Exotic Magazine: We Love Exotic: October 2004

I’d almost bet a wormy-dog at rush hour across the billboard that you won’t publish my article in your next issue, but I must have faith!
The Issue I would like to address: (The Epidemic) “Meth” “Faces of Meth”
The recent flood of over-zealous trigger happy police and C.P.S. workers, kicking down doors, snatching our children and arresting MOM & DAD on a rinse bag is more of an Epidemic than Meth itself. I believe this is how these law officials and wanna-be GOD-like C.P.S. workers get there fix. My GOD! Don’t stop and think for a minute. JUST ACT! Show of force and we can do whatever it is we want when we want, to whom we want. Threats, coercion, and downright brutality go a long way when you have Mommy 4’11’’ 98 lbs. strapped to the chair.
Let’s address the real problem here. People use drugs to kill the pain! Forget about their despair, cope. Meth has become so widely used because it’s cheap and lasts for hours. You can cope and subside that pain another day. It doesn’t cure it, doesn’t go away. It’s still there and will continue to be, unless we address the reason why!
I’ll tell you why. Because we can’t afford to pay our bills, rent, buy food get a good job and live in a nice home with a nice car. Most of us made mistakes growing up and have buried ourselves in debt and financial ruin. So we do the best we can with what we have.
The government, the state and politicians are making it harder to cope with everyday life by taking the light at the end of the tunnel, making Oregon a prison industry, building prisons like McDonald’s, to fill with the thousands of criminals running the streets. These people wouldn’t be criminals if instead of punishing them for having an illness we would help them. I don’t mean just send them to treatment, but help them lift that cloud of debt and despair.
Treatment can work. But even when you’re clean and have successfully completed treatment you’re still buried with financial burden. This is when we use to cope.
You wanna rid the streets of meth? Then it’s going to take the big fatass bureaucrats to change the lobster lunch and the 18 holes to just 9 this afternoon and put down the Wall Street and pick up a local newsletter and start rubbin elbows or you’ll see a prison on every corner and if you don’t have a job as corrections officer, your only other option will be Inmate.

— THE PHANTOM

*****

This letter is long overdue.

More than a little while ago one of these "local" industry magazines printed a letter from someone who seemed to have a stick up his butt. In this letter he ranted and raved about the women who are the mainstay of this business and clearly stated his disgust at what he felt he must endure.
My first thought was, like cable tv, if you don't like what you see, either turn the channel or leave the room. My second thought was to write this letter.
I have been a "regular" at clubs all over Portland for more years than I care to remember. My name is Chip and for those who don't know me I am the guy who frequently asks dancers if I can photograph them for my private collection. I assure discretion and could never give a promise or imply that I will make anyone famous. And have found acceptance with this straightforwardness. Over the years I have photographed close to 200 beautiful women. (You know who you are.) And, yes I've run into the flakes, freaks and weirdoes; but you know what at times I can be a flake, freak or weirdo. (I prefer the term dork.)
I used to be quite shy until the day that little light bulb went on that told me, "Hey! These ladies are here to be looked at; just as I am here to look." If I choose not to look I either change the channel or leave the room.
It should go without saying that dancing is work. And most dancers work hard and long for little reward. When I began hitting the clubs they were paid hourly plus tips, much like many others in various service industries. Where the hourly pay went I don't know or understand. That is why I offer to pay what I can for the opportunity to photograph these ladies.
I consider myself fortunate to have met and had the chance to get to know these women for more than just dancers. I am grateful that they have had the patience to help me hone the craft of photography on such fantastic canvases as the female form.
The purpose of this letter is twofold. One, to point out that you can turn the channel or leave the room; no one is stopping you. And two, I wanted to thank again the many women who have been considerate, kind and tolerant of my dorkiness and obsession. I cannot mention names but remember every one of you. Many I wish I could contact, but alas they have moved on, changed the channel or left the room.
Thank you again and again,

—CHIP