urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:cjb666cjb666cjb666cjb6662008-12-09T18:06:06Zurn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:cjb666:590Beginners S&M and Hygiene2008-12-09T18:00:49Z2008-12-09T18:06:06Z<br /><div>At the weekend I walked out of a beginners S&M workshop in Germany - it was actually called "Mild and Wild." I understand that it would have been illegal in the UK.</div><div> </div><div>During the Friday evening introductory sessions we were introduced to a large array of 'torture' 'toys' including plain leather paddles, leather paddles with metal studs, whips - some knotted, canes some with small 'bulbs' on the end, hanks of really rough rope, clothes pegs (?) and a nasty wire device with sharp pointed ends that is apparently used to scratch or tingle the skin especially on the scalp. That is to name a few. As for the pointed wire device my immediate thoughts were needle-stick injury and HIV/AIDS. </div><div> </div><div>Then we witnessed a demonstration of 'mild' S&M. However during this - which had obviously been well-rehearsed - the subservient by now blind-folded - obviously had complete trust in the master. The actions were not violent - that was to come later - but did involve smacking with the paddles, rubbing a plain leather paddle up the arse crack, beating all over the back with a leather 'arrow' on edge, and tying the arms behind the back.</div><div> </div><div>Afterwards there was no option to ask questions or raise issues. We were simply allocated a random partner and invited (told) to 'have a go' ourselves - that is - to practise 'mild' S&M on people we did not know, on un-showered bodies still sweaty from travelling to the venue that day, with the group-sharing of the 'toys' some having been wiped up the arse cracks of the previous couple to use them, and re: myself with someone unknown to me and whom I had yet to trust.</div><div> </div><div>We received no pre-workshop questionnaire re: medical history or fitness, so no-one - not even the facilitators - knew anything about anyone's medical history. In the introductory sessions there was no instruction as to hygiene, health and safety, nor even what was meant exactly by personal 'boundaries' beyond which we were not supposed to go.</div><div> </div><div>I realised that the dangers of cross-contamination of skin and faecal bacterial infection could have been high. It was at this point that I freaked out and left. I still have to rationalise why guys (and I gather women) should want to beat the living daylights out of each other - even to the extent of 'wild' resulting in blood being spilt.</div><div> </div><div>So was I right to listen to my guardian angels with regards to lack of hygiene, health and safety, that is a perceived lack of 'duty of care' towards the newbie participants? The organisers didn't seem too bothered when I walked out, after all they'd already got my fee by then.</div><br />CJB666