The few dominants that I've met all seemed like really nice guys. My dom cooks for me and, most of the time, brings my dinner to me on a tray. He's even been known to hand feed me from his plate. Last night, he gave me some cough syrup for my cold and offered to make me some hot tea. He's always doing nice things like that. However, during a scene, he can be...hmm....what's the word? Ummm....not nice? *ggls* I don't know. Maybe your friend is confusing "scene behavior" with how a dom should act all the time. Personally, I don't know how long the relationship would last if he was constantly barking orders at me, etc., especially if he caught me on a bad day. Instead of "yes, sir" and a giggle, he might just get, "FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!"

Anyway, you just do what works for you, and in the meantime, hope your friend doesn't have to be rescued from an abuser who she mistook for a dom.