pixelslave -> RE: A Domme's Responsibilities to her sub (6/6/2008 1:48:01 PM)
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ORIGINAL: SylvereApLeanan quote:
ORIGINAL: pixelslave quote:
Original: SylvereApLeanan it's setting up a false ideal of Teh Perfecshun of Twue Domliness I think as you pointed out later in your post that "As an ideal, it might be worth striving for". I don't think I made myself sufficiently clear. Please allow me to attempt to correct the error. Of course! [&:] quote:
This is something to strive for only in the sense that we should all strive toward something greater than ourselves, in a spiritual sense. However, it should not be set up as an example of what a "real twue Dominate" should be. I can strive to live up to the teachings of Lord Krsna (or Christ, or any other mythic figure of perfection), but in reality, I am a human and I will fall far short of the mark. I think we're in agreement here. I constantly strive to become a better man and reach a higher plane of enlightenment, but being human, frequently fall short of the mark. [image]http://www.collarchat.com/micons/m23.gif[/image] quote:
These "rules" are completely unrealistic. Example: According to this, I must be in control of myself at all times. My parents are elderly, both approaching 80 years of age. When one or both of them dies, I will not be in control of myself. In fact, I reserve the right to lose any semblance of control. I don't think I should be expected to control myself in that situation, but if I'm to live up to those "promises" then I must. I call bullshit. Sorry. I didn't at all see them as "rules" per say. Releasing one's emotions of grief in a situation such as you describe is a time that I'd think would be completely understandable and a time during which I'd hope you'd allow your submissive to provide emotional support. By being in control of yourself, I take that to mean primarily taking care of your physical and emotional needs plus those which are financial or necessary for every day living. In addition to that, to me, it means being able to control one's impulses or reactions to others in public or their partners in private such that they respond to them in a level headed manner, not one from irrational anger. Your definition of course may differ. quote:
Expecting anyone other than Stepford Domme to live up to these "rules" is setting up the dominant for failure and the slave for disappointment and resentment when it happens. If the Domme is at all affectionate toward her slave, then she will also experience disappointment and guilt at her own failure. How is this, in any way, healthy? What you describe wouldn't be healthy in my opinion. But again, I don't see what was written as "rules", only something to strive for. I also don't see carrying guilt over one's inability to live up to an ideal as emotionally healthy either. quote:
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If the dominant is unable to follow through on these promises for whatever reason, must the relationship be disolved on those grounds? I personally don't think a Dominant should be making promises they know they can't keep. There are always emergencies and things that happen, but that shouldn't be the rule. Bingo. I don't make promises I can't keep. Therefore, I don't like the piece, think it's mostly a load of self-righteous crap, and would never make any of those promises. If one is looking for the Harlequin Romance of BDSM, this piece qualifies. However, I'm looking for reality in my relationships. Would I put up with a slave who consistently broke promises? No, but that doesn't mean I'd end the relationship either. Clearly, it means we need to reexamine the promises she's making and why she's unable to follow through. Am I asking too much of her? Is she asking too much of herself? Are we overestimating her abilities in some way or the demands on her time? Are my instructions clear or is there some inconsistency leading to confusion that prevents her from upholding her end? Is there a deeper emotional issue causing interference that needs to be addressed? I don't hold anyone to a higher standard than I hold myself and I'm a perfectionist. There are still too many variables and this piece is too simplistic to serve any real purpose. Your comments here seem consistent with mine. If you want to view the piece entirely as Harlequin, that's of course your choice. I'm not trying to defend the piece, only ask how others view it for the purpose of discussion. I don't see it as perfect as I believe my own comments on it would clearly seem to demonstrate. quote:
And then there's the issue of the Dominant taking responsibility for every aspect of the slave's life. Lemme think about that for a minute...no. I have no interest in a doormat. I have two UMs, I don't need another dependent. I want my slave to be responsible for her own life and her own welfare. I want her to be intelligent and competent. I want my slave to be patient and understanding when I'm less than perfect, I want her to be wise and give me the benefit of her wisdom when I'm unable to sufficiently distance myself from a situation. I want her to be a person first and foremost and my slave because she loves me, wants to see me happy, and knows that having her at my feet creates a situation in which I find happiness. I want her to serve joyfully and find fulfillment in it, but I don't want to be held responsible for making her feel like a whole person. There's a recipe for disaster if ever there was one. I don't see any of that anywhere in this piece. Here we're in 100% agreement! I think I commented briefly on the subject myself. [&:] quote:
Reading the rest of your comments on the bit, I don't think our POVs are terribly far apart. My biggest issue with the piece is that it states the Dominant's self is rooted in both reality and fantasy but the list of "promises" are clearly nothing but romantic fantasy. There's nothing wrong with romantic fantasy as long as it's acknowledged for what it is and people don't hang entire relationships on it. I see no such acknowledgement here. That's why it sets my teeth on edge. I don't think our POV's are very far apart either. This piece clearly wouldn't suffice as the Dominant's part of a D/s contract. It's seems to me that it's likely something of a romantic piece written by the Dominant to his submissive; perhaps to reassure her regarding the nature of their relationship. I obviously can't say since I don't know the origin, but I do think it says something about their dynamic and the Dominant's ideal of the standard he wanted to set for himself at the time he wrote it. That's why I chose to post it here for comments. - pixel
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