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Comment by dnautics | Hacker News Reader

I read this and it was really interesting. Here's a question, HNdom. Should I advertise my nonprofit* on porn? (I won't use nonprofit funds, I'll pay from my own pocket) Do you think the total nonsequitur will work? Is there any downside?

Sub question: If I were to do it, how non-sequitur-ey should it be? I could play it as "help save boobies" or just straight-man it "help cure cancer"

*we'll be crowdfunding to get an public domain anticancer compound through preclinical trials, it may be effective against triple negative breast cancer, and other other cancers.

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I heavily depends on what your non-profit does (help people with cancer?) and on what porn sites you advertise, but in generall I think it is a bad idea.

For many people porn and fast food are BOTH "guilty pleasures" so food adds are a great idea, beacuse the audience is already in the right mindset.

People visit porn sites to get some exitment and relief, or to get into the right mood (Fk the rules / I need something to cheer me up/ Lets stay in bed).

Your add will remind the visitors of something they SHOULD care / worry about and will ruin the experience.

I think you're right. There might be a fun/playful way to do it, like "when you're done, come help save the boobies"... But I'm not sure I can get it quite right.

It would be really interesting to see if you could play on (some) people's guild for visiting porn sites to coax them into donating.

(I realize putting it in those words makes me sound like a sociopath which I'm not, I promise :), it's just the least BS way of putting it...)

You don't sound like a sociopath, I was thinking the same thing.

Nothing like using porn to advertise your non-profit. Because porn sites don't exploit anyone.

> Because porn sites don't exploit anyone

The one's you visit may do, but don't tar the whole industry with the same broad brush.

Ooo... I guess you got me good!

Excellent rhetorical technique - I give you 5 out of 5. Very weak on actual argument substance though. I give you 1 out of 5, with half a point to encourage you to try better next time.

while I generally find snark entertaning, I am somewhat serious about this informal poll, so I want to be sure I understand what you are saying: If I advertise on porn, I risk making the statement that my nonprofit condones exploitative behavior (versus merely lasciviousness). Is it any better if the purpose of fundraising is ultimately more virtuous? (that we are channeling exploitation that would have happened anyway - for a purpose outside the closed circle of more porn ads and ads for penis enhancers?)

Thanks!

I use snark because should I dare note that pornography is a largely exploitative business, somebody is going to tell you otherwise.

What does your non-profit do?

A lot of industries are incredibly exploitative. Industry itself is exploitative.

That's a side effect of the industries goal. It isn't the industry!

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