Padriag
Posts: 700
Joined: 3/30/2005 From: NC, USA Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross quote:
ORIGINAL: Sartoris32801 To paraphrase from one section in the book…” The true power in D/s lies within the submissive/ slave…without surrender there can be no power exchange” And IMO that's just another fluffy phrase like SSC to make people think It's All OK rather than having to really be responsible. I agree. The statement falls apart the minute you use the converse of the idea which goes like this... "True power in D/s lies within the dominant... without someone to surrender to there can be no power exchange." In other words, neither statement hits on the truth, but instead only gets part of it. It is true, if a submissive doesn't surrender there's no power exchange... but likewise if a dominant doesn't accept that surrender, there is still no power exchange. So where does the "twue power" lie? How about this... power exchange only occurs when you have that combination of a willing submissive and an accepting dominant... together they create a power exchange. If there is any "twue power" to be found it lies in that combination and it doesn't begin till both chose to be active participants in it. Which brings us back to this... In a power exchange relationship (whether you call it master/slave, dom/sub, or assertive activator/passive reactor or whatever you want to call it, and also whether it is total power exchange or limited power exchange), the dominant sets the rules, goals, boundaries... the submissive either accepts these or not. The relationship continues so long as the submissive continues to accept the authority of the dominant, and so long as the dominant continues to accept the surrender of the submissive. If the dominant should become disatisfied with the submissive to a degree that seems unacceptable and unreconcilable, the dominant can end the relationship merely by refusing to dominant any further. Likewise if the submissive feels the authority of the dominant has either become abusive, unsatisfactory, etc.. they can end the relationship merely by refusing to surrender further. The minute either the dominant or the submissive chooses to cease actively participating in the relationship, the power exchange is over. That simple reality of life and human nature is inescapable. Contracts are only as good as the people who keep them. Commitments are only as good as the people who keep them. Power exchange lasts only as long as the people who keep it. Doesn't matter if you're a BDSMer, Gorean, Leatherfolk, etc. that fundamental dynamic remains the same. Both the dominant and the submissive have a responsibility to maintain their core identity and values, to ensure that the relationship meets those needs important to your health and happiness. A wise dominant does not accept a mismatch with a submissive who cannot please them because they lack the potential or ability to do so... neither does a wise submissive accept a mismatch with a dominant who cannot meet their needs. If things aren't working, both have a responsibility to themselves and the relationship to speak up and either work towards a solution or end the relationship.
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Padriag A stern discipline pervades all nature, which is a little cruel so that it may be very kind - Edmund Spencer http://www.bardicheart.com
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