Dark, darker, darkest.....

A recent thread on FL got Me thinking about My dark thoughts again.

I keep coming back to the simple barometer: your mileage might vary.

Not everyone is into the dark stuff. That's okay because some people are. Moreover it shouldn't be the plight of folks in the lifestyle to soar to darkness or any gradient in between.

It's your Path.

It's your choice.

How we decide to live - yours and Mine - in terms of where that line is and what we do with it is different and unique ... as it should be.

But the discussion inevitably leads to trying to define where the line is ... (i.e. where the darkness ends and abuse begin.) Yet one has to admit that this "uncool" line is different for everyone. That's why I've been a staunch opponent for establishing any sort of ... line ... because My line is going to be different than yours. That's reasonable, expected and something that makes sense. Of course if we have different lines and I'm trying to drag you beyond yours then there's going to be some problems.

Trying to gauge where dark transforms to abuse is different for everyone. By and large the most central component in our lifestyle remains the basic construct of consensuality between like-minded adults. If someone likes to be whipped, but needs to have control with the rest of their lives - good for them. The same holds true for those that desire and want to be deconstructed. Just because it doesn't fit your ideal in what you seek or define for yourself, doesn't make it abuse because there are other rational people in the world that see what we do (flogging, bondage, spankings) as dehumanizing and abusive. We all wear that mark - regardless of where we fall in the spectrum.

Just because it's not your cup of kink - doesn't mean others can't or shouldn't enjoy it for themselves.