| Respect - The fourth key |
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| We've covered communication, trust and honesty, now we have respect. Respect is another one of those components that is earned. To earn it, you have to give it (kind of like the saying of the chicken and the egg). Like all the keys (or spokes) to a D/s relationship, it works BOTH ways. It's giving your partner and other individuals in the D/s community (and even in regular life) the appropriate recognition, validation, and kindness, providing they have earned it. |
| Respect is acquired and earned by giving that total communication, allowing someone to trust in you and trusting in others. Being honest and going out of your own way to help another or just be kind can certainly help in the challenge to attain that complex word. |
| Many believe that respect is agreeing with anyone and everyone, and is automatically given to All Dom/mes in it's entirety. Giving respect is not neccessarily being agreeable, it's more understanding someone's opinion and having MANNERS in the way you present your agreement or disagreement. As for the belief that All Dom/mes get respect automatically just because they say they are Dom (like saying... you have to call me Sir because I am the Dom!), I disagree. Yes, it is manners to greet someone with the appropriate title, but I'm certainly not going to bow at every single Dom who says so, they must show me respect for me to return it to them. Respect is earned in that way - weather one is Dominant, submissive or otherwise. |
| Written by sheltered vixen, 2002 |
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