hizgeorgiapeach
Posts: 1672
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Oddly enough, I completely understand where this gal is coming from. While it may not be exactly PC within this community to use the term "Equal" when discussing relationships that have a ds dynamic - there IS still a place for equality, even in wiitwd. Equal importance within the relationship. Equal amounts of responcibility towards caring about each other. Certainly Equal respect for each other as unique individuals with wants, needs, abilities, and weaknesses. Distinctly different job descriptions and roles within the relationship - but equally necessary for the whole, or it's not a relationship, because relationships require a minimum of 2 people working Together towards a common goal. Several of you have said she comes across as a "bedroom submissive" to you, because she states a desire to have what amounts to "time off." Personally, I have never felt that anyone - dominant, submissive, vanilla, martian, whatever - can be "on stage" all the time. Expecting someone else to be On Stage for us 24/7 is setting them up for failure, and overlooking the fact that our partner is HUMAN FIRST - with human failings and foibles, and a Human capacity for having a bad (or "off") day and therefore making "mistakes." Expecting a partner to keep that HUMAN factor in mind is not relegating ourselves to being "just in the bedroom." It's an admission (at least subconsciously) that we know we aren't perfect - and a sort of plea for understanding when those very human moments happen. (I use the term "we" in this context very loosely - as I don't consider myself to be particularly Submissive at this point in my life, yet I DO consider myself very much a bottom with submissive tendencies.) There are times and places for everything in life. Out in public - public public, amongst the rest of vanilla society, not local dungeon public amongst our peers within the bdsm scene - is not the place for certain aspects of BDSM. If she is still in the closet about her choices, where her friends, school collegues, and potential business aquaintances are concerned - she has a RIGHT to expect that to be respected AND MAINTAINED by any potential partner until SHE is ready to out herself. It is not at all unreasonable to say "Don't expect high protocol while we're at the grocery store" even if it's the rule at home. It's not unreasonable to expect to be spoken to as a peer and partner, rather than a toy or piece of property, under those circumstances as well. She wants to explore - both the physical and emotional/mental aspects of being owned and used - without the various negative connotations that she is Probably still learning to overcome from standard social conditioning. She wants, from what I'm seeing, to be treated as what she IS - an intelligent, well educated, capable, compitant, unique individual who happens to have desires that standard society considers a bit "odd." Now, all that being said, I WILL second what Crappy mentioned about advising her to stay away from fantasy motivated sites like *gags* Castlerealm. Such give a rather nauseatingly romanticised and completely unrealistic picture that will go far to create delussions destined to cause her pain in the long run. Get involved in the local groups - OFF LINE groups - and get to know the people involved in the area. Get involved in some of the better discussion groups online, like here in the CM forums - while they can't substitute for face to face interaction, they can go a long way towards teaching her a wide variety of perspectives and outlooks. She needs to keep her safety in mind, without letting paranoia over the various horror stories put her off - and taking her time, both in learning herself and her needs, and in getting to know others on a deeply personal level, will go a long way towards helping to accomplish that. She needs to take every bit of advice offered with a hefty dose of salt, weigh it for common sense and in the light of her own life and needs, and then either keep it or discard it as she sees fit - Without being overly concerned that she's going to wound someone's feelings if she doesn't feel like something applies to her specific situation. She needs to keep in mind that she will ALWAYS retain the right to simply walk away from whatever situation she's in, if she finds that it isn't for her, and go on learning about herself and what SHE needs as an individual to be happy. I could probably go on for days and days, but I'm gonna cut myself off NOW rather that ramble further....
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Rhi Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Essential Scentsations
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