quote:

ORIGINAL: susie
What first hand experience? Yours from your short visit to the UK or someone like mine who has lived here all my life. Yes there are sex shops in most of the cities. I could take you to mine in Birmingham that is in the main shopping area and has open displays of items in the store window. Or we could go to the latex store that has manequins dressed in latex including masks etc in the window. Just my first hand experience.

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ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

Read my comments closer; I spoke of specifics and access options being eliminated. I would love to hear your references, points, and examples to the contrary. I know the people I was with, one a former BDSM club proprietor, would be happy to learn of some corner of the UK where she wouldn't face arrest under the current political environment. Personally, I would love for you to provide factual reference providing that the current policies in the UK have made access to BDSM 'porn' and/or equipment easier to access and more open for purchase.

There are 'sex shops' in every city, but buying a latex mask is about as 'exotic' as buying ice cube trays that mold water into penis forms. Or have they also been outlawed or come with a disclaimer "for entertain purposes only"?

Please enlighten me how the OP's concern is only propaganda. And please for our next trip, provide locations relative to your first hand experience with BDSM clubs, especially those permitting nudity, or better yet sex. How about a few leather stores that have single tails displayed for sale.

They sell latex masks here at costume shops, leather harnesses and belts at 'Goth' stores. For those that don't practice the 'Stand & Model' version of S&M, there was nothing to buy. I never expected to come back from Amsterdam and London unable to find a 'toy'. My surprise was learning that the proprietors of the shops were afraid to offer it for sale.

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think you are misinformed in thinking that BDSM club owners are being prosecuted in the UK. There are many clubs that are still open and running as they have been for a number of years.

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I also did not say that purchasing BDSM porn or equipment was easier. In fact I see no change in this over the last few years. Certainly the places we purchase items from have made no changes whatsoever. Of course you will know better from your short visit here.

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ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

I'll ask you directly - do you support the pragmatic result of closing BDSM clubs and limiting access as a consequence of the current law on the books in the UK? Whether it was the intend or not - it is the result.

Which leads to the ultimate question I asked and you still have not answered; why do you find it appropriate for a government, any government liberal or conservative, to make laws that restrict access to what you want to do with your own body? The decision and the personal consequence of that decision, should be excluded from government intervention.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth
Unless you can provide a exception I'm afraid I'll have to go by what we, and our local, experienced, excellent, handsome, informed, tour guides and chaperons experienced. (Who will, unless they want to expose themselves, remain nameless.)

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ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

This is Darcy
 
I was informed somone mentioned 'handsome'.  Without doubt I knew my ears were burning for a reason.

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ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth
Unless you can provide a exception I'm afraid I'll have to go by what we, and our local, experienced, excellent, handsome, informed, tour guides and chaperons experienced. (Who will, unless they want to expose themselves, remain nameless.)

Hmmm.  I resemble that remark.
Although, we are leaving the public exposing for Folsom!

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ORIGINAL: wankerforuse

To look at bdsm material,photos or videos on the computer via the internet.Is it legal or am i breaking the law by looking at the above mentioned material.

Do i face arrest and possibly going to jail for continuing to look at stuff that i am hooked on (Yes).and not only that but by living on my own,surely i can't be hurting anyone (That is somewhat questionable). And it is my only way to sexually releive myself (Well then, you may want to consider the possible repercussions of this chosen life of crime).I can't see that im really doing any harm at all really (Ohhhhhhh....lemme tell you sumpin bud....I see you peering over the precipice of this ongoing dillusion that encapsulates so many of us....run now....leave while you can.....I was once like you....my time is past....run....please....protect yourself....listen to your inner voice!!!!!),but if anyone can please kindly let me know what is legal and what is'nt over here in the uk i really would appreciate it very much indeed (I'm here for you bud).Thanks to everyone who replies to this post my very best wishes to you all from Paul.

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ORIGINAL: susie

I think you are misinformed in thinking that BDSM club owners are being prosecuted in the UK. There are many clubs that are still open and running as they have been for a number of years.

I also did not say that purchasing BDSM porn or equipment was easier. In fact I see no change in this over the last few years. Certainly the places we purchase items from have made no changes whatsoever.  Of course you will know better from your short visit here.

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ORIGINAL: JonnieBoy

I would agree with you susie, but have less first hand knowlege of London specifically than some posters here it would seem, I do, however, have some knowlege of London and the opinion that it can be a very paranoid place, my view is that if, as has been stated, there is a degree of nervousness being exibited THERE, it is symptomatic to THERE and don't see much difference elsewhere.

But ... I thought this was a thread about internet "ecucational " material for a chaps "research" purposes ?

Pirate

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ORIGINAL: susie
What I do find amusing is that the comments about our liberal or not attitude to sex / bdsm should come from those resident in a country that almost went into melt down over the sight of Janet Jackson's bare breast on TV.

That's hardly across the pond.
 
Susie, I was being genuine - give me the name of the store you mentioned and we will go take a look.  I am not intentionally trying to be a pain in the ass, but its rare(I wont say impossible) to find a store that happily exhibits porn, toys and other paraphinallia that isn't cheap ann summers knock offs or fluffy hand cuffs catering to the hen night brigade.  Unlike Jonnie (waves) mentioned, it isn't just a paranoid London thing.  I have lived in Cornwall, Devon and still have regular links there as well as Notts and Leeds, and the same thing happens through out.  Soho isn't the groovy place it was 10 years ago either, with stores closed and replaced with fruit and veg markets because it's hard work opening a store and maintaining it within the restrictions of local councils - same as clubs and bars - if it's difficult for public houses to survive due to legislation and having them close at a terrible rate, why wouldn't it be hard for other establishments?
 
Not that that is a bad thing.  The internet is a far easier medium for this kind of thing and you are more likely to get good, quality stuff from an artist who makes these items than the tacky and cheap imports that fill the shelves of sex shops in general.
No wonder their windows tend to be filled in - they are probably embarressed  by the quality.
 
If badly made PVC that you are lucky to get wear out one night without tearing of is your thing, there are stores all over the country that deals with that - lordy even Primark has it.  But if you want to get and legally own a beautiful knife or single tail for play - or carry it with you to your partners house, or buy and watch porn off the net, purchase or have a physical copy, then the best advice is not as someone said - as long as its not snuff or the like - your safe - thats the crappiest advice you can give anyone because it's not been tested properly as yet.  Even doing something as groovy as public fireplay makes a club owner have to consider fire safety regulations.  As an artist, I am well aware of what I have to go through to stick within the law - even when drawing and not taking photographs.  You only have to see what happened to Max Mosely to see just how out of control anything can go.  That's not paranoia - that's being aware of the risk your taking in the first place.
 
If it all seems like scare tactics to people, it's all cool.  But last time I looked, I don't believe that naievity was a good defense in a court of law.
 
the.dark.