Help Wanted (Blog)

[Savage]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Bummer!

For anyone who hates the idea, it's just an April Fool's joke. For anyone who loves the idea, it might just be savagely real.

Christina didn't seem to like the idea, so I had to remind her that it's a joke.

I posted this on April 1st so people could decide for themselves what they wish to believe. But that's only part of it.

The behind-the-scenes truth is that I haven't yet resolved whether it's an April Fool's joke or not. That's why I decided to post it. On the one hand, it seems absurd, and on the other hand, there's an undeniable win-win logic to it.

And subjectively speaking, of course my figments would be split on their opinions of this. I'm still split about it.

If I actually get some applications, then I'm forced to decide. And I honestly don't know what I'll decide in advance.

Basically it's the blogging version of Schrodinger's cat experiment. The cat is both dead and alive at the same time... till you check the box.

Perhaps the true answer is that it depends on who applies. If I go forward with it but pick the wrong people, it could be a disaster. But if the right people are chosen and they mesh well, it could be an amazing yet highly unusual experience that's a big win for everyone. So maybe this is something I really can't commit to in advance. I have to see who, if anyone, would be interested in it first. And if the cards seem to line up beautifully, then I probably am brave enough (or crazy enough) to do it.

[gingerbaker]

Originally Posted by Savage

For anyone who hates the idea, it's just an April Fool's joke. For anyone who loves the idea, it might just be savagely real.

Christina didn't seem to like the idea, so I had to remind her that it's a joke.

I posted this on April 1st so people could decide for themselves what they wish to believe. But that's only part of it.

The behind-the-scenes truth is that I haven't yet resolved whether it's an April Fool's joke or not. That's why I decided to post it. On the one hand, it seems absurd, and on the other hand, there's an undeniable win-win logic to it.

And subjectively speaking, of course my figments would be split on their opinions of this. I'm still split about it.

If I actually get some applications, then I'm forced to decide. And I honestly don't know what I'll decide in advance.

Basically it's the blogging version of Schrodinger's cat experiment. The cat is both dead and alive at the same time... till you check the box.

Perhaps the true answer is that it depends on who applies. If I go forward with it but pick the wrong people, it could be a disaster. But if the right people are chosen and they mesh well, it could be an amazing yet highly unusual experience that's a big win for everyone. So maybe this is something I really can't commit to in advance. I have to see who, if anyone, would be interested in it first. And if the cards seem to line up beautifully, then I probably am brave enough (or crazy enough) to do it.

The post definitely made me consider how my job resembles a golden cage. Like any really thought provoking post, it made me somewhat uncomfortable!

As an aside, I am very curious as to whether anyone will apply. My guess would be you'd have a very decent chance of several serious applications it you posted this to fetlife! If I didn't have kids...there's a decent shot I would seriously try it. Kids, however, have made my life not quite my own for several more years.

[Phil Watson]

I am so down for this. I can't get a job, can't come up with any way to cover my expenses that doesn't require endless hours of heartless tedium, couldn't give a **** less about a college degree...I'm living with my girlfriend right now and fast running out of the money I had saved up. The thought of moving back in with my emotionally abusive and overwhelmingly negative parents is enough to make me seriously consider homelessness. I'm basically a slave already, doing yardwork and fixing up the house to cover rent, so the possibility of doing something meaningful with my life and having food and rent covered, and getting to eat vegan, and getting to connect with conscious, growth-oriented people is a dream come true. The thought of it literally brings a tear to my eyes.

[Beuford]

I hate to miss the opportunity, I am looking for work but unfortunately I have a few problems. I'd have to wait 6 months until I'm 18(Maybe you'll want more slaves later), I'd prefer a Mistress than a Master(Maybe you'll let one of your slaves own a slave) and I'm kind of already owned.

[jphaas]

First off, thanks Steve: this is one of the best things I've read in.... quite a while. I don't know anywhere else on the web you can find stuff as stunningly original and high quality as this.

So, I'm going to start a 30-day trial based on my gut reaction to this article, which was that I want both: I love having power and freedom and making decisions, but I also often wish someone wise would just tell me what to do so I didn't have to think about anything and could just live.

Very simple, two rules:
1. Before taking any pro-active action, I must first write down a command to myself to do it.
2. I have to obey whatever I write down.

I'm excited and a little scared: I know my mind often bites off more than it can chew, so I'll see what happens when I actually have to walk the walk.

[Rachelle]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Absolutely! That reminds me of the Pledge of Allegiance that all Americans are supposed to do at so many events (including at the beginning of each Toastmasters meeting). We are to supposed to pledge our allegiance to the flag and the the republic...that is we are supposed to be faithful to our country...no matter what the country decides to do. That sounds like a form of slavery.

Yeah... I've personally found that to be a little creepy. If the US is truly the land of the free, then theoretically anyone and everyone should be free to choose not to pledge their allegiance.

[Rachelle]

Originally Posted by Savage

Basically it's the blogging version of Schrodinger's cat experiment. The cat is both dead and alive at the same time... till you check the box.

In this case, the box = the P.O. Box.

[gingerbaker]

Originally Posted by jphaas

So, I'm going to start a 30-day trial based on my gut reaction to this article, which was that I want both: I love having power and freedom and making decisions, but I also often wish someone wise would just tell me what to do so I didn't have to think about anything and could just live.

I can so SOOOOOOO relate to this. Frankly, I think this is why people turn to religion. It's also part of why my marriage did not work out, to a small extent. At the end, we were doing heavy D/s, but when we hit a roadblock in the form of my falling in love with a boyfriend (we were poly at the time), he called off the D/s. And that hit us even harder, as it was huge for me, but, I think, not as much for him. Because I always wanted him to lead (well...except when I was right :roll eyes but he wanted me not to be dependent, to stand on my own two feet. And I want that too. Mostly. But...

Yeah. It's complicated.

[gingerbaker]

Originally Posted by Rachelle

Yeah... I've personally found that to be a little creepy. If the US is truly the land of the free, then theoretically anyone and everyone should be free to choose not to pledge their allegiance.

My sister made a major stand about this in junior high school. She refused to pledge or even to stand. She ended up with my mother in the principal's office over it, but in the end, there was nothing the school could do to make her. She continues to hold that stance to this day. (For the record, we all support her though I usually will stand if not actually pledge. We all have battles that are more or less important to us...)

[JeffistheAnswer]

If you're serious about the all expenses paid trip to Europe, then I'm seriously in! Next year, I'll be 18 and will have graduated high school , so I should be an available and loyal slave to you by the end of the summer of 2012.

For the past two years, I've set the intention of traveling to Europe after high school instead of going straight to college. You know, become a stranger in a strange land first before experiencing more of the same. I don't know if this is some sort of synchronization all of a sudden, but I sure as hell hope it is!

Not only do I get to go to Europe, but I get to meet and serve the great Master Steve Pavlina.

I say go through with this plan, Steve! What have ya got to lose?

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by Rachelle

I'm quite certain that Master would be very pleased -- and perhaps even encouraging -- of sexual activities between females.

My bad. I did not think about this possibility. Come to think of it, I am not averse to it either.

Reminds me of the joke..
Q: Why do men like to see lesbians in action?
A: Two naked women is always better than one.

[cacheborn]

I also thought at first that this was April Fool joke. But Steve has posted some serious stuff on 1st April before, so there is no reason to believe it's a joke just because of the date.

I read the post again carefully and it's a well thought plan. So I am going to open the Schrödinger's box and see if the Kitteh says meow.

Hey, kitteh!

[LisaSparkle]

Oh, how funny. I'm actually catching up on this a few days after the 1st of April and my eyes were bugging out reading it. I think I spit out a few sunflower seeds!

(..and I think for perhaps half a second I was thinking, well, hmmm, I am going to be in Vegas for a few days in May...)

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by gingerbaker

My sister made a major stand about this in junior high school. She refused to pledge or even to stand. She ended up with my mother in the principal's office over it, but in the end, there was nothing the school could do to make her. She continues to hold that stance to this day. (For the record, we all support her though I usually will stand if not actually pledge. We all have battles that are more or less important to us...)

I think if I ended up in the USA I'd do that too. Not interested in being conditioned to support someone else's govt or fight someone else's wars.

[carenkh]

Wow, I had a dream about the Savage Compound last night. A busy, busy highly conscious very active "hive" where everyone was free to come & go. It was quite a happy place. And very big. Only... I was getting fired!! (oy, that's making me very very sad!) Right before I woke up, I was trying to meet Steve for an appointment I had set up with him, to tell him how unhappy I was for doing what I was doing there, and I wanted to try other things. Only, when I got to work, all my things were packed up, and no one could tell me where my office was! I knew I was being fired, because I had been SO unhappy doing my job, I had been doing a crappy job at it, hoping only to not get caught.

I still wanted to meet with Steve, but people were protecting him, and one person said, "If you want to make an appointment in a few weeks, you can do that, but he may not meet with you." I was livid! I was saying, "Are you kidding me?! I don't have to make an appointment! I meet with Steve all the time!"

Finally, Steve was there, and he said, "If you're going to try to beg for your job, don't bother. I'll talk about anything else with you." What a relief! I didn't want the job I hated, I wanted help with direction!

It's all tied in to Being a Savage, too.

The slave model could work in that regard, as well. I've thought before about James Ray, that one of the reasons he's lost himself is that he has so many people depending on his income. He can't just say, "I'm done with this empire! I need to do some soul searching!" Well, he could, but I'm sure he feels pressure not to. With the voluntary slave model, Steve could stop what he's doing at any time, and the worst that would happen is someone would have to go back to where they were before working with Steve.

There are things for me to look at there, as well - how I feel a bit stuck in my job because my kids depend on me, and because I'm attached to my income. I need to look more at that. I don't want someone to die in my sweat lodge before I stop and take stock.

[James81]

Originally Posted by carenkh

Wow, I had a dream about the Savage Compound last night.

First thing that popped into my head when you said this:



These kinds of things always start out innocent enough, don't they?

[Ender22]

Steve... your my hero... I mean that.
I always have ridiculously high expectations for what I expect to see next from you... and then when something like this comes out I just say:

"YES this is Steve!"

Go for it bro... don't hold back... live the life that inspires us all to break free from the norm...

Your my inspiration not to ever accept less. Thank you~

[jawillie]

Originally Posted by Lamusa

Because people are laughing and feeling good about something and having fun does not necessarliy make it an inherently good thing. .

I am so glad you posted here. I feel like I did back in high school.. when my friends were laughing at the underdogs, and I didn't want to join them. I was told, 'Lighten up.' I couldn't lighten up because feeling the pain of others is heavy.

I don't think words are "just words."

Words are heavy and full of life.

And I don't get it any of it.

But, whatever - play your game. I won't impose my thoughts any further.

[AdvTech]

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

As a female of mixed race, I'm going go ahead and say - words don't do anything unless you give them the weight of meaning to injure. Slavery existed before the United States ever did. Once, while walking down the street with my mother, some men in a truck threw a jar of urine at us and yelled "go home, ****ing chinks."

The urine spilled across the sidewalk in front of us and my mother laughed, saying, "haha, we not even chinese." Then we kept walking. Unperturbed. People be crazy. That's not my problem. LOL.



By definition, exploitation is something that occurs without the consent of the person being exploited. As the somewhat offensive saying goes, you can't rape the willing. I say this tongue in cheek, having been raped 3 times in my life. I offer this info because I am sure someone will come out of the woodwork saying "how dare you, rape blah blah blah".

You can take the weight of the meaning off of the word. Then it becomes just another piece of vocabulary to use as you want, without burdens associated.

What's your race? I'm guessing you are half Japanese?

How can we prevent rape?

[AdvTech]

Originally Posted by Rachelle

Yeah... I've personally found that to be a little creepy. If the US is truly the land of the free, then theoretically anyone and everyone should be free to choose not to pledge their allegiance.

Me Three... and even non-citizens who go to American schools have to say it.

The same way how in some kind of events like concerts, some random pastor announces that we should pray before eating the food after the event and ends "we pray in Jesus's name" as if everyone in the room believes the same thing as he does.

[Le Roi]

Originally Posted by AdvTech

Me Three... and even non-citizens who go to American schools have to say it.

I used to do it growing up in America (even long before I got my US citizenship). I however stopped myself from doing the pledge of Allegiance when the US invaded Iraq in 2003. I simply could no longer pledge allegiance to a country that behaved as it did toward other countries. I also realized that pledging my allegiances to a country meant pledging my allegiances to the politicians who led the country, and I no longer could do that.

In the years since, whenever the pledge of Allegiance comes up, I simply stand with everyone else but always keep my hands to my side and I don't say it. Nobody has ever asked me why I don't pledge allegiance.

[Lamusa]

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

They do it the same way I do! You don't have to be in an ivory tower to be conscious. You just have to open your eyes. All of your eyes. The ones that see beyond the limiting beliefs and decision that you choose to take on, at levels of development that are even pre-verbal! "Just" is a relative word, as always...lolz.

Check out this documentary! It's utterly fascinating. Also, Edward Bearnays was either a minion of satan, a genius, or both:
The Century of Self (part 1 of 4)

What does it mean to be "Conscious?" I mean, really? It probably means different things to many different kinds of people. Lots of people in the world may not be educated within the system or adapt to the ideas of the system but they may possess a lot of wisdom and they may be conscious as far as I define it (for myself) or their comminuty defines it. For instance, because of my upbringing and the way I look (brown, female and stuff) and the images of people who look like me in the media, I've had to become conscious of a lot of things that people who do not look like me do not have to be aware of and of course vice versa yadda yadda and so on. And then I have had to make choices based on the most present aspect of myself as I could which is challenging in a system built on lots and lots of slave as well as low wage labor by people who rationalize it by saying well, they allow themselves to be exploited that way. So, oh well.... Chicken or egg, right? Who will take a stand? Because a juicy, submissive face presents itself before me does not mean I have to slap it.

We don't need to exploit people to be free or to feel powerful. This is what we all need to heal from. That's why there's wars and stuff and sexual slavery. We can be free and have our needs met. I'm just curious as to to the description of this plan that Steve has and why it is described in these terms as opposed to being described in terms of wanting to create a situation where he leads a group of people who get room and board, his guidance, (and sex if he wants it even within a D/S model) as opposed to getting paid.

And as I mentioned before lots of people working hard for minimal wages, with families, etc., well that's a huge step up for them from poverty and unemployment and they may be fully aware, fully conscious of the hows and whys of this decision. Not all people are sheeple. And we don't know what's in an individual's heart and mind informed by that pre-verbal stuff you mentioned. I mean even Harriet Tubman (I just love this powerful ancestor) was aided by dreams and the feeling that this massa/slave ♥♥♥♥♥ is old hat and just not right) There's lots of gray area.

On another note, today, is the 43rd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assasination. May he continue to rest in peace.

I will check out that documentary. Thanks.

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

Originally Posted by Lamusa

What does it mean to be "Conscious?" I mean, really?

Mindful, aware of your thoughts and the sensations or perceptions that generate them, aware of the choices that you make in response to these thoughts that are either generated by your mind, or reflections of viral memes you were exposed to.

Who will take a stand? Because a juicy, submissive face presents itself before me does not mean I have to slap it.

Your position is RIFE with judgment and prejudice! "I won't comment on D/s sexual proclivities." Come on, sexuality is what it is. People like lots of things, and it isn't always a political statement. If someone feels sexually satisfied being dominated, that's great, good for them. why does this bother YOU so much? I mean you can enforce your belief that it is always a political thing, a reflection of sociological mores - but you are actually doing what you see reflected, using the force of what you believe to be "the truth" as a bludgeon. I can see your point, but again, I think you are the one who is ultimately the agent of choice in your subjective experience.

We don't need to exploit people to be free or to feel powerful.

Certainly not, but consensual servitude is entirely different from what you are talking about...so...

Also, FYI, the master-slave paradigm exists in the D/s community.

Like, I understand your point, but I am not coming from that perspective. I don't see why you are so opposed to something that people would choose to do freely in the privacy of a private home?

I really really chafe against that - the Anna Freudian-idea that social conformity is somehow healthy. I question the authoritarian standard presented that sanitizes sexuality and only allows certain types of "appropriate expression."

[Lamusa]

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

Mindful, aware of your thoughts and the sensations or perceptions that generate them, aware of the choices that you make in response to these thoughts that are either generated by your mind, or reflections of viral memes you were exposed to.


Your position is RIFE with judgment and prejudice! "I won't comment on D/s sexual proclivities." Come on, sexuality is what it is. People like lots of things, and it isn't always a political statement. If someone feels sexually satisfied being dominated, that's great, good for them. why does this bother YOU so much? I mean you can enforce your belief that it is always a political thing, a reflection of sociological mores - but you are actually doing what you see reflected, using the force of what you believe to be "the truth" as a bludgeon. I can see your point, but again, I think you are the one who is ultimately the agent of choice in your subjective experience.


Certainly not, but consensual servitude is entirely different from what you are talking about...so...

Also, FYI, the master-slave paradigm exists in the D/s community.

Like, I understand your point, but I am not coming from that perspective. I don't see why you are so opposed to something that people would choose to do freely in the privacy of a private home?

I really really chafe against that - the Anna Freudian-idea that social conformity is somehow healthy. I question the authoritarian standard presented that sanitizes sexuality and only allows certain types of "appropriate expression."

I think I've been pretty clear as to why this bothers me so much and that I have places I need to heal as a black woman who cringes when she hears the word slavery used so flippantly and unconsciously by a white man looking for "staff" Why does it bother you that it bothers me? On and on, right. I am so not knocking D/S behaviors or any sexual behaviors at all. Put on a dog collar and get whipped and called a piece of ****, I don't care if you don't. I can go watch that online anytime or engage with that with my boyfriend and not write up a blog post about it in the context of having slaves come work for me. And also not think of the history of slavery in the U.S. or sexual slavery worldwide or put any poilical spin on it. Maybe there just needs to be a separate D/S section so people will know that posts like "Help Wanted" might be about trying to create a delicious apolitical scenario for the good, decent people interested in communal D/S exploration within a workplace paradigm. Just don't go to Guyana.

[Weena]

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

The urine spilled across the sidewalk in front of us and my mother laughed, saying, "haha, we not even chinese." Then we kept walking. Unperturbed. People be crazy. That's not my problem. LOL.

Love it

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Lamusa

I'm just curious as to to the description of this plan that Steve has and why it is described in these terms as opposed to being described in terms of wanting to create a situation where he leads a group of people who get room and board, his guidance, (and sex if he wants it even within a D/S model) as opposed to getting paid.

That's an intentional filter on my part.

I use stronger language to discourage people who'd be unable to handle my oft-twisted sense of humor... the kind who get uptight and stress out over the use of certain words or who'd unreasonably expect me to be politically correct.

I don't want to check my PO box and find hundreds of resumes. I'd rather encourage people to find a reason to disqualify themselves, so as to discourage all but the most interested.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Lamusa

I think I've been pretty clear as to why this bothers me so much and that I have places I need to heal as a black woman who cringes when she hears the word slavery used so flippantly and unconsciously by a white man looking for "staff" Why does it bother you that it bothers me? On and on, right. I am so not knocking D/S behaviors or any sexual behaviors at all. Put on a dog collar and get whipped and called a piece of ****, I don't care if you don't. I can go watch that online anytime or engage with that with my boyfriend and not write up a blog post about it in the context of having slaves come work for me. And also not think of the history of slavery in the U.S. or sexual slavery worldwide or put any poilical spin on it. Maybe there just needs to be a separate D/S section so people will know that posts like "Help Wanted" might be about trying to create a delicious apolitical scenario for the good, decent people interested in communal D/S exploration within a workplace paradigm. Just don't go to Guyana.

Sounds like you're confusing D/s with S&M since you seem to associate it with violence of some sort. That's a common misconception. Whips and chains are more on the S&M side. A D/s thing would be to say, "Pretty slave, drop what you're doing, and come give your Master a massage." Well... at least that's the Master-slave variant of it.

Of course there's lots of individual variation. The labels can't describe the reality.

As for your negative associations to slavery, that's understandable. For me the word has positive/sexy/playful associations.

[inverse Paranoid]

Originally Posted by Lamusa

I think I've been pretty clear as to why this bothers me so much and that I have places I need to heal as a black woman who cringes when she hears the word slavery used so flippantly and unconsciously by a white man

What you wrote really reminded me of a book chapter I just read on the things that influence our identity and how it impacts our ability to function at our best.

Excerpted from the book Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It

I was once hired to work with a Greek-American executive whose scores on showing respect for colleagues and subordinates were abysmal. As I reviewed his coworkers’ feedback with him, his first comment was, “I don’t know if you’ve ever worked with men from Greece before—”

I cut him off and said, “I’ve worked with a lot of men from Greece, and most of them were not perceived as mean or disrespectful. Don’t blame your problems on Socrates!” In effect, he was blaming his supposed cultural heritage—his alleged programming—for his acting like a jerk.

Through the years I’ve become a connoisseur of people using their “programming” as an excuse. I’ve heard overbearing people who always need to get their own way blame the parents who spoiled them and gave them everything they wanted (Blame My Parental programming). I’ve heard overweight people blame their inability to shed pounds on their genetic makeup (Blame My Genetic programming). I’ve heard bigots blame their intolerance on the hateful small-minded town where they were raised (Blame My Neighbors’ programming). I’ve heard aggressive don’t-get-in-my-way salespeople blame their boorish behavior on their company’s ruthless Darwinian culture (Blame My Company’s programming).

At some point, usually when we’ve suffered an unambiguous Nojo moment for the second or third time (e.g., getting fired or passed over for a promotion again) it finally dawns on us that maybe we can’t lay all our problems on our programming.

[Peter Bourke]

Just a comment on the use of the words "Slave" and "Master".

It's amusing to see some people become so affronted by what is really just a playful, facetious, experimentative use of these words.

What Steve is proposing is actually the antithesis of slavery.

True slavery is a deplorable, repugnant, complete ownership of a person; a relationship between Master and Slave whose very basis is fear.

A more extreme form of this idea is put forward by mainstream religions. There is a dictator in the sky, who created you, can read your thoughts, knows when you're going to die, and will decide whether to banish you to the infernal regions, or allow you ingress to paradise.

While a human master doesn't have the same alleged supernatural power to read minds, he does have a similar strong hold over the slave's mind, due to the fact that the slave has no freedom of choice. There is no appeal that can be made by a slave. No opting out. This is the only definition of unfreedom you need.

Steve has said, of course, that the whole arrangement would be voluntarily engaged with and that one could leave if they weren't content. Someone who chooses to become one of Steve's slaves (who wouldn't actually be slaves at all) isn't sacrificing their freedom at all. They are using it.

I personally think it is a great idea, and would put myself forward in a heartbeat for this wonderful opportunity if I didn't live thousands of miles away.

[joyfulgrowth]

Originally Posted by jphaas

So, I'm going to start a 30-day trial based on my gut reaction to this article, which was that I want both: I love having power and freedom and making decisions, but I also often wish someone wise would just tell me what to do so I didn't have to think about anything and could just live.

Very simple, two rules:
1. Before taking any pro-active action, I must first write down a command to myself to do it.
2. I have to obey whatever I write down.

I'm excited and a little scared: I know my mind often bites off more than it can chew, so I'll see what happens when I actually have to walk the walk.

Loving it! Let us know how it goes.

You are actually inspiring me to do a one day trial, or different ones, exploring my inner relationships in terms of power.