TG you have found, yet again, one of my favorite subjects

As someone who enjoyed the lifestyle before the advent of the internet (BI) I find the effect it has had to be revolutionary. And not all of it in a good way.

As several posters pointed out the internet can be a great communication channel for people to use with long distance relationships. It allows an ease that has never before been possible. It also houses a great wealth of information that we can easily and quickly call up. Heck I learn new things here.

But as an operator of a munch and one who teaches the introductory class, cyber BDSM has brought a whole new set of problems to the table. As many have mentioned I have seen first hand the cyber Dom in action for the first time. They forget the laws of physics apply and that a real spanking hurts. Few of these chatroom idiots take the time to read the available information and fewer still have any understanding of it if they do.

That was not always the case. BI there were several BBS services available nationally and word wide, Compuserve, AOL and Prodigy were the main ones. They all hosted chat and forums on the topics of BDSM and alternate lifestyles. These were great communities with knowledgeable people who were real life practitioners. Many a new person was greated warmly and brought up through the ranks to finally meet that certain someone. The man difference is that the chat rooms were not filled with people just wanting to have cyber sex. As time has gone by that unfortunately has changed. Just check out any group on yahoo.

TG you asked what type of person will emerge from behind the screen into the 3D world. They are a motley crew. Many do not have the skills to cary on any type of relationship let alone as demanding as BDSM. A lot have very unstable personalities. Still more just are in it for the sex. In the old days these folks would have been weeded out before they got to the door of the dungeon. BI one of the main ways to enter the lifestyle was be invited. To get an invite you had to be checked out and have a few basic requirements, stable nonviolent personality, common sense, ability to learn, socially responsible behavior along with a desire to be there etc. In short a large percentage of the folks showing up wouldn't have been there BI. Yes there a few that show up that meet the requirements for success. But alas today they represent way less than half.

Of the successfully ones most have either just discovered this thing called BDSM and want to know more and see if it is right for them. Another good sized group of these have known about BDSM for a long time and have just been too scared to come. Given some encouragement they can do well if they don't have to spend too much time unlearning the silly cyber stuff the H/he / S/she learned on-line.

One thing I have to disagree with most of you about is the theory of distance keeping people away from 3D gatherings. Last time I checked I found all 50 states had more than one group active and advertising on the internet. While I realize Montana is a big state but there are folks there. I can remember the old days driving 5 hours on a Friday night to get to masters house for the weekend. IMHO fear is the biggest thing keeping people in cyber space. Speaking personally that is a big hurdle to get over.

Enough ranting from the old guy