RE: Vanilla and D/s (Full Version)

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SimplyMichael -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:19:00 AM)

Oh, and the reason this crap matters is because many of us are leaders and mentors in our local community and this is an area that generates a lot of problems. 




NuevaVida -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:39:08 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: SlyStone

quote:

nyone can just be... but to do it well takes skill



Interesting, I would have said it takes heart and soul.


Anything but skill.




Why not all of the above? Anyone can just "be", but that doesn't make them good at interacting with others.




RCdc -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:39:50 AM)

I believe the real thing that stands out is that some people need a relationship to be 'D/s' to have a good relationship and some need a relationship to be so called 'vanilla' to have one - to pull all the skills they have learnt or can learn they feel they need these 'labels' to sort out the criteria and to give some sort of credence to going further.  So of course they will notice a difference in relationships.  And for others, they do not need to have their relationship listed to utilse their skills because their significant other(s) already recognise their skills regardless of their dynamic.  All work, all are great, but it doesn't mean that one gives out more/has different skills, its simply a tool on how people can feel able to bring them out.
 
the.dark.




oceanwynds -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:49:50 AM)

I think for some, if not many, it is important to them to define themself through a label. In D/s it would be important to see the difference so they can move into a new headset. It might consist of new skills to be used, that to them could not be fathom in a 'vanilla relationship'. Perhaps, they think if there is no difference, then what is the purpose of living a D/s lifestyle? This has always been the case in any type of lifestyle. It helps to define the line of them and us. It takes a speciality to be this and not that. This has alway been throughout life. Take that away then we all just become human beings.

I am just grateful that not all see things this way. This thread has given a lot of food for thought and have been enjoying it.
oceanwynds





WhiplashSmile2 -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:52:46 AM)

Any two people that are in touch with themselves (wants, needs, desires) who can sit and talk with one another about these things, come to an understanding, agreement, arrangement or whatever, is really all it takes.

In terms of power dynamics, authority and such.  These things exist in most relationships on some level.  Same thing with many kinks (activities) in personal relationships.  This stuff is not some exclusive deal for people in the Lifestyle Only.

Even so called vanilla relationship can place a great focus upon D/s without ever officially calling it D/s.

BDSM and the lifestyle is really based upon taking things people have been doing for thousands of years, wrapping it up into a one big pill, slapping labels on it, and is a means for other like minded people to come together.

BDSM, The lifestyle... whatever.. is a sub-culture.  Which means it's a social group that is a slice of society.  Inside of our group are sub-groups and movements, and individuals doing things that they find fillfulling in their relationships and day to day life.

My My My, all of us are somehow special and somehow seperated from the rest of the world, or human race.  Not! lol...

When I first started using the message boards, my mindset was not so seperated, and at moments over the last few years, it's become close to being seperated in terms of the topics being presented.

Sure, I have used the word "vanilla", but that's in reference to denote either "Plain" or to denote "people who don't officially identifiy with BDSM or the lifestyle".

I have fallen in error to a certain line of thinking lately, in regards to D/s levels and type of D/s lately.  Trying to define to many things too quickly in my mindset, verses simply letting it be and doing it.   Some things are best to be left the fuck alone and simply lived and done and naturally evol.

People should ask themselves, some serious questions, at what point do you simply be yourself or try to fit into the concepts that are being talked about on a message board such as this, or even things that we all read.

There is nothing wrong with educating oneself, however, you also have to be aware to the fact that reading things constantly on a topic influenence on your thoughts and mindset.   This is not a bad big per se, however there can be draw backs to it as well.

Mountains out of mole hill type of stuff, is what I'm trying to express in this post.

Please don't misunderstand me, there are many good positive things to be said for a message board such as this.  Sites like this and Blogs and Books and Articles.  However at the same time, beware of something called Group Influence upon your thoughts.  

Be certain to embrace your own individiualisms and things that you really want and desire, be true to yourself first above all else.  Don't sell yourself out simply to adopt some dogmatic thinking, protocols, or methodology.

There really is not much of a line that seperates BDSM (the lifestyle) from the rest of the world.   BDSM is just a specific focus upon a specific slice of life.  Some people are into these slices and others are not.

In many regards us humans all like to feel different and rather unique and special at times compared to other human beings.  Nothing wrong with that in itself.  However the down fall is when we look down upon others for these differences, and we miss seeing how much a like we really are.   We become disconnected with the human race and even reality slightly.




NuevaVida -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:57:17 AM)

~ Fast Reply ~

Regarding a difference versus no difference - I'll only speak for me, here. I had to learn skills as an adult, just to live in a way that was healthy for me (and those around me). I had to learn additional skills to learn to submit to an other's authority, and accept that complete authority over me. Those were not skills I needed in a non-D/s relationship. In a D/s relationship, there are skills I would use that would also apply in non-D/s. In a non-D/s relationship, there are skills I would not need to use, that would apply in a D/s relationship.

I suppose if I were in a relationship with someone in a different country, I'd need to learn new skills for that, also, or someone who was wheelchair bound, etc. But in this thread, we're discussing D/s versus non-D/s, and it's not as though I spend a lot of time thinking about it, but if I were asked, yes, I would utilize skills as a submissive that would not be relevant in a different kind of relationship.

Every time I read someone say "it's the same" I quite honestly do not understand. Perhaps the basic tenets of the relationship is the same, but to me (in my limited experience, anyway), there are notable differences, depending on the kind of relationship you have.




RCdc -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 8:57:34 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SimplyMichael

Oh, and the reason this crap matters is because many of us are leaders and mentors in our local community and this is an area that generates a lot of problems. 


What kind of problems?
 
the.dark.




RCdc -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 9:03:48 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida
Every time I read someone say "it's the same" I quite honestly do not understand. Perhaps the basic tenets of the relationship is the same, but to me (in my limited experience, anyway), there are notable differences, depending on the kind of relationship you have.


Hello gorgeous one
Then maybe you can explain it to me - because I don't 'get' the difference - and until I can see what makes all Ds relationships this way and vanillas another, instead of people accepting that all relationships are different anyway (ie - that one Ds relationships works differently to another Ds relationship) - I just see them as 'the same'(hows that for confusing[:D]).
 
When people are saying they are 'the same' - they are suggesting that all relationships are the same, as in that ALL are different.  That is the 'similarity'.
 
What were your differences?
 
the.dark.




NuevaVida -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 9:17:45 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

Hello gorgeous one
Then maybe you can explain it to me - because I don't 'get' the difference - and until I can see what makes all Ds relationships this way and vanillas another, instead of people accepting that all relationships are different anyway (ie - that one Ds relationships works differently to another Ds relationship) - I just see them as 'the same'(hows that for confusing[:D]).
 
When people are saying they are 'the same' - they are suggesting that all relationships are the same, as in that ALL are different.  That is the 'similarity'.
 
What were your differences?
 
the.dark.





OK I think my head actually popped after reading that!! Hmm...let me try to answer, and then I have to scoot off to work.

In a non-D/s relationship, I need to know and understand how to be an equal partner with equal say. I need to accept and exercise that my decisions have equal weight in the relationship, and utilize the skill of making such decisions and following through on them. I am responsible for my own body and what I do with it. I have authority over myself, which gives me the final word as to what I do.

As a submissive in a D/s based relationship, I need to know and understand how to subjugate to his word. He has final decision making authority over me, my body, my life, and I need to utilize the skill of gracefully complying to his will. I need the skill of communicating without making demands, and of understanding myself at a level I might not necessarily need to in a non-D/s relationship.

In a non-D/s (I hate the "vanilla" word) relationship, I am not expected (nor is it necessarily desired) to deny a desire of mine so that his desire can come first. In a D/s relationship (as has been my limited experience so far), that very well may be expected of me, and I might need the skills to do so without feeling pouty about it, and certainly to behave according to how HE prefers, rather than how I prefer.

In a non-D/s relationship, I can enjoy serving him in a way that makes me feel good, overall. I can do things for him that I want to do for him, of my own accord. In a D/s relationship, I serve him how HE wishes to be served (and still enjoy it, mind you), which may be different than what I originally had in mind.

So, OK, these relationships are all the same in that they are all different and unique. But the skills needed in each relationship, as I see it, are different.

Now I'll dizzily make my way to the office, lol.






Rover -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 9:41:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

In a non-D/s relationship, I need to know and understand how to be an equal partner with equal say. I need to accept and exercise that my decisions have equal weight in the relationship, and utilize the skill of making such decisions and following through on them.

 
To begin, I am in no way telling you what you personally need to know or understand.  But having said that, who says so you need to be an equal partner with equal say, other than the folks at NOW?  Very few vanilla relationships are "equal" in that way, in my experience (one or the other seems to have and exercise the majority of control).  And although this description is accurate for some vanilla relationships, it's simply a stereotype when applied to all vanilla relationships.
 
Ok, I'll throw this out there as some fuel for the fire....
 
Resolved:  Power exchange relationships are merely a specific subset of vanilla relationships (where one partner has authority to exercise control), and all that separates D/s from vanilla is self-awareness and acceptance.
 
John




JustDarkness -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 9:42:45 AM)

quote:

and all that separates D/s from vanilla is self-awareness and acceptance.


why those?




Rover -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 9:45:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JustDarkness

quote:

and all that separates D/s from vanilla is self-awareness and acceptance.


why those?


Because power exchange relationships exist in both vanilla and D/s.  That's an undeniable fact.  Though in vanilla, the participants are either unaware that they're in such an intentional dynamic, or they deny any association with D/s (and BDSM), or both.
 
John




oceanwynds -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 10:11:03 AM)


[/quote]

Because power exchange relationships exist in both vanilla and D/s.  That's an undeniable fact.  Though in vanilla, the participants are either unaware that they're in such an intentional dynamic, or they deny any association with D/s (and BDSM), or both.
 
John

I agree on this Rover.
Perhaps one day, I will figure how to do the quotes in the blocks.

In my marriage we did not know of these words D/s and BDSM. Did we have an equal relationship? Hardly. Did he ask for my input on important decisions? Yes! Did he make the final decisions? Yes! Was there a skill (s) needed to be learned in our marriage. Yes! Is there skill(s) to be learned in D/s with Sir? Yes! Are they different for me? No!! In my opinion D/s does not give more towards TPE. Perhaps i lived 29 year marriage in D/s and we didn't know. We just were two people in love for a long time and until death did us part. We didn't need to define who we were, we did it automatically.




heartfeltsub -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 10:43:10 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida


quote:

ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

Hello gorgeous one
Then maybe you can explain it to me - because I don't 'get' the difference - and until I can see what makes all Ds relationships this way and vanillas another, instead of people accepting that all relationships are different anyway (ie - that one Ds relationships works differently to another Ds relationship) - I just see them as 'the same'(hows that for confusing[:D]).
 
When people are saying they are 'the same' - they are suggesting that all relationships are the same, as in that ALL are different.  That is the 'similarity'.
 
What were your differences?
 
the.dark.





OK I think my head actually popped after reading that!! Hmm...let me try to answer, and then I have to scoot off to work.

In a non-D/s relationship, I need to know and understand how to be an equal partner with equal say. I need to accept and exercise that my decisions have equal weight in the relationship, and utilize the skill of making such decisions and following through on them. I am responsible for my own body and what I do with it. I have authority over myself, which gives me the final word as to what I do.

As a submissive in a D/s based relationship, I need to know and understand how to subjugate to his word. He has final decision making authority over me, my body, my life, and I need to utilize the skill of gracefully complying to his will. I need the skill of communicating without making demands, and of understanding myself at a level I might not necessarily need to in a non-D/s relationship.

In a non-D/s (I hate the "vanilla" word) relationship, I am not expected (nor is it necessarily desired) to deny a desire of mine so that his desire can come first. In a D/s relationship (as has been my limited experience so far), that very well may be expected of me, and I might need the skills to do so without feeling pouty about it, and certainly to behave according to how HE prefers, rather than how I prefer.

In a non-D/s relationship, I can enjoy serving him in a way that makes me feel good, overall. I can do things for him that I want to do for him, of my own accord. In a D/s relationship, I serve him how HE wishes to be served (and still enjoy it, mind you), which may be different than what I originally had in mind.

So, OK, these relationships are all the same in that they are all different and unique. But the skills needed in each relationship, as I see it, are different.

Now I'll dizzily make my way to the office, lol.




 
What NV said here is exactly what i was trying to indicate on skills that new submissives have to start using (mentioned in my previous post).
 
Unless there is some other basis (other than that authority exchange is key to what is central to the relationship) for one partner to submit to another, social norms in older couples, the way someone was taught marriages were supposed to look like, religious or spiritual convictions, etc. it seems to me that more often than not what we are calling "vanilla" relationships are like a two-headed animal with both heads pulling in opposite directions, trying to figure out who gets to win this time. Most of what i've seen, although they have a "power dynamic" of a sort, it is more often a power struggle, than a power exchange (though i prefer the term authority exchange)
 
Added to that, is the fact that modern girls, women are taught to stand up for yourself, look out for number one, don't let any man tell you what you can or can't do, etc. So there is not only a learning curve of how to gracefully submit as NV stated but also an unlearning curve for many on how to not run one's lifes by the precepts that have been drummed into them.
 
heartfelt




FRSguy -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 11:03:09 AM)

Thanks for the post about your parents John it is inspirational and thought provoking.
In my D/S relationships I have been viewing it way to simplistically it seems.  My s.o. and I kind of agreed one day that I always win the arguments (at least 98% of them) and I get what I want for sex when I want it. (at least 90% of the time and within the limitations of her values.)  We kind of stopped struggling and arguing with who was going to be the chief of every little issue that popped up.  In that respect I view the D/S dynamic as simpler and less communicative. Now I am all confused…. lol




JustDarkness -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 11:06:30 AM)

mm yes..but that seems logic not...that vanilla's are not aware of the bdsm part of their relation?
(or did you mean that a bdsm relation..is something people "chose" with a goal)
many bdsm relation try to push away their vanilla part too




Rover -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 11:24:35 AM)

Look at it this way.... in terms of sheer numbers, there are more vanillas engaged in bondage/discipline and sadism/masochism on any given night than there are Leather folk.  So what separates the two?  Surely not what it is that they *do*, because they're both doing the same things.
 
Simply put, you can't make someone join a club that they don't want to join, or don't know exists (unless it's the AARP here in the US).  And that's the case with most vanillas.  They either reject out of hand that they have any commonality with Leather folk (generally because the representations of Leather are misleading and purposely sensational), or they are blissfully unaware that it even exists.
 
Neither of which changes the fact that they're practicing B/D and S/M.
 
John




JustDarkness -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 12:18:10 PM)

mm agree with that.
thank you for explaining




CreativeDominant -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 12:18:57 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SlyStone

quote:

nyone can just be... but to do it well takes skill



Interesting, I would have said it takes heart and soul.


Anything but skill.




That sounds romantic and wonderful but sadly, the romance of any relationship can die without the skill to tend to the structure within which the romance resides.




WhiplashSmile2 -> RE: Vanilla and D/s (10/29/2008 12:19:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SimplyMichael
Oh, and the reason this crap matters is because many of us are leaders and mentors in our local community and this is an area that generates a lot of problems. 


I think I'm probally going to be precieved as a bit of a prick in response here.  However, What good does a High Emphasis on D/s do for Dom couples? For even some people that indentify as Switches?  What about those who are only into Bedroom D/s BDSM kink/play?

For instance, there are probally some excellent Dom to Domme match up's that would make great couples, but if there is so much emphases placed on a DOM having to be in a D/s relationship with a sub/slave partner.  It sort of discourages people against trying it, exploring it, and if anything promotes NOT doing it.

What about a Switch couple and those skill sets and dynamics?  I would hope any leader/mentor worth a rats ass in the BDSM community is capable of mentoring on relationships that don't fall nice and neat into D/s dynamics alone.

Two things that are deadly apparent in my eyes at least  are  1. S&M overkill  2. D/s overkill  which tends to lead to alienation.

People should not feel that they have to live up to some unspoken group mandate for D/s or even S&M for example.

Perhaps I'm expressing thoughts that threatens to "water things down some" for some people, but not really.  D/s and S&M should and always will have it's place in BDSM.  There's no way in hell the things I am advocating or expressing in any way lesson these things.   What I'm expressing does not belittle nor cheapen TPE M/s relationships, and those people that desire to have those, or have had those.   There should be no shame for having one or not having one.

So, what are the skillsets one should have for a healthy D/s relationship, what are the skillsets for a Healthy Dom Couple relationship, what are the skillsets for a Switch Couple relationships?  What are the things these relationships have in common, what are some of the basic differences?  What are some common variations on D/s relationships?   It's all about theme and variation.  What is in common and what is not.   In the end, what decisions that the people in these relationships make according to how they wish to live their own lives.

I think laying out the options, in a well informed manner and promoting differences and tolerence and understanding is important, as opposed to getting too caught up in everything being about S&M and D/s to the 9th degree.   Perhaps I'm just out to lunch.   Perhaps I'm just an over opinionated Jack-Ass.  

OK, I'm involved with somebody who's a submissive right now, both of us on the same wave length of D/s relationship, Daddy Dom/little girl variety to it.  Just not somebody calling me Daddy, but rather a type of D/s relationship that is loosely defined.   However it's these are the labels and terms that best apply to both her and I.   In the end, it's what her and I make of it.  Not what everybody thinks it should or should not be.

Really don't know what more to express here.  I was in a DOM couple relationship.  That all got started off as a mutual friend hooking her and I up as a bit of a practical joke.   He was thinking the result of match making of two DOMs would be funny and that it would go nowhere in the end.   Then again, boy he was ever wrong about it.   Then again, it's this very tarnished mindset that two DOMs together will make for a bad couple is the thing that well... frankly disappoints me when it comes to Local Communities, the D/s overkill and even S&M overkill.   Type of stuff that makes me want to scream out loud "Ignorant fucks". 

Actually there are a lot of "ingorant fucks" trolling around responding to profiles.  I'm not going to call them fakes, wankers or wannabe's... Just ingorant fucks.   So yeah, I might sound a little condesending here.  I might be sounding like a real prick about shit.  This is my own personal opinion about a few things.

Ignorant fucking people piss me off.  For instance how people have some notion that it's unacceptable for a DOM to recieve or enjoy pain.   Time and time again, I have been bold enough to make posts on this topic when it comes up.   That is does not mean a Dom is submissive or even has to be in a submissive position or mindset or be literally a Do anything Bottom to recieve and enjoy pain.  However, ignorance has proven itself time and time again on this message board.   I've tried to share things to help other people understand certain aspects.   If somebody want to Proclaim I'm not a real true DOM because I have both a Sado and maso side, that's great, just proves how fucking ingorant somebody actually and really is.

There's a lot of ingornant fucks, that expect for complete strangers to act submissive and be submissive in their presence.  Just for having a simple conversation.   Read about this issue time and time again on the message board.   Just more ingorant fucking people acting out in bad ingorant fucking ways.

I'll tell anybody, any Dom to their face, they are acting like an Ingorant fuck by expecting this from complete strangers.  I have done so in more polite ways in some of the threads on here already.   I would never expect nor demand that my girl, act or behave all submissive to any stranger, at anywhere.   I only expect for her to give and show basic human Vanilla respect.   If any ingornant fuck thinks for one moment, I'm going to insist that my girl will address them as Sir, Master and act all submissive in their presence... well ain't you something extra special. NOT!   If you can't deal with recieveing basic Vanilla human respect and if you find that too insulting for your own good, fuck off.  

I'm in a bit of mood this afternoon.  I really think leadership/mentors need to address the issues within their respected communities, to make people less ignorant and make them more well informed about things.




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