Tradition

Have you looked at how the polls are turning out?

What do you think of this?

I can only speak for myself, but I've heard other guys express pretty much the same thing...

First, paddles are the traditional implement for discipline, so there's lots of nostalgia. And if you've ever been in a fraternity, a class or a team that made or had a class paddle, there's a sense of bonding with other guys. It's an honor to know that I've been paddled with the wood that paddled my pledge brothers or team mates.

Yes, sometimes paddling is pure punishment. But sometimes it's more. IT's a proof that I'm man enough to take it. Man enough to know that I deserve it and need it. (That's a sign of real maturity by the way.) It's proof that I've got enough self control to willingly submit and endure the paddling. To stay in position. To count out the swats, etc. It can be real embarassing to be showing my naked butt, but it's also something all men share.

It's also about trust. I show my trust for my brother or pledgemaster or accountability partner by dropping trou and bending over. I trust that he'll paddle me hard enough so I know I got it good. I trust that he'll take me past where I want to go, but no further than I really can go. I trust him to expand my limits. I trust him to keep the confidence that I bare my ass and submit to him.

I've always thought it would be good in every men's gorup to make paddles. Every guy could decorate the paddle in a way that's important to him--school colors, family crest, etc. Then pick a partner and give him the paddle to use on you.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tradingswats/

tradingswats@yahoo.com