Session Start: Mon Feb 15 20:18:18 1999
*** Now talking in #Subs_discuss
*** ChanOP (service@austnet.org) has joined #Subs_discuss
*** ChanOP sets mode: +o ChanOP
*** ChanOP changes topic to 'Next discussion Monday, 15 Feb. 9pm
Topic: OUR BDSM COMMUNITY - DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO IT?
Please adhere to channel rules and enjoy :))
ok...looks like we've got a quite night tonight
i wanted to do this a little differently this week
just have an impromtu discussion about our community
and the responsibility we feel...if any...to it
i tossed around some ideas...but please feel free to
take the discussion where you want it
there were a couple of different angles i thought about
one was...why do we need to belong to a group like this?
a subbie group?
safety ?
say like ausbdsm and the community that spins off from
that
oops
do the rules apply tonight?
and yes...a subby group too
i don't think so totty
there's not many here and i'd like to hear from everyone
yes Ma'am :)
* vidette{CL} looks around the room
well for sara to at first to keep her sanity...to not feel
like she was a freak because she liked different things..and is
comforting to find many others like the same things
if i may vidette{CL}?
sure ffairlady :)
over the past few years on line i have found there has
always been atype of subbie underground
* vidette{CL} nods
we as a group exchange ideas .. hints... help when needed
i have belonged to ausbdsm now for a few years and over
those years
* barak{Ras} puts his hand up
* vidette{CL} nods to barak...in a minute darling ;)
i felt a few times (not always) but soem tiems that
subbies didnt feel confident in an opne forum to have a say on a
certain issue
* barak{Ras} nods no problem
oh i agree ffairlady lol
barak?
some felt that the doms may have a go at them or they
were just not sure as to approach an issue where they would not
offend a dom
that is why i set up submission so that subs who felt
this had a place to vent anything they wished in a safe and like
minded setting
or that by putting themselves on the line and saying
*i have questions* or *i'm new* invites the predators lol
yes i agree vidette{CL}
barak?
i have found that, since i joined the scene, that i
have received alot of support and help from the other subs...and I
would have made a few terrible mistakes if not for that advice and
support
as i did when frist online ... i have to admit most of
my experience is on line not rl
yes...i found the support vital to me
im here, not afk......me too ffairlady..
i found i could relate to people who *understood* and
who had experienced similar things
* ffairlady nods
same here vidette, and it is good to be able to vent
and ask things without having to watch what you say...so to speak
yes...i find it so refreshing to be able to communicate
with likeminded people
and just be myself
i am just so gullible , i know ppl are watching out for
me here...
I consider myselflucky because my first experiences in
the scene were R/L not online but that is dangerous too
so do you feel safer being part of this community
tigereyes?
i was so new and a real innocent..and i found that it
was a big comfort to know that i had ppl watching out for me
huggs totty
definatly..yes..I never would have considered meeting
ppl interested in bdsm through adds in mags or anything
i find it important that i relate to people i
identify with also
and this medium is safe and in R/L the ppl i have met
have been helpful and trustworthy
even tho our ideas may be different, belonging to a
community that is open and supportive of it's own is important to me
* tiger-afk thanks all here, you know who you are who have helped me...
non judgemental is what i like vidette
discussion over?
very true tiger-afk
we're just talking about why we need to belong to a
community like this?
i agree tiger-afk ppl accept you for who you are and that
for me is what i reallly needed to know
just jump in when you feel like it kitten....we've left
the rules for tonight :)
ok thanks vidette{CL} :)
made moving to into rl so much easier
the more i listen and learn in the community , the more i
accept myself also because others accept me as i am
I think the biggest thing is we can learn from each other
this community more than any other group i've ever been
involved with..accepts people in all their wonderful diversity...that
is a unique thing in today's society
well for my, it is the newness, i am new, Master is
new so it is good to mix and talk via munches and this medium to learn
things we can try and talk about it with others
here here vidette...
* vidette{CL} nods to kitten{Ozzie^}...agreed
the diversity is great imho too
totty...lil-dragon??
* totty smiles
wellllllll
for me i have been very very lucky indeed
having being mentored by some lovely Dominants
its been wonderful and god i think saved my hide so to speak
* vidette{CL} smiles
that kinda leads me into another point
* warrigal^S^ smiles :)
for me two elements are essentual the ability to ask
freely and without fear and to be safe
yes...definitely
touche lil-dragon
* totty nods
totty your statement kinda leads me into another point...
as a community...and in this case...a community of
subbies...do we have a responsibility towards newer people who come
along?
YES definately
or do we let them fend for themselves...find out
their own way?
yes oooh yes
noooooo
Is it better for a sub to be mentored by a Dom or
other submissives?
no i dont believe we should, however taking advice is a
risky thing
god there is nothing worse then struggling to
find your own way
oh my yes ... its important that they are informed
a caring friend is best not necessarily dom or Sub
I listen to other subs ...I trust them implicitly
especailly on the safty issues... first and formost
well, mostly...
i know when subs ask me who they should talk to i am
*very* *very* particular on who i suggest
tiger-afk I listen to everyone BUT I then make my
own decision
same as me warrigal^S^
i agree with you totty in that case... of suggesting
who to talk to that is a desision they must make for themselfs
and ultimately we all must
you know...we see new subs coming into the channel
all the time...some stay...some don't...some could really use some
guidance but don't know to ask always
what do we do in cases like that?
if I justlistened to subs i would have missed out
on some wonderful experiences
* tiger-afk asks bluntly constantly....i havnt played in R/L
* warrigal, im just being cautious, but i will make my own decision
* when the time comes, but i definately seek guidance here...
I usually try to offer my assistance if I cn
well i listen to everything and then talk it over
with my Master
but, i talk to Doms also...and anyone else wholl
listen..lol....sorry vidette..
no need to apologise to me tiger lol
that is good tiger-afk
i do too...*smiles*
apologies are not needed
:)
but what i'm saying is...when we see an inexperienced
sub come into the channel
thing that kinda upsets or disturbs me, i see so
many subs come in and rush into privating with the Doms and then
thats all they seem to do
i mean first timers
i've watched the Doms...and not all by any means...
circle her like fresh prey
some set themselves up for it
yes true
geeze, thought you meant me kitten.....
do we have a responsibility to those subs?
lol not at all tiger :)
but they dont know theyre setting themselves up for it
,, ive been caught a couple of times..told you i was gullible.
* totty sits and watches the new subs and smiles
not really vidette{CL} because they wouldn't
listen initially
i believe we do.but how do you message them and tell
them that what they are doing is thwart with danger
i like to mention the sub mailing list .. and be there
to offer any help i can
its a time of growth and feeling their way
god we all make mistakes
well i would agree with ffairlady...i've started
suggesting the sub mailing list and letting them know that
discussions take place here on a monday
yes totty we do....
do we then try to monotor new Doms???? and if we see one
trolling warn the newbie
well i muck around in the room and all, but i very
rarely go into private with anybody, least of all the Doms, maybe
because i have a Master, but that is just me
if they are serious and truely wish to learn they will
heed the words of the the more experienced subs...well sara would
like to think they would..we can offer help and guidence..but
ultimately it is there choice if they wish to listen
yes...we do totty...but i watch some setting
themselves up for a real fall...what do you do...stand by and
watch it happen?
but i would also say that i do the same with some Doms
suggesting ausbdsm as well so its not just subs some Doms are new too
very true sara{X^L}
no vidette{CL} i dont......... but they have to want to listen
true ffairlady..
* vidette{CL} sighs
i can give them all the advice in the world
yes...that's the key isn't it
i agree with you totty..
but they have to be open to it
people dont like to be 'told' anything..
may i ask a question vidette
sure kenji{W}t :)
its not being told, its accepting advice...
that depends on how its put forward
how does a new sub differentiate between a newbie sub
like themselves offering advice and an old boiler like some of us
with experience
i dont get defensive warrigal, because im new i accept
ppl are not being critical to me, they are trying to help and
guide me..
i have had newbies offering me advice
well often they ask kenji{W}t and someone points them
in the direction of an experienced sub
lol...well what do you do?
some ppl are not like that tho
smile and say why thank you lol
its hard to tell, i think you just have to talk to
a few, and find out over a period of time who to talk to, and
who doesn't have all that much experience
I accept advice form all ppl BUT I make my decisions
would I be right in saying that it is often the female
subs who seem more at risk
yes barak but newbies might be given the wrong advice at
first then confused about who to listen too
yes cheekybren, id say so..
no cheekybren
i'm not sure cheekybren
oh...no ?
i think generally it is the females but we men tend
to do more to prove ourselves and put up with more and more quietly
i guess it depends on the situation...
it might seem like the females because there are more of
them..
good point warrigal^S^, i forgot that
thats true also sara{X^L}
i had a sub ask to meet me for a coffee...and i brushed
her off thinking we had little in common
that i couldn't sit and talk about my private life to
this person
the nature of the issues might be diffrent with men but
just as complex methinks
well, i made an absolute pest of myself whenm i was a
newbie...i asked everyone questions, and if they didn't know..i asked
them to point me in the direction of someone who would know...BUT...i
made my own mind up about which advice sounded sensible and which did
not
someone suggested that was a little harsh
that she was new and obviously feelign her way around
the best she could
I have ben hurt a few times because Of my own stupidity
we must learn from the experiences and we need to take responsiblity
for ourselves too not expect people to do it for us
no vidette both parties have to be comfortable..maybe you
should have directed them to someone else to see if they could help
well, you cant save the world, and your not responsible
vidette for all new subbies.....you dont have to be friends with
EVERYONE....
no..i realise that...but do you see the point i'm
trying to make...maybe because she's new and she's seeking some
guidance...i should be there to help
hang on, i asked to meet you for a coffee...hmm
lol...tiger...wasn't you darling
there are always munches you can steer newbies too as well
i am a bit like that tiger..i try to help everyone...
mainly cos i received so much help when i was new
not always ffairlady
most captial citys have them ... and some regional
places as well
for me i am so out of it, and i was only in brisbane
during the week so seldom
jsut depends on where you are
not necessarily vidette...exactly..munches, the
net..etc..maybe intro to others here on the net...
it was just fortunate they put a munch on for me
midweek
well..we're talking sydney here...we have a munch
every blue moon lol
lol..melbourne has munches on an extremely regular
basis *smile*
ok sorry, but there must be others in the same
situation i am in
irc was a great education for me on the 'realities'
of D/s relationships
and at all sorts of times too
me too bren
* barak{Ras} nods at warri
yes i am kitten{Ozzie^} i live in country vic so i
cant get down to most munches either but i try to as often as i can
It has been fro me too cheekybren
i would have been lost without everyones help....
meeting destiny and BP for a coffee was a crucial point for me
....it made a big impact on my idea of bdsm
thats what i mean ffairlady once you know and
have met, spoken and get to really know ppl in this life it is
easier
the South Aus network is brilliant..and although i
live way out of Adelaide the support etc is wonderful between all
its hard to make that first step into rl
yes...my meeting IRish and emerald had the same
impact on me tigereyes...and thru them other friends
yes it is kitten{Ozzie^}
well, meeting ppl is better than going to bound
and sitting by yourself cos too frightened to say hi to ppl...
i was almost ready to give up at that point
the subs are very supportive here we have a good network
in place
you are lucky there totty :)
the sydney community seems a little fractured to me
well look at me barak{Ras}, been on-line for 12 mths
but it took 10 before i summoned the courage to 'munch'
oh barak, im so glad you have found happiness...it must
have been awful in the beginnning
how can i find out if there is any other life
stylers up here?? anyone have any ideas?
yes there is a good subbie network in SA
lol...kitten...put an ad in the paper?
sorry kitten...no
it is the same in Melb...they are close knit the
subs..even the Doms..
i find it so interesting but fustrating as i look
around town ... i wonder hwo many othere subbies are here and if
only they new there was a real communitly out here in the real world
they would come out so to speak
but i was lucky..SirRon and MzRita were the ones for
me..they were the turning point
i have thought of that vidette{CL} but how then to
get around a contact number?
and how to "word" it
well...do we see our community growing to the point
where it's profile is high enough to encourage others to come out?
but its so scary on your own, i was petrafied when i went
to meet BP and destiny, wondering if they were a pair of evil sex
deviates...and thank god they were...
a p.o box kitten?
it is always hard kitten{Ozzie^}
kitten...wanted other kinky perverts in the local
area...write to p.o. box...
I have a real problem doing that too
sorry for joking about it kitten{Ozzie^} lol
hmm perhaps sara{X^L}, but i am soo scared of being
found out by ppl i work with
but in many ways, ppl don't understand where they are at
, and see bdsm as most vanilla do, as being very extreme
thats just it, youd get every nutcase doing something like
that..so dangerous
* cheekybren nods vigorously at tiger-afk
will try it vidette{CL}, think i should run it for
a few consective days?
can i ask that question again, in response to
ffairlady's comment...
well...do we see our community growing
to the point where it's profile is high enough to encourage others
to come out?
maybe vidette{CL}, but still not unless it is a
major city :(
the gothic has helped, yes probably vidette..
vidette{CL} itis certainly happeing here in Melbourne
i think so vidette, and the more that we educate the
"vanilla" world on our practices...the easier it will be as well for
ppls to come out
yes warri
it sounds so exciting down there warrigal^S^
the gay community has come out, i hope its just a matter of
time for us
jesus, not in Lismore....theyd lock me up....!!!!in
sydney yes
i think some subbies/Doms may not know there is a big
community .. they feel they are the "only" ones
yes...i look at the gay community and how far they've
come and i wonder if there's a place for us in mainstream society
tiger-afk you may be surprised
but vidette{CL} it has taken them decades
oh there are soooooooo many legal aspects to address first
vidette{CL}
i know there is a community here warrigal, but the
vanilla ppl would freak out
oh yes...it did...and it took a great deal of
solidarity to get there too
* ffairlady agrees with kitten{Ozzie^} .. and i think it will
* take a long time for bdsm as well
and as well, coming out may not be what some ppl
want - irc is better in that it offers anon
well that's it totty isn't it...it seems they are
trying to outlaw everything we do
* tiger-afk nods in agreement to cheekybren
yes it does cheekybren, but what happens when the
urge to move beyond irc starts...
its a vicious circle tiger..they freak out because
they are uneducated on bdsm...but trying to educate them you more
than often attract the tag of "freak"
you thank god for clubs barak and munches...
well after at leasta month or two they will know of
the other avenues
my sister knows what i am but doesn't want to know
about it
well con 99 is trying hard to get to the community, the
unknown comminity that is
* tiger-afk sister just laughed and said...typical...
may i ask how many here have told there families?
yes...i guess each year is another step in the right
direction
there are also heaps of 'outside' issues
no way ffairlady
I hope that we can do that too totty
* ffairlady has told hers
not my mother...sister yes...
i have and they burst out laughing thinking it was
another one of my pranks
none
i told a friend of 27 years...and lost her
no way vidette....
not a friend then/
she freaked
i only talk to my sister in my whole family,
my mother is dead
that happen all too often v
* cheekybren nods at tiger-afk