"If you find that what turns you on is just the kinky sex, open mindedness,
and permissive attitude, go home! If this is only weekend fun for
you, go home! Or, go find a swingers group." I read that as dumping dabblers.

As a newbie ... I have proclaimed myself as an internet dom for no other reason than I cannot get turned on by playing with myself just because someone else told me to, but I do know it would turn me on if someone I chatted to would play with herself because I asked her to. I am wholly inexperienced and I have described myself as "one step away from vanilla" (I wouldn't have even used that word in any other context than ice cream a month ago). So far, I just come here and browse or chat - so I'm only playing on the internet. I will not stay here for long if what I discover about the D/s lifestyle turns out to be something I can't deal with properly. But I have to find out if I can deal with it ... and if I want to. And if I do, then maybe I will be able to change my lifestyle. That's a whole new can of worms.

OK - I know this is just discussion, and that I chose to use my situation as an example, but until I reach that decision, I am one of the dilettanti the author refers to above, and I disagree with him that because I have no "status" I should go home.