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Old Guard, New Guard High Leather Protocol: what does
it all mean? It sometimes sounds as if Sadomasochism was
invented in Post War America. Noted author Jack Rinella
(The Master's Manual) speaks of there being a confluence
of three "rivers" of Lifestyle. Historically,
Jack notes, the Pro Dom is the oldest branch, Gay Leather,
is the second "river", and Heterosexual BDSM
or D/s, is the third leg of this convergence. Old Guard
generally refers to the gay leather Post W.W.II model,
of the last century as you will read. The structure of"Discipline,
Duty Honor Obedience Integrity and other values carried
from a military indoctrination, became common threads
for many a secret society in the 1950s.
Today, the rise in hetero sexual kink, has many self
appointed "Masters" cooking up their own brand
of service,protocol and behavior. Submissives who have
been inspired by The Beauty Series or The Story of "O"
come looking for Master GoodBar. Role players who have
read the John Norman Gor books, come in with that as a
model for finding a Master/ slave world of their own.
Some people who have stumbled onto a dark corner of chat,
begin their "education" on the Internet, sorting
and sifting through chat rooms and channels and the characters
that haunt those less than hallowed halls. Others find
web sites such as this one, or may have read a non- fiction
book or two.
So this Old Guard stuff doesn't seem to quite match the
fantasy role. It is easy to dismiss Protocol and Discipline
as an old "gay" thing that has no place in the
new millennium... until you look carefully at it. Submissives
want structure. In fact they crave it. The truth is most
relationships that fail do so, not just because people
change as they grow in this, but because core values of
Honor, Integrity, Obedience, Duty, and Respect, that were
binding requirements of 20th century Leather Life, seem
now to be optional elements in the Het community.
There is no one answer. Each couple or clan must find
their own way and define themselves and even redefine
themselves as they grow. But it would be a good idea to
understand the past and the current underground, and take
those elements you feel will work and apply them to your
needs and desires. I am from the heterosexual side of
the track. Yet those who train with me..are far better
trained then I in the ways of the Leather folk that came
before me. It is my "Duty" to insure they do.
They expect me to help them learn. Because of that I am
as comfortable walking into a Gay Leather bar with my
submissives as I am a pansexual munch.
Enjoy this collection of essays on Old Guard and High
Protocol. Chances are if you have asked me to teach you,
I have sent you to this page to learn. You don't need
to adopt all you see here, But you do need to understand
it and respect it as one facet of our overall community.
There is a lot of value here if you keep an open
mind.
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