I was at my friend's house a couple days ago and was presented with a very interesting lesson in genetics. My friend - I'll call her MamaDomme and I were upstairs sitting on her bed exchanging girl talk, kink talk, etc. Two of her kids were home so we were hanging around up there for privacy. Enter Domette, 15yr old daughter, who begins discussing the piercing she just got in the cartilage of her ear. I asked where she got it done (considering a cartilage piercing of my own). And she begins to tell me that she did it herself and that she's done a few of her ear piercings herself and has done them friends etc etc

So I have to ask - Gawd how can you do that to yourself? It must hurt like hell. She agrees but says it's not that bad and why pay the money if you don't have to. I can see her point but…..OUCH!! She just pokes herself with a needle and pushed in the ring! (shudder).

MamaDomme and Domette continue to discuss her piercing. It's swollen still and the earring Domette is using doesn't seem to be the best choice. MamaDomme offers Domette a barbell for her ear and there's a big bru-ha-ha about who's going to change the earring.

Now I've guessed where this barbell used to live but I'm not saying anything. Domette doesn't want MamaDomme to change the earring because it will hurt too much. MamaDomme isn't worried about a little pain, she thinks she can put it in easier than Domette can and that it will be better for the piercing. While the two of them squabble about who is going to do what with this barbell Domboy, 10 year old son, walks into the room. His question?

Is it going to hurt? Can I watch? (I'm dying inside as I sit quietly watching these three Dom types interact).

Domboy is sent to go have a shower but he's in and out of the bedroom every time he hears the conversation get loud because he doesn't want to miss seeing his sister in pain. Seriously - this kid would come in and just stare at Domette as she fussed with her ear. It was funny to watch.

Eventually MamaDomme takes the now sterilized barbell and tries to push it through the two day old piercing (OUCH). Domette is squealing and squirming and trying to get away, Domboy is almost in a trance as he watches and I'm ready to explode with laughter.

Finally Domette gets the barbell in, it hurts her and she's twitching as MamaDomme helps screw the backing on. Domette moans and complains about how much it hurts and thinks her ear is still too swollen for the barbell. MamaDomme insists the barbell is better as it won't catch in her hair as much and it's a smaller gauge (meaning it will leave a bigger hole which is the ultimate goal here). Domboy stares, intently and silently.

This whole scenario took about half an hour of fussing but with the earring changed the two MiniDoms are sent off, one to the shower, the other to chores and I can finally laugh freely.

I look at MamaDomme. "Did that barbell come from where I 'think' it came from?" I ask as I shake with laugher. Her reply. "I can't wait for the day to come when I can tell her the barbell I gave her for her ear used to live in my coochie" Her eyes twinkle and an evil smile creeps across her face then we both laughed harder.

For me this story begs the question do we become dominant or submissive because of environmental conditions or because of genetics? Unfortunately, after experiencing the my friends family, I do not have an answer to that question - but I certainly wonder about it a little more.

Now on to this issue's news. We have added a few staff members to our TDV family.

We have a new contributing editor, Bluey, who will be helping to gather fresh and knowledgeable people for us to draw our articles from, she will also be hosting a new column called Sub Missives, where she and/or a guest writer will be providing submissive opinions and commentaries to provide dominant's with a submissive point of view.

Speaking of columnists, I'm happy to introduce Headly, a dominant out of Ontario, Canada who will be providing us with commentaries and links to BDSM and sexuality related news from around the world. Some funny, some serious, all informative. (see News You can Use).

Master Michael has signed on to be a general contributor to the zine and he'll be providing us with articles that will address all kinds of BDSM issues from opinion articles to instructional demonstrations. (See his article in this issue on Cutting)

Jean Roberta has graciously accepted our offer to become our staff book reviewer. Jean brings her education and professionalism as a university English teacher, her expertise in the erotica field and her own brand of kink to provide us with her expert opinion on various BDSM literature.

Issue 21 is full to the brim with articles, photos and information. There's a little bit here for everybody and we hope you enjoy this issue of The Dominant's View.

Kayla Kuffs
Editor