame me…) and I hold stock in the company as well (as part of my hire-on bonus). I’m glad I don’t work in the television department…

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Would I be considered a vendor then?​

Some good reading I found…
arlingtondiocese.org/offices/communications/boughtprice.html

Even as an employee of the company selling the product, yes I would consider you a vendor. I currently work for a grocery store (for 2 more weeks) and we have vendors come into the store and stock the shelves sometimes (Pepsi, Coke, etc.). Even though they don’t own the product they are stocking they are considered vendors since they make it accessible to the customers.

 

[Steelhart]

I’m about to start working for Comast as a tier 1 tech support agent (I’ll be telling you to reset your cable modem when you have a problem, don’t blame me…) and I hold stock in the company as well (as part of my hire-on bonus). I’m glad I don’t work in the television department…

I do about the same as you, but started a few weeks ago…and only learned this week that this is something else that wasn’t brought up in the hiring. I’ll see if I can refuse the callers that want this stuff and send it to a supervisor. I’ll have to make sure they will work with me. I’ll be transfering to another University in the late summer so at least I’m moving in the right direction. I’ve been told by supervisors that a majority of all accounts have adult pay per view every month. Sad.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

I do about the same as you, but started a few weeks ago…and only learned this week that this is something else that wasn’t brought up in the hiring. I’ll see if I can refuse the callers that want this stuff and send it to a supervisor. I’ll have to make sure they will work with me. I’ll be transfering to another University in the late summer so at least I’m moving in the right direction. I’ve been told by supervisors that a majority of all accounts have adult pay per view every month. Sad.

Maybe you can get transferred to another department where you won’t have to take these types of orders?

 

[Steelhart]

Maybe you can get transferred to another department where you won’t have to take these types of orders?

Thats the thing. This is the “general customer service” position where they start everyone. According to CCC selling porn video or tape…etc. - at a gas station, at a video store, or being a vendor and making it accessable to them is well…here–

I remind all the faithful, therefore, that the use of pornography - i.e. its manufacture, distribution, sale or viewing - is gravely sinful. Those who engage in such activity with full knowledge and complete consent commit a mortal sin. Such actions deprive them of sanctifying grace, destroy the life of Christ in their souls, and prevent them from receiving Holy Communion until they have received absolution through the Sacrament of Penance.

-** Bishop Paul S Loverde / Diocese of Arlington**
arlingtondiocese.org/offices/communications/boughtprice.html#introduction

 

[aetratus]

Steelhart…I’m sorry, man, but there’s no way around it. A Catholic cannot in good conscience continue at a job like that. I ought to know. Last year I was hired by a place that seemed very legit (I’m a sysadmin by trade), turned out they were renting out the facilities to film porn movies and doing other bad stuff (heck, I found a Playboy in my desk drawer first day there, shoulda gotten a clue). Anyway, I raised a holy hell stink about it to anyone who would listen and was quietly “let go” soon after. And all I wished afterwards was that I had yelled louder, moved faster, and taken my beef to the top people first.

Ah crud, now I’m depressed again just about stupid cable. I need it for the Internet connection, need it for the good entertainment it provides us, but it pisses me off to no end porn is carried on that wire and only ever a click away.

OK, but back on track: cuz I ditched that garbage job, I eventually got a decent (some would say ridiculously cushy) and legit job in my field.

EDIT: Oh, forgot to mention that after I got canned from that bad job for my noisy objections, my priest found out and told me, “Good. You had no business being at a place like that.”

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Thats the thing. This is the “general customer service” position where they start everyone. According to CCC selling porn video or tape…etc. - at a gas station, at a video store, or being a vendor and making it accessable to them is well…here–

-** Bishop Paul S Loverde / Diocese of Arlington**
arlingtondiocese.org/offices/communications/boughtprice.html#introduction

Well, hopefully if you put your two weeks in it will look good on you down the road if you decide to include this stint in a resume. If an employer asks why you were employed so short-term at this job, then you can tell them the reason.

The only good and conscionable thing you can do is put your 2 weeks in. God will reward you. Are you living on your own or in the dorms?

 

[Immaculateshaft]

hi there,

personally i find nothing wrong with enjoying an adult film. its only natural for a man…or woman…to satisfy their primal needs and if releasing sexual tension, or watching pornography does that for them, then so be it. A person can be a rightous individual even if they enjoy such things. please feel free to reply with your opinions to my statement.

 

[Steelhart]

Thanks forall your advices. My Priest said if it was exspecially bothering my conscience I should look for work elsewhere.
I resigned.
Now jus tneed to find work…