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MadRabbit -> RE: Power (1/24/2008 3:34:12 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Aneirin
Some of us seek power over an individual or individuals, but what is the ultimate end of that desire for power, where does it come from, and what is it's intent?
As we are all meant to be civilised living in our modern society, is the desire for power over people really a primitive need in an age where we are meant to be more advanced?
Desire for power isn't the same thing as a desire for a pack of peanuts. Power is purely metaphysical, an existential experience. I won't say so much that people desire power as much as they want to "feel" powerful. It's a mental state that people pursue much like other metaphysical concepts like "happiness" and "love".
A manager at a fast food restaurant "feels" powerful. A Master with a slave kissing his feet "feels" powerful. A Top in control of a Bottom in Sub Space "feels" powerful.
We could, of course, through the process of logic, determine who is more powerful based on how much control each individual has over how many people or things of higher monetary value (like a company), but I think saying one person is more powerful than the other because of X, Y, and Z negates the feeling of being "powerful".
At the same time, other people might not pursue power for this "feeling" of being powerful, but for other motives, such as idealistic ones to use that power for "good". I, personally, don't think that motive has a whole lot of realistic bearing in the hedonistic lifestyle of "BDSM" and therefore somewhat unimportant in defining power as it pertains to the things that we do. From what I see, it's the pursuit of this "feeling".
This evident from the many posts on message boards like these or in testimonies from real time people when the question of "Why do you do it?" or "What do you like the most?" is asked. The usual responses I see from dominants and Tops are the words "power" and "control" talked about in a way that mostly relates them to being a "high" that people are chasing. The "feeling" of being in control. The "feeling" of power.
What that "feeling" is something that is hard to put into words or explain. Language is analytical and descriptive and therefore doesn't do the actual experience of power any justice. (Edited to Add) Nor do I see it as being anything static that is a "feeling" that is experienced the same way by everyone.
So to answer your questions, in the context of these things that we do, people desire power, because it "feels good" much in the same way people desire happiness and love because they "feel good".
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