I have a couple of books about to be published by bdsmbooks.com, but that's not what this is about. While we were proof reading one of them thir and I got to discussing an idea of mine, and I thought I'd like to hear other people's take on it. The passage in the book isLater it transpires that the sub has trouble masturbating to orgasm, and the hero reflects "Score another for the Albus slave profile!"Quote:
Albus [the hero's mentor] has what he considers a profile for the natural slave – inadequate or alcoholic parents, need to control, being used and neglected in relationships, a vocational calling to the forces or teaching or nursing – and she ticked all the boxes.
While it's only a story, I do think this list has some validity. I've observed some combination of these characteristics in all the subs I've known well enough to learn such details, and also in online contacts. (Talking of vocational callings, I was amused when one of my favourite BDSM characters in webcomics, the Gothgirl Alisin in "Fans!", grew up to be a cancer nurse. I did not tell them to do that!)
Thir's view is that I'm presenting all subs as "damaged goods." My view is that, first, this isn't about all subs, it's about those drawn to full slavery, which is a much smaller group; and second, it's not about being damaged - not in a negative way. There is a widely held belief that artists, writers and similar creative people all have some kind of personal trauma or emotional damage, and wouldn't be what they are without it. I don't consider that this makes all writers damaged goods. It's just saying that what we are comes from where we've been, and that goes for everyone.
As for the list... My first sub girlfriend: 2 and 4. Eisha, my ex-wife: 1, 2, 3 and 5. Note that 5 is explicitly about being unable to masturbate (usually through fear of losing control), not about anorgasmia: once I'd forced her through the fear barrier, she had no trouble coming thereafter. Wunja, my late wife: 1, 3 and 5. Taffi, my ex-slave: 1, 2, 3.
Regulars will know that I'll disagree hotly any time someone raises the old idea that all BDSMers have been abused (and that's why we're so sick and twisted.) That's both oversimplified and demonstrably false, but it's not to say there aren't some influences that at least some of us have in common. And though the characters in the story wouldn't say it, being much less broad-minded than their author, I'd guess that this may also apply to a lot of Dom(me)s.
Any views?