This post is on the BDSM Activism web board.
| Wed 14 Dec 11, 8:23 AM Kobal1 UK(CM), 2 yrs £     |
Just saw on sky the Government are proposing a shake up of Domestic Violence laws and looking at covering the emotional and none physical side of it.
At this juncture looks like a consultation will be started
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16129805
the thing that made alarm bells for me was would Domestic discipline as well as D/s be unlawful under this?
http://bondage-engineering.com creative pevertary | |
| 14 Dec 11, 9:35 AM Perplexion 13 mths |
If you're asking about physical punishment as part of domestic discipline then I think we are no more at risk from the law than we were before - the extent of physical injury being the sticky matter. I think it's a case of Keep Calm And Carry On. Don't get involved with someone you have reason to believe could start shouting 'non-consent' and be aware that hospital staff are obligated to report injuries they believe were unlawfully gained. | |
| 14 Dec 11, 9:42 AM Siglorel  UK(RG), 11 mths  |
Was discussed on Radio 4 this morning... must say that the idea of a specific law making "coercive behaviour" a crime in a domestic setting does seem like something that might well impinge on our reasonable, consensual enjoyment. Thoughtcrime almost, don't like it at all, especially as it was pointed out that existing laws already cover mental abuse, and what is really needed is education to protect and empower the victims. I hope that the parties who are able to will be lobbying on our behalf. Time to donate to the Spanner trust I feel... Cheers Ian See worlds on worlds compose one universe, observe how system into system runs | |
| 14 Dec 11, 9:51 AM Melanie38 7 mths |
I think there was the spanner case a few years back where even if some one was consenting there were legal implications,as far as i know that remains the case.It's a very interesting debate,IS THERE A BRIEF ON HERE WHO CAN TELL US THE RAMIFICATIONS OF IT ALL?I think the law is there to protect the vulnerable which is right,and most of us are into S.S.C. to coherce some one is wrong.But i do think we live in a country thats gone politically correct bonkers,the next thing they'll start doing is burying hamsters with full military honours lol. | |
| 14 Dec 11, 10:00 AM simply_saffy UK(HX), 19 mths |
There is a big difference between a mentally abusive relationship and a D/s relationship...take it from one who knows...again it boils down to consent...& it would seem to me that the 'shake up' is because people are beginning to realise that the scars from mental abuse can & do go far deeper than from physical abuse...but it is far more difficult to prove...they aren't talking about making certain types of relationships unlawful but the abuse which often occurs within...a good start would be to refer to the laws as Domestic Abuse Laws, instead of violence. | |
| 14 Dec 11, 10:48 AM ClassAct2005 UK(N), 7 yrs |
I saw that earlier this week and was interested in it. I would resist a change in the law to include emotional damage as it's too easily bandied around and used (usually against men) to exclude them their homes and the like. I accept women (and men) can be verbally bullied etc but I think it gets a bit too hard to enforce as one person's bullying is another's bread and butter meat of their relationship and I say that as someone who had a difficult marriage in which perhaps worst aspects were in deed what he said and how he acted more than anything which the criminal law might currently prohibit. So even though I more than many know what they are getting at I would not support a legal change to that effect. | |
| 14 Dec 11, 11:07 AM Ianneil UK(N), 5 yrs |
The words "Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is to launch........... Maybe give us a clue..... is this the bone he has been thrown for not making toooooo much public fuss about Cameron's Euro veto? Equally it may work the other way in that the Tories will give the bleeding heart Liberals a bit of wind time to let themselves look caring but when it comes to actual commons legislation time and any cost implications factored in it may just fade away. I think it is good that mentally abusive types are made aware of the damage they do to those who do not consent to that type of domination. I suspect that many are not even aware of the damage they do but a law hummmmmmm... I wounder how far the blunt tool of a law could be used in the power dynamics of a relationship after all one person's obsessive control is another person's loving attention. | |
| 14 Dec 11, 11:11 AM Tanos UK(M), 14 yrs  |
The Home Office has started a consultation on changing the government-wide definition of domestic violence. It's a home office exercise, with a Theresa May foreward and a statement by her to the house. But this isn't about changing any laws yet. This is one of the key bits, from page 9:
The problem is how you would explain to bigotted social workers* etc that your consensual D/s relationship is not an example of inappropriate 'coercive control'. :T: (* Of course, if you run into a non-bigotted social worker, then maybe you're ok. Although people get kicked off social work courses for being into BDSM.) www.tanos.org.uk Edited 14 Dec 11, 11:12 AM by Tanos | |
| 14 Dec 11, 11:18 AM removetheshoes UK(N), 5 mths |
Not sure of the legal ramifications, but I would assume consent is still key here. I have been in an abusive relationship, with someone who wasn't into fetishism or being a Dom at all, and weirdly enough some of the things she did which really, really hurt and were damaging were things that I could have been actually turned on by if done within a Dom/sub relationship. I suppose it's all about the context. I even tried to pretend that it was a good thing, and that my submissive nature liked the way I was being treated, but though I am very inexperienced in an actual Dom/sub setting, I think I'm pretty damned sure that when there is trust and mutual respect, abuse doesn't even come into it. Not claiming to know what the law is, but I would hope there is common sense in how it is applied. I just suspect that an abusive relationship looks very different to a consensual one | |
| 14 Dec 11, 11:28 AM atinkerbel UK(CB), 9 yrs |
In my opinion, unless one has witnessed or been a survivor of emotional abuse, it is quite difficult to know the devastating effects it can have on the whole family. Adults who are emotionally abused are not always aware of what is happening and perpetrators are often very clever at picking their victims. The knock on affect to children within the domestic set up is very powerful and whilst I guess some may be worried about new legislation, I for one who has worked with survivors, their children and family welcome any new legislation that gives the police teeth to put some of these evil folk away.
Lets face it, some Dom/mes walk a fine line between what a sub/slave wants and emotional physical abuse. Not that I am suggesting anyone on here is a perpetrator, far from it. But if you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, get out. However I do recognise this is only my opinion and I respect others stance. | |
| 14 Dec 11, 11:44 AM Kobal1 UK(CM), 2 yrs £ |
I believe the worrying thing would be the government has with their law tinkering is they seem to tar everything with same brush.
Would be great to see a response from the collective community lobbying the government to take our lifestyle in consideration before changing any laws, whether they would take any notice of us is anyone's guess. http://bondage-engineering.com creative pevertary |
