quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyPact

I won't agrue the point that CR might be BDSM light.  For some people, that might be all they want or can handle.  A couple of people who responded to the OP mentioned that if it was their only exposure to the lifestyle, they would have stayed nilla, but I find that highly unlikely, since google would have turned up other sites as well.  Sooner or later, everyone finds what fits them.  Some are only ready for the fairy tale in the beginning, and if that works, then there's nothing wrong with that.
 
The other mini hijack I have is that folks need to get off the pet peeve about the word "true".

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyPact

I won't agrue the point that CR might be BDSM light.  For some people, that might be all they want or can handle.  A couple of people who responded to the OP mentioned that if it was their only exposure to the lifestyle, they would have stayed nilla, but I find that highly unlikely, since google would have turned up other sites as well.  Sooner or later, everyone finds what fits them.  Some are only ready for the fairy tale in the beginning, and if that works, then there's nothing wrong with that.
 
The other mini hijack I have is that folks need to get off the pet peeve about the word "true".

Briefly, thanks for the nice words on the pic everyone.  Blush and all.

I mentioned this to someone last night as well in private; that yes, it may be a turn off initially to newbies, but that someone who is that easily turned off by the foo foo stuff probably shouldn't stick around anyway.  People with deeper, darker cravings eventually give voice to them.  I think that those particular elements are what's missing from the BDSM lite approach CR assumes.  On that topic, why does 'lite' have to mean 'bad?'  Lots of people drink lite beer, use nutrasweet, and just writing the word 'lite' on a new product line increases it's sales.  I'm not saying people who don't play heavy shouldn't play; I'm pointing out that heavy and light players deserve equal consideration.  That's the light I'm trying to shine here.

Redrum,

Stephan

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

(rolling up muh sleeves and ready to get dirty.)

I'm all for tolerance, everybody's path is different, and there's no 'wrong' way to live your life.  Having said that, I'm going to offer a critique of the ever popular newbie-site castlerealm.com

The good:  It describes the kinder, gentler path of BDSM.  It's filled with newbie-friendly information.  It's insightful into some of the most vital aspects of relationships in general, be they D/s, M/s, S&M, BDSM, and the whole alphabet soup of what we consider to be 'The Lifestyle.'

The bad:  It makes what WIITWD sound like fairy princesses and just plain fairy princes.  So much of the focus is on how to be nice and happy with pink roses and flowers, that it clearly suggests a strong bias against anything that is louder than a tap, harder than gummie bears, or harsher than light rock (I hate Air Supply.)

My biggest beef, is how the struggle is skipped over.  In being overly accepting of all troubles, the Dominant is painted as smiling, chivelrous, accepting of all faults.  The sub (never slave) is painted as devoted, loving, but golly sometimes i'm gonna pout and stomp my feet and you just have to deal with it. 

Relationships, any relationship, is simply a lot more taxing and often more nitty gritty than this.  No question, no small number of people enjoy this as an ideal.  I prefer to approach my M/s relationships as a contact sport.

I kinda figure I'll post here every couple days with critiques of specific articles.  I suspect this debate will regularly turn into a flamefest.  That's cool.  If you feel as excited of a chance to poke holes in the prettiest, nicest BDSM site-that-everyone-loves, then meet me here.

Thanks,

Darth Stephan

quote:

ORIGINAL: MadRabbit

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

(rolling up muh sleeves and ready to get dirty.)

I'm all for tolerance, everybody's path is different, and there's no 'wrong' way to live your life.  Having said that, I'm going to offer a critique of the ever popular newbie-site castlerealm.com

The good:  It describes the kinder, gentler path of BDSM.  It's filled with newbie-friendly information.  It's insightful into some of the most vital aspects of relationships in general, be they D/s, M/s, S&M, BDSM, and the whole alphabet soup of what we consider to be 'The Lifestyle.'

The bad:  It makes what WIITWD sound like fairy princesses and just plain fairy princes.  So much of the focus is on how to be nice and happy with pink roses and flowers, that it clearly suggests a strong bias against anything that is louder than a tap, harder than gummie bears, or harsher than light rock (I hate Air Supply.)

My biggest beef, is how the struggle is skipped over.  In being overly accepting of all troubles, the Dominant is painted as smiling, chivelrous, accepting of all faults.  The sub (never slave) is painted as devoted, loving, but golly sometimes i'm gonna pout and stomp my feet and you just have to deal with it. 

Relationships, any relationship, is simply a lot more taxing and often more nitty gritty than this.  No question, no small number of people enjoy this as an ideal.  I prefer to approach my M/s relationships as a contact sport.

I kinda figure I'll post here every couple days with critiques of specific articles.  I suspect this debate will regularly turn into a flamefest.  That's cool.  If you feel as excited of a chance to poke holes in the prettiest, nicest BDSM site-that-everyone-loves, then meet me here.

Thanks,

Darth Stephan

Do I like the site? Nope

Would I recommend it to someone who was looking to get a realistic and pragmatic perspective to BDSM? Nope

Do I think it should be blown off the face of the Earth and never viewed by anyone? Nope.

Romantic idealism is only detrimental to people who cant seperate the ideal from reality.

Sure, the information in the website when I was completely new causes a few miscoceptions and got me a couple of giggles at my first BDSM munch, but at no point did I stop thinking people were anything more than people.

quote:

ORIGINAL: petdave

If everyone who created a false persona on the internet got sued the courts would have to run 'round-the-clock... you need damages to sue, and i can't imagine what they might be. Sounds like an empty rumor to me.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LATEXBABY64

wabbit stew would be very cool

quote:

ORIGINAL: MadRabbit
Thats it.

These forums need to be shut down.

This bigotry and promotion of genocide towards rabbits everywhere must end!

SHUT IT DOWN!

SHUT IT DOWN NOW!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: MadRabbit

quote:

ORIGINAL: LATEXBABY64

wabbit stew would be very cool

Thats it.

These forums need to be shut down.

This bigotry and promotion of genocide towards rabbits everywhere must end!

SHUT IT DOWN!

SHUT IT DOWN NOW!!