Comment by paulpauper | Hacker News Reader

Comment by paulpauper | Hacker News Reader

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While the rise of OnlyFans is potentially more lucrative for the people who in years past might have gotten a one-time payment from Playboy/Playgirl, for society OnlyFans is a symptom of late-stage degenerate capitalism.

Capitalism has always had some 'degeneracy'. Prostitution, alcohol, cigarettes, gambling and other vices long predate the modern era.

While I'm not opposed to women making more than a one-time fee for showing their nipples to the world, I don't think it's sustainable. The vast majority of OnlyFans' payments go to a very small percentage of the "content creators". And how many of those who actually pull in 6 figures will be able to bank it for after they inevitably lose their looks?

I dunno, how is it any worse than working in your 20s at crappy jobs, versus making considerably more money at only fans. If it were such a lousy deal for content creators, wouldn't they choose other work instead?

Could meaningful work be subsidized so women who don't actually want to show their nipples to the world can get by without feeling pressured into trying to make a quick buck?

There are tons of possible career paths.

versus making considerably more money at only fans

There's an large amount of assumption in that statement, while parent asked, "how many are really making any decent money?" I mean, you even quoted it, but then just kept on going as if the question were never asked. I have no idea if OnlyFans pays about the same as retail work for the majority, or if OnlyFans content creators need to go buy rakes to collect their money, and I have no idea how to even find out. But if you have insight the rest of us don't, I'm ready to read it, because IMO it's kind of the basis of the point parent was making.

If it were such a lousy deal for content creators, wouldn't they choose other work instead?

The same could have been said about coal miners 100 years ago...or maybe even today. I don't want to whip out the privilege card, but to assume "just go find another job!", well...

> If it were such a lousy deal for content creators, wouldn't they choose other work instead?

I don't disagree with you overall, but by the sheer number of people I know who hate their jobs yet feel like they can't leave, I can tell you it often doesn't work this way. Not saying you're doing this, but people have used "well if it's such a bad job then they should just find a different one" to justify everything from bad warehouse work conditions to underpaid fast food positions to sweat shops elsewhere. I think it's been well demonstrated that it is not always so simple for people to leave lousy jobs.

> I dunno, how is it any worse than working in your 20s at crappy jobs, versus making considerably more money at only fans. If it were such a lousy deal for content creators, wouldn't they choose other work instead?

I would take issue with the word "instead" here. I suspect that the vast majority of OF creators have ordinary, wage-labor type jobs in addition to their online work.

IMO, a better question to ask is "what percentage of OF creators make more than the median retail sales worker?" Currently, that number is $27k according to BLS here: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm

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