jblack
Posts: 102
Joined: 10/18/2006 Status: offline
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Let me start of by saying that I have some strong opinions on this topic; please forgive me if I get on a soapbox. But if I'm on a soapbox, that doesn't mean that I'm being unreasonable. I think the idea that a Dom could use "forced exercise" or "dietary control" to "help" a sub lose weight is oversimplifying a very complex psychological dynamic. As a fat girl, I know perfectly well that a reduced calorie diet and exercise are "good" for me; given that we live in a weight-obsessed culture, one would have to be rather ignornant NOT to know that. And I also have lots of willpower. One doesn't get a PhD before turning 30 without willpower. If "control" or "guidance" or "education" could solve a problem as complex as compulsive overeating, I'd be a six 6. I would argue that fat people put on weight not because they don't know about dieting or because they lack control but because they are driven by a particular psychological need. When I eat too much, it's not because I'm hungry; it is for other reasons, many of which include relentless campaigns to make me lose weight. The constant attention to weight, size, and feeding only furthers the compulsion to eat. Until the psychological compulsion is addressed, the dynamic of forced exercise or feederism--while seemingly at opposite ends of the spectrum--will probably result in increased weight for the sub in the long run. As Kitten With a Twist pointed out, I'd feel terrible if a Dom wanted me to lose weight. In fact, I'd feel so terrible that I'd have to end that relationship. Essentially, he'd be saying that he wanted a "skinny version" of me. But I have no desire to spend time with someone who wants only a specific "version" of me. I'm not a software package; one can't "upgrade" me to the 2.0 version. If I felt otherwise, I'd have a pretty bad self-esteem problem. I would argue that this fetish is unhealthy not because of the effects it might have on a sub's body but the effects it will have on a sub's mind. While I recognize that many Doms and subs enjoy body modification, I would suggest that this type of control over a person's body is far more complex and dangerous than piercing, tattooes, or branding because of the psychology involved in compulsive overeating. Many people who are overweight suffer from a compulsion. Unless one has psychological training and informed consent from a partner, it would be seriously irresponsible to try to "treat" a compulsive behavior by eroticizing it. I am disturbed by the idea that overweight women--who are already being criticized and mistreated by our culture every single day--will then find themselves attacked when with the person they have decided to trust on the deepest level: their Doms. In my mind, this is an abuse of trust that is cloaked as "looking out for her best interests." If a sub like the idea, then, well, I'm not into anything that discourages someone from finding her bliss, but don't try to convince me that it's "healthy." I apologize if I put anything too baldly, but I won't apologize for feeling strongly. </soapbox rant>
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