I will probally making some comments on a number of things Master Skip addressed. I'm going make seperate posts, and perhaps over the course of the next day or two. Anyways, I think he is addressing a very important issue. This is one of the major problems with how complete strangers interact with one another online.
"Masters and other Doms should restrict their dominance to those who have consented to it; slaves and their submissive kin who inflict unsolicited subservience onto others should be deemed in violation of civility’s dictates. … And those on either side of the D/s coin, who find themselves unable or unwilling to control their nasty behavior, would do well to seek out the professional help they surely and sorely need."
I totally agree with him pointing to both sides of the D/s coin here. Ironic as it is, I have experinced submissive types before trying to inflict unsolicited subservience. It actually makes me feel really uncomfortable when it occurs. If I'm not interested in a D/s relationship or even D/s play (online or real time) with somebody, all the subservience in the world won't make it happen.
I'm not into doing D/s for the mindless sake of doing it. I'm probally the last person that one has to worry about trying to force D/s upon anybody who is not consenting to it either.
It's a basic matter of respect for other human beings. I would dare expound upon this being the result of people in the lifestyle attempting to excuse their behavior by seperating themselves from the rest of the human race.
I've made a number of posts on this message board, where I have expressed this as my own view or observation. It actually irrates me, that many Doms/Masters go around expecting to force submission upon those who have not consented. That submission is an act of free will. That if it occurs it's a rather natural process. Not something that is forced.
I know for a fact, that this kind of behavior has left a bad taste in many newbie subs/slaves just discovering "the lifestyle". Not exactly a good experience for somebody new. In fact I suspect this has scared away a number of completely wonderful submissives/slaves.
On a personal level comment, the girl I'm currently exploring things with. Her experiences from her attempts at meeting a decent DOM have left a bad taste in her mouth. To the point she simply refuses to proclaim being into "BDSM" but rather just D/s. She basically does not want to associate herself with the "BDSM" label. Mind you she's into D/s, Bondage, and rough crazy kinky sex. I'm actually a little Amazed that she responded to my profile, because my username is rather extreme sounding. She wants to be loved and cared for, and not some mindless doormat to be truely used and abused. The downside, is that is what her impression about the "BDSM community" is all about. After all the countless mindless emails from Dom/Masters. Then with the few she started to get to know, and then them showing their true colors as time passed.
I want to refer to her as my little girl, but we are still in the getting to know one another stages. However, I already have a bit of a place for her in my heart. She's something more to besides a fuck steak dinner. Anyways, her impression of what the majoritity of the BDSM community is not a good one.
I honestly believe that Master Skip is addressing some serious issues. In terms of the Rise and Fall of the M/s Community.
My little girl, really looks down upon M/s relationships. It's based mainly upon her interactions with DOMs/Masters so far.
Both of us have been getting to know each other as human beings. Dropping the Dom and submissive pretext in the process. If D/s is going to happen, it's going to be a natural process that occurs between our personalities. Not something that's forced along playing out some fantasy stereotype. Just because I'm a DOM, it's no excuse for bad manners and trying to force things along. I do find what I nickname my "Dom Containment field" faulter rather naturally this this girl. I think this might be a clue that the potential for a D/s relationship is there. When little bubbles of D/s naturally flow without thinking about it, nor forcing it along.