Ed Brayton is a freelance writer and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
In an amusing coincidence sure to make religious right heads explode, it appears that those $600 tax refunds have fueled an increase in porn usage on the internet.
An unforeseen and surprising beneficiary of the Economic Stimulus Plan, a plan that George Bush contends will "boost our economy and encourage job creation," has surfaced this week. An independent market-research firm, AIMRCo (Adult Internet Market Research Company), has discovered that many websites focused on adult or erotic material have experienced an upswing in sales in the recent weeks since checks have appeared in millions of Americans' mailboxes across the country.According to Kirk Mishkin, Head Research Consultant for AIMRCo, "Many of the sites we surveyed have reported 20-30% growth in membership rates since mid-May when the checks were first sent out, and typically the summer is a slow period for this market."
Ah, but this is more than just a post hoc argument; they have actual evidence from those signing up tying cause to effect:
Jillian Fox, spokeswoman for LSGmodels.com, one of the sites reporting figures to AIMRCo, added, "In a June 15, 2008 survey to our members, thirty two percent of respondents referenced the recent stimulus package as part of their decision to either become a new member, or renew an existing membership."...Fox also added, "Getting more people to buy porn was probably the last thing Bush had on his mind when he came up with his 'stimulus package,' but we'll take it."
Call it economic viagra for the porn business.
Politics
Comments
While at first this brings a smile to my face, the fact that given a few bucks Americans run to their computers and buy porn makes me a little pessimistic about our future.
Posted by: Wes | July 6, 2008 9:56 AM
Hmm. Economic stimulation. Good idea.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | July 6, 2008 9:56 AM
Are you kidding? Is anyone surprised that sex is a priority for anyone? At least the money is actually stimulating american business (well... except for those unpatriotic people who are buying non american porn).
I bet that prostitution saw an upswing as well.
Posted by: Robert | July 6, 2008 10:38 AM
Clearly the recipients of the stimulus package thought they were supposed to use it as a package stimulus.
Posted by: Squiddhartha | July 6, 2008 10:48 AM
Dang, and I did the unpatriotic thing and just got caught up on a few bills!
Heard on a radio show a few weeks ago where the Bunny Ranch in Nevada was offereing a stimulus package of their own if people brought their uncashed checks there.
Posted by: Rev. AJB | July 6, 2008 10:55 AM
People still pay for internet porn? Next thing you'll tell me is that people still pay for music.
Posted by: mgordon | July 6, 2008 1:03 PM
Jerking off in front of a computer is a hell of a lot cheaper than dating, and will yield far more orgasms per dollar spent. Another plus, no bitching to put up with.
Posted by: soboco | July 6, 2008 1:10 PM
Oh soboco you are such a romantic at heart ☺ But you forgot the other advantage - it's good for the prostate
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/11/a_bad_experiment.php -DJ
PS Ed any news of the link for that "jerking off reduces your prostate" study?
Posted by: DingoJack | July 6, 2008 1:35 PM
This has been a "No shit, Sherlock" moment.
Posted by: Skwee | July 6, 2008 2:10 PM
Economic stimulus package. Bah. Humbug. All you had to do to get it was prove you weren't desperately in need of it.
I'm currently on public assistance, fighting like hell to get Social Security, and I didn't meet the minimum(!) income requirement. WTF!!!!!!!! That $600 is more than I get in 3 months. And I damn well wouldn't be spending it on pr0n. It would be going for food, toilet paper, laundry money, getting my motor scooter fixed so I could get to the grocery store on my own, and other such non-essentials.
:-PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
Posted by: themadlolscientist | July 6, 2008 4:39 PM
Ed:
Perhaps this is a way for Bushco to reward, via the back door, some of their firmest and most accomodating supporters like Mary Carey, Matt Sanchez and Jeff Gannon, who are all experienced in the porn business.
Posted by: democommie | July 6, 2008 4:48 PM
Economic Stimulation of my Package?
Living Large in the Land of the Free (or so they tell me...).
Posted by: BobbyEarle | July 6, 2008 6:45 PM
I vaguely remember reading something about a strip club that was offering a 2 for 1 special for anyone using this stimulus check. I also read the other day that a Nevada brothel is offering to give money back for gas if a client uses $300 worth of services.
Posted by: Michele | July 6, 2008 10:43 PM
I'm currently in Germany, and I'm loving the fact that the hotel room TV has a big fat "EROTIC, Kanal 3 mit Kanal 4" sign affixed above it. And in Munich, no less, the seat of conservative Bavaria!
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | July 7, 2008 5:28 AM
I don't see how anyone could consider this a surprise. The "stimulus package" is a one-off, so there's no point in treating it like predictable income to be spent on recurring needs; it's not enough to make any difference as a long-term investment; and the investment climate is crap anyway. So why not spend it on something short-sighted and useless, just as Dear Leader said he wanted us to do?
These people spent their "stimulus" in exactly the same spirit in which Bush Jr. gave it to them: mindlessly, short-sightedly, and with absolutely no regard for anyone's long-term good.
Posted by: Raging Bee | July 7, 2008 9:03 AM
I'm not so sure I agree with "...mindlessly, short-sightedly, and with absolutely no regard for anyone's long-term good."
Mouse-turbating (masturbating while clicking your mouse) is a hell of a lot better for everyone's long term good than making more babies in an overpopulated world about to go over the edge of the cliff with the climate crisis.
Think of it as cheap contraception with a big reward at the end.
Posted by: g347 | July 7, 2008 9:46 AM
g347: You're right, of course, but the people who support the "stimulus package" are not the kind of people who would ever admit to such a benefit.
Posted by: Raging Bee | July 7, 2008 11:09 AM