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RE: good old days - 11/12/2005 4:01:48 PM

Archer

Posts: 3207
Joined: 3/11/2005
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OK just as a deeper explination of Earning Leathers.

During the 1950's and up through the 1970's there were various regional ways someone "earned their leathers". many times it was by club traditions. My new boi Lane is earning her leathers in the tradition I coopeted from research done interviews with Old Guard" Master's and slaves Daddies and boys even some Leather Dykes.

Specific peices of leather were earned through some proven level of skill and since at that time most everyone came from the bottom up it was that way for all. A couple examples from specific club and families traditions here:

You earned your boots when your skill level at careing for leather, clean polish, condition, recognizing different types of leather, and the care required for each was reached.

You earned your vest (without any patch) when your service to someone other than your own Dominant without being requested was recognized formally by them to your Dominant. (Or more modern if you didn't come from the bottom up your service to the community was recognized by the community).

Otherwise you could earn them though various activities, and learning and service to others, a heavey scene, teaching a class, heading up a fund raiser...

The idea being that you earned the right to consider yourself part of the community through actions taken and services rendered to the community.

Seniority of active involvement had a certain level of social rank.

And your leathers were a visual cue as to what social rank you held.
They were an outward sign of you earning the RESPECT of the community through actions.

Earning Leathers has been declining over the years, several causes including the loss of a huge part of the community elders to HIV and AIDS, the numerous people who simply moved back into the shaddows whenthe huge influx of people came during the mid 90's. The lack of any formal one on one Mentoring system prevelent in BDSM today. and many other factors as well.

Ther is however a resurgence going on in the area of Earned Leathers in many communities, as I said my boi Lane currently has no leathers Lane is earning the right to wear them in my own modified and coopted from various sources format. I hear may new people with questions after the formal Master's Cap presentation that was sprung on me during SELF (SouthEast Leather Fest) last June. I was honored to speak as an advocate for a dear freind Ms Susan of Ashville NC at her Master's Cap presentation this past October. The traditions of earning leathers seems to be making a resurgence in my own local community and in a few other communities as well. And I for one am glad it is.

In Leather

Archer

(in reply to ICGsteve)

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Post #: 41

RE: good old days - 11/12/2005 4:17:31 PM

Archer

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Now that said the "Good Old Days" were not as good as people want to remember, Lack of safety was a problem, treatment of submissives slaves and bottoms was i many cases abhorent, There was just as much abuse except nobody talked about it.

We tend to remember the good and forget the bad when looking back at the way things used to be.

Remember the fact that everything we do today was a crime that they not only could but would arrest you for. Being "in the closet" was the rule, and not just an option. Police raids on dungeons and play spaces were more frequent than they are even now under the current government. And there was no place to turn at all should the state take away your children because of your SM activities.

However when you are so quick to dismiss the "Old Timers" as not having earned your respect remember it is those "old timers" that helped start things like NLA National Leather Association, The Leather Archives and Museum, NCSF The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, TES New York, They started the magazines which lead to the books which are now available to you not by going to some seedy part of town and entering an ADULT BOOKSTORE but by clicking on a button at Barnes and Nobel, or Amazon.com

What have you done to make the community better, education easier to get, and the laws changed to make the next generation of kinky folks life any easier???

They acted, donated, taught, founded and you got the benifits that has to be worth at least a little grudging respect.

In Leather

Archer

(in reply to Archer)

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Post #: 42

RE: good old days - 11/12/2005 7:27:05 PM

IronBear

Posts: 9008
Joined: 6/19/2005
From: Beenleigh, Qld, Australia
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quote:

ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross

As I've said before, I take full personal responsibility for the entire downfall of life as wwe know it in the 25 years I've been around. Please send all complaints directly to me and I will get working on things as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

You offer is duely noted and accepted. We now await the UN vote to pass your acceptance into international law and declare you a "Protected Species".

quote:

ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross

quote:

ORIGINAL: IronBear
Please explain to this non US citizen

Ahhh Labor Day is a US Holiday on the first Monday of September. Memorial Day is the last Monday of May.

Old fashion rules dictate that a woman shouldn't wear white shoes starting from Labor Day and going to Memorial Day.

Most people break that rule these days (although "winter white" has always been an acceptable color during any month) and it's not considered fashion canon anymore. But it's still a fairly well known rule of what "proper ladies" wear, and if caught breaking the rule, can be considered ill-bred.

Similarly, those who wear leather clothes known for their social symbolism without having it formally bestowed upon them. It's not considered canon anymore, but it's not in the best of taste either.

Thank you LA for that. I've never heard of this tradition before but I like it's quaintness. it appeals to my sence of rightness.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mnottertail

like the hats at races shit......for the queen, you know.

Ron
believe I owe YOU a fosters, mate.

Yep this I can understand. Thanks mate. Put the Fosters on my tab mate and somewhere, some time we can settle up and get pissed together with a few good friends and suitable serving sub/slaves (niked of course).

< Message edited by IronBear -- 11/12/2005 7:28:25 PM >

_____________________________

Iron Bear

Master of Bruin Cottage

http://www.bruincottage.org

Your attitude, words & actions are yours. Take responsibility for them and the consequences they incur.

D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.

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Post #: 43

RE: good old days - 11/13/2005 2:25:42 PM

HeavenlyCeleste

Posts: 82
Joined: 9/12/2005
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Every generation thinks their generation was teh best. I'm an old timer (20+ years) and I see people these days reaching, striving, learning, teaching just as always. I think it's just the prevalence of internet chat rooms, and so on that brings out all the weirdos. I don't think that is exclusive to "our" lifestyle...you will find the same thing in every co-culture you look at. The best you can do is mentor younger ones, and learn to let go of all the fakes.

Domina Celeste

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Post #: 44

RE: good old days - 11/14/2005 9:29:19 AM

EvilGeoff

Posts: 523
Joined: 8/24/2005
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Touching back on Archer's note about earning your leathers....

Emotionally and sexually I have been oriented towards this lifestyle since I knew that boys & girls had different plumbing, and what all that plumbing was for... But chances to experiment and experience were few and far between. None of the gals I was with were interested in anything more than the "swat on the butt, not too hard" spanking once in a while. I did find one kinky gal who was into the whole leather and lace, rough sex, kinky role-playing thing while we were in college, but after we got out of school we went our seperate ways.

About 15 years of "nothing but vanilla" after that. Looooong dry spell. I was introduced to the BDSM community online in 1997.... I was floored. There were people out there like me? OMG! Long story short, between this online introduction in 1997, and August of 1999 I was introduced to the real-time BDSM scene, became active in the southeast of the US (from North & South Carolina & Georgia to Texas). I got tired of having to travel from one end of the Southeast to the other to find like minded folks to socialize with and learn from. And Lordy how I wanted to learn!

So I _started_ a munch group. In Columbia, Buckle-of-the-Bible-Belt, South Carolina of all places. The idea was to get some of the "old-timers" to jump up and start teaching. *chuckles* They didn't. And here was a group of people looking at me, ME! A wet-behind-the-ears green-as-all-get-out newbie Dom, for leadership and guidance and education. Holy crap! I was scared to death I would give people bad information because so much of what I had learned from the OL community I knew was absolute rubbish.

I was forced to start reading the books out there, not the fantasy stuff but "Different Loving", "Screw the Roses", "The Loving Dominant", "The Topping Book", "The Bottoming Book", "SM: 101", "Juice", "slavecraft", "Sexual Magic", etc, etc. I continued to travel to educational and play events across the SE to further my education. I did fundraising to help a leather family in a time of distress. I started getting active in the NCSF, finally getting T3WD to join the NCSF as a Coalition Partner.

I've reached the point that I have been invited to present at many different groups around the Carolinas and Georgia on several topics.

And you know what? I'm _STILL_ looking for some "old-timer" to take me under his/her wing and Mentor me. I _want_ to "earn my leathers." Lord knows I still feel like that wet-behind-the-ears pup. A LOT. I want to know that I'm "doing it right", that the information I present is good, solid, real and safe. I want, and need still, to be validated with this lifestyle choice.

Funny isn't it? Or perhaps ironic. I've been actively living this lifestyle nearly 8 years, been considered a leader and educator (in my own area, anyway) for at least 6 of those years, and I still feel "green" and unsure of myself at times. Probably stems from my father passing away when I was still pretty young. I walk my own walk, but you know, sometimes it would be nice to have Dad to consult with and get advice from. I don't think any of us are ever too old, or too experienced, to not want that sometimes. I don't have my Dad, so I want a substitute, and I've never found one.

Not sure where this is supposed to be going, but thinking about the "good old days" and working your way up in the community, "earning your leathers" got me thinking.... I have my boots, my belt, my vest.... I bought them all, no one gave these things to me, I haven't "earned" them from a group of my peers. And I wish that I had. The cap? *smiles wistfully* Now _THAT_ I will save for some future presentation. Once I was introduced to the concept of "earning your leather" I stopped buying the "trappings" of the Leather scene. Someday, I'll earn them.

Yours In Kink,
- Geoff

(in reply to HeavenlyCeleste)

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Post #: 45

RE: good old days - 11/14/2005 12:55:13 PM

IronBear

Posts: 9008
Joined: 6/19/2005
From: Beenleigh, Qld, Australia
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There has always been "The Good Old Days". My Grand father used to refer to them, later my Father refered top them. It wasn't untill i was no longer able to be physically active that I refer to the days of my youth as the good old days. They are valuable and we can learn from them but we also muct adapt and move ahead even if we dont always like the path or direction. Of course you can always bet off the train, close your doors and become a hermit as I have done with the local wiccans. Just sometimes it is better to move and have your being amongst a carefully selected grouop of friends.

quote:

Once I was introduced to the concept of "earning your leather" I stopped buying the "trappings" of the Leather scene. Someday, I'll earn them.

Yours In Kink,
- Geoff

G'day Geoff,
Your comment reminds me of an associate who collected all the Harley Davidson gear including clothes, leathers and belt buckles. He used to wear it about. Now he is in the process of buying a Harley, he wont wear any of the gear untill he has earned the right and is accepted by the local Harley guys.

_____________________________

Iron Bear

Master of Bruin Cottage

http://www.bruincottage.org

Your attitude, words & actions are yours. Take responsibility for them and the consequences they incur.

D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.

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Post #: 46