Here’s something that may help to explain it some:

The Leatherman’s Handbook by Larry Townsend, published in 1972, epitomizes the association of the leather subculture with BDSM.^[3] This book also encoded what is called old guard leather culture. This code emphasized strict formality and fixed roles (i.e. no switching). Other old guard practices emphasize discipline, honor, brotherhood, and respect, and are said to promote a stricter lifestyle, education, and intra-community privilege based on successive ranks or levels.
[wikipedia]

The Leatherman’s Handbook is something I’ve had many people recommend I read. The problem is it doesn’t seem to be in print any more. I’ve seen used copies of the book ranging in price from $20 – $100. If the Old Guard is alive and vibrant, how can the book that embodies it be scarce?

One of the largest problems I see with the leather/kink/bdsm community is a lack of accessibility. If you want to get people in the Information Age interested in something, you need to give them information so they can learn about it and it needs to be in an accessible format. I’m not saying you need to teach them everything, or put it all out there, but if the Old Guard is going to stay alive, there needs to be some type of Old Guard 101.

Do I believe that definition of Old Guard above is correct? No, but I do think parts of it are valuable. I think tradition, brotherhood, respect and other aspects of it are very valuable. Strictness, formality and unbendable structure I do have a problem with though.

I’m a person that values order, but there are always exceptions. Just because I usually label myself as a Dom doesn’t mean the perfect man might stroll by and turn me into a raging sub. If I was to be so rigid and deny what something in me may want, that would be just ludicrous. Now don’t get any ideas that you’re going to turn me into that raging sub. I’m not denying that that part of me is there, but it would truly take the perfect man to bring it out.

If people of the Old Guard want it to survive, they better take a hint from religion. If you want your group to prosper you need to reproduce, create large families and teach them your ways, then let them off into the world to do the same thing. No, this is not some ex-gay movement, but you get the idea.

One thing religion does that I think scares people away is puts some things in a cloud of mystery. Once again, this is the Information Age where people like to be able to understand everything. With kink, there is a lot that has to be learned through experience, but a person can go into that experience educated so they can come out understanding it better.

I also see the Old Guard like the founding fathers of the US. They had great ideas that were appropriate for the time and set an amazing foundation for a nation to grow and mature. Many of the traditions and rules that were created then are still around today, but they have also changed, evolved and improved.

The leather/kink/bdsm community has done the same and will continue to change. It’s just a matter if the people are willing to change and evolve with it.

BDSM
BDSM Category – Check out the pages on the bottom
Leather subculture – Shorter than I expected
RACK – Some good info to know
Aftercare – Something I’m still trying to learn more about
Cuddling – Redirects to “Hug”… Booo!!

Let me know any other great pages you find out there!!

Part of why I would want to compete is to show that there is a younger generation interested in leather/bdsm/kink, and if we are forgotten or ignored a lot of the knowledge from the older generations will be lost. Instead we need to be taken in, mentored and shown what kind of kinky world is out there. This is especially true if the older generations want to try to preserve their traditions.

As with any new generation, things will change and we will do things our own way. Like I don’t foresee it being mostly leather much longer at all. Other materials like rubber, latex, neoprene and sports gear are becoming extremely popular among the younger generations.

My belief is a big portion of the resistance in buying leather is the cost. Leather is expensive and it’s not an investment younger people are able to make. I borrowed my first harness I wore to IML, and was given some other leather pieces beforehand. Without those helping hands, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It helped to show me that my curiosity wasn’t just a fleeting interest.

Participating in the contest would be a great experience to be able to promote and encourage a younger generation of leathermen and kinksters if I won the title. I’m just trying to decide if I’m truly ready. I don’t have as much experience as the people I expect to compete against. Granted, I have no clue who they may be and I don’t think any of them have ever competed before. I think it’s something I’m going to do though. If I don’t win, at least it’s an experience I can use in the future and will hopefully give me a chance to voice my concern about my younger, lost generation of leathermen/kinksters.

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I’m not the type to endorse something I don’t truly believe in. Often they’ll have the least expensive products out there too.

If you’re going to be ordering from them, please enter the site via the banner to the right. I’ll get a portion of the money you spend there. Right now it’s the only way I have to make money to support this blog.

If you have any other suggestions for ways I can make money through the blog, please let me know.

Thanks!

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Let me know if you’ve tried it or know of any other good, real DIY lubes.

Thanks to Gooster for posting this on Facebook.

And one more:

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