Its rather interesting going through this Forum, and mind boggling all at once.
This subject is right up my Alley, being a Trainer of the Lifestyle for over five years, both online and offline.
ALL roles require some form of Training or at the very least, Mentoring.
I say this, because of the importance of passing on good solid and safe information not only to yourself but to other people.
Chancing things on luck, and growing experience is ignorant.
You don't know a single thing, and you are bringing others into your unsafe practices.
Your intent may be great, but you wont know the effects of your ill informed actions until a later time, if ever.
Dominants are no worse than submissives and vice versa.
There are a shit tonne of submissives out there who take abuse but equal amounts who dish it out just as well. Who manipulate, passively aggressively become controlling and who assume falling into Ds with a Dominant will let them just 'be' and not have to put in any effort, or provide anything back.
There are a fuck load of Dominants out there who try to bring something to a relationship with the right mentality, and then there are a bunch of morons who go running into activities, assume authority and control then means they can leak it outside of a scene, and destroy a submissives entirety in the fake label of BDSM.
I get it.
I've seen plenty of it.
I know that almost every second individual has a story.
Now ask yourself if any of these people were authentically Trained and knowledgeable before they entered the dynamic. Were their partners authentically Trained and knowledgeable?
And then go further to see whether or not both parties took their time (this advice being part of Training as well might i add), and can truly say they knew what flags to look for socially and BDSM wise, and that they really, TRULY understood the person they were letting into their D/s relationship?
Im not saying every case is as simple as the above, not blaming anyone, but certainly not going to deny the impact that Training can have positively on someone in the Lifestyle, as opposed to nothing....
Now whilst i agree there are Dominants and submissive who abuse the term Trainer and Mentor, who incorporate that into their D/s, somehow mixing Training and their role together, and who take advantage of their trainees to try and get them to be their D/s partner or use... i also have to express that we aren't all bad... you are responsible for your choices of engagement in Training and you have full accountability to remove yourself if something doesnt feel right. Certainly take your time finding a Trainer or Mentor that is a 'good egg' for lack of a better expression, and be accountable in your selection process as well.
Take off the rose coloured glasses, and get off the fluffy pink and blue clouds.
Use your logic.
D/s isnt any different to vanilla, you need to be smart.
Stop settling for crap, and start asking questions and getting yourself where you need to go safely.
A Trainer should provide the basics, or an extended understanding of Lifestyle aspects.
They should expose you to both sides of the coin, and every role type.
They should not be your Dominant nor your submissive, but they will correct you and check your knowledge.
They should not gain anything sexual from the Training. They Train. It's a job.
They should be able to give you details in terms of the information they go through, structure of modules, and the outcomes.
They should constantly keep moving with the times and upgrade their own knowledge to be able to correctly teach their Trainees and understand a combination of old and new school.
They should go through a verbal or written contract, much like in Ds where everyone can note their expectations, their limits, and so forth to make the Training effective.
Their aim is not to break their Trainees but instead provide a wealth of understanding that when released from Training they have confidence that the Trainee will be a positive addition to the community, and not take from it.
Inform yourself, do not rely on a relationship to fix and guide you.
Thats like bringing a baby into a broken relationship and assuming it will mend things over and grow you both as a couple...
Its like walking into a gym where you have never seen a piece of gym equipment in your life, and assuming that you will be able to walk someone else through the equipment and use without hurting them...
Its like jumping in a puddle without seeing what the depth of the water is...
No role is better or worse, or in more or less need of Training than the other.
You are a person, and not a role.
But most of all, unless you have had authentic Training and still had negative experiences in D/s relationships after you have been taught, that directly correlate to your Training and learning, please don't endanger other people by telling them not to do it.
Advise them to research someone (if they so choose it) safely, and to ask a multitude of questions, observe, and converse for a period of time until they are satisfied to engage in Training and even then, to continue to check in with themselves that they are getting a good and SSC bound experience.
Good luck.
FYI: For more information and a deeper delve into and around the psychology and emotional effects of D/s not done correctly (via the wrong mentality for BDSM, or lack of knowledge) please check my blog in the next 24 hours
V.