quote:

ORIGINAL: littlesarbonn

I was having a conversation with someone on this the other day. When the Internet first came along, there were those of us who embraced it wholely, and we felt this would manage to bring the bdsm lifestyle into the mainstream. At the same time, there were critics along the way who embraced the Internet kicking and screaming, convinced it would hinder the communities of bdsm by allowing a lot more fakes and lookiloos to make it more difficult for the actual practioners of bdsm to be taken seriously, or to even find each other in the sea of fakeness.

So, the Internet has been around for awhile now. Some members of the community have never even known the world without an Internet. So, has it become a good or a bad thing for the concept of bdsm?

quote:

ORIGINAL: littlesarbonn

I was having a conversation with someone on this the other day. When the Internet first came along, there were those of us who embraced it wholely, and we felt this would manage to bring the bdsm lifestyle into the mainstream. At the same time, there were critics along the way who embraced the Internet kicking and screaming, convinced it would hinder the communities of bdsm by allowing a lot more fakes and lookiloos to make it more difficult for the actual practioners of bdsm to be taken seriously, or to even find each other in the sea of fakeness.

So, the Internet has been around for awhile now. Some members of the community have never even known the world without an Internet. So, has it become a good or a bad thing for the concept of bdsm?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Faramir

FFS what is "the concept of BDSM?"  I mean, I guess if your "concept of BDSM" is some kind of secret club that confers prestige on being "in." I would guess the access provided by the internet sucks for you.  You know, the people who have a big stake in "protecting" the vulnerable from all the "fakes and lookiloos."

Certainly my practice of BDSM, my ability to connect with people who are BDSM oriented is like 8 billion times better with the internet.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Faramir

FFS what is "the concept of BDSM?"  I mean, I guess if your "concept of BDSM" is some kind of secret club that confers prestige on being "in." I would guess the access provided by the internet sucks for you.  You know, the people who have a big stake in "protecting" the vulnerable from all the "fakes and lookiloos."

Certainly my practice of BDSM, my ability to connect with people who are BDSM oriented is like 8 billion times better with the internet.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MadRabbit


You know...I have asked myself this before and the best answer I can give (though without much clarity), is the true concept of BDSM is something I have heard referenced more as Leather or Old Leather or the Old Ways.

Its a concept that has to do with close knit communities, a code of values and honors, traditions and formalities, respect of seniority, and development of character and skills.

I was taught a lot about this with my short interactions with a neaby local community, mainly from a man who was somewhat of a mentor to me. The things that I was taught I rarely ever see mentioned or referenced in these forums, short of a few individuals who post there. I imagine its also because a lot of these things have their roots in the gay communities.

Many people blame the Internet for the loss of the "Old Ways" and I've heard more than a fair share of people bitch about how new BDSM groups and organizations are increasingly more casual, layed back, and "vanilla" with none of the traditions, protocols, and formalities of the past.

So, hence, when people talk about the "true concept of BDSM", I am assuming they are referencing these Leather concepts as opposed to just BDSM and the kinky sex itself.

Of course, I could be very inacurrate about this. I still have a lot to learn about the history of all this and a lot of it is very hazy and confusing since a lot of it is word of mouth.

As far as the Internet, without it, I would be stuck in a city with almost no scene and a very small undderground and paranoid community and no real way to meet partners my own age short of walking up to random girls and going "Hey, want to be my slave?"