Hi Polaris,

Hmmm, well if it's not new I'm kind of glad about that. Though I guess it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme if it's new or if it's old, if it fits. :P

I think what complicates matters further is every single label has a slightly different meaning to different people who use it. There are at least 3 different ways one can mean "pet."

There are people who use the word "slave" who aren't in an actual TPE and use safewords. And these two groups of people are likely to get into a rumble over who really has the right to use the word, etc. Because to some people "slave" is a metaphor, and to some it describes and actual reality. And the metaphor people are "diluting" the actual reality people (from the actual reality people's perspective) and the actual reality people are freaking out the metaphor people cause they aren't using safewords and as we all know that just MUST be "evil" (sarcasm)

The whole thing kind of makes me want to retreat back into my cave.

hahahaha @ "invent an awesome new term at some point" hehehe. Well you could write a series of novels then use that term.

My theory is that conventional relationships are propped up by the larger social infrastructure. Kink style relationships are not. So human beings being pack animals, there is a need for "acceptance" within the pack. Trouble is...the pack can't agree and there are about 50 different sub-packs, each convinced they follow the "best" way.

Yay Sisterhoney! That's awesome!