Prejudice directly refers to pre judgement. In relation to the non bdsm related forum that you visited, it can be expected, or it can be expected in places that are more conservative ie in the workplace. In the workplace for example there is a high percentage that won't converse about their sex lives, whether it be homosexual,heterosexual and so on.

Looking at some media representations of bdsm, the fact is the most people are exposed to negative views and a percentage of those people associate elements of bdsm with abuse or abusive relationships for various and many other reasons.

Sometimes it might not be out of prejudice but discomfort, because they might not know anything about it or might feel that they are out of their depth.

Overall, one can expect a certain element of prejudice in almost anything, just because it's bdsm doesn't mean that it's a 'special' case (no offence).

I can't say that I have experienced prejudice in relation to BDSM because I haven't effectively gone out there and 'experienced' the lifestyle to the full, sure there are groups here in Sydney and all types of events, but due to the time/work/family time aspect the way it is right now I can't.

That being said, I don't see the difference in this type of prejudice and other types of 'sexual' prejudice. Personally I have experienced more prejudice and 'indirect' exclusion for other reasons that are perhaps sexually related and culturally related.

The fact that I lost my virginity to someone that wasn't my husband, or the number of sexual partners I've had, when 'most' women in my culture either marry the first man they have a relationship with, or at most have had 5 partners, has created that 'element' of 'ooooooooooooooooooooh she's naughty/a slut/a trollop'.. but with the subject of 'sexual experience', bdsm etc these aspects are aspects that aren't 'overt'(no one can determine these aspects unless you tell them, and to tell people, I mean in R/L not online, you have to develop an element of trust and mutual respect.

I think perhaps the bigger issue of prejudice concerns gay men and women, who do experience prejudice perhaps on an everyday level within our 'so called modern' day society, especially when it's obvious. I've known males that have been attacked by groups of heterosexual men simply because they were known to be gay, or they were effeminate or were seen with their partner somewhere.

One of my high school friends was ostracised by the majority of our school senior year because she was seen kissing another girl on a railway platform on the way back from a nightclub. Yet when heterosexual couples kiss it's 'okay'.

Just because we are living in the new milennium doesn't mean that everyone is 'okay' with everything- some people aren't 'okay' with pre-marital sex, and unfortunately the way that various laws are written they restrict information/literature, such as some content in some stories on this site. Here in Australia we have a federal law that only legalises 'non violent erotica', so BDSM or similar elements that are seen in these stories are completely 'out' when it comes to publishing literature and I'm sure it's the same in many other countries). However the fact that the internet exists enables information on the subject is beneficial in the long term.

so in summary.. prejudice exists across the board.