Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "survey"

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Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "survey&q... - 1/27/2005 10:03:52 AM

Goodmix

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my local group was asked to participate in a BDSM survey from a local college. W/we have not declined, and are posting the question to the group. The college claims anonymity, but "large metropolitan city in Maryland" would not be anonymous...there's only one large metropolitan city in Maryland.
All the responses so far have been against participating. i am not opposed to participate. i feel that if the location is vague (Mid Atlantic city, East coast city) it would help keep us safer. (What i mean by that is Black Rose has had to change their location several times, and has even lost insurance)
The reason i am not opposed is that (without sounding corny) knowledge is power. I think we are stereo typed, and are not understood because of it. i am not so naive as to think society will accept us with open arms, but the process and would have to be a slow one. i think this may be a step.
How would you feel about participating in a "survey”?

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 11:13:56 AM

paintheory

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I see situations like this with other friends of mine that are in the lifestyle. I agree that knowledge is power, and people in the lifestyle are stereotyped a lot, with that being said... I think that in a small area where a community is tight knit and people know each other, I would not risk anything that could cause problems for individuals in the group, or the group as a whole. Fortunately I am in the Industry of Kink so everyone knows what I do, I don't work in environments where my lifestyle is a controversial issue, thank goodness.

Thaine

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 11:33:37 AM

happypervert

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In theory I can't see any reason not to participate. However, for a couple of reasons it sounds like it would probably be a waste of time:

1. By limiting this research to your local group, the survey limits itself in sample size as well as the diversity of opinions. Let's face it, group membership is often driven by everyone getting along and generally agreeing; that means that other folks will select themselves out and the result will be biased instead of reflecting the attitudes of the broad population.

2. If the survey is being done by profs wanting to publish, then they may already have an agenda and they could spin the results to make you look bad; if it is done by students, then they may be clueless and the questions could be ridiculous and the interpretation worse. Either way, I'd probably want to see the survey as well as whatever other research has inspired it before volunteering my time to answer it.

So that's my take based on the little bit you've described.

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 11:43:03 AM

phoenix52

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i would be glad to participate in a survey like this, as the OP said, knowledge is power. i think it is a lack of knowledge on the part of the public that leads them to assume we all have horns. Also, i am assuming the questions would be general in nature and not liable to "out" anyone against his/her wishes.

In any case, we are located in a "large metro city" in Oklahoma, and there are still well over a million people here. i do not think any of my vanilla friends/family would automatically assume the people in the survey were me or my Master.

Just my $0.02....

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 12:23:57 PM

siamsa24

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Having been a designer and expermenter of a similar study I am going to give my opinion on this.
As Pheonix said, it's impossible to tell who is who from the survey and all of the answers should not be able to be traced back to an individual person. I have gotten suveys back that have only a few questions answered and that is an option.
Also, not every study is published and not every student that does an experiment is doing it alone. My study was done for a class and was not published, but it was done under the direction and supervision of a professor. We have also done studies where the whole class works on it, but the professor designs it and it is not used for publication.
Furthermore, although it is possible to skew data by using various analysis techniques such a study has an extremely low chance of being published in a reputable journal. The data and results are examined by an unbiased board and they make the final choice about the publication of the paper.

I think that it would be beneficial to ask if the study is being submitted for publication and if it is to ask what journals it is being submitted to. If the journals are reputable then it would simply be up to you to decide what you feel comfortable with.
My guess though, is that it is not being submitted for publication because, as it was mention previously, their sample size is much too small and the study would be rejected on those grounds alone.

Well, sorry for such a long post, but that's my opinion as an experimenter.

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 2:51:01 PM

Goodmix

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I do appreciate everyone's responses. I would like to clarify something if i may.
Using Black Rose (which is not to far from us) as an example; When preparing for the 2003 convention in Ocean City MD it was discovered what "type" of group it was, and the location of the convention had to be changed at what felt like the last minute. Also, as stated they have had to change the location of the meeting more than a couple times, and have lost their insurance becasue of the nature of the business, so to speak.
BESS Baltimore Education & Social Society (the group i belong to ) was renting space, and when someone from the group was not very discreet, the space was not offered after the renewal period. So this can be a concern.
Also, i have heard of someone who the "right wing conservatives" track to every job and contact his employer.
So i understand everyone's concern.
my feeling is that by participating, we have some control, i.e., to negotate how much input we have into this (after all, we should all know something about negotiation, hehe) or we will not participate, and make it so we approve the release (a little more tricky).
i don't think it particpating would be a waste of time; i do think how we handle them if we reject the offer should be well thougth out, and politicaly correct.
Someone in the group just posted that we should just turn them over to the NCSF.....
which becasue i think is the best idea, it would then be a National group, not local , and i could still particpate.

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 3:43:15 PM

sub4hire

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quote:

How would you feel about participating in a "survey”?

I run a BDSM group in California. We will be going on 4 this year. About twice a year someone e-mails me claiming to be doing this and that. Asking if we would participate in a BDSM study. Of course after it is all done and over with they tell us they will provide us with the outcome so to speak.
I usually post it to the group. Tell them I do not know if it is valid or not. Allow people to decide for themselves. As I said, in a few month's we will be going on 4 year's old. I'm yet to see anything from any of these people.
When you embark on a study you usually have a time frame for it to end. When you ask such questions you usually do not get replies.

So, I'd suggest answer if you want. Don't if you don't.

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/27/2005 9:19:22 PM

ModeratorThree

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This thread has been returned. It asked a valid question and quickly became an insulting thread.

Please lets stay on subject and if you have something to add to the discussion by all means do. If not , well pass this one by.

Do not insult others or other professions.. and please do not make broad statments about any particular profession.

All of the posts that were involved in the digs at each other have been removed, if you posted and your post was removed and you would like it back email me on the other side.

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RE: Pro's & Con's of participating in a BDSM "surv... - 1/28/2005 1:37:51 PM

jillwfsub4blkdom

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i see no harm in responding to the survey. Knowledge is very powerful.

jill

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RE: BDSM "survey - 1/28/2005 2:14:44 PM

DomButNotForgotn

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Why bother with their survey???? DO it yourself! If you want to have a self-sponsored survey - why not do that, and offer it for sale, just like the survey companies do? You control the questions, compile the info (with definitions of data used or discarded, and market the results, no BS or agenda-ridden third party politics involved!!!

Power to the peepers! I mean people...

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RE: BDSM "survey - 1/28/2005 7:07:54 PM

ShadeDiva

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I don't do polls.

I don't believe they provide any valid or factual information, myself.

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