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ORIGINAL: lovingpet

First of all, I don't know of terribly many switches that do switch within the same relationship on a fluid basis. It is possible and it does happen, but the chemistry and intuitive knowledge of each has to be there and it is VERY hard to find (at least for me). I have been party to a switch mid scene even, when it became abundantly clear that either the bottom party NEEDED to top or the top party NEEDED to submit. I have found there to be less issue when the bottom is coming up because the current top orders it. What does get into a power struggle is when the bottom is coming up because a sense of the current top's needs becomes apparent to the bottom, but not to the top. That shift can be harsh and even border or straight up violence. The problem is, the bottom is not serving well if he/she sees a need and leaves it unmet. Now is set up the need to topple the current dominant. That person likely will not go down without a fight of some kind. The outcome, however, is great satisfaction for both.

Again, this is something that I don't know occurs all that often because of the clearly high levels of sensitivies and understandings of the people involved needed. Clearly, if something like this were to happen and the situation was misread, it will be devestating. It is a fragile balance.

Another possibility, is that there will be periods of time where one is more dominant for a lengthy amount of time and the other is submissive. This is often related to things like life circumstances, health, etc. Whoever is better ABLE to control will be in control. It is rather straightforward and will not change until such time as the other party is now able to take the reigns from the other for whatever reason. This is somewhat more common in a switch/switch relationship. Most common being that the roles do not change and the parties either have little need for the other side, or meet it casually (play parties, etc) or with another partner. Even more likely is that the switch will enter a relationship with someone who is not a switch and a similar pattern emerges to deal with the switch side.

I am just wondering why so much interest in the dominant side of the interaction. Is it somehow more preferrable to be in the dominant position? Like it is somehow better? More respectful somehow? If it is simply a preference for the dominant side, then perhaps it is that a person is more heavily dominant than submissive. There is neither anything wrong with that nor does it make the person better in some strange way. It just is. Again I will echo the interest of other posters on other threads of yours, what is all the interest and confusion over power struggle and control?

lovingpet