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August 6, 2006
Girls Gone Wild: An Entrepreneurial Morality Fable
There is a strange, sad, and discomfiting article in the L.A. Times this weekend profiling Joe Francis, creator of the "Girls Gone Wild" series of videos. Hawked relentlessly on latenight television, these tawdry, soft-porn reality flicks have apparently made Mr. Francis rich, even if they have done nothing to make him a better person.It is worthwhile, if uncomfortable reading, with Francis allegedly having assaulted the female reporter on the story. Among other things, however, it also raises useful questions about entrepeneurial morality. Is there such a thing? Should there? I had a related discussion with a fellow VC not long ago about how most venture guys don't fund adult entertainment or gambling, preferring to stay at least one step removed, despite those being fast-growing and wildly profitable businesses.
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My rule is that the entreprenuer needs to be able to live with him or herself--what kind of person you want to be. That said, building a company is tough tough business, and you have to put yourself on the top of the agenda and expect that you are going to alientate others. You can't be a total prick, but the decision you make to be the Dalai Lama might come at the expense of succeeding in your effort. I think this is an interesting question, and best left out of the context of Joe's boorish behavior. The rest of us operate in sometimes uncomfortable shades of grey.
I think you guys are missing one of the main points here. Yes, I'm sure he has become as successful as he is by putting himself on top of the agenda, but at the end of the day, his show is nothing but more than T&A eye candy.
That said, his behavior is far more than "boorish!!" He alledgedly "assaulted" this reporter. I think the point here is his "mindset" where, it seems that in "all his success" he feels he has earned the right to "impose" the dark side of success on people, and then have the audacity to act "as if nothing ever happened!!"
To quote the article, "He starts having fun and he realizes that most people can't keep up with him and he gets a little rough. I think it was just Joe's version of being playful and goofy," Zaitz says. "I think he was trying to bring you in closer." Excuse me?? Reality check!! Would Mr. Zaitz have a different statement to make if Mr. Francis imposed his "playful, goofy" behavior on his daughter (hypothetical)???
Lastly, does it really matter what he does or doesn't invest in? and whether the companies have "high moral standing"???? What better way to overcompensate for all that darkness!
which brings us to our next subject, pornotube.com
Individuals are entrepreneurs or they are not - they are moral or they are not. The artificial linkage "entrepreneurial morality" is meaningless.
I understand you point to some extent but ironically I'm sure those same people invest in companies in high moral standing such as military firms and such. Jesus it's just a little T&A. No one is getting killed over this stuff. Are we so different from the Taliban? Religiously dogmatic, okay with violence, a nipple at halftime - simply unforgivable.