Are there any common fields of interest/hobbies among BDSM practitioners?

[Netzach]

Navel gazing.

 

[GentleSub_Ivy]

here too. and renies (renisaince buffs) are in that mix as well.

How could I forget the rennies? Yes, that is a huge crossover as well.

 

[Homburg]

How could I forget the rennies? Yes, that is a huge crossover as well.

*nod* Went to a play party on saturday and it seemed like a third of the folks in attendance were rennies. I wound up in a 45 minute conversation with the primary seamstress for the group of them too.

I seem to keep befriending submissive seamstresses. Maybe I should get my garb on again...

 

[northwoods_sub]

Okay ren fests totally rock!! We go every chance we get. Which isn't all that often with where we live right now but hopefully it will be better next year!

 

[rida]

Navel gazing.

LOL!

that ... and reading Lit ...


on a more serious note:
used to have a lot of interests, like cooking & dining, sci-fi, movies, dancing, martial arts, RPG, photography and reading
now is basically watching TV and reading/wasting time on the internet

written down like this ... make me sound really pathetic... lol

 

[_kiana_]

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure you can find a 'group' of BDSM'ers that have a commonality of any interest. They may not have found each other, but it has to be there. People into BDSM is simply a subculture, with just less of a population than the whole world.

Aside from that, I know there's HUGE cross over of the sci-fi/fantasy/role playing/computer geek crowds here in NZ, or Auckland at least. But I only know about that one cuz my husband is one. I'm sure there has to be other crossovers.

 

[FurryFury]

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure you can find a 'group' of BDSM'ers that have a commonality of any interest. They may not have found each other, but it has to be there. People into BDSM is simply a subculture, with just less of a population than the whole world.

Aside from that, I know there's HUGE cross over of the sci-fi/fantasy/role playing/computer geek crowds here in NZ, or Auckland at least. But I only know about that one cuz my husband is one. I'm sure there has to be other crossovers.

Hey!

I resemble that remark!

*chuckles*

 

[_kiana_]

Hey!

I resemble that remark!

*chuckles*

I'm afraid I resemble it a bit too now...



...Did I really just confess to that??

 

[FurryFury]

I ain't ashamed of being all up and into that!

Anyone who doesn't like it, can just deal with it, yanno?

I luv me some good role play/reading/whatever the frick else I find myself enjoying.

Whoo hoo!

*dances then goes to do stupid PT with a pout, wishing I was off role playing or reading or watching some good stuff instead, le sighhhhhhhh*

 

[RUbensBeautY]

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who has replied to my question and/or voted.

I suppose the results speak for themselves.

No earth shattering wisdom revealed but I am glad to see that there are so many active minds in this community.

 

[Homburg]

Where my theory is blown right out of the water is in relation to Dominant's. To be more specific male Dominant's. It's astounding how many I have known over the years that have backgrounds in Military, Security, Police and specialist forces.
Cited in this area I suspect a strong feed into drives that are somewhat a sincere representation of underlying dominant pathos. Still astounds me to some degree.

I.... Yeah, I worked private, corporate, and event security. Did it for something like four years. Had a standing job offer from a local PD, but decided against it. Can't say it was a bad move.

 

[JMohegan]

I have never had the urge to police the neighborhood, or the world.

That's actually pretty far from my personal concept of Dominance, which is both a consensual and an intimate construct in my book.

 

[Homburg]

I have never had the urge to police the neighborhood, or the world.

That's actually pretty far from my personal concept of Dominance, which is both a consensual and an intimate construct in my book.

It has nothing to do with Dominance (at least in my case), and more to do with the personality traits that are frequently present in Dominant personality types. I was one of the more easy-going types in the companies I worked for, and that was across the board. It had nothing to do with asserting my supposed bad-assedness on the world, and more to do with recognising certain talents in dealing with people, and a willingness to get involved in situations that others would walk away from.

I had a good reputation even in the shittiest of sites that I worked on. You help out enough old ladies and lost children, and don't be a dick, and people start liking you, even if you are the rent-a-cop.

 

[Netzach]

I've met a lot of subs, masos, and simply general all around twisted not especially Dom people that work "for the government" end discussion. If anyone would need a break from policing, those would be the people.

One interesting trend: when Dems are in power, ads for Dominatrices in DC are exploding - super huge. When 'Pubs are it's all about TS escorts, the Dommes are more or less underground. So goes my personal notice.

 

[JMohegan]

It has nothing to do with Dominance (at least in my case), and more to do with the personality traits that are frequently present in Dominant personality types.

To which personality traits are you referring here?

 

[doveofserenity]

i love gardening, crafting (such as afghans and pottery), to me visual arts are the visions within put into form thru clay for all to see. Sometimes i have something in mind, such as a vase or bowl; when i start.

Sometimes its just my hands feeling the energy within the clay saying "Make me into this or that". And i know it sounds weird, but sometimes i just look at a piece of clay intensely; and my hands just start in - never knowing what will become of that clay.

Dancing and music are a major part of me, even though i am a bigger woman; i love to dance once the rhythm of the music has gotten within me. i used to get embarrassed when out with friends, because the guys all stand around the dance floor watching the girls; but i would just close my eyes, wait for the rhythm to "consume" me, and let the beat take me away into the dancing. Not caring if i was being watched or not.

And where the poll said other: During the warmer days of the year, i love to get on the back of a friends Harley and just go. Feel the wind blowing my hair any way the wind wants. To feel the freedom to just let go of all worries, problems, daily life; and (as one friend recently told me) just let the dove within fly free. And she does. Very spiritual (not in any religious way) and erotic.

 

[Homburg]

To which personality traits are you referring here?

From my post:

certain talents in dealing with people, and a willingness to get involved in situations that others would walk away from.

Assertiveness, will, a modicum of social aggression, the ability to give an order and expect it to be followed and the willingness to give said order, etc, as all are useful traits in the fields mentioned in Rebecca's post.

And I am not saying they're endemic to Dominants, nor exclusive. Just making commentary on generalisations.

 

[JMohegan]

From my post:



Assertiveness, will, a modicum of social aggression, the ability to give an order and expect it to be followed and the willingness to give said order, etc, as all are useful traits in the fields mentioned in Rebecca's post.

And I am not saying they're endemic to Dominants, nor exclusive. Just making commentary on generalisations.

Thank you for clarifying.

The traits you mention are important attributes for success in a wide variety of jobs involving the management or direction of others.

Violence is obviously a distinguishing factor in police or military roles, but beyond that I'd say that service in the military seems to me to be about as close to voluntary entry into personal "slavery" as one can get. Obedience unto the death, no less, with very significant restrictions on when or how one withdraws. I just don't see the connection to "a sincere representation of underlying dominant pathos" at all.

 

[Homburg]

Thank you for clarifying.

The traits you mention are important attributes for success in a wide variety of jobs involving the management or direction of others.

I agree, though the line about "willingness to get involved in situations others would walk away from" etc refers to traits that are not necessary, or even important, in most fields. It implies, and was intended to imply, situations involving actual danger. This was not intended to specifically imply violence though. I was in danger in non-violent situations more often than violent ones. Things like fire, out of control drivers, and unsafe structures or working conditions were more common than violent situations.

Violence is obviously a distinguishing factor in police or military roles, but beyond that I'd say that service in the military seems to me to be about as close to voluntary entry into personal "slavery" as one can get. Obedience unto the death, no less, with very significant restrictions on when or how one withdraws. I just don't see the connection to "a sincere representation of underlying dominant pathos" at all.

Well, I never quite joined the military, and reasons you explained figured VERY heavily in my decision not to. That said, there is a certain type of Dominant for whom duty has a strong attraction. It is a sort of paladin/defender mindset. It's the idea that the strong protect the weak, and those who can lead have an obligation to do so. Evil_Geoff could probably speak on Dominance and duty more cogently, given his background in law enforcement.

And not everyone that expresses as Dominant is consciously aware of it their entire lives. Most people join the military at a young age, and many Dominant's don't realise their predilections until later in life. I could certainly not imagine being in the military at this stage in my life, but I was contemplating seriously it when I was hearing offers from West Point and NROTC.

 

[JMohegan]

I agree, though the line about "willingness to get involved in situations others would walk away from" etc refers to traits that are not necessary, or even important, in most fields. It implies, and was intended to imply, situations involving actual danger. This was not intended to specifically imply violence though. I was in danger in non-violent situations more often than violent ones. Things like fire, out of control drivers, and unsafe structures or working conditions were more common than violent situations.



Well, I never quite joined the military, and reasons you explained figured VERY heavily in my decision not to. That said, there is a certain type of Dominant for whom duty has a strong attraction. It is a sort of paladin/defender mindset. It's the idea that the strong protect the weak, and those who can lead have an obligation to do so. Evil_Geoff could probably speak on Dominance and duty more cogently, given his background in law enforcement.

And not everyone that expresses as Dominant is consciously aware of it their entire lives. Most people join the military at a young age, and many Dominant's don't realise their predilections until later in life. I could certainly not imagine being in the military at this stage in my life, but I was contemplating seriously it when I was hearing offers from West Point and NROTC.

On behalf of the switches, subs, bottoms, and non-kinky folk of the world, I strongly object to the idea that courage, or a sense of duty, or strength, or the urge to protect the weak, or indeed any other positive character traits, are more "frequently present in Dominant personality types" than switch, submissive, or non-kinky personality types.

I realize that you did not specifically claim that such traits are *more* frequently present in Dominant personality types, but if they are not then why mention them in connection with Dominants, per se, at all?

 

[macccer]

Fasten your seatbelts...

for a blinding flash of the obvious...

77.08% of those polled enjoy: Literature, poetry, reading, writing.

On a site called literotica? That's truly shocking.

The real kinksters are the masochistic few that make up the 22.92% which are here, presumably, because they hate literature, poetry, reading and writing so much but crave the abuse of having to endure it!

 

[VelvetDarkness]

77.08% of those polled enjoy: Literature, poetry, reading, writing.

On a site called literotica? That's truly shocking.

You'll be the local intellectual then. Did you count your thumbs today?

I like lots of stuff and found the categories limiting. For example, I like using the net to a certain degree but can't admit to liking computers (evil fucking machines that will kill us all one day if Bush doesn't manage it first) or technology.

My main interests include: reading, writing, movies/theatre, red wine, Master's gamecube and obtaining wheat, dairy and sugar free recepies that don't taste like cardboard.

 

[macccer]

i tried...

You'll be the local intellectual then. Did you count your thumbs today?

but lost count after 1, you know how stupid Americans are...

 

[Homburg]

On behalf of the switches, subs, bottoms, and non-kinky folk of the world, I strongly object to the idea that courage, or a sense of duty, or strength, or the urge to protect the weak, or indeed any other positive character traits, are more "frequently present in Dominant personality types" than switch, submissive, or non-kinky personality types.

I realize that you did not specifically claim that such traits are *more* frequently present in Dominant personality types, but if they are not then why mention them in connection with Dominants, per se, at all?

...

This is manufactured outrage.

Homburg: "I am not saying they're endemic to Dominants, nor exclusive"

You missed that line, I'm guessing, or are you purposefully mischaracterising my statements?

No, I'm incorrect. It is manufactured outrage by proxy. You aren't choosing to be affronted over something that you decided bothered you, you're choosing to be affronted over something that you decided might bother other people. Well, if we're going to play that game, I'm sure that all the Dominants that have served, or are serving, will be pleased to know that they have submitted themselves to "slavery", and that military, police, and security activities are as far from Dominance as can be.

Guys like RJMasters (USMC, 8years), DVS (security, current), Evil_Geoff (law enforcement, 16 years or so), Francisco (combat veteran, from what I recall), etc. I'm sure the list is longer, but those are the ones off the top of my head that post here.

I realise that you didn't specifically claim that service in those fields was contrary to Dominance, but... no, wait, you pretty much did.

 

[JMohegan]

...

This is manufactured outrage.

Homburg: "I am not saying they're endemic to Dominants, nor exclusive"

You missed that line, I'm guessing, or are you purposefully mischaracterising my statements?

No, I'm incorrect. It is manufactured outrage by proxy. You aren't choosing to be affronted over something that you decided bothered you, you're choosing to be affronted over something that you decided might bother other people. Well, if we're going to play that game, I'm sure that all the Dominants that have served, or are serving, will be pleased to know that they have submitted themselves to "slavery", and that military, police, and security activities are as far from Dominance as can be.

Guys like RJMasters (USMC, 8years), DVS (security, current), Evil_Geoff (law enforcement, 16 years or so), Francisco (combat veteran, from what I recall), etc. I'm sure the list is longer, but those are the ones off the top of my head that post here.

I realise that you didn't specifically claim that service in those fields was contrary to Dominance, but... no, wait, you pretty much did.

No outrage, Homburg. And I didn't miss your line, which is why I wrote: "I realize that you did not specifically claim that such traits are *more* frequently present in Dominant personality types..."

I asked you a question. Why mention the fact that those traits are frequently present in Dominant personality types? Why not mention the fact that those traits are frequently present in switches, submissives, bottoms, and non-kinky folk too?

I'm not trying to be argumentative here. I'm trying to understand your point, and so far - you've lost me. I just don't see the connection between those jobs and "a sincere representation of underlying dominant pathos" at all.

As for service in the military, I do not think that runs "contrary to Dominance," any more than I think it is a representation thereof.

I'm gonna repeat what I said in my first post here. Dominance is both a consensual and an intimate construct in my book. A soldier could be Dominant or submissive or neither. Same thing for a teacher, a cashier at Target, etc. I don't see a positive correlation between sexual preference and career choice among the people I know, and I don't see a logical reason for one to exist overall.

But I'm asking. Do you?