Pornography

Well, if that title didn't get your attention, I don't know what else to do.

So, I just moved into a new office. It's not bad; the phones are weird and the commute is pretty tough, but the neighborhood is nice. I'm right down at the end of the Sunset Strip. Today, I had to go rent a movie (for research) and I went to the Video West in West Hollywood. I had used the store in Studio City in the past, so I thought this one would be pretty much the same. What I wasn't counting on was the abundance of porn...specifically, gay porn. Now, I know West Hollywood is one of our nations largest gay communities (which doesn't bother me in the slightest), but I guess I didn't expect to see so much porn in what is a standard video store. It was jarring.

It reminded me of working in my first offices in LA. There was a porn casting office on the second floor of the building and we'd see all kinds of people on the elevators getting off on the second floor (pun only somewhat intended). One time, we got a piece of their mail and I had to take it to their office. It was surreal. There were naked lady pictures hanging everywhere and on the reception counter was a digital photo frame cycling through what I suppose was some kind of "greatest hits." I didn't know what to do. Was it rude to look? Was it rude not to?

Now, I'm no prude. I have no problems with the porn industry and the things they do. But I can tell you it's discomforting to have that much nudity and raw sexuality staring you in the face when you don't expect it to be there. Very bizarre.