LadyHugs
Posts: 2299
Joined: 1/1/2004 Status: offline
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Dear curiouslyseeking, Ladies and Gentlemen; In my mind's eyes I see; several examples of how the military side of the D/s structure operates, as organization, recognition of authority and respect for it, the etiquette and or protocols, traditions as well as attitudes towards those in lower ranks. I also look to the 'crisis' response and the attack/defense approaches and problem solving. For a few of my favorite examples: General George S. Patton in conversation with General Omar Bradley. The conversation was why the American Army took a licking by Germans in WWII. In response General Patton replied; a blind man could see why the American Army got their 'arse/ass' kicked. He said further; ..."If a soldier doesn't dress like a soldier, act like a soldier--How can he be expected to fight like a soldier." I do find General Patton's words can fit to any role in life; especially addressing Dominants or submissives. Dress, behavior and attitude will cause individuals to respond. Only you (in general terms) can determine by how you dress, behave and the attitude you have and what role you stick by --will in turn teach people how to treat you. Another example I cherish which is Military and vintage at that, comes from my personal research into the US Army during the Civil War. Here is a summary of my research and excerpt from the CD-ROM of my writings, which are copyrighted materials. [Excerpt from "Silent Service - Military -authored by Lady Hugs"--] Etiquette in the military is necessarily more formal than civilian life, for the military, they most closely approximate a caste system. Those protocols include their dress, personal appearance and interaction within and between ranks. Dress is a foundational means, which each level of the military is set apart from the other. The military dress is the true sense of “attention to detail.” Military etiquette is more stringent, as the subjects under their rules are narrower in military etiquette than civilian. The military as a whole is best when it is uniformed, disciplined and obedient [ End Excerpt] [Exerpt from Silent Service-Military- Lady Hugs author] Understanding the root military principles offers the foundation of the spirit and execution of persons wearing the military uniform. These principles are as follows: Bearing, Courage, Decisiveness, Dependability, Endurance, Enthusiasm, Initiative, Integrity, Judgment, Justice, Knowledge, Loyalty, Tact and Unselfishness. In addition to the basics of military principles, the leadership principles of the military are also important. These are as follows: 1. Take responsibility for your actions and the actions of your charges. 2. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. 3. Set the example. 4. Develop your subordinates. 5. Ensure that the job is understood, supervised, and accomplished. 6. Know your men and women, and look after their welfare. 7. Keep everyone informed. 8. Set goals you can reach. 9. Make sound and timely decisions. 10. Know your job. 11. Teamwork. [Excerpt] [Excerpt - Silent Service-Military-Lady Hugs author] No matter what rank a person was within the military, the regulations to the behavior of the officers as well as through the ranks, to the inferior position, was seeing to the care, the appearances and the respect necessary, to be an efficient and effective uniformed military. One of the military regulations in the Civil War, circa 1860, was what domination and submission’s ideology. “Authority is to be exercised with firmness, but with kindness and justice to inferiors. Punishments shall be strictly conformable to the Articles of War.” Another was, “Superiors of every grade are forbidden to injure those under them by tyrannical or capricious conduct, or by abusive language.” Again, another listed regulation of the period, speaks well for the current military as well as the BDSM uniform culture, “Courtesy among soldiers is indispensable to discipline. Respect to superiors will not be confined to obedience on duty, but will be extended to all occasions. It is always the duty of the inferior to accost or to offer first the customary salutation and of the superiors to return such complimentary notice. The customary salutation is to salute.” So, as one can see, military or not, the appreciation of courtesy, discipline, respect, obedience and duty. [End of Excerpts] The summary, in my mind's eyes I see, for those who were in the era of Old Leather/Old School; there was an expectation to exceed the casual interactions and followed some uniformity which was a line to distinguish 'us' from 'them' as far as the Master-slave lifestyle and or D/s and or BDSM. Our 'in house' relationships went above what would be considered a vanilla relationship; as to put into place a uniformity as well as structure to which there was authority, discipline (training, protocols, rituals, etiquette, etc.) and respect to which another (slave) would submit to and be able to operate freely within those expectations negotiated to, agreed upon, trained to do and graduate per se as to be free to do what a slave was trained and sought to do through this structured relationship. It is not meant to be an 'equal' relationship but a fair, respectful and separates in a more clear manner the difference between Dominant and domineering. The difference between a respectful exchange and the disrespectful, controlling, fear and or terror tactics and or humiliating/humiliation tactics to maintain 'authority, respect and obedience.' Another aspects that shines brightly is -- being 'fair and rule justly' and not just to be 'correct all of the time.' Respectfully submitted for consideration, Lady Hugs
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