Comments on: Living the Life: Rope & Leather

By: Masterbunbun

Masterbunbun — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:46:08 +0000

Thank you Gray for your wonderful thoughts of the world. You have taught me a great deal and now friends want me to teach them the same things. I hope that I can do it half as well as you do.

Yours in leather, Wilbur

By: lily

lily — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:34:44 +0000

In re: rope and leather in St. Louis

(sorry to hijack the conversation, Gray)

Aja and i just attended a five-Monday class at BadDog leather bar. The instructor invited us to discuss rope types and uses at the first class, and asked us to return as assistants for the rest of the course.

I’ve had the best time with the members of the gay leather community and plan on continuing to attend “bondage nights” at the saloon on the 3rd Thursdays of the month. It’s open to everyone, and we have a blast.

I see this as the beginning of a cooperative effort to promote and advance rope in the community. We’ve been asked to collaborate on advanced rope classes, and the owners have agreed to let us hold a meeting of our Rope special interest group in their space. Plans are afoot to use space there for a future rope event.

Gray,

We were honored to be mentioned in your post about the rope community. Thank you for thinking of us as folks “living rope”. As a look around my living room at the spools and hanks, we are truly “living” rope!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. As always, we value your “strong opinions.”

hugs,
lily the rope ho

By: ammre

ammre — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:47:04 +0000

To clarify my comment:

My desire for someone who teaches is someone who can exchange ideas. My favorite teachers in school were ones who had the capacity to learn lessons from their students, as well as teach lessons. When the teacher gives up the exchange of ideas and becomes more focused on teaching just to hear themselves talk or teaching what they feel to be THE right way, is when I start seeing the ego’s come out.

As for the hierarchy… well every social structure has one, it’s not necessarily a bad thing unless it’s abused.

By: Ropeguyjin

Ropeguyjin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:16:39 +0000

Wow. Still soaking it all in, but I’ve got to say that the realization of “the Leather community has had to fight to survive, whereas the rope community has just kind of happened” is, I think, an incredible stepping stone towards a greater discussion of the emerging Rope Community.

I remember at this year’s Shibaricon being asked by someone to explain the “Rope Guy” designation; what I told her began with “I can only tell you what I’ve worked out so far, and even that I might be wrong about.”

I think this line of questioning, at least at this point in its evolution, is a key component to the rope community; both in the quest to learn more as far as technique and ability, and in the pursuit of understanding. The rope community hasn’t just come out of nowhere, we’ve all brought ideas and experiences to it- and not just from in the kink community. Of Shibaricon I’ve said to people that it’s the best con ever because the teaching staff numbers about 600, give or take; everyone brings something to the table, an idea, a perspective, or a sudden flash burst of inspiration. I’ve seen learned instructors who have been teaching and doing workshops for years suddenly have an epiphany in class from a question asked by someone who is at their first kinky ANYTHING.

There’s an odd reflection to this almost modular “non-hierarchy” in the very core element of our craft: the rope itself. A length of rope can only do what you make it, but it can also do everything you could POSSIBLY do with it; and no matter what, it starts and ends as a coil of rope. You only have yourself to put into the rope community, and you’re only going to get yourself out of it; but through that experience you come to a greater understanding of potential than you had beforehand.

At least that’s what I’ve worked out so far, and I might be wrong.

By: Greg and jen (G & lil*j)

Greg and jen (G & lil*j) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:02:59 +0000

Great post…Thank you so much for the compliment…coming from you we are humbled! This is very insightful and thought provocing blog. We will tell you though, we love our national rope family and find the rope community tight and cohesive for the most part…. Specifically, our local our West Michigan Rope Family sticks togehter and supports each other…and defends each other…When an under qualified, overly aggressive and under informed stage manager stepped onto the stage at Exotice in Nov 08 and tried to take j down in the middle of our scheduled performance time, we had 30 members there who came to the stage, some with chairs in hand. Greg looked him in the eye and calmly told him to back away or I was not responsible for the condition he might leave the building…And the balance of the crowd of 200 in the room was then yelling at him to get off the stage and let us finish…He looked around, thought twice about touching either of us and then wisely figured it best he walk away…The performance was over but we were safe! …I LOVE our rope family!!!! *S

Greg and jen (G & lil*j)

By: Mistress Simone

Mistress Simone — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:45:16 +0000

My dear friend Gray,
You are to be commended. When an associate referred me to your posting, stating I should read it, I was a bit skeptical. And you know me, my online ability is limited. I don’t twitter,facebook or myspace.I am not a fan of spilling my guts online. However, as I read your post I was reminded of how intelligent and observation you are.
As a high protocol leather woman, let me share some of my observations coming from the opposite side(so to speak).
I have never been a rope worker. I was “raised” by a bisexual leather man with strong ties to the gay community. My leathers were earned there. My moniker “Ma’am” stems from there. I am not Old Guard and would never claim to be(that would be an insult to our past and those who worked so hard to pave the way for all of us.) but I am old style. Protocol,ritual, honor and duty is the basis of my leather life.
When I started in this lifestyle, we did rope for one thing: restraint. I learned restrictive bondage that was practical ,not pretty. When Shibari first appeared on the scene, I like many of leather , shunned it and those involved. We would make snide comments in the playspaces and dungeons when “those people” arrived.
Then a strange thing began to happen:the scenes before us intrigued us, mesmerized us in the beauty and practicality. Ropers were open, friendly and eager to share their knowledge. In the original Leather Rose, I saw more and more Shibari lessons going on side by side with flogging ones.
When I was asked to present at Shibaricon, I was shocked. I was not a rope person, why would they ask me? I went and found a new world opening before me. The energy at that first one was papable. As an energy player, I was in heaven. And the people I met were all wonderful. Willing to share their skill, have fun creating beauty together and highly intelligent.
Do our two worlds stem from that much of a difference? At the basis of both is our human desire to play, a child’s eagerness to be messy,make stuff, dress up and push the envelope when told not to.
I have seen true ritual in rope. Watching the intent look on Lochai’s face when he ties up a beautiful woman, seeing Jaded zen out when suspended. And the support you all have for one another is akin to family.
Yet bringing the two together has been a arduous task. I recall one of the first studio parties we gave. One side of the room was leather standing on protocol waiting to meet the rope people who were all over the room throwing rope, tying here, hanging here. The diverging protocols made it strained. When the leather submissive answering the door to a guest who was rope asked how to introduce the dom and sub ,the worlds clashed. Assumptions on both sides made for a uncomfortable moment. Yes in leather, we are protective of one another and possibly a bit obsessive in our sense of honor and protocol. Perhaps both worlds can benefit from each other. Kinda like the old man who has a new grandkid and is now riding roller coasters at age 70 again. Ropers are a breath of much needed fresh air in our community. They bring life and spirit to it.
My one wish is for the factions of all our kink to work together,not be the same , but be supportive. Being in a minority lifestyle in this nation, don’t we have enough to deal with already?
As another with dual citizenship, I value both sides of this coin, and feel all is combined under the umbrella of my kink family. You,Lochai and Janice, Leon and Cherry,Jaded and Lee are part of my circle. Might not be my leather family but definitely family.
I will note a difference however when preparing for a leather event and a kink event. And my interactions at each are governed by the overall protocol displayed.
If there is a leather hierarchy present at the event, I will adhere to it. If not, I go much more casual.
The post reminded me of the struggle to help the gay and the non-gay leather community get to know each other and work side by side when desired. This was a goal of the original Leather Rose :to foster and facilitate a safe haven for all of leather and kink, irregardless of sub factions. In many areas, we are still struggling with this. My second home of St. Louis has very little cross over, hard for a Chicago girl raised by leather gays.
As a title holder, part of my duty is to give back or teach. Help spread those values to our community as a whole. I feel in the rope arena, even though you do not have “official contests or titles”, you do have people who portray this and strive to do the same. I would hope some might consider crossing over into the leather circuit.
You mentioned that the leather skill sets are not as obvious. I am not sure I agree.I have attended and presented many classes on uniforms, bootblacking, leather community and other such topics. Possibly there needs to be a How to be leather 101? *Smiles*
I would be happy to talk further at Spanks on this matter, and possibly on you earning your leathers.

Miss Simone,
International Ms. Olympus Leather 2009