What NOT to Share on Your Online Profile

This video post is about what not to share on your online profile.

We all have one somewhere. FetLife being all the rage right now, but also we have alt.com, collarme.com, bondage.com and others where we place ads and identity profiles up to get people interested. This interest can be friends or relationship related; it doesn’t matter. What does matter is what we broadcast to everyone that happens across our profiles. You need to keep some things secure and really consider what’s necessary to put out into the World Wide Web.

What’s Safe?

Nothing you place online is safe. Anyone can find you and use what you put online to harm you in some way. Take for instance a rather vanilla picture of yourself on an adult site. It could be used against you in your job or other social engagements. Just the knowledge alone that you are present on a site like FetLife or CollarMe could get you fired. Your ex could use it against you to gain custody of your children. Anything is possible.

The idea that because you have to log into the service means that every word you write or photo you share behind that security feature means you are safe. This is far from true. Too many people rely heavily on the false sense of security that a log in screen provides. Think about it this way; how easy was it for you to create a profile? A predator or someone you don’t want to find you will find it a breeze.

Top 8 Online Safety Tips

Photos

If you share photos of yourself, even if you head and identifying features are cut out; be prepared to find them elsewhere online. So many people online just don’t care if they don’t own the rights to the photo, others like to increase their personal stash of porn, and others still want to earn money on your shared ‘free’ content. It takes all kinds. So, before you share a photo, consider if you want it on the internet. Don’t limit your mental scope to the site you are placing it, but all over the internet.

• Pictures Share You With The World
• Dangers of Online Photos

Personal Information

Other than the basic profile information, I’d keep your life pretty vague if you don’t want to be found by others you may know in another sphere of your life. Leave relationship, family and work details out of profiles. Never share information about your children.

Think about it this way, put on your profile only what you wouldn’t have a problem telling someone face to face that you don’t know. Because you know, that’s just it. Strangers are reading your profile and looking at those pictures before they know you… really know you.

Sure it sounds counter productive for a dating site, but protecting yourself should come first. Besides, emails and site mailing systems are slightly safer for sharing a bit more about yourself. Granted, these too can be abused, so be careful.

Some of you may be saying, “Well sure lunaKM, but I’ve seen your profile here or there and you share a lot about yourself including unaltered photos. Practice what you preach!

Let me tell you; I have no job outside the home, no friends or tech-saavy family that do not know and have nothing to loose if someone sees me or learns about me. I’m a unique case. I’m not saying that some of you aren’t either. I’ve given all of my profiles a look over and am happy with what is shared. That’s all that matters.

How Much Information is Too Much?

I Challenge You

Today I challenge you to go through your profiles and reconsider some of the information you have shared. Rip out what could put you in some form of danger or get you recognized by someone you’d rather stay incognito with. If you aren’t using a profile; delete it completely.

Online Finds

The items listed below are books and worksheets produced by others that I have found across the internet. This list is always changing as things come and go on the internet. I can not guarantee that these items will always be available so download your copy now!

• Butler’s Book Template – .doc by a slave of Iron Rose
• The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana
• Power Dynamics in BDSM Couples – Dissertation by Bert Cutler, 2003
• Fall Cleaning Lists - Domestic Servitude Blog
  • Bathroom
  • Bedroom
  • Closets and Laundry Room
  • Basement, Attic and Garage
  • Living Area
  • Outside
  • Kitchen
  • Dining Room

Service With Grace

If you’ve been following Submissive Guide on twitter for any length of time you will notice an interesting blog that I have updates sent to twitter. This blog is one of distinction because it is written to aid the domestic and service oriented submissive with tasks around the house and within themselves. The blog I’m talking about is Service Savoir Faire.

Service Savoir Faire is written by namaste a service slave from Texas with a real ability to  express herself. The blog has some wonderful regular features that I’d like to highlight.

Service Book of Days

Every Monday, namaste posts the same 15 questions with personal answers and encourages others to do the same on their blog. It’s a beautiful way to focus your submissive energy and organize your thoughts on what should be done and where your mind is at. I have yet to do this task on my own for my personal blog, but I do intend to get going on it real soon. What a simple way to focus!

Friday Finds

Most Fridays, she shares with us things that might be useful for our service from all over the internet. There have been some spectacular websites recently that have helped me out with organization and cleaning and creative energy.

Menus for the Seasons

There is a numerous amount of menus with recipes for the current season. I’m sure she will be starting on the Fall menus soon and I’m looking forward to some delicious new meals to plan into my cooking repertoire.  Summer menus were full of fresh, healthy and light cooking that would bring the joy of summer into any home.

Butler’s Book Series

I’ve always wanted to know what a butler’s book is, and while I was under the assumption that it was a list of guests with their preferences documented so that whenever they showed up you could provide them their favorites and surprise them. In fact it is that and more. It’s a household manual where you document and keep all the home care processes together in one place. You can read all about the Butler’s Book series HERE.

Today’s Mantra

On the sidebar, namaste updates a quote or saying and then her reflection on it in Today’s Mantra. I find it a beautiful testament to her abilities and dedication to service. I’m sure you will enjoy it as well.

I encourage you all to visit and bookmark the site for reading, making sure you visit often. It’s a pearl of a find and one that shouldn’t be left in the deep expanse of the internet. She also runs a Yahoo group on service, which you can find at Service Excellence.

Review: The New Bottoming Book

This month’s book review is of one of the books I gave away in the July Book Contest. The New Bottoming Book by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (formerly Lady Green) is a great beginner’s guide to bottoming. According to the authors, this “new version” contains much of the original advice, like “connecting” and negotiation, but also has new and much-needed information.

The book is divided into two sections. The first one is about skills. These chapters help novices make decisions about who they are as a bottom, what checklists are, how to make one, including the way I recommended here not long ago, bridging the gap between fantasy and reality and finding a Top that will give you what you need and want. There is a big section on meeting someone online via chat rooms, mailing lists and/or Internet newsgroups and how to convert from “cyber” to “real-time,” and dealing with the fact that their “reality” may not match yours.

The second section starts describing different “scenes”, their ‘rewards’ and also tips on beginning and ending them Also included are sections on role play, with short subsections about bondage and submission. It has small sections on dressing, public play, sensation play and other thoughts when it comes to actual scenes. I feel these chapters are nice for a very fresh novice, but not necessary when someone has already been exploring somewhat.

All in all I find the book very basic in it’s explaining what bottoming is and how to start on that path. Certainly recommended for the novice this book can help shed the nervousness and dispel the fantasy of play.

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 6 out of 10
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Greenery Press (CA); 2nd edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890159352
• ISBN-13: 978-1890159351

Buy The New Bottoming Book

A Switch of the D/s Lifestyle

This is another guest post by Christian, a switch male in a D/s relationship.

(If you would like to submit a guest post to Submissive Guide, please read the guidelines before contacting me, thanks!)

It seems there is a lot of interest in switches on the Internet, and being a switch myself I can speak on that a fair amount. But allow me to say I am only one switch in a world of switches. Switches are completely different the world around. So what I say here will certainly not apply to other switches.

When I was introduced to this lifestyle officially by the local D/s group where I live I was told there were “dominants” and “submissives”. That was it. Nothing about switches. Later on once I learned a few things and met some other people in the group I learned there was also something called “switches” and what that meant to be a switch. I immediately knew that was me.

Like most people in this life growing up was incredibly difficult dealing with my strange thoughts. One moment I was thinking about making a girl do things for me, and the next in my thoughts I was being ordered to do them for her. It was confusing to have these conflicting thoughts and going from one extreme to the other in a matter of moments did not help.

When I was finally more aware of the community, there was a lot of negative attitudes toward switches. It was thought they had no clear idea about if they wanted to be, submissive or dominant. And “Why can’t they make up their mind?” sort of an attitude. There is still quite a negative stigma about this and no one in my local group of D/s people will admit to being a switch (including me). Hopefully my online personae is never realized by anyone locally. I am not sure if this is just a local thing or if it extends worldwide? I would like to hear from other people on different parts of this world to know…

To be sure there is only one side of my switchiness at a time. I am either submissive or dominant. Never both at the same time! That is just me and maybe some others will feel different?

To clarify my own thoughts on the different variety of switches, here is how I see it. First there are the D/s only switches. These switches either don’t include BDSM in their lives, or are only dominant or submissive in the bedroom. Then there are the BDSM switches which are just the opposite of what I just described. Then there are the D/s and BDSM switches (I am sorry I can’t think of another way to describe this. Perhaps someone may enlighten me if there is some “official” way to describe the switch varieties). This last variety is me, however my owner does not allow switching in D/s for me. This is a big sacrifice for a switch believe me.

Something I get asked at times is how the actual “switch” (the verb, not the noun) occurs and what that feels like. Well the switch happens one of two ways for me. Again I am only one switch. Others experiences will vary. But the switch happens either with a sudden rapidness that really can take ones breath away! Or it happens gradually over a
period of time. Most of the time it occurs for me in a gradual way and this is for certain preferable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is it makes it easier for my owner to recognize. This is also preferable as the sudden changes are enough to give one “mental whiplash” at times! As for what it feels like, it is strictly a mental process. It is just one moment I am my usual submissive self, and the next I am thinking about how good it would be to have a submissive at my whim.

When my owner or me recognizes I am “switched” it is often an inconvenience for both of us. For her it is like she is denied use of me for the moment (as I am no longer submissive). For me it is a big inconvenience as well since it is a break in my level of service that is intolerable (because it is intolerable to her).  Like I said I am not allowed switching in D/s. But at such times I have to relieve it in some way or things get worse. This is where my wife’s live-in female submissive comes in handy. At one time before she had her, my wife filled the role of submissive to me in BDSM only. I applaud her efforts but as one who is strictly dominant it was hard for her to be
that way. Just like with me as a switch.. There are just times that I am completely NOT submissive (when “switched” specifically). That is a large portion of the reason for the acquisition of this other submissive along with the fact that my owner just wished for a female submissive anyway.

My thoughts are a switch actually does not make the ideal full-time submissive. This is not a case of self-pity or something like that. It is just fact. If you are even remotely like me (a switch of the ways) than you will never be 100% of the time at service. You will have to spend a small portion of the time “switched” to the dominant side, and inconvenience your owner like me. It is disappointing but it is something I am used to and so is my owner. It is a heart-wrenching experience when one would just as soon be at service all the time if possible. Something I should be clear on is when I switch I don’t think about how unsatisfactory it is with my owner. The only thing I
am thinking about is having one at my feet. At my will. There are no thoughts about service. Or pleasing my owner at all. That is awash with my newfound dominance. The submissive me is completely wiped from the slate only to return once I have that side of me satisfied (or it just fades after a really long while). So at the time it is not heart wrenching as I say. Only afterwards when the fire is gone and I am back to “me” that I feel disappointed.

Sometimes I get asked what percentage submissive or dominant I am. This is a strange and confusing question for me and impossible to answer. When I switch I am 100% dominant. And the other way I am 100% submissive. Not one bit the other way, and never will be. This is actually a bit of a sensitive subject since my switchability is so hard to explain anyway. Those that are fully submissive or fully dominant (I envy you by the way) have a hard time wrapping their heads about the mindset of a switch. I don’t blame you, as often I am as perplexed as you! But this is the best way I can describe such things and if it is still unclear then I am not doing well at explaining a thing that at times is very complex. It is no easy task by any means.

I welcome any questions either through this site or in private and will answer them the best I know how.

Regards,
Christian

P.S. Yes I know I used a few words like “switchiness” and “switchability” that are in fact not words in the English language, but that is the best words I could use to say those things.

I am a switch male of the D/s lifestyle for the past 14 years. I was introduced to the lifestyle and the society that at that time was extremely underground at 18 years of age.  I was raised (unbeknownst to me until just recently) in a D/s household as well. In addition my grandparents also were of the lifestyle. I am currently collared to my owner of 10 years who is bi-sexual and also has another female submissive. You can contact me at christian0539@gmail.com

photo by Redvers

Finding Domesticity In You

I’m personally not a very domestic person. When I do find the desire to clean it’s normally to relieve stress (believe it or not). It can help calm my  nerves and give my mind something else to do while working on the house. Since I’ve become Master’s stay at home submissive I find I need to look further than stress relief to get the chores done. I’m certain that you have felt the same way too. Chores just happen to be the reality of a submissive sometimes. It’s not glorifiying, it’s not fantasy. It’s just life. If you are fortunate to have a Dominant willing to share the domestic chores that’s wonderful, but many submissives have to balance work and home life to make their Dominant happy.

So what does this have to do with washing dishes? Sure the title is misleading until I tell you a little story. One night I was exploring the internet via Google search looking for ways to develop my domestic skills, I was searching for simple ways to do things, greener cleaning solutions and so forth. One of the links I clicked was Make Washing Dishes Fun by danae over on Domestic Servitude. It was the first time I had encountered this site and it wasn’t going to be the last. I read all of the archives. She also has a post on Handwashing Dishes that I enjoyed. I found there were small ways to recapture the joys of cleaning and home care.

Since then I have grown in my way of cleaning, I’m finding simpler ways to do things. I have learned to recycle and prepare some simple things. The inspiration I get from the site was all I needed to push me further into my domestic service. I’m far from perfect but I’m getting better every single day.

The site has grown since I first found it. danae has taken on a few more authors to help her with the work and the reading is fabulous. If you have any domestic struggles with your submission this is a fantastic website to go to for all sorts of tips. I especially enjoy the recipes personally, but they share lots of fantastic DIY items, internet finds and so much more. I don’t think anything like this exists anywhere else. Can I just say I love this site?!

What other sites would you recommend for someone learning domesticity?

Living with Kids While in the D/s Lifestyle

This is a guest post by Christian. He  is a switch male of the D/s lifestyle for the past 14 years.

For my first post here I am going to write about something I get asked a fair bit. How does one raise kids in a D/s household? As one with several kids I thought I should talk just a moment on this. It does interest me how others deal with this so I would like to know how others feel as well.

My own history of being raised in a D/s household (unbeknownst to me) my entire life also puts me in a unique position to speak on this as well. It is obvious to me now how my folks are and the thought had crossed my mind once I became aware there was a whole underground community at the age of 18. But until it was stated clearly I would have never known for sure.

In most ways my owner and I approach this thing very much as my parents did. They did as much as possible to shield me from their unique lifestyle as do we. And just like they did I imagine there will be a day when I (or my owner) will have an honest open conversation about such things. I want them to know there is a lifestyle that exists like this, and make their own decisions about what to do with that knowledge. Unlike my mother though, I will try to tell them at some point in their life when it will be helpful to them if they need that. I suspect one or two of them may be exactly like us. As an adolescent I struggled with my strange thoughts and feelings. It never even occurred to me there were others like me. And it was happening right in my own home! It would have been some helpful knowledge at that time.

But for now it is my priority as a parent to not spoil their innocence in any way. It is a precious thing and my children are a far higher priority then this life I lead. Don’t misunderstand, we are very serious about our lifestyle, and it does not take a break ever. But when it comes to my children they just don’t need to know about this thing right now.

It must be ridiculously obvious to my children who “wears the pants” in the family. But they think only that. I don’t address my owner with things like “mistress” or even call her my “owner” with the children about. We do have ways of communicating that are our secret way when they are about. We have code words for different things that mean one thing to an uninvolved bystander but a completely other thing to us.

There are obvious and subtle ways that one can serve without making ones submission obvious. You are just simply fulfilling the things that need to be done about the house. Like making breakfast, picking up the kids from school, doing the grocery shopping, and a thousand other mundane tasks your owner may not particularly enjoy. While those of us who enjoy service will be very happy to do those things.

Now BDSM play is a whole other matter entirely of course. I know this sort of thing is probably not an option for a lot of people, but this is one reason we hired a nanny for the kids. She manages to keep them busy and away from the house on activities quite often. And even our teenager enjoys going out with them from time to time, but being a teenager she also has her own life and priorities at the moment, and most times that does not involve hanging around her boring parents. Most of the time she goes out with her girlfriend and they are gone for as long as we allow her.

There are numerous things in BDSM that one can do to be discreet while living with children. Wax play, needles, bondage on its own is quiet of course, and if you want to do the spanking thing there are numerous implements that are themselves silent. Now keeping a sub quiet is another matter entirely but that is where a good ball gag comes in handy. There is also something called figging, which by a quick look around the Internet I see has become quite popular.

So having kids can be a challenge in this lifestyle but I do recommend being honest with them at some point in their life. They deserve to come to this knowledge just as much as other things in this life. What they choose to do with said knowledge should be up to them. Try not to be disappointed when they choose one way or the other too. Remember they are doing that because it makes them happy. You will have to trust them that they (or their owner) will keep themselves safe.

These are just some of my varied thoughts on this. I hope to hear from others on their opinions. Thank you.

Christian is a switch male of the D/s lifestyle for the past 14 years. He was introduced to the lifestyle and the society that at that time was extremely underground at 18 years of age.  He was raised (unbeknownst to him until just recently) in a D/s household as well. In addition his grandparents also were of the lifestyle. Christian am currently collared to his owner of 10 years who is bi-sexual and also has another female submissive. You can contact him at christian0539@gmail.com

Submissive Guide On Twitter

If you haven’t joined the craze in new information delivery that is twitter, you are missing out. Thought to be the internet’s next big social media outlet, Submissive Guide decided to join from the onset. It’s been an amazing few months so far, and I’m still trying to figure out what my followers want as far as information from me in my tweets. If you have input as to what would be useful to you in short 140 character bursts throughout the day please let me know.

Follow Submissive Guide on Twitter!

What you can get from my twitter:

1. Links to interesting BDSM and submission related essays across the internet
2. Recommended FetLife submissive groups
3. Quotes and Journal Prompts
4. Household tips and tricks
5. Links to posts from other submissive communities
6. Suggested book reading
7. Notices about contests and giveaways
8. Submissive Guide new post notices
9. Questions and news from Submissive Guide
10. more…!

So what are you waiting for? Join twitter and follow the Guide now!

Are you interested in joining a group of submissives on Twitter? SubmissiveGuide.com has a Twibe. The Twibe is called ‘submissives‘. Once you join the twibe any tweets you do that have the keywords submissive, sub or slave in them with hashtags or not will automatically show up on the twibe page. This is quite nice for group discussion and getting to know one another!

Sub Space: The Ultimate Frontier

Exploring submission play can involve intense sensation. As a normal part of some submissive’s play is sub space. Not everyone reaches subspace each and every time and you can not expect to reach it at all. Sub space is a way your body responds to endorphins. Described as similar to a runner’s high this is a good feeling and one to be enjoyed if you ever get there.

Subspace is a mental and physical response to the high levels of endorphins produced during play. It can manifest in many different ways and no one subspace is the same as another. Submissives will even describe thier subspace completely differently than another person. This is normal and is probably why it’s so hard to describe exactly what sub space is in more specific terms. For some people it is a sense of floating or out of body experience. For others, subspace is a quiet zen-like state. For me, it’s when pain becomes funny. I start laughing and giggling. I can take more pain then and ultimately just feel great. I can go non-verbal near the end as well. All grand.

Entering sub space when you are a novice can be dangerous. When in this space your ability to stop play or fight off anyone is gone. You are at the mercy of the Dominant. If you do not know this person well you could be setting yourself up for harm. Always negotiate all play, including level of space you wish to get to. Keep talking if you want to stay out of space, stay engaged in what is happening and you will be safer. 

Sometimes in space you can not feel pain the same way and so you can take higher levels of pain. The danger here is a Dominant that does not know you well could hit you too hard and you could end up with damaged nerves or broken bones. Trust is important in a relationship so keep space to a relationship unless you have the trust with a friendship Dominant.

There are essays all over the internet that describe different forms of sub space. None of them are wrong.  and you can learn from all of them. One of my favorites is Mistress Steel’s description of all the different spaces that people can go though. You can read the essay at The Steele Door. She breaks down sub space into several levels with descriptions of each level. I like how it’s described enough that you can see yourself in the descriptions and follow how you ebb and flow through your own space.

How would you describe your sub space? Do you need pain to get there?

Cyber Submission and Exploring D/s Online

Learn a New Skill to Enhance Your Service with Free Online Courses

There are many ways that submissives can learn new skills and training that will enhance what you can provide your Dominant. Just imagine being able to speak another language, or have secretarial skills. Perhaps learning gardening, technology or sewing? Your skills can be expanded endlessly and a lot of it for free.

Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do?

The internet is full of free online courses if you look in the right places. There is a goldmine of training certificates, courses towards a degree or tutorials for many skills from basic to advanced levels. I’ve done a lot of the research myself to bring you a list of some of the best places to find free courses. Feel free to browse the below links and expand your training.

Free and Affordable Distance Learning

Free Education on the Internet

Online Education Database

Free Online Language Courses

Get a Free Education Online

About U

Guide to Distance Learning

Learnthat.com

LearnFree.org

Free Online Typing Course

Free Online Courses from Great Universities

University of Washington Free courses

World Lecture Hall

Bible Study Lessons

photo credit by Milliron Photography

Best Submissive Blogslist

There are thousands of blogs on the internet by submissives. Some of them are decently written and by all means, worth following. This is not that list. This list is about the best submissive blogs out there; the ones that drive you to want to participate, feel their journey and be a part of their lives.

I’d love you to go to each of these websites, leave a comment and tell them Submissive Guide sent you.

• A subtle slavegirl
• A Submissive’s musings
• Behind the Collar
• Craving His Touch
• danae whispering
• Journey Into Submission
• Kitten’s Pawprints
• MD’s precious treasure
• persephone in love
• Ramblings of a kajira
• slave journal of the kiva
• The Femme Fagette
• The Journey
• This girl’s weblog
• Under His Hand
• View From the Floor

Think you should be on the list? Let me know!

10 Helpful Websites for the Busy Submissive

Sometimes you just need that extra bit of help out of your day or want to have all the tips and tricks on a certain activity. Well I have pulled together some of the best websites out there that will help you get though your difficult day in a breeze.

1. TipNut.com – This site has all the household tips, craft projects, recipes, kitchen & cooking tips and other neat-o hints that you could ever want when it comes to organizing your home. I’ve just recently come to find this site, and have fallen in love.

2. Lifehacker.com – Full of downloads and tips that you can use to make your life easier. I’ve found a lot of one-click applications that speed up my website work and browsing.

3. The Fresh Loaf – This site contains featured recipes, lessons, book reviews, a community forum and recipe exchange, and baker blogs. So please take some time to look around. It’s made with the amateur in mind.

4. Chore Buster – Organize your chores and household plans and have the calendar emailed to you (or each person gets their own list emailed) weekly or monthly as reminder on what to do. You can split the chores among family members and set the difficulty of chores so that your 6 year old doesn’t get something they aren’t capable of doing!

5. The Dollar Stretcher – Learning how to be frugal and save money in this tight economy! Excellent tips and ideas to keep your money where it belongs. In your pocket.

6. FlyLady.net – This is the first stop for any submissive wanting to organize your life. She’s an online coach to a tidy home and trust me, it works! I made my household binder based on her ideas and I enjoy adding to it every week.

7. Recipezaar – A recipe index with thousands of recipes, the ability to save recipes in your own cookbook for bookmarking purposes and submit your own recipes. I love the quantity adjustment feature so that I can increase and decrease the number or servings without calculation errors!

8. Moms Buzz – Mom’s Buzz keeps you in the loop with useful beauty tips, fun and easy recipes, awesome activities for kids (even the grownup ones) – and a hefty dose of humor to make you smile!

9. To Done! – A regularly updated collection of thoughts, writings, tips, tricks and information on personal productivity, work/life balance and getting things done.

10. Google Calendar – Google’s calendar allows you to make your schedule, receive reminders and alerts, share calendars with other Google users and view it from anywhere with an internet connection. You can even send out invites for parties and other things. It’s great for bills, birthdays and other special events as well as everyday tasks and chores.

Well, that’s a starting list, but I know you all have excellent websites you love to use and would recommend to anyone struggling to find time in their day for everything. What websites do you like?

Online Groups

Submissive groups are all over the internet. They can be long standing or short lived. Most have advice, help and a support system you can’t find anywhere else. Here’s a list of the groups where you might find your voice. Interactive forums or mailing lists are welcome here.

If you have a submissive group you’d like to see here, please let me know!

Yahoo! Groups

• Desert Submissive Treasure
• Exploration Society- Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Submissive Sanctuary
• Profound Submission
• Service Excellence
• Submissive Women
• Submissive Women Only

FetLife Groups

• 1763 Submissive Round Table
• 20-something submissives
• 24/7 live-in, service-oriented submissives and slaves
• 24/7 slaves
• 24/7 subs
• A slave’s heart
• Art aS Service
• Ask a Submissive Questions
• BBW Submission
• Degrees of Submission
• Domestic Servitude
• Domestic Sub Station
• Gay Submission
• Male Submission
• Male Submissives and Slaves
• Male Submissives Unite!
• Male Subs are People Too
• Mature Gay Male Submissives
• Obedient little girls and the Daddies they obey
• Passing it down – from the experienced to the new
• Positive Submissive Support
• Religious Submissives
• Rituals, Rules, and Contracts
• Sarcastic Subs and Slaves
• Serving 2 + Dominants
• Sexual Submission
• Skinny subs
• Slave Registration
• Slaves ( not micro managed )
• Smart, Mature, Healthy submissives
• Smart, Sophisticated, and Submissive
• Strong In Submission
• Strong slaves
• STRONG SUBMISSIVE MENS GROUP
• sub singles forming sub couples
• sub-mission
• SubFems Over Forty
• Submission by cam
• Submission with Dignity
• Submissive/Slaves/Bottoms Without Dominants
• Submissive Housewives
• Submissive Support Sisters
• Submissive Women

Independent Online Groups

• Let Me Serve
• The Submissive Wife Project

Do you know of any? Please let me know!

The Novelty of Slash Speak

Since the advent of the internet and the birth of BDSM online there has been slash speak. Slash speak is a protocol established by online dominants for their submissives to decern who’s on top and who’s on bottom. It’s said to be a form of respect for those online.  For those of us who don’t know, here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

O/our relationship is full of surprises. W/we enjoy spontaneous conversation and play online in chat rooms where O/others can watch U/us play. When it really heats up W/we retire to private chat to that W/we can have alone time.

Now part of this way of speaking is the use of lowercase letters for submissive pronouns me, my, i, mine, and their names. I also sign my name with a lowercase l, which is what is left over from my online experiences. I guess it is one of the only things that stuck. Perhaps because it doesn’t drive me crazy!

Slash speak doesn’t make any sense to me mainly because the respect that you give others, even online can be visible in the way you speak, not the way you type out the words. If I want to show common curtesy and address to someone, I will be polite, respectful and display common sense. There is no need to display it in the way I type.

The novelty of this speak has caused a lot of disagreements online but worst is the name-calling. I’ve often heard that if you use online protocols such as slash speak that you aren’t real or that you are a player. It’s judgemental and stereotypical. We really do try to be an open-minded group of society but when it all boils down to it, people are the same all over. It’s unfortunate.

Do you use slash speak? What importance does it have for you and your relationship?

What kind of comments have you heard from others?

photo credit Andrew*

Resources

This area has submissive resources that will help you with your developing submission and the growth and enhancement of your relationship with yourself.

Links

There are links to other interesting sites all over the internet with information important to different facets of your submissive life. Explore them and learn something about your submission.

View the Links Directory and submit your link

Book List

A compiled list of books you can purchase from Amazon.com that have something to do with submission, BDSM or your continued personal growth.

Browse the Bookshelf for a new book!

Journal Prompts

This area is a subsite of Submissive Guide. It houses hundreds of quotes and prompts for your journals or blogs. I hope that they can help you think about and discuss things you may not have thought about. Feel free to post your responses on the site or on your own site. Link back so that we can read your responses!

Go to the Submissive Journal Prompts Site

Simply Service

A ‘monthly’ e-zine written and produced for submissives. Bootpig started it a few years ago and I took on the volunteer task to keep an archive of all of the past ‘zines for others to read and learn from.

View the Simply Service Archives

Submissive Groups on the Internet

Across the web there are groups of submissives where learning and sharing take place. Many of these places are open to newcomers and experienced alike. You might enjoy some of the groups listed for you here.

View the Online Groups List

Chat Room

Submissive Guide chat room. Brand new and looking for regular visitors. This is unmoderated chat unless I’m in the room. I hope to provide chat on specific topics scheduled in the future.

Go to the Chat Room

10 Red Flags of Bad or Abusive Dominants

Predators and abusive Dominants are everywhere. I’ve seen them and been subjected to them in a casual relationship. Thankfully I escaped into a kind and loving relationship that I wouldn’t trade for the world. But how do you know the person you are with is an abuser and not just  a strict Dominant?

I’m going to give you 10 Red Flags that can indicate you are with an abusive person. This is no where near an exhaustive list. There are many many more flags out there. See the list of other essays below if you want a more in depth article.

1. Are you afraid of your Dominant?
2. Do they threaten to leave or abandon you of you don’t submit?
3. Do they threaten violence if you don’t submit?
4. Does the Dominant give you expensive gifts to get you to do something you don’t honestly want to do?
5. Have you gained or lost a lot of weight while being with the Dominant? (this does not include intended weight loss or gain)
6. Do they make you feel guilty if you can’t or won’t do something?
7. Does the Dominant make you feel ugly and unwanted?
8. Have you ever felt like you have been raped after having sex with the Dominant?
9. Do they ignore your needs, such as medical treatment, food or clothing?
10. Have they ever questioned your loyalty when you question their behavior?
11. (Yup, I could keep going…) Does your Dominant ignore your limits or safe words?

Other Warning Signs

There are many many more that can also be key signs that the person you are with is dangerous. Other essays about dangerous and abusive Dominants that I recommend reading are:

• Red Flags, Warning Signs and Intuition: Learning to Trust Your Instincts, Part One by Norische
• Red Flags by Turning Point.com
• Red Flags for Abusive Relationships by The Red Flag Campaign
• Eight Red Flags for New Relationships and Possible Date Abuse
• Do You Know The Red Flags by Dangers of Internet Dating
• Red Flags by Crisis Convention
• Playing and Staying Safe from Come Hither added 4/13/09

Where to Find Help

It is important that you find out for yourself and then get out. There are local and national agencies to help you get away safely and start your life over again.

I strongly support the National Leather Association – International Domestic Violence Project in their efforts to bring awareness of abuse in BDSM relationships.

If you are experiencing a domestic violence emergency please call 911.

If you need help or assistance with domestic violence please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at:

1-800-799-SAFE         or       1-800-787-3224 TTY

Stay safe, protect yourself and get out. You do not need to stay in an abusive relationship; especially with children.

photo credit pangalactic gargleblaster

Online Encounters and the Danger of Blind Faith

As a  novice submissive in this technology age you typically explore submission online in chat room and in instant messaging. There is nothing wrong with this avenue for dipping your toe in the water. There are, however, very real dangers that predators use to capture novices and can do more harm to your curiosity than good.

These predators use blind faith to pressure you into compliance as a demonstration of your ‘true’ submissiveness. They may use tactics like, ‘If you are submissive you will do x, y and z for me.’ The may also ask you for a lot of information as a test and yet they remain completely hidden. You could come away with absolutely no real information about them but they could know you like a book.

So, what is blind faith anyway? Let’s start with the dictionary definition:

BLIND: To conceal or to put something forward for the purpose of misleading. Subterfuge. One who acts to the point of insensibility.

FAITH: To trust, give allegiance or loyalty to another. Fidelity to one’s promises. Or, a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. It can also mean to offer a binding promise.

From the definition we can see that there is deceit and masking to provide trust and respect from another person. In the realm of online D/s this can be an access point for predators to find pliable victims to do illegal activities such as identity theft, physical harm or sexual violation.

You may be thinking that it’s all online, you can’t honestly be in that much danger from someone online. It is important to remember that first contacts are with total strangers. You do not know who is on the other end of the screen. The usage of testing your submissiveness immediately should be a warning sign. A healthy Dominant will not need to know every single detail of a submissive’s life within the first conversation. A predator wants to glean information from you as fast as possible to find your weak points. They will be more interested in your personality, reactions, and interactions with them. Simple chemistry. Open natural conversations tend to reveal and answer most questions easily. A predator takes the time to learn what issues will trigger a submissive, how to speak to them and how to assault them.

Do not let yourself believe that trust and compliance is necessary from the beginning with anyone. A healthy Dominant knows that trust is something learned and earned between parties and will be patient with you while they gain your respect. You may be a novice to BDSM, but you are not new to life. You wouldn’t trust the stranger sitting next to you on the bus with your personal belongings; don’t trust the person on the other end of the keyboard with your information.

Blind faith testing

is a way of turning a submissives ‘desire to perform’ against them. There is no negotiation during this type of offering, the entirety of it is one sided or leading. A new submissive can easily be enticed into completing and following this pathway of tests often giving out personal information that if they were asked directly they would not answer. There is a subtle desire to ‘do this test well’ for this apparent Dominant. There is often additional pressure applied through stressed time frames for the completion of each test. This additional pressure may make the submissive feel desired but most often pushes them into revealing life details that they should not reveal to a total stranger.” (Mistress Steel, “Blind Faith,”  http://www.steel-door.com)

Trust should not be given to anyone sporting a Dominant sounding name on the Internet. Trust is earned through significant consistent actions by that Dominant over a period of time. If a Dominant cannot offer any kind of references or information about themselves then you should not give to that person any level of blind faith or trust!

photo credit CRFish

The Importance of Journaling Your Submission

Communication is one of the key elements that make a D/s relationship strong. Without good communication your relationship is destined to fail. While talking face to face may be the best way to communicate, sometimes this just isn’t possible. A submissive can be a novice, shy, embarrassed, or intimidated. With the age of the internet, distance can also be a roadblock in good communication. Dominants have to use tools to help the submissive communicate and grow.

One of the tools that Dominants can use for communication is journaling. Keeping a journal has really grown and flourished online, but long before the internet submissives kept paper journals. Now many of the journals exist online as blogs. A blog is an online journal. It’s still not unlikely now to have a paper journal and a blog. I have a blog for my everyday writing and a paper journal for the really private stuff that even Master doesn’t want to see. That one is rarely written in, but it is there if I need it.

Starting a Journal

If you are asked to or decide to start a journal of your own you should decide what sort of content you want to have in it. Many submissives record their play and sexual encounters as a part of their blog. I try to reflect on my day as a submissive and delve deep within to find out why I acted a certain way or where I can work on something related to my submission. Whatever you decide your voice may be, stay true to it. This journal, whether paper or online, is a part of you. Be honest with yourself, open-minded and introspective.

There are several blog hosting services that can allow you to have a public or private blog. They provide different looks and themes, options and features to make your blog whatever you’d like it to be.

There are several reasons why you would want to start up a blog or journal. They can be very personal or have every opportunity to be open with others. Perhaps you need advice or exposure to help you through your journey. The following methods can help you get your feet off the ground.

Journaling for Development

When I started my blog, and the main focus now, is to journal as I develop as my Master’s submissive. I try to detail my thoughts and feelings and get to the bottom of it. I tend to try to over-analyze and take a very introspective view of myself. I am overly critical but it does help me see where things are and where they may be going.

Your goal for journaling may be similar. Do you want to document your learning and growth as a submissive? Does it make you feel good to know that you have come from A to B and are better for it? Development journaling may be for you.

Take an introspective view of what you did today and how you behaved. Were there things that you feel enhanced your submission? Was there anything you’d like to work on? What about ideas for further development you’d like to look into?

Journaling for Punishment

Generally this option isn’t one you take on yourself, but is asked of you by your Dominant partner. Blogs or journals that document a submissive’s punishment and atonement for infractions can be interesting reading if done correctly. Again, it would be beneficial for you to write introspectively about the punishment, the ‘crime’ and the way you feel now that the punishment is over. Perhaps even writing about how you will improve your submission can give you a lot to learn from.

Sex Blogging

There really is an art to writing about sex, but to attract people to your form or journaling you need to write explicitly and often. A good sex blogger will not only tell the story but encourage readers to want for more. This is one of the most commercialized options, but if you are in for the long haul and can write well, this might be an option for you to explore.

Preserving Your Voice

In all that I’ve written here I’d like to remind your to keep your voice. Don’t pretend to be someone you aren’t (unless you are in a character blog). It is expected that when you journal you are telling the truth. Several bloggers that I used to follow, were shunned when it was found out that their blogs were faked and it was just a fiction blog. If you are going to write fiction, make sure your readers know that.

Your voice, the way you write and what you write about is important to you, and possibly to readers if you share your blog with the world. No matter if your blog is private, if you are honest with your feelings and emotions then it can be used by you or a Dominant partner to the best of both. Make the journal your own. Let it strengthen you. Keep it true to you.

Other Submissives’ Thoughts on Journaling

The Power Within Journaling – Life on the Razor’s Edge

photo credit Bob AuBuchon

About

Welcome to The Submissive Guide — a blog look at mentoring, self-taught training and BDSM exploration.

My name is luna and I’m a full-time submissive in a D/s relationship. I am webslut to The Iron Gate, Submissive Journal Prompts, The Thinking Dominant and a few others.

I started blogging when I was exploring D/s online in 2003. I used it primarily as a way to get my thoughts together and hopefully to find people that understood what I was thinking at the time. I needed advice, mentors and helping hands.

Since then I have blogged in several different places, settling on BDSM is Love. I’ve developed opinions and thoughts on many topics within the the D/s dynamic and BDSM. I don’t consider myself to be an expert at anything at all but I do think that I’ve grown to enjoy sharing and writing about all the different themes that submission and service provide me.

As my blog grew in popularity I realized that I had a commodity that people could use. My insights and words. More than just the personal meandering thoughts I tend to gather on my blog, but more thoughtful help for submissives that are seeking advice, mentorship and someone who understands.

From Online, Long-Distance and Casual to Real-Life, Full-time Submission

I’ve been through it all and can give a submissive valid insights on all facets of exploration. I’ve been an online submissive, lived a long-distance service and even played casually for awhile. Now I’ve moved to live-in submission where we tried part time, just in the bedroom and finally settled on full-time D/s dynamic where we are most happy.

So, if you feel that I won’t understand where you are coming from, just try me. I might surprise you!

Why Submissive Guide?

This site is dedicated to helping submissives understand themselves and the service they wish to provide; from sexual to domestic, personal assistant to pain slut and everything in between.

I started this site in January of 2009 because I wanted to help others out there to understand the feelings and experiences that are new and sometimes puzzling. I’d like to be a mentor to novice submissives, develop a learning program of sorts and give you tips and information on how you can improve your personal submission with or without a partner. I’ll be regularly adding essays, reviews and perhaps a video or podcast or two.

I hope you enjoy the site.

What others are saying about Submissive Guide

Thank you very much for putting this all together. i am new to the lifestyle. i have met a wonderful Master who found your site and referred me to it. i have gleaned so much information. It has really given me so much wonderful information that i feel more enlightened and better equipped to understand what my Master is teaching me. There has been so many wonderful thoughts, ideas and pointers that I really can’t be more specific. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. — dita

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I followed a link to your site and I have been reading it the last several days. I want to compliment you on the excellent job you have done with it. I am very impressed with many of the articles and blogs and other resources you list. In fact I have given the site to my LDR submissive because she is on the new side and I thought it would be helpful to her.

But I must say several of the articles I have found helpful to me too! I hope you don’t mind one of us D types lurking around.

I wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your site. Thank you for publishing it! – LGM

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I just wantedto drop you a line and tell you how much I enjoy your website. I am a newbie to the lifestyle – started with reading books, articles on the internet and have begun chatting on line. I have met one Dom, had one meeting that was very brief but seemed to go well – I was comfortable with him (normally a very shy person and don’t open easily at first) and he seemed pleased. I am trying so hard to take it slow but am so anxious to experience all that I have read/learned about.

Again, just wanted to give you a little nudge of encouragement and to let you know that your words help those of us new to the lifestyle. Thank you again –Terri

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I wished to write to you to thank you for taking the time to put together your wonderful site. I stumbled across it late last night while searching for a collar that Sir has instructed me to buy to formalize our relationship, and I read with great interest. I plan to show Him your site this evening, but I have already undertaken some of the exercises you have shared.  In reading, I realized how much work we have already done in our short month long relationship; particularly in training.  I took the time to formally write down all the ways in which my own instincts or behaviors have been modified or finessed to be more pleasing to Him, and this was truly a labor of love, so I appreciate it. — A

Contributions and Sharing

I do not know everything there is to know about everything. If you feel that you can contribute an essay or series of essays on a topic that you feel you know a lot on, please feel free to send me information via my contact page. I would be happy to hear what you could provide.

I am also open to being a guest blogger on your site. If you would like me to write something for your blog or website, please contact me. I would be happy to contribute to your site as long as I can have a short promotion of mine in return.

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