They are yet again asleep at the wheel… and, do not understand that there is a back door in the system that allows people like I to impose our BS into this publication – so, hold them as harmless as they are in this forthcoming spew:

“According to Democritus, truth lies at the bottom of a well, the water of which serves as a mirror in which objects may be reflected. I have heard, however, that some philosophers, in seeking for truth, to pay homage to her, have seen their own image and adored it instead.”
~Charles Richter, (American Seismologist and very intelligent individual; 1800-1885)

We place a lot of stock in the people who give us public lectures and demonstrations, who write articles in a regular fashion, and who are in the extra dim “limelight” that our little corner of a sub-cultural world provides.

We regularly refer to them as “Leaders” in our community(ies) and look toward them to set THE example, to say the right things and to (well?) – Lead US.

Unfortunately, just because someone has a voice in their community, just because a person speaks out in a forum and/or is (even) considered a ‘leader’ (by some) does not mean that they (actually) are a leader, are necessarily “good people” (someone you would want to invite home to visit/play with), or that they deserve the accolades heaped on them by way of general approval, awards in leather, or those garish leather sashes that are often imposed into photographs by means of demonstrating a perverted sense of fashion.

Last Month, this periodical published a minor expose on a person considered by some to be one of the leaders in our community.

It pointed out the fantasy being publicly portrayed as a reality by this individual and stated a significant disappointment in this person and the culture in general which would allow such falsehoods to be silently glossed over and ignored without anyone stepping forward.

For this little bit of journalistic honesty, the author and this periodical were derided from many quarters – levied with the obligatory and nonsensical threats of lawsuits (both national and international), summarily banned from attendance at various events and affairs that are lorded over by individuals who felt slighted in some way by the publication of the truth, and slandered, libeled, and were the focus of a few counter articles asking how “We” might allow such a ‘travesty’ to occur (as though “we” were all inclusive or cannot see ‘poop’ on the soles of our shoes).

To be fair, several of the people who spouted off are friends of the article’s focus – they were simply rising to her defense (which may be considered honorable).

And, some of the verbose hecklers were people that have a vested interest in the monetary potential of this person – and, many were simply “circling the wagons” in an attempt to protect “one of their own”.

Money and morality do not mix well for some people – so this overly demonstrated lack of logic and ethos used to ineffectivly attacks is easily dismissed as simply the norm where business may be affected (being in NYC – I see it on a daily basis and consider such low life behavior akin to the risk of stepping into the street…. eventually you learn where the dogs do their bit and avoid it).

But, what is interesting (from a purely prurient standpoint) is the side commentaries – the statements made to me and others in regard to the understanding of this situation.

Apparently, this was not the big and shocking surprise I and (obviously) the author and many of the readers found it to be.

The Goddess is apparently a well known builder of personal reputation through (what might be referred to as) fairy tales.

After the publication, emails started silently (as though they would normally make a “whooshing noise?) coming in stating “About time”, “Well done!”, and “We were wondering when this expose would happen!”

This was and is a well known issue within the leather community with this person and with quite a number of others.

“Falsehood is cowardice, the truth courage.”
~Hosea Ballou (American Clergyman, 1771-1852)

You might ask yourself:

“<Self> (insert your name here) –

Why would these people who are also considered senior leather leaders not say something previous to this?”

And

Do they not have an obligation to the people they lead, the people who read and buy their books and attend their lecture to speak up?”

And

“Is there not some moral personal obligation which would lead them to speak out against such a deception?”

Well – apparently they do not believe so OR they are conveniently ignoring it as an expediency of their lives? <----------------- now THERE is a rationalization! (Man – I kill me!)

I think it is about time that we understand something-

Just because someone is called a “Leader in Leather” or an organization is touted as a bastion of “Leather History” does not mean that they are going to STEP UP and do the ‘Right Thing’.

They are more likely to do the ‘expedient thing’ that allows them to not cause any controversy and/or to not have their pocket book adversely affected.

It is moral cowardice (to be sure), but it is in their-own-personal-best interest.

It is time we realized that these people are not elected, appointed, or placed on their pedestal because of their “Leadership” – so much as they are placed there because they are senior people in the community, they are authors people read, lecturers people listen to and/or simply leather title holders who were (once?) capable of standing before an audience and garnering votes by telling pretty tales and saying in the moment what the judges wanted to hear.

We cannot expect them to be more than they are…

As far as the rest of it:

I applaud this publication and the author of the expose for demonstrating that leadership is not about popularity, it is not about profit, and it is about “Do(ing) the Right Thing” (with compliments to Mr. Lee)… and, standing by basic human values of honesty to their readers, their listeners, their adherents, and to themselves.

A shame there is not more of those going around.

“Cowardly Lion: Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?
All: Courage!”
~”The Wizard of Oz” (The Movie)

Affectations or Cyber Affliction?

<Puzzled look>

I need to broach a subject in order to bring up something that I find odd from a personal perspective.

<Cartoon question mark present above my head>

I read voraciously <owlish look>. Anything that can be read, I will read <crushed note in urinal >.

Anything in print has a potential interest to me; no matter what.

<Feminine hygiene products in stores?>

So, I read postings on the internet, everything from the Gorean gazettes to the foot fetishist’s forums. Of late *in the last year* <image of calendar scrolling back through 2005> I have noticed postings in online boards that incorporate gestures <slight look of bemusement> that would not normally be visible to the eye <Helen Keller> through simple reading.

Every piece of writing has a rhythm, a certain ‘bounce’ to it. A cadence created in the assembly of the words, the delivered sense of meaning, and the structure of the sentence, paragraph and a well crafted page.

When an author gets into a groove, we (the readers) can see the meaning in a flow of thought that is transposed from page, to eye, and then to our mind’s eye.

This (apparently, IRC inspired) interjection of ‘feigned physicality’ into writing is screwed. It stutters the flow of thought – and, potentially destroys whatever rapport the writer may have gained with the audience to that point.

It is (in sexual terms) “coitus interuptus” – the virtual blue balls of the cyber lexicon.

These interjections <insert X-Rated Tivoli Fountain> are usually an ineffective attempt by the author <”Abby”> to more effectively convey his thoughts <”Abby Normal”>.

It is intended to reflect gestures <wipes forehead with dryer fresh towel>, bodily emanations <heavy sigh tinged with sadness>, and simple facial expression <amused contemplative look of flatulence> written as they might be performed by the author <tongue at corner of mouth, crayon, ham fisted ineffectiveness> for the purpose of communicating a visual clue <"I will take 'Clue' for $500, Alex"> to the anticipated reader <laughing loudly>.

I believe <generic faith based imagery> and am looking for simple co-oberation that these insertions before, betwixt, and after statements <sly smile, scratching crotch> made in an online <Al Gore> communication have been coming <this section deleted IAW article 2257> from chat room behavior <pulling at something beneath computer desk repeatedly and finally retrieving the mouse>.

The reason I believe in the chat room association <smiling knowingly like a lunatic> is that the behavior holds no relevancy in literature, modern or otherwise.... any writing known, in normal on line posts or in print, or would even be used by such fantastical and unbelievable scenarios as presented in comics and Gorean books <image of red silk in a commode> would not try such an overt and (as I see it) <insert formerly used and trite reference to Helen Keller here>.

It is not (to the best of my ability to realize) common to any interaction between humans <picture of simian reading Jung> that I < picture of simian reading Jung> am aware of

Please, correct me if I am wrong in this.

Cease idiot idioms –

These ‘less than literary’ machinations would not have caught my attention (as much) if they were not so often overt and completely out of place expositions into the various postings, letters, discussions, that I read on the web. They stand out like the proverbial ‘sore thumb’ and disrupt the flow of the words on the screen. It is sincerely a silly sort of communication addition; and, seldom conveys the intended message to a writing that the author may have believed was required.

On top of that, I have a very hard time taking people (and, what they say) seriously, when (in the process of telling us what a devout slave they are, or, how they ‘cut their teeth’ on the planet of Gor in 1951) they suddenly place in the text “<evil smile>”.

Of course – it has been stated that “I have a hard time taking anything seriously” – but, that is a joke.

A look at “Looking Into”
- Or –
“ Who the hell wants to know?”

During Leather leadership conference X (that would be “Ten”) in NYC this past spring presentations was made by Rob Bienvenu and Jonathan Krall describing a new and interesting organization that is formed with the intention of getting the truth out on ‘who’ and ‘what’ we are.

With so many pollsters and social scientists doing poor research or research that is “skewed to meet the funding”, a lot of what is being said about us as a group and a culture is being distorted and fabricated.

The Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (CARAS) was designed to keep the “record straight” from poor researchers and from the unscrupulous who might ,make us appear to be – well – perverted (in a “bad way”).

Needless to say, the effort is an uphill battle – but participation by “The Many” would be a significant addition to our political clout and in the effort to maintain information fair and “impartial”.

OK – I do not believe that “fair and impartial” will be the result - but, it is a great way to balance the books by getting positive information out there.

This organization shall not only guide research, but (eventually when the coffers get filled to an extent) it shall sponsor research to find answers to the questions that burn in our hearts (or elsewhere).

It shall also have a “Clearinghouse” of information available to researchers in general – allowing them to know what has already been looked into (and, the associated information that the research does provide) and to find out what is required to look into (so, they are not spinning their scholastic wheels going over already trod ground).

But, they need OUR help. In order to make this a success, they ask for a partnership with all organizations that support alternative sexualities and lifestyles. They are seeking us to join them in their endeavor by joining them formally – and – by directing those that tell us they are doing research and require us to “answer a few questions” to go speak to the folks with CARAS and allow them to find out who they are and who is sponsoring them… to discover if they are (indeed) wasting their time – and, to provide these individuals and organizations with research information that they can use toward their study’s resultants.

SO – please – speak to the people and leaders in your munch, meeting group, club, organization (or, whatever the hell you want to call it) – ask them to contact CARAS for their information and to find out how to partner with them – and, lets get some real information accumulated and generated in a positive way <--insert cheerleading routine here – I look fabulous in the outfit!

CARAS Website: https://www.caras.ws/index.php/

“ I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.”
~Douglas Adams (British Author, Comedian, and noted cynic 1942-2001)

As always – I am constantly looking for the interesting and the sublime.

Know a Grand Master? Belong to an ancient European house of slave training and sexual endeavors?

Contact me – let’s talk about it and see if we might give you some space in the next issue.

And, thanks for reading… this is not an easy thing to write – I spent all day on it between watching Monk and Psyche – and, (oh yeah) I went to the mall and played video games too.

But, the effort is a killer.

NO really!

~J

Editor's Note: Mr Howe requested 'editing' for his column. So I saved you readers about 3 or 400 words or so of blah blah blah and magically still managed to get his point across! Suffice to say he was traumatized by the whole edit process. He took revenge by resubmitting his column 3 different times, adding topics to increase his word count, I responded by removing a quote HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO USE.
Careful what you ask for Mr Howe, cuz you just might get it.<smiling sweetly>