CallaFirestormBW -> RE: Master/slave questions (7/31/2009 9:25:04 AM)
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ORIGINAL: SlyStone Proclaiming oneself to be something does not make it so, although you seem to be saying that it in your world it does. I would say that what you are describing is not a dual concept at all, but rather a beginning and an end. A women, or a man, identifies as a slave, and then they seek to become that which they perceive themselves to be. But until they do, in my mind, they are only a potential slave, and there is a vast difference between potentiality and reality. I understand that people do believe that it is their nature to be something, and there is no reason to think that is not true, although of course often it is not, but cynicism aside, I think there still has to be intent and there has to be action and has to be ownership in order for the realization to occur, because it is the difference between having "slave" tendencies or perceiving oneself to be a "slave", and being a "slave". I have to disclaim, before I start, that I may not be grokking in fullness what Leonidas and IronBear are trying to say, despite being heavily vested in owner/servant dynamics and comprehensive-authority dynamics myself, but I did want to respond to Sly's comment, because I've seen the idea that one -is- a 'slave' or 'master' or whatever bandied about for years, and it's always rung sort of 'off' to me. See, Sly's distinction between -being- something and the -potential to be- something is a distinction that I make as well, but that I know that others do not make. I don't consider the -potential- of something to actually -represent- that thing, and that's a lesson hard-learned from far too many years attached to people that I got involved with because of either their or my perception of their (unexpressed) potential. Potential is just that ... it is an unrealized possibility. Now, under the proper circumstances, that unexpressed possibility may become extant -- but I couldn't call myself "professor", even though I adore teaching, have a PhD, and find the University environment very enticing. I can't call myself 'professor' because I am not -hired- as a professor by an institution that recognizes my potential and where I actually -employ- that potential in its designated role. A person can't call hirself a doctor because xhe loves House and -wants- to be a doctor. A person who thinks xhe can write, but who has never put anything down on a piece of paper can't call hirself a 'writer'. To me, it is the same with the concepts of Owner/slave (by whatever name you call it). If our Household didn't have any servants, I wouldn't be a Keeper. In fact, right now, I prefer to consider myself a free member, because, although HB does have servants, frankly, they're in other branches of the household and I don't really deal with them. SR -is- the Matriarch, because we have other members in the household, so there is -still- a House to run, but if she were alone, what would she be the matriarch OF? This, I think, is why I prefer to -discuss- with potential newcomers, and establish terms before I expect them to yield to me... because in my gut, until that collar goes around their neck, I see them as free individuals who prefer submission to dominance... but I -don't- see them as 'servants' until our interaction evolves to the point where they are ready to yield up authority to me... and I don't see them as "comprehensive-authority" servants (slaves, tpe, whatever) until they have yielded up everything. At that point, whether I delegate it back to them or keep it myself, the final authority rests with me, and -that- is the defining point at which they are no longer 'in potential', but are actively -existing- as what they call themselves. In the same way, I don't expect someone to consider me -their- master/mistress/keeper/whatever until I have claimed authority that they have yielded up. Until I've been vested with the authority, we are all independent, free individuals, regardless of our desire, willingness, or capacity to either manage authority or yield such. Dame Calla
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