Valued traits in the life.

[BabySub]

Love, trust, communication, humour, honesty and respect.

If I didn't respect my Dom, and he likewise, it wouldn't have survived the two years it has.

My Dom is the only person (apart from one or two family members) that I trust with my life.

We have to communicate, more so than r/l perhaps because it's online / long distance.

We have to be honest with each other. If we're not honest, like in any relationship, problems crop up. Telling each other how we feel, think and react to things, is a major part of this for us.

And you gotta have a laugh. lol.

All this, to me, should be expected in any relationship, kinky or vanilla.

[BDSM_Tourguide]

I'm writing an article right now called "The Seven Essential Elements for Any Successful Relationship." In it, I list the following as absolute essentials:

Trust
Communication
Understanding
Compassion
Honesty
Respect
Commitment

[GaryWilcox]

Understanding
Honesty
Respect

And lest we forget the byproduct of these three things:

Humility!

[alura]

I so agree with you. To me though, honesty is more important than anything else. Without true honesty, love cannot survive, nor can trust, understanding, communication and the others.
In a world where so many people play games, honesty is truly the only thing left that can save us from ourselves AND each other.

I'm writing an article right now called "The Seven Essential Elements for Any Successful Relationship." In it, I list the following as absolute essentials:

Trust
Communication
Understanding
Compassion
Honesty
Respect
Commitment

[Barton]

There is talk for the sake of talking. Then there is communication.

True communication is not possible without compassion, nor honesty.
You can not communicate without trust and understanding.
Without respect and commitment you would not want to communicate.

[alura]

But honesty IS true communication, isn't it?

There is talk for the sake of talking. Then there is communication.

True communication is not possible without compassion, nor honesty.
You can not communicate without trust and understanding.
Without respect and commitment you would not want to communicate.

[Donatien]

I'm writing an article right now called "The Seven Essential Elements for Any Successful Relationship." In it, I list the following as absolute essentials:

Trust
Communication
Understanding
Compassion
Honesty
Respect
Commitment

In essence, I don't disagree with any of these as essential elements; though I would like to add another 'Love', in the 'agape' sense ( translated in st pauls epistle as charity , but perhaps more accurately as caring), and to precede each with the addition of the word "mutual".( needless to say love(in the eros sense) also comes in handy in some forms of personal relationships!)

However, having come across them expressed as here, as intellectual abstractions, in so many empty Mission Statements put out by uncaring, duplicious , beaurocratic organisations; I feel uneasy, even queazy.

I have come across serious minded dedicated individuals who sincerely believe that they are deeply endowed with all these qualities but, are singularly lacking in the ability to relate successfully with others at least on a personal level.

Notice the difference of association between charity, and caring. Caring as active and practical, whereas charity as more abstract and possibly cold. Big abstract nouns, are so static and intellectual, with none of the sense of dynamism and flow that verbs convey. No passion , No emotion either.

So much so that too much use of them can shrivel and dessicate the mind .

e.g communication. Who is communicating what with whom? and are they communicating or only transmitting. ( It has been wisely said that the only measure of a communication is the response)

In essence what I am trying to get across is perhaps best summarised in the episode in Winnie-the-Pooh, when Pooh and piglet visit Rabbit to wish him a happy thursday. Pooh is basic instinctive humanity, not too intellectually gifted but full of all the humane qualities,; whereas Rabbit is all intellect

.Rabbit who is always busy on 'important matters' is a little irritated by this 'frivolous' intrusion into his life of greater things, and so after wishing him a "very happy thursday" Pooh and Piglet continue their walk.
Pooh is thoughtful, and after quite a while says. " Of course Rabbit is clever;.... Rabbit has brain. "......very long pause......." I suppose that that is why he never understands anything"

I should add that this is not in reference to Tgs use of these forms of words , which are no doubt only intended as headings; but rather their increasing use by organisations as a smoke screen to conceal values that are all too frequently precisely the opposite
Donatien

[ProjectEuropa]

I have come across serious minded dedicated individuals who sincerely believe that they are deeply endowed with all these qualities but, are singularly lacking in the ability to relate successfully with others at least on a personal level.

* * *

.Rabbit who is always busy on 'important matters' is a little irritated by this 'frivolous' intrusion into his life of greater things, and so after wishing him a "very happy thursday" Pooh and Piglet continue their walk.
Pooh is thoughtful, and after quite a while says. " Of course Rabbit is clever;.... Rabbit has brain. "......very long pause......." I suppose that that is why he never understands anything"

I noticed in a relationship where the other party never stopped mentioning the importance of trust, integrity and morals etc etc. and that the importance of such virtues were not so important when applied to themselves. Normally when someone is telling you what a surplus they have of these values you can guarantee they don't have as many as yourself. Most people today are knowledgeable enough to be able talk the talk and think it's sufficient without walking the walk so it is most certainly a case of actions speaking louder than words. I tend to drift off into neverland when people promote such values in themselves. I much prefer and am more charitable to people who admit their flaws, probably because I need such charity myself.

As for organisations spouting values and virtues, I think we have the social sciences and academics with no other motivation than to promote their own careers to thank for that and the onset of political correctness and the rationalisation of human relations. I've sat through many a social work seminar listening to earnest people espousing virtues they could only categorise in their brain and were totally incapable of taking them to heart. Bland mission statements either on a organisational or a personal level telling us how we should relate to our fellow human beings is just a way of directing away attention from their own inadequacies.

Pooh was right, brains can become a barrier to understanding. Intellectualisation of human virtues does not necessarily help us to understand something that should come directly from the heart. Trust, integrity, morals and other virtues etc. while can be intellectually defined and found in a dictionary, only have real meaning when their meaning is defined in the heart.

[Sir Lanceloth]

I'm writing an article right now called "The Seven Essential Elements for Any Successful Relationship." In it, I list the following as absolute essentials:

Trust
Communication
Understanding
Compassion
Honesty
Respect
Commitment

havent you forgotten love? how can one feel those 7 Essential Elements without feeling love?

[BDSM_Tourguide]

havent you forgotten love? how can one feel those 7 Essential Elements without feeling love?

No. Actually, I included love, but then removed it in favor of commitment. I don't actually believe that people must feel love for one another to maintain a relationship. However, I do believe they must be committed to one another for a relationship to exist.

A lot of people mistake love for lust, and in those cases love is not experienced anyway, bu the commitment is still there.

[Donatien]

A lot of people mistake love for lust, and in those cases love is not experienced anyway, but the commitment is still there.

which is why I posted that the greeks used 2 words EROS for sexual passion, and AGAPE for what in english is probably best understood as CARING. Anyway surely it would be a very peculiar and cold bdsm relationship without a degree of lust, and abusive without any caring

. ST is not a personals or a relationship site. The people there are not there to find lasting friendships, love, or LTRs..
Actually, I included love, but then removed it in favor of commitment. I don't actually believe that people must feel love for one another to maintain a relationship. However, I do believe they must be committed to one another for a relationship to exist.....

.
TG I have difficulty with your comittment to the use of this word in this thread; as unless qualifications such as mutual ,and caring, are added in front of it, it could be describing the commitment of a sadist to complete mind control over his sub.
Your list of essentials might stand up if we were considering the work place where one may have to work with colleagues who one doesn't like, but tolerates if they are committed to their work.
But when talking about being committed to each other in a relationship; that is surely a product of the relationship not the prerequisite, and without the mutuality and caring nature of that commitment being made explicit is too ambiguous of meaning.

Since this thread is about values in the(bdsm ) life, and the Dom in SSC bdsm, must accept responsibility for not taking the sub in directions , or further than they wish to go, it may be relevant for me to list the attributes that researchers discovered in all successful psychotherapists, independent of their training and orientation.

Note that the meaning of each noun is amplified and refined by the use of both verbs and adverbs ;_

EMPATHY...........accurately aware of others feelings; staying with these
RESPECT............values other person; a love of truth ; and integrity
CONCRETENESS...definite, real, specific, avoids vagueness
GENUINESS.........authenticity- means as well as goals; no facade ; congruity
CONFRONTATION.drawing attention to ambiguities and unnoticed resources
IMMEDIACY.........awareness of " here and now"; 'actuality ' put into words

These are the characteristics associated with another healthy "win/win" relationship in which there is at least an implied power imbalance

[BDSM_Tourguide]

These are the characteristics associated with another healthy "win/win" relationship in which there is at least an implied power imbalance

Whatever, dude. You do your thing, I'll do mine. Just quit picking apart my posts and preaching at me about what a relationship MUST have to be successful.

If I'd written the seven essential elements article, which I haven't and I'm probably not going to, it would just be my opinion of what I see are necessary things from my perspective. Then again, I'm also not talking about the standard, defined, and accepted term for "relationship" either.

[Donatien]

Whatever, dude.You do your thing, I'll do mine. Just quit picking apart my posts and preaching at me about what a relationship MUST have to be successful.

Excuse me! I am obviously under a misapprehension.
I had thought that the whole idea of a thread where someone postulated a point of view, as opposed to asking a question,
was to either agree , to amplify,to refine, or disagree, and in the last case offer constructive alternatives. E.G

I'm writing an article right now called "The Seven Essential Elements for Any Successful Relationship." In it, I list the following as absolute essentials:

Trust
Communication
Understanding
Compassion
Honesty
Respect
Commitment
RESPONSE--TG I have difficulty with your commitment to the use of this word in this thread; as unless qualifications such as mutual ,and caring, are added in front of it, it could be describing the commitment of a sadist to complete mind control over his sub.

I seems to me that you have just eloquently confirmed the point I was endeavoring, unsuccessfully, to communicate to you.
You propounded, no listed, communication as one of the absolute essentials.
I had endeavoured to convey to you to that the use of nouns, for what are really verbs, makes a disembodied abstraction of them,
open to ambiguity and misunderstanding.----quote from my early thread :-

"e.g communication. Who is communicating what with whom? and are they communicating or only transmitting.
( It has been wisely said that the only measure of a communication is the response)""

cf; joke of the day http://bdsmlibrary.com/forums/showth...9178#post39178

I would however like to suggest that since you wrote “ I list the following as absolute elements..."
and I responded with remarks like “TG I have difficulty with..”,
your accusation that I had dared to preach to you, is I submit inappropriate.
( "the boot being on the other foot" comes to mind) .

The quote from my post about the qualities of successful psychotherapists, that you used to hang on me the accusation of preaching to you ,was,as I clearly stated, not my words but the result of published research.

Your reply to my two posts indicates that you have either misunderstood, or chosen to ignore every 'qualification' that I offered.
This response does of course confirm that by your criteria there is no communication between us, since although I listen you ,
you don't seem to hear me, let alone listen.
But at least WE BOTH AGREE on one thing. There is no point in my making any further response whatsoever to your posts,
since there is no relationship , or communication, between us,
and I am no sycophant;

Unless of course you say something that really provokes me!

You really should lighten up a bit TG. At least try to take on board a little of my signature below, after all

Healthy debate enlivens the mind and enriches the soul!

Donatien

Ps I must however thank you for a new experience. I have never been called 'dude' before, and with a small 'd' too . It really makes me feel a touch american already. And somewhat taller. I shall definitely be strutting today!

[Sir Lanceloth]

No. Actually, I included love, but then removed it in favor of commitment. I don't actually believe that people must feel love for one another to maintain a relationship. However, I do believe they must be committed to one another for a relationship to exist.

A lot of people mistake love for lust, and in those cases love is not experienced anyway, bu the commitment is still there.

Perhaps its just me only wanting relationships where i know, respect and love the person i am with. I have newer tried a "one night stand" and must admit to not wanting to. Perhaps that is why i cant see a relationship where commitment can exist without there being love. Perhaps it lies in the definition of a relationship, which for me implies either friendship (which includes a fealing of love for the friend) or a boyfriend or girlfriend.

[BDSM_Tourguide]

Perhaps its just me only wanting relationships where i know, respect and love the person i am with. I have newer tried a "one night stand" and must admit to not wanting to. Perhaps that is why i cant see a relationship where commitment can exist without there being love. Perhaps it lies in the definition of a relationship, which for me implies either friendship (which includes a fealing of love for the friend) or a boyfriend or girlfriend.

I think many people tend to look too marrowly at the term "relationship." A relationship does not simply indicate marriage, a boyfriend-girlfriend, or a dominant-submissive aspect. A relationship can be defined by many other types of partnerships and friendships.

A mentor/trainer-submissive/slave relationship, for instance is a fine example of an "outside of the box" relationship. A mentor or trainer trains a submissive pr slave for the benefit of a third party. Certainly, the trainer and submissive have a relationship, they have to trust one another, communicate well, etc. But I do not think they love on another. Since a trainer is supposed to objectively train the submissive in a variety of disciplines, positions and techniques, his objectivity would be compromised by feelings of love and closeness.

Another example of a non-standard relationship is that of the top and bottom. These people may only meet at play parties every week or so, but in many cases both tops and bottoms have partners they enjoy playing with more than others. The top will seek out certain bottoms or vice versa, and a relationship does exist, even with a certain level of commitment, but I would venture again to say that neither of them loves the other.

This is why I chose not to write the article to which I had made mention earlier in this thread. It's just too hard to put some relationships into words and to define many forms of non-standard relationships.

And even in standard relationships, it's not necessarily required for people to love one another. I have many friends with which I speak and give advice and have a generally friendly relationship, but I don't love them. I enjoy their company, I enjoy the friendship we share, and I trust and communicate with many of them, but I don't feel love toward them.

So, in my view, it is not necessary to feel love to have a working relationship. It is, however, necessary to understand that the term can mean many more things than people tend to think it can mean.

[Locked Advantages]

I know personally with me romance is very important to me as well as the love I feel with my partner, if I didn't feel something emotional to the person I was with...if I knew it didn't have a chance of going somewhere I wouldn't let the person become more than a friend. I agree its all about trust and communication in the end. For me being a romantic, I personally need the romance if I am to submit all I am to someone, I understand not everyone needs that to show the world their submission to the one they show all of themselves too. Every person and relationship is different...so it is different for everyone.

I think people need to find out what is best for them and what type of relationship is right for them...if they feel what they are in is right at the time than it is. The hardest thing I find is a partner right for me since I know that I desire so much to complete me...perhaps some are dreams...what I fantasize my partner being while it may be more...but who knows what may happen in time?