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CallaFirestormBW -> RE: protocol? (7/30/2009 10:17:20 AM)
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In addition to all of the definitions here, it is also a formal style of behavior and attendant rules, which, in some cases, may be related to time periods or sociological groupings not typically expressed in the common environment. Basically, a 'protocol' is any set of rules or guidelines that determine how something is done or how a person behaves in a certain situation.
Many people consider protocols as applying -just- to the submissive individual in a relationship, but it's been our experience (and perhaps this is because of our own era-related experiences) that both sides of the kneel have their own protocols that they abide by. For many, protocols aren't anything written out or formalized -- they're just the patterns that make things work in their household (The unspoken "when the sink blows up, I call the plumber before the water gets over the toes of my shoes, and then call Daddy and let him know there's going to be a bill to pay and why" is as much a protocol as the written "When setting the table for a formal dinner, the table setting must be arranged as follows: ...").
Different households will have different rules for interaction. For some who practice either era-related (Victorian/Steampunk, Elizabethan, Colonial, 1950's) or resource-related (Gor, 'O', 'Beauty'), there are specific rules of behavior that sort of go along with the era or resource in question, and these become protocols, or rules of behavior.
In our household's case, we have protocols dealing with our own resource materials from our House's inception (specific rules concerning Keeper preferences and routines; speech and eye contact requirements in some cases; voice modulation and/or speech restrictions in some cases; training requirements, etc.), and era-related rules from our Steampunk focus, particularly for dress (corsetry, serving as a lady's maid/dresser, fan and sword, etc.) and formal service (from fancy High Tea service to Japanese Tea Service; to formal butlering; linen, table, and silver service;Victorianesque 'calling card' protocols, visitation protocols, etc.)
We're considered "high protocol", because we have lots of patterns in place. It works well for us most of the time, though some of our servants have been more involved in the higher-protocol aspects, and some have been less so (an advantage to having a wide variety of people -- that way, people who don't enjoy protocol can still get a feel for it, even if just observationally, without being tied to it for a long period of time).
Dame Calla
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