M/many involved in the BDSM lifestyle have been introduced to it through the Internet and online chat rooms.  Online can be very intense and very special.  It can also lead to great harm to many, just as realtime relationships can be quite intense and special and for others just as harmful.  The possible harm in the online world is mainly emotional harm, though physical harm can happen when a submissive follows directions from one who claims to be a Dominant who is either uneducated or not a dominant at all, but a player. 

What I wish to speak of now is emotional harm.  Where most physical harm will heal, emotional harm can last a lifetime.  I have seen so very often where a submissive is harmed because he/she gives all their trust to one not worthy of it.  Submissives have several desires…a desire to please…a desire to be owned…a desire to be loved…and a desire to be treasured.  These desires can leave a submissive quite open to being harmed emotionally.  These desires are very intense, but they are very much part of them.  And it is important that a submissive understands these needs and how to have them met properly.  For an abuser, it is easy for them to become prey, if the submissive does not understand.  An abuser takes these desires and carefully uses them to harm another.  So please understand…understand yourself, understand your needs, and understand that with patience, you will find what it is you seek and your desires will be met.

Abusers use these needs to trap a submissive.  They are very careful, they know how to manipulate the desires of another.  They act as though they desire them…make them feel as though they are loved, but the one who is being targeted knows in their heart the relationship is not a good one.  What the abuser has done, is draw the one so deeply in, they feel they cannot back away.  Even though they know it is a bad relationship, the abuser meets just enough needs to entwine them. The abuser makes them feel as if they are the one who is at fault for any problems in the relationship and in doing this,  the abuser sucks the life from them, but does not allow them to be free. Often, it is said, when online, the "Off" button is a safety measure, and that can work for a time, but once one is drawn in deeply by the manipulations of an abuser, it is hard to hit that button, but you can be free of abuse.

I am going to express in points things one should watch for and consider.  If these things are occurring,  please seriously consider what is going on with your relationship…

1. Isolation - Are you regularly kept from talking to others, be it in a chatroom or any other venue?   Are you not allowed to have input from others?  Are you with no real cause not allowed to talk to others who were your friends?  Temporary separation from others does happen, but it is only for a limited time and only to give a submissive time to consider things and learn.  But, it is this important to consider, is this one who claims to be a Dominant so insecure about himself and your relationship he cannot allow you to talk to others?  A true Dominant is not insecure and will not keep you from openly talking with others, so that you also are secure in yourself and the relationship you are building with Him/Her.

2. Belittlement - Do you feel as if you are put down?  Do you feel like less of a person than you did before you met this person?  Do your insecurities grow as you have gotten more involved with this person?  A true Dominant desires to build up and help to make others the best they can be.  If it is the one they claim as Their own, that desire is even more intense.  To a true Dominant, this possession is a treasure and will be treated with great care and love.

3. Terror - Are you afraid to speak openly to the one who claims to be a Dominant?  Afraid that your words will not be respected?  Afraid you will be screamed at or made to feel guilty for expressing yourself? A true Dominant will not do that.  you should feel and you need to know you have a right to express your concerns and that they will be listened to.  A true Dominant will listen to you and allow you to express yourself and then the Dominant will talk with you.  Does this mean the Dominant's view is right or your is…no…but a true Dominant will respect you, just as you respect that Dominant. 
 

4. Lack of trust - Do you feel a lack of trust for the one claiming to be Dominant?  Are there many questions in your mind and heart which cannot be answered?  In any relationship questions do arise, especially as two begin to learn of E/each O/other. But are you not allowed to discuss them?  Or the answer, if you do raise a question  from the other is a question, "Why do you doubt Me?"  A true Dominant will desire to build your trust and security.  As I said, in any relationship questions arise, a true Dominant understands this and will allow you to express yourself.  The Dominant's desire is that you have absolute peace and trust, first in yourself, then in the relationship Y/you B/both are building and living.