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Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

theguardian.com

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Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#71

Post by areoform »

darth_avocado wrote: post #13
areoform wrote: post #9

Such articles are interesting because they're tacit disapproval, but I would argue that this use of the O-1 is the most American way to use it. There's a reason why Hollywood became the Earth's center of cultural gravity post-WW2, https://goldenglobes.com/articles/exiles-and-emigres-hollywo... You may argue that these people aren't of such import, but I would beg to differ. This is the future of culture. These people…

I have no judgement on these models. Everyone can make money through legal means as they deem fit. But at the same time, the immigration system historically penalized anyone who engages in prostitution and actively denied entry to people found to be engaged in it. There is an explicit question about this in all immigration forms. Which is why it’s surprising that O-1 visas are being awarded to OnlyFans models. Maybe…

Disclaimer: I don't mean this comment as an insult to you or anyone else here. It's meant to be slightly tongue in cheek.

I hate to be that person, but the fact that so many people on HN think OF is prostitution is revealing of the site's demographics (i.e. older). It is, as some may put it, boomer thinking.

You're misunderstanding what these people - esports athletes, successful streamers, influencers, OF models etc - actually do. They create and maintain parasocial relationships.

The point isn't just the gameplay or nudes / sex videos or commentary. For e.g., I (and a bunch of other young women for some reason) love to watch Temet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go8EJbNaIHg while working. It's the way they reflect back to their audience and allow them to become a part of their performance.

It's kind of like the place where everyone knows your name? These are digital third places and the content (whether it be neon blue bunny hopping characters or a graphic video of someone having sex) is a mechanism for bonding / a part of the activity. Kind of like the alcohol at the pub, I suppose.

That's where real influence comes from in this age.

If you think OF is prostitution, you're fundamentally misunderstanding what will drive power and culture in this century.

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#72

Post by gowld »

drnick1 wrote: post #40

> The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”. > My whole thing is being the funny Jewish girl with big boobs.

> My whole thing is being the funny Jewish girl with big boobs.

I thought that was Rachel Bloom.

Is she passing the torch to the next generation?

Anyway, it's not that different from having the extraordinary ability of having hand-eye-coordination on a 7-foot frame.

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#73

Post by lo_zamoyski »

areoform wrote: post #9

Such articles are interesting because they're tacit disapproval, but I would argue that this use of the O-1 is the most American way to use it. There's a reason why Hollywood became the Earth's center of cultural gravity post-WW2, https://goldenglobes.com/articles/exiles-and-emigres-hollywo... You may argue that these people aren't of such import, but I would beg to differ. This is the future of culture. These people…

The argument from cinema is flaky and a moral critique of Hollywood's influence is unavoidable. But we're talking about porn here, not cinema. This is decadence and depravity. How can you confuse cinema with the construction of an international whoredom? The numbers are also incommensurate.

And TikTok is the antithesis of culture. It's consumerist rubbish that encourages a vapid, thoughtless, and illiterate consumption of shallow material. The article even mentions the monetary motivations of those posting. Any gimmick will do just to make a buck.

Let us not relativize culture. If you relativize it, then your argument falls apart anyway. Authentic culture serves human beings. It involves learning from, developing, deepening, refining, and correcting what came before. Trash content doesn't do this. It is cultural poison. It ruins people's minds and wrecks society.

This use of O-1 visas is merely another sign of the downward trajectory of our polity. We are following Plato's description of social decline perfectly. Perhaps aesthetically, it is fitting that Trump is the poster boy of this abuse of O-1 visas, but he is at best an emanation and a catalyst of broader and deeper social and cultural processes. In the absence of a minimum of sound moral authority, you can expect the poison that lurks in the mud to hatch out and begin to dominate the polis.

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#75

Post by snskksks »

rtkwe wrote: post #59
pixelpoet wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

6 minute old account strikes again! HN is getting overrun, man.

It'd be fun to see a filter similar to [dead] where you could just blissfully ignore these baity throwaway accounts. edit: ironically to the person using a throwaway to yell racial slurs under me I do browse with [dead] visible because I find some of them amusing, more amusing than most of the throwaways even, though the funniest ones have seemingly stopped posting.

[dead]

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#76

Post by gowld »

cwillu wrote: post #26
TZubiri wrote: post #18

"Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both"

Filming porn isn't prostitution nor a sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense. Hope this helps.

The area seems greyer when, as happens in some operations, one person A is getting paid to have sex, and the other person B having the sex is paying person A, even if B is filming the sex and selling the video.

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#77

Post by falcor84 »

zdw wrote: post #60
shagie wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the difference in difficulty for the criteria. https://www.pathlawgroup.com/o1b-visa-requirements/ For all other candidates, at least three of the following criteria must be met in order to qualify for the O1B visa: Having been or will be performing a lead or starring role in productions or events which have a distinguished national or international reputation (as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, p…

I wonder people who have enough karma on the HN leaderboard would count...

Wait, HN has a leaderboard?

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#78

Post by aforwardslash »

volkk wrote: post #53
superfrank wrote: post #10

It's funny, early on it says > The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”. Then later it says > The O-1B visa, once reserved for Hollywood titans and superstar musicians, has evolved over the years. I understand those two aren't necessar…

At what point do we ever ask ourselves -- "what kind of culture do we want to create for the future of our country?" I don't think a pro soccer player is comparable to an onlyfans contributor. I would much prefer my future kids to be inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo than someone baring themselves on camera.

what is the difference?

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#79

Post by password54321 »

stackghost wrote: post #36
password54321 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...I get this is HN but come on. It is just modern day JasminCam for lonely men that are being exploited through parasocial relationships. It is the opposite of productive. You just have society feeding on itself.

>It is just modern day JasminCam for lonely men that are being exploited through parasocial relationships. It is the opposite of productive. You can make all the moral judgments you like, but the fact is: They're making money either way, and then spending that money in their local communities. They can spend that money (and pay taxes on it) in the US or not. It's no different economically than a musician or an actor…

It was not a moral judgement.
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