maybemaybenot
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Joined: 9/22/2005
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This thread is generated from numerous threads in the Alt. Lifestyles in the News Board. I am not picking on any one thread or person, but a general tone and attitude/belief seen there regarding news cases of Involuntary Servitude. I will quote myself from a thread I posted in this AM during my rant.
I see quite a few threads started about a current news item, in which a woman
< generally> has been held as a slave by a family, a person, a group of people. The headline will say something like " Slave case to begin today" or "Philipino Woman claims she was held as a slave in basement dungeon". And then it begins. Posters seem to get a bit frazzled that the media would actually ise words like
" slave", " dungeon" and " torture" in a negative way. Somehow those words are percieved by some to be owned by the BDSM world and anyone who uses them outside the context of BDSM is trying to shine an unfavorable light on WIITWD.
I have posted a few times, that these stories are not of a BDSM nature, but of an involutary servitude nature, a few others have said they are human trafficking stories. The response is * yea, but* they are using this story to reflect a negative view of WIITWD. Or, that the " slave" turned on the Master seeking revenge.
Are some people so myopic that they cannot see that there is a world of difference and that the media is reporting news, not trying to take a jab at BDSMers? Do people not realize that every dungeon is not a play room, or that not every slave has made that choice, or that not all torture is orgasmic in nature?
I work with an anti slavery group, I have for 15 ish years. I have met " slaves" who were threatened, coerced, intimidated and tortured into a slavery role. I was personally involved in one case here in Boston, and was the person who planned the escape with the police to get her free. That was the first Involuntary Servitude case prosecuted and convicted by the Federal Gvt in over 30 years. < I think I have that number correct>. The young woman who was held in slavery and myself were interviewed extensively by major national media publications and local ones as well. We did a documentary with CNN on Involutary Servitude in the US. In all our exposure and participation with the media, not once was BDSM ever brought into it. Never a question, never an inference, never as much as an odd glance. She and I testified in the case and never a whisper of BDSM by either the prosecution or defense. I still do this type of work, I still attend trials and testify, I still give interviews and speeches on these types of " slavery " , I do Q&A's at the end of my speeches. I can assure you, no one has ever implied a connection to WIITWD.
If one is sooooooo sensitive to the term " slavery", that they cannot see it beyond WIITWD, then you need a reality check. True slavery exisits in this country and thrives quietly in many many other countries. It is not nice, it is not fun, it is not erotic, it is not a lifestyle choice.
I wish people would try being a little more sensitive to the human plight, than to a term *THEY* use to describe a mutually satisfying relationship. Because other than the headlines that say " Slave or Slavery", there is nothing in these stories remotely connected to BDSM.
Having been involved in this type of work for many years, I am delighted when I see this type of story make the news. These people are being enslaved and it is well hidden by the enslavers. In most cases, the neighbors, family and friends weren't even aware. Often times, the " slave " is stumbled upon accidently by a stranger who initiates the process to free them. Other times the " slave " subconsciously decides that s/he will take the risk of being killed and run to an authority, becasue their situation is that bad. The case I was personally involved in was not taken seriously by any local or state law officials for three years. Despite very heavy media coverage.
I think instead of pointing fingers at the media and whining that " they are picking on us" it would be much more productive to speak out against the perpetrator of the
" slave". A little human empathy vs self serving indignation.
Some one on this site has a tag line that reads:
There are no victims here, only volunteers. Those are very true words for * us*, but there is a whole big world out there who didn't voluteer for the gig.
mbmbn
< Message edited by maybemaybenot -- 5/30/2007 12:55:10 PM >
_____________________________
Tolerance of evil is suicide.- NYC Firefighter
When tolerance is not reciprocated, tolerance becomes surrender.
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