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ORIGINAL: LillyoftheVally

I think that there are many people who see experience as an attractive quality as is power and confidence which are more common in older than younger people. I have no clue about the leather community but in my life I have both been attracted to older people and have seen my peers do the same. Of course it is not so much a pilgrimage to that older person and not all are held on a pedstal but I do think that its common across social groups.

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ORIGINAL: mnottertail

There is nothing like the smell of old leather, old money, or old pussy.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

.........I certainly don't consider Myself a 'sexual icon' in any way, but I absolutely see what you are driving at. It may rely on one of the tenants that makes leather different than your average kinky person and that is we are so focused on things like hierarchy and seniority. How long a person's been doing this since their first rodeo actually matters in our community and the longer that's been, the closer to the head of the table you are. It's totally a status thing and yes, that is attractive to some younger people.

With that seniority, hopefully, comes experience and wisdom. My view is that we tend to pick up a lot of really cool tricks along the way when it comes to S/m. We also tend to acquire a lot of the tools of the trade over the years. Those two factors alone make us sought out as play partners. On top of that, reputation alone carries a lot of weight. I'm only in My mid-forties and I can't tell you how many times I've been introduced to someone who has 'heard' of Me before they ever met Me. I guess they hear good things because I always get a good reception.

Mentoring, I think, is almost a given as to why we are sought out. You've been around longer than I have so I have no doubt that you've seen the dramatic advances in educational opportunities that have sprung from the leather community. If you look at the number of cons available now even compared to ten years ago, it's staggering when you consider what's really out there. We're still so used to the concept of 'if you don't support your leather community, you won't have a leather community to support' that you still see the seniors sitting in those seats and continuing to support leather education. Some of that knowledge tends to rub off along the way and I think people notice.

I mean no offense to the average kinkster, but yeah, it's the leather. People know when you've got leather running through your veins.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

.........I certainly don't consider Myself a 'sexual icon' in any way

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ORIGINAL: ResidentSadist
Dear sexy and iconic Lady Pact,

I am pretty sure you have a fan club that thinks you are a sexual icon. If not, I'll start one you hotty!

I agree, experiences sits you closer to the head of the table as long as you display experience and wisdom, aren't a maniac or get yourself outcast. And that is different than your average kinky or swinger social group that is more focused on getting with the "fresh meat" new comers. take a room full of leather folk, shove a new Dom/me in the mix and they are not sought after like the older ones with rep. The leather folk are focused on things like hierarchy and seniority.

How true, our acquired collections do build up over the years, our gear, our rep and our circle of friends within the community. From my beginnings over 40 years ago, I watched the spirit of the leather community focus on sharing and educating each other to create a better quality of life for us as individuals and as a community. In that same spirit, new societies and events are created in this growing community. Whether it is fresh perspectives brought by TNG, social fads making leather popular and bringing an influx of newbees or books and movies changing social outlooks, none have changed the core spirit of the leather community.

I guess as long as experience and wisdom equal power in a society that supports its founders, its seniors and values leather education, those smart sexy old fuckers will always remain popular.

In your case, RS, I'm also quite certain it has to do with that silver tongue of yours.

Another through crossed My mind. You've got to admit, leather folks don't act all that old when there is a party to be had. Heck, look at the schedule that we keep during a con? Up at daybreak to shower, dress, etc before breakfast or first presentation. A full schedule all day until dinner break. We eat, freshen up, polish our leather and shine our boots before the dungeon that night. Then we play and socialize until 3:00 AM to do it all again for three or four days.

Heck, I've been up for the better part of two days making food non stop for tonight's party. I'll be up until at least two and up at the crack of dawn making breakfast for the overnighters. Yeah, I'll be damn tired come tomorrow but for now, the candle is burning at both ends.

See ya tomorrow afternoon, folks.

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ORIGINAL: ResidentSadist


I have been around the block (lifestyle since 1971) and I noticed that for the past 40 years, no matter where I go, there is a stereotypical reaction to our older leather folk that doesn’t seem true in the vanilla world. We don’t just respect our older leather folk, we see them as sexual icons seeking them as partners and playmates. It seems to me that spry young vanilla’s don’t go chasing after old vanilla folk for brief sexual encounters, long term relationships, mentoring, simple casual play nor do they look upon older men and women as sexual icons. Sure there are vanilla exceptions to the rule but your average older leather Dom/me carries the role of sexual icon, the average vanilla doesn't.

Is it our focus on kinks and passion that overcomes any age differences?

Are leather folk so sexually oriented and charged up that they stay hotties longer than vanillas?

Does the open minded leather community break normal age barriers for the vanilla world?

Is it the leather . . . or are we just that good looking?

How old before we become too old for the role of leather sexual icons?