losttreasure
Posts: 875
Joined: 12/17/2005 Status: offline
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I wish that I had the time right now to address all the comments made here, but as I'm just a few days away from moving across the country and getting behind schedule... quote:
ORIGINAL: Padriag quote:
ORIGINAL: losttreasure I simply cannot fathom placing myself... and all of that which makes me who I am, including my needs, my wants and my desires... at his feet and expecting him to "make it happen". Then why this thread, why this question at all? If you do not feel that the dominant is responsible for meeting all your desires (and I found it interesting you threw needs in with desires above), then why the objection when they say it is not their responsibility to do so? You seem to be holding dominants to quite the double standard. On the one hand you seem to be saying you are capable and responsible for fulfilling your own desires... and then with the other hand you reach out expecting, and placing the obligation on, the dominant to provide for your desires for you. Which is it, because you will find few dominants worthy of the appelation would tolerate your trying to have it both ways. First, please understand that my opening remarks and question were of a general nature intended to provoke thought and gain insight... not as a representation of my own relationship. It doesn't really matter how many dominants exist who would tolerate anything I do; since I belong to FirmhandKY, his preferences are what matter to me. For what it is worth, yes... I am perfectly capable of attempting to fulfill my own desires, and until such time as he removes it from me, the responsibility rests squarely on my own shoulders. The quoted statement above, however, does reflect my own views of submission. I personally do not even consider submission without compatibility, but when I do consent to submit, it is an offer... what he accepts is up to him. I do not dictate to him what he will and will not take responsibility for and when. quote:
ORIGINAL: Padriag quote:
ORIGINAL: losttreasure I think what bothers me is so frequently hearing this behavior modification tool (one that can be very effective if used judiciously and sparingly) spoken of as a standard way of life in D/s. My first impression is that these dominants don't have any other methods in their "bag of tricks" to elicite cooperation other than by dangling a carrot. If you have a problem with being controlled, I suggest you find a relationship where that's not part of the deal. Power exchange relationships are predicated on the control of one person over another. What did you think that control meant... that you only obeyed when you felt like it? That you only served in whatever ways amused you? That you could behave however you pleased? Where is the control in any of that? That a dominant exerts control over the behavior of the submissive is the nature of the thing. I'm not really sure where your comments have any relation to what I said, but I suspect you took them as a personal affront and felt the need to retaliate against me. If you will read carefully the entirety of what I wrote in that section, you will see that I did not imply that a dominant should not control. What I did was essentially lament that declarations such as "a submissive's wants and desires are irrelevant" appear to feed stereotypes. quote:
ORIGINAL: Padriag quote:
ORIGINAL: Padriag I would suspect that a dominant who never granted any of the desires of a submissive, not even as a reward, would likely find themselves without a submissive at some point. quote:
ORIGINAL: losttreasure I agree and I suspect that is why we see so much frustration and so many failed relationships. While true you might also equally lay blame at "submissives" who are disobedient, dishonest, spoilled, lazy, indolent, impetuous and non-commital. That some relationships fail because dominants act unwisely or worse is not in dispute. That some relationships fail because the submissive behaved badly seems to be being overlooked as this thread turns into yet another excuse to blame everything on the dominant while at the same time expecting everything of the dominant. If this thread had been about failed relationships, equal blame would have been laid at the feet of deserving submissives, as well. But acknowledging a submissive's culpability in no way lessens a dominant's guilt; they would both be wrong... but each are not less wrong simply because they share the blame. quote:
ORIGINAL: Padriag quote:
ORIGINAL: losttreasure So, Padriag... you do feel it's both healthy and advisable that a submissive have some expectations... including, as alluded to in your statement, expectations to have desires granted? I would not have a submissive who had no desires to better herself, no interests or pursuits of her own. I would not have a submissive who behaved as a mindless animal... for such a thing would be a poor companion to me. quote:
ORIGINAL: losttreasure If she does have those expectations and you agree to enter into a relationship with her, then doesn't that mean you assume some obligation to try to meet them? No... and here lies the crux of your misunderstanding and double standard. I confront her with reality, that if she wants something she must work for it like the rest of us. If she wants to better her education, then she must work at that. If she wants me to grant a desire, then she will have to earn it. This is the same reality of life the dominant faces, excepting that we can expect no one to grant us anything. I'll accept responsibility here for using the word "granted" in this first question... dominants aren't genies who grant wishes. It's not a word I favor, but I utilized it to mirror your original use of it. I agree... a dominant (or anyone else) can't be expected to grant anything and we do have to work for what we want in life. But that doesn't mean there isn't any obligation. If a dominant knows and requires that a submissive has desires and pursuits of her own, then assumes control of her to the extent that he can deny, hinder or facilitate those things, then he does have a responsibility to take them into consideration. They may not be a priority, but they aren't irrelevant. quote:
ORIGINAL: Padriag What I find flatly offensive is this notion that a submissive may place upon the dominant the expectation and burden of fulfilling her desires... for free, that he is obligated to provide them at her whim. It smacks of exactly how spoiled, lazy and petulant much of this world has become. While I don't disagree with you and this really has been a fascinating discussion, I don't believe my OP said anything about a dominant being expected to fulfill desires. If anything, it was more about an assumption that submissives, by virtue of relinquishing control, automatically agree to having their desires disregarded.
< Message edited by losttreasure -- 3/6/2007 11:40:49 PM >
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Just because it isn't "all about me", doesn't make it "all about you".
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