Mercnbeth
Posts: 11766
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quote:
They will have age restricted groups, they will have the klans and gangs and all sorts of stuff. I'm still going to think its stupid. Illogical. NOW if some one like Latigress, or LaM, or KOM, or Mnotter, Mercnbeth or a few of the others on here that show a lot of wisdom in their posts - saying different then i could stand corrected. Riot, I don't believe that our "wisdom" is any more valid than anyone else's but I understand the concept behind the idea. As this lifestyle has become more visible with the advent of the internet, more people have discovered there is a name for their desires. They are finding out that they are not alone or "freaks". Brave enough, they want to meet these other people who are "like them". Many, if not most, of the groups TES in NY Threshold here in LA are long establish groups run by long established people. The are a gateway to good information, good people, and can answer or point to answers. The information is great, but when it comes time to put it in practice, or to interact with others its common to want to do that with people who have common life experiences and common interests outside the groups common interest in the D/s BDSM lifestyle. I don't see it as a "bad" thing. There is a club here in LA that has parties that attract a younger crowd. We've gone a few times. beth and I are pretty delusional when it comes to our age. We both enjoy going to, and doing things, that we should be "too old" to do or go. At this club, the music is "Tech-no" and to us, VERY loud; but we manage to hit the dance floor. They serve alcoholic beverages, often strictly prohibited at other BDSM clubs. We are AMAZED at the fetish fashions worn by the group; appreciating that "Hot Topic" wasn't around when we were their age. We think it's great, and the energy of the room fantastic. They don't point and laugh at us "old folk" when we leave the dance floor and go into a room to play. Many times they follow and observe and ask questions. I'll tell you what though, just as often I'll approach them and compliment them on their skills. Some groups alienate younger people by their rules. The rules, such as no alcoholic beverages, drugs, sex; are practical and have good reason, but tell that to a 20 something. In fact tell that to some of us 40-50 year olds. Assuming that having a glass of wine, or two people to actually want/need to have sex as part of a BDSM scene isn't really that outrageous no matter how much someone older and more experienced says its not a good idea. There are very good and practical reasons for those rules. We can all tell horor stories about what happened to clubs and people who broke those rules. However, some 'life lessions' need to be learned first hand. Also, it's "normal" to seek out people who have the same ideas and definitions of a "good time". Are they putting themselves in a position to get in trouble? Are they engaging in dangerous activities? Sure, just as most of us have driven a car when we KNOW we've drunk enough to get arrested for a DUI. There are common issues and problems age specific. Can someone my age remember what it was like or relate to someone who wants to know how to "play" at home while living with their parents? We don't see a problem with age specific groups. Common interests along with common age is good fertile ground for forming relationships that last. Eventually they'll make enough trips around the sun to either be excluded from their own group, or change the criteria. It's not a "problem" its a fact of life. I remember feeling depressed when I got my notice that I qualified for joining AARP, but the first time I had the chance to use it for a discount, I did! On the other side of the spectrum beth is still 'carded' sometimes when ordering a drink. Every year at the Folsom Street Fair we make sure we take a picture of a great older gentleman who wears a sandwich sign announcing "83 Years of Being Gay! - (But maybe it's just a phase I'm going through.)" We've seen him since the sign had 79 years. We hope someday to have our own similar banner announcing our 25th year attending Folsom. Some will look at us as strange, some will laugh, some will just shake there heads and turn away from the disgusting old folks. Our goal is not to care and to feel as young and proud as the 83 year old man.
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