On kink, BDSM and evil

[Ancalagon]

Hello

There is a "storm" brewing in the local scene because at a fetish party a friend of mine decided to dress up in SS regalia. People complained, no one had the guts to go talk to him directly about it, he's upset etc etc etc. This got me thinking about well, kink and "evil", and I send an e-mail to the list in his defense. I thought you would like to hear my thoughts on the issue. (the guy is named david, but I'm not outing him since there is 5 billion davids living in canada, at least)

snip

We in the scene have complex motivations and we like
to dabble with things on the "dark side". I cannot
count the time I have heard the word "evil" thrown
around as if was a good thing. ("Oh you are so evil!
Why thank you!" etc). Since when is evil something
desirable?!? But well, I know that people don't
actually mean Evil (the oppression of your fellow
human beings) but something a lot more benign, so I
just laugh and play along when it comes up.

The same logic can be applied to David's SS regalia.
I totally stand against what the SS did and believed
in, but I sort of have to admit they had one heck of a
sense of style. Beside, isn't ruthless authority
"sexy" to many of us? Anyone that knows David should
be able to understand that this is what he's going
for, and not their appalling political beliefs.

I can only hope that those who complained are a
minority amongst us. It shows a worrisome lack of
maturity - a lack of awareness of the intricacies
associated with the symbolism the BDSM community uses,
and a lack of spine - why not go see the person who's
offending you and give them a chance to explain
themselves?!?

snip

Ancalagon

[Varaj]

Dude Nazi dress is pretty much the gold standard for sexy BDSM style. Fuck the whingers.

[Freedom Canadian]

I cannot count the time I have heard the word "evil" thrown around as if was a good thing. ("Oh you are so evil! Why thank you!" etc). Since when is evil something desirable?!? But well, I know that people don't actually mean Evil (the oppression of your fellow human beings) but something a lot more benign, so I just laugh and play along when it comes up.


That's something geeks do too, and I wonder why.

[The Winslow]

That's something geeks do too, and I wonder why.

Don't forget the Goths. "I'm a dark and brooding damned soul that feeds on the souls of the damned and I'm a dark and brooding unliving vampire who is dark and, um, brooding. And sinister and evil. Like a stiletto. (http://www.elfonlyinn.net/d/20040813.html)"

[Keeper of Secrets]

Agreed, Anc. I think your letter is spot on.

[Freedom Canadian]

Don't forget the Goths. "I'm a dark and brooding damned soul that feeds on the souls of the damned and I'm a dark and brooding unliving vampire who is dark and, um, brooding. And sinister and evil. Like a stiletto. (http://www.elfonlyinn.net/d/20040813.html)"

And there's a lot of overlap between fetishists, geeks and goths, right ? (And metalheads.)

What do they have in common ?

[Iron Jenny Kidd]

And there's a lot of overlap between fetishists, geeks and goths, right ? (And metalheads.)

What do they have in common ?
Leather?

[Ancalagon]

And there's a lot of overlap between fetishists, geeks and goths, right ? (And metalheads.)

What do they have in common ?

The essence of Fetish and Geekhood is the same - obsession.

[Cat of Ulthar]

I have noticed a difference in the American (and Canadian) attitude towards Nazi symbolism and the European one. In Europe, it is still just not. done. Showing up in a Nazi uniform anywhere would be considered the epitome of bad taste, and I could not find it sexy because of the associations still very much alive in the collective psyche. I felt distinctly uncomfortable with the Nazi theme on the late NKL, though not very, as I knew it was in good humour... but still.

I think there is more of a trauma still here than over there.

[Freedom Canadian]

The essence of Fetish and Geekhood is the same - obsession.

I think that is both true and too easy an explanation.

[doc]

Cat, I think the main difference in the European vs N. American view of Nazism is that y'all (Europe) were under the Nazi boot(and remember the pain from it), while North America fought it but wasn't.

Hollywood went from protraying Nazi's as the personation of Evil in the 40s to baffoons in comedies (Hogan's Heros) in the 60s, thus softening the image to most people. In the leather scene thier regalia is considered "cool" by people that want the image but don't understand (or in denial) the true evil they were.