Mercnbeth
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This lifestyle is supposed to be all about rules. Setting rules, following rules, enforcing rules. Now we have attention on us. New rules are being set, old rules are being re-interpreted and our sandbox is starting to be filled with more cat turds. We have had this sandbox (aka "the Internet") for a relatively short time. Thanks to its inventor, Al Gore (loser of the court appointed presidency of 2000), we can search and find instantly everything from a recipe for Yak stew, to directions to grandma's. For a relatively inexpensive price.
I remember the same thing happening when Rudy took over as mayor in NYC. We all loved him. First - he got rid of the squeegee people and panhandlers. We always suspected a "Solent Green" solution, but however he did it, they disappeared overnight. Then he started on Times Square. Seemingly overnight it went from Dante's Inferno to Disney. Once again, the drug dealers, and hookers disappeared. Although it was a little inconvenient we appreciated that we could now take our out of town business clients back into that part of the city and we didn't need to hire a bodyguard to go to the theater.
How did he do it? He didn't create new laws, he just selectively enforced the laws on the books. "Quality of Life" crimes they were called, and most of us loved him for it. In my opinion what we are going through now is a direct result of a football game a couple of January's ago. When Janet decided to step over the line during the Super-bowl and show her metal encrusted nipple, the "quality of life" crimes on the Internet and on all media are now under greater scrutiny. I believe that without that focal point, this avalanche of enforcement wouldn't be happening. After that "wardrobe malfunction" all the erosion of archaic puritanical laws were re-fortified, stronger then it ever was. If that 6 seconds of TV didn't happen there would be no "smoking gun". But it happened in prime time, on a show that 60% of the US population saw and the other 40% said they did. Whether you realize or accept it, our libertine attitudes are in the minority. Now anytime you argue with some right wing religious wacko about the stupidity of enforcing their beliefs they could point to that day and say; "I want my children protected from seeing a naked breast when they tune into a nice wholesome football game."
Now if that kid was in SF a couple weekends ago and walked down Folsom street he could have more tits/ass/and cocks live and in person than a med student does on his first day of giving physicals for the incoming freshman at UCLA. Why weren't the police there? They were! In fact if you look at the pictures that we took, beth is at their "recruit booth" that they had there that day. But is wasn't on prime time TV. It wasn't forced upon people not wanting or expecting to see nudity. It had "gone too far!". Previously there was nothing to point to defining over the line. Since - that incident became the definition.
What's the point? CM is a great site. It's free! Guess what, it may be gone soon. If there is a "wardrobe malfunction" that brings attention it may be sooner as opposed to later. From personal experience being "right" is a quantitative decision to make based upon finances. Fighting and winning in court can bankrupt you whether you win or lose. In this situation, the results that the morality police desire are achieved either way. It's why Howard Stern is going to satellite, why a TV show can't show naked butts like they did on NYPD Blue, and why offshore shell companies are being set up for Internet sites.
I belong to and contribute to the NCSF. They are the only organized counter force. Sure they are fighting but guess what, in this environment they are picking their fights VERY selectively and for good reason. WE ARE THE MINORITY! We don't have the financial ability to stand up to the morality police backed by religious institutions that don't pay taxes.
A solution? Bunker? Don't bring attention? It's a little too late for that. What's needed is use of the same laws, and obeying the ones that are in force as best as possible. Does that mean that this site has to go to being a pay-site? Pity, but maybe. Will that mean that fewer people find out about this lifestyle? Perhaps, but it won't go away. We need to have responsibility for our actions. We need to be aware of what we are up against and be pragmatic about the fights we chose to fight. Following rules should be what we do best!
The owners/moderators of CM are doing a great job. I doubt they can do more. I hope their efforts aren't futile. For a lot of us, it won't matter. We'll miss the intellectual and political debates and maybe we'll never see the "Holy Grail" answer to the eternal question of slave v. submissive; but somehow we'll manage. We'll still live our lives in the manner we choose. We'll still have our friends to share it. We can still get on the phone and invite them over to a party. We can hope this is just a long swing of a pendulum, which somehow/someway will swing the other way again someday. But I think we have to push as much as we can, where we can, how we can. At the very least, buy a $5 NCFS flag pin next time you see them at a lifestyle event.
(edited for typos)
< Message edited by Mercnbeth -- 10/14/2005 1:14:44 PM >
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