Altavista.se out of porn alliance

[Ted]

AltaVista Nordic has negotiated their way out of the porn alliance with Private according to the magazine Industy Standard in Sweden. Link all in Swedish I’m afraid: [nyheter.idg.se...]

The C.E.O. of AltaVista Nordic, Magnus Larsson, says they don’t want to make money out of pornography. All other AltaVista, local as well as internationally, will proceed with the deal.

Strange coincident as Private is, or at least was a Swedish company. It was started in Sweden, by the father of Bert Milton how runs it now.

I wonder what they will make money on instead? Gambling?
Sweden has always been a place full of double standards :)

[NFFC]

Employees blush at AltaVista porn deal

"Employees at AltaVista UK have expressed their concerns about the company's deal with a Nasdaq-listed porn company....Some feel the deal with Private Media Group breached their employment rights. Others believe it is tantamount to sexual harassment."

The Register [theregister.co.uk]

[Marcia]

When I went to work for a large IBM business partner a few years ago, it was mandatory that all newly hired employees see a film on sexual harassment in the workplace. One of the points brought out in the film was that if an employee finds something offensive, and states so, if it isn't remedied, they're considered to be working in a "hostile environment," and are consequently being subjected to sexual harassment. As long as the employee has reported it, the company is held liable.

I don't know about other places, but that's the law here. In such a case, if the company doesn't provide an equivalent job for people who object, they could have a problem on their hands.

[rencke]

Ted: As you should know, porn is nowadays viewed as exploitation of women. If AV doesn't want an all male staff situation, it is probably a good idea to stay away from porn deals. Nothing double about that standard.

[Machiavelli]

rencke - just nowadays? I think there is quite a precedent for this view throughout antiquity.
Marcia - how does that work? Surely by the very diversity of humanity, if you remove one thing that someone finds offensive, you will offend another. The only remedy in that situation is only to employ people who think alike, which, in my opinion, is far more oppressive.

[rencke]

Where I come from religiously inspired legislation making porn illegal was lifted during the second half of the 1960'ies and no one said a word about exploitation of women until the 1980ies. From a Machiavellian perspective, I suppose I should have added that exploitation of women was considered a good thing up to around 1970 and evil from 1990 and on. The period in between being the swing of the pendulum pas the mid-point.

[Machiavelli]

"I suppose I should have added that exploitation of women was considered a good thing up to around 1970" ! You're a bit harsh on your ancestors aren't you?
:)

[rencke]

Actually, it was your ancestors I had in mind, Signor Machiavelli. ;)

[Machiavelli]

Ah! In that case, fair cop.
"...for fortune is a woman, and if you wish to master her, you must strike and beat her, and you will see that she allows herself to be more easily vanquished by the rash and the violent than by those who proceed more slowly and coldly."
The Prince Niccolò Machiavelli

[Marcia]

Long live Lorena Bobbitt! :)

[Machiavelli]

Was she the one that....hmm. Nice lady.