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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 12:44:45 PM

thetammyjo

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That's really interesting, gypsygrl, because I see it in the opposite terms when I teach.

As I tell my students. I have the authority in the class -- I design it, choose the texts, create the daily plans, and assess their work.

They have the power to decide if they will to do the work and how much effort to give to it. I can't make them do the work I can only assess what they do.

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 1:21:08 PM

lateralist1

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When I was a teacher I taught from the point of view of having personal authority.
That authority could not be taken from me but the power to use it effectively could.
Funnily enough not as often by my students as the other adults in the system.

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 2:25:30 PM

thetammyjo

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quote:

ORIGINAL: lateralist1

When I was a teacher I taught from the point of view of having personal authority.
That authority could not be taken from me but the power to use it effectively could.
Funnily enough not as often by my students as the other adults in the system.

Definitely especially those with more authority than you in the system.

I think that's why I can't see myself doing anything but college/university teaching -- less direct authority over me to deal with.

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 2:51:53 PM

akisha

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~FR~

I want the power, control or authority (however you choose to describe it) in my career. I have no desire to have it in my personal life.

I guess that means I'm greedy and want it all

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 3:29:42 PM

MasterFireMaam

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These work for me to begin to explain what I do and why I do it.
http://www.arizonapowerexchange.org/academy.html#MASTER
http://www.arizonapowerexchange.org/academy.html#SLAVE

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 3:34:12 PM

MadRabbit

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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".

< Message edited by MadRabbit -- 1/24/2008 3:39:02 PM >

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 4:08:57 PM

BitaTruble

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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?

What you attain from power is directly proportional to the size of the world you have power over. If you have ultimate power over the world there is nothing you can't have. Having ultimate power in an individual relationship means you can attain everything within the confines of that particular microcosm.

I do prefer the term power over authority. In my eyes, authority commands (and leaves one the option to disobey that command) and power compels. There are a lot of people in history who never had the authority to do what they did but they had the power to do it. How power is used, I suppose, would be one of the differences between a benevolent dictator and a despot.

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 5:20:32 PM

ExSteelAgain

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Gypsy did a good academic explanation of power, but I was also thinking as Rabbit said. There is something that connotes much in the word power as he explained so well. It is a physical, erotic thing having power over someone. I relate to it as my strength making her helpless. Of course it is not because I actually physically overpower her, but I feel powerful when I am in control of her.

Back to the OP, I agree the quest for power is a primal need that has resulted in conquests of others for thousands of years. I don't believe ancient civilizations fought wars for riches, it was more to subjugate others or have power over them. In our personal and hopefully civilized worlds, possibly Doms fulfill that need in D/s.

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 7:43:24 PM

Padriag

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Nietzsche and Adler both had something to say about the pursuit of power... and both could be summed up in one word... "security". Consider it, what do the powerful fear? Only those more powerful than they, against all else they feel secure. If one has power over something, you don't fear it, you feel secure. If you have power over something, you could also be said to have possession of it, and therefore are secure against it's loss.

The wealthy feel secure against poverty, the strong feel secure against weakness, the wise secure against foolishness, the celebrated secure against obscurity... power is sought in many forms... and always as security against something feared.

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RE: Power - 1/24/2008 8:04:34 PM

Sexynmentalinkc

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Cause they can?

I think it's a greed thing...or about wanting the most toys (i.e 'the biggest/best cave in the clan') and so on.

Dominance on a natural level is evident all over the place. So, it's pretty clear that where this comes from is our long evolutionary past (and what was bred into us).

It's purpose? As a mechanism or tool used to ensure propagation of the species 'selected' the best to pass on their traits.

Genetics. Mendehlson (sp?) and sociology. *shrug*

*tips his hat*

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