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ORIGINAL: Blackteddy27
I am not a violet person

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ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
So in order to be a Master, you will need to be active in the local scene

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ORIGINAL: RapierFugue

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ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
So in order to be a Master, you will need to be active in the local scene

Really? I'd disagree with that. Totally.

It's not a merit badge conferred by the townsfolk.

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ORIGINAL: RapierFugue
Really? I'd disagree with that. Totally.

It's not a merit badge conferred by the townsfolk.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

First, thank you, Steven.  That was very nice of you to say.

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ORIGINAL: RapierFugue
Really? I'd disagree with that. Totally.

It's not a merit badge conferred by the townsfolk.

Some people would agree.  Others wouldn't.

For those of us who consider ourselves leather people, it absolutely is a cornerstone.  Being a participant in your local community, and working towards the education and other beneficial aspects of that community, is vital.

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ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
Others' opinions do count for something.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact
Being a participant in your local community, and working towards the education and other beneficial aspects of that community, is vital.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

It's not just two nations, RF.  There are a number of different cultures who have their own way regarding wiitwd.  The various ways that people use terms from one style to the next can be absolutely fascinating.

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ORIGINAL: DarkSteven


So in order to be a Master, you will need to be active in the local scene, and conduct yourself in such a way to elicit respect.  Knowing one or more types of play (whips, cutting, etc.,) at an expert level is expected, and expertise in bondage is a given.  Being known for keeping your word is essential. 

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ORIGINAL: LadyConstanze

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven


So in order to be a Master, you will need to be active in the local scene, and conduct yourself in such a way to elicit respect.  Knowing one or more types of play (whips, cutting, etc.,) at an expert level is expected, and expertise in bondage is a given.  Being known for keeping your word is essential. 

Steven, I'd say it depends, bondage is nothing that really holds my interest, I prefer leather restrains to rope bondage, sure I can do a bondage but to be honest I find it a bit boring. I'm not active in the scene here as I kinda dipped my toes in and didn't find it to my liking, I don't go for the competition and "You're only dominant if you come with x amount of slaves in tow and sleep in leather jammies and everybody around you knows you are into BDSM" thing, I've no problem sharing knowledge but I am a bit leery explaining something that is quite risky to somebody who can't even bother to properly maintain their tools - I might be uptight here, but I'd feel guilty if something bad happened because I explained something to people who weren't ready for it. I don't walk around swinging a whip and I don't feel I need to be bossy to strangers to show I'm a domme, so I don't really fit into the local scene where it's more like "let it all hang out and wear it on your sleeve", I rather be more private about it, sure I wouldn't mind munches and like-minded people, but if it includes outing myself to the world and possibly doing damage to my vanilla career - count me out.

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ORIGINAL: RapierFugue
again, I think it's a difference between the US and UK definitions of the term.

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ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

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ORIGINAL: RapierFugue
again, I think it's a difference between the US and UK definitions of the term.

I suspect it's more like LadyPact said, that it varies by kink group. 

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ORIGINAL: RapierFugue


I agree with much of that (though not all, although not disagreeing, just that some of it doesn't apply to me) ... again, I think it's a difference between the US and UK definitions of the term.

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ORIGINAL: LadyConstanze
To be honest, I found the US a bit more discrete than the UK in general, whereas London has those wonderful parties where everybody does wear a mask, you need 2 people to vouch for you and you ever mention the location or somebody you recognized, you are black balled, pretty much the way the old gentlemen's clubs were run.

I found the level of conduct where BDSM is concerned quite amazing, on the continent it seems that what ever happens at a venue stays there (a bit like the American saying "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas") and anybody blabbing about having seen somebody at a munch or a venue would find him or herself shunned and cast out, even if the person had outed him or herself you don't talk about having seen that person in a BDSM environment and questions about "real life outside" are not very well received. In the US it's a bit more like a clique and people seem to be fine with that, in the UK on a munch level there doesn't seem to be much of a discretion thing, which does put me off a bit, however there are certain play parties that take discretion quite seriously, to be honest I much prefer that level of discretion. I'm not particularly interested that everybody knows what I'm into, I don't care what the people do who happen to be at the same venue, they deserve their privacy as much as I deserve mine.

The UK on a munch basis and the US on a play basis (based on my own limited experiences) see to be a bit more of people stopping you on the street and talking about where you met, without caring all that much who you are with, that makes me a bit uncomfy and in their eyes a bit uptight.