I have watched over the years this thing we do and call BDSM change and grow. I have watched it from the time it was in the gutter, and play places were secret and cleverly disguised become open and available to the masses. With this openness has come changes of the essence of what once was.

I walk down the street or in the mall and see the leathers and collars. I go into shops and see the prepackaged bondage kits. I see the local swing clubs advertise their kink night. I see swingers and club players who have a presence and a bit of skill with a piece of equipment become Messiahs. I see what was once protocol change into being rigid and too many damn rules.

I wander the halls of AOL, IRC and other places and see the proliferation of people who have a preconceived notion of BDSM and refuse to look at another viewpoint. I see people react in horror at the mention of an edge play. I see the arguments between the S&Mers, Spankers and D/s'ers. I have seen the word community loose its meaning. I have seen BDSM become vanilla.

When I first discovered there was a term for what I am was 1976 (not trying to impress anyone, just giving a reference in time). I met a man who after a long conversation at a reception asked me "How long have you been a practicing Dominant". My reply was a bewildered "huh?". This question began a 3 year association where I learned history, protocol, a chosen discipline and learned the essence of being a gentleman. For many reasons, I did not pursue further the path I was offered. I took what I had learned and applied it to my life and pursued the knowledge I needed to further any given area.

The people like Pierre are now few and far between. I speak of the Masters and Mistress' who teach and guide Dominants to a place where their Dominance just is. To a place where the equipment in their hand is a natural extension of self. To a place where perfection of self is a constant changing ideal. To a place where honor and integrity is the guiding light of the Dominants life. Yes.....they are tired. They have shared and shared. Now when they do, it is due a special request.

So I watch the people flowing into this life with no regard to what it once was. I see them take a life that was once a special relationship and turn it into a display of theories they neither live or honor. Talking the talk........... the rest of the saying is not possible because as a Dominant they have never learned. I see self proclaimed Masters building a following based upon folk lore. Or, even upon no lore.

What has happened? Just the wandering mind of an old man.............