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MaleModel -> RE: BDSM Commune/Cult (6/26/2006 8:37:44 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Proprietrix
My reply here is probably more questions expanding on the OP rather than a reply with any answers.
From a Sociological perspective, the idea of a BDSM cult absolutely fascinates me, and a BDSM commune has an enticing appeal.
I would think it would be difficult to put one together. Besides coordinating the mundane vanilla aspects of outside family and jobs, all sorts of difficulties occur to me, such as members with offspring, how the hierarchy would work between all members (both Dominant and submissive), and how challenging it would be to find not just one, but several other kink-minded people who had a belief system compatible enough to make it happen. Of those challenges, I think income/employment would be the easiest to overcome. There are many people in the lifestyle who are talented at craftsmanship, and with combined efforts, the commune/cult could possibly even support itself off selling lifestyle wares.
But who would hold the key position in this situation? The person who originated the idea and put it out there for others? The property owner? Would it necessarily need to be a Dominant in the highest position of power? If so, would "all" the members be subservient to that person, like in a Goddess worship situation? In most cults, there is a prime central figure that all default to, but realistically, how big could a BDSM commune become if other Dominants were expected to defer to the leading Dominant? How easily could it operate?
Would new members be trained? By whom? To what specifications? Would an incoming submissive be trained to the uber-Dominant leader’s specifications, or just to the rules in general of the community?
Where does it cross the line from commune into cult? Or does it even matter if it crosses that line?
What would be the likelihood of the government becoming involved?
Does religion play a role? Spirituality without religion? A belief system without spirituality or religion? I could see the benefits on a financial and liberty level of establishing it as a religion.
There would have to be a commonality of beliefs and shared definitions among the members.
How likely is it that an entire community could be set up around one person’s dreams and ethics and beliefs? How long would it last?
How would conflict be handled?
How technical would it need to become regarding codified rules and protocol and the distribution of wealth and ownership (of both property and slaves)?
How separate from vanilla society would it be?
It’s an interesting concept to think about.
Proprietrix, you have brought up a whole host of interesting questions. I have begun writing a story about such a commune, and had not thought about most of these issues. Of course, in a fictional version, one doesn't have to resolve questions of the governance of the commune, LOL
It is clear that if such an entity existed in r/l, it would have to be codified quite extensively. Otherwise, a Dominant might move in, have some kind of conflict, and then have to move out again. In our litigious society, that person could sue the commune (assumed to be a separate legal entity) and/or its leaders. Also, codification would be required if subs had to give up their pay to the institution.
One could imagine a confederation in which the founding Dominant exercised loose control over groups of other Dominants, but with a clear understanding about the use of communal property (including sex slaves) and the finances. Perhaps a re-reading of the Federalist Papers would be in order before setting out on this venture. lol
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