The Future of Our Community!

[Bluestone]

Well, we've had a few threads setting out the history of our community on FF and other boards, but what about looking forward.

What do you see as the future of our community? In the past, message boards such as FF have brought the community together and friendships of like-minded individuals have been forged. Will this continue, or has social media taken over?

Your thoughts?

Blue

[Indrid Cold]

Since when can one use social networks to speak openly and candidly about this subject? I'm not a member of any social network or site, but from what I've heard, Facebook shuts down any page that is remotely politically incorrect.

As for the future - I see death fetish web sites/message boards becoming illegal.

[JohnM]

It would be silly to think that there will be any "mainstreaming" of this fetish. Just like there has never been "mainstreaming" of most other fetishes. There is a reason certain behavior patterns or likes are called 'fetishes". There is nothing wrong with that. It is all fantasy. But, for the same reason, I don't wake up from a great dream about something that would piss off my wife, I don't brag about my fetishes. They are for the individual.

We have taken it a step further with this community. And that is great in that sense. Just like, if you are into Giantess, your can find forums about that. Or if you like Femdom or CBT, you can find that stuff. But even fetishes as overtly popular as foot fetish are not bragged about on social media. In fact, the only one that seems to have a presence are "girl fighting" themed fetishes---i.e. superheroine and other types where girls fighting or kicking some guys ass is, well, just fucking entertaining for anyone to see. It is a fetish, but one that transcends mainstream.

Other then that, we shall move on. And don't think this is unique. Oh sure, there was definitely a renaissance of this fetish moving into the late 90's up to now, but all that is simply the progression of video cameras and media. Before that, it was simply, harder to showcase work and pull folks together. Mail order catalogues are not really for community bonding.

Moving forward, the tech is simply going to change along with the delivery. Someday, you may be watching your favorite movie on an Oculus Rift.

I guess the real unknown is what Indrid Cold said about legality. There are definitely placed in society where certain thoughts are banned. But, it has been 18 years and various swaying of political agendas and still, it is perfectly legal to make movies about anything you want as long as it is not about children (in any sexual context) or Muslims (in any context).

So, maybe people will try. Maybe there will be some crime where instead of blaming the NRA, the entire video game industry or movie industry, they will blame our tiny little community that, represents .00000714% of the wolds population as being the sole cause of all that is wrong in the world and go after us.

Yeah, I know, the logic of that is so fucking ridiculous that I pretty much crapped my pants laughing. But, then again, that number is not to far away from the only intelligent people left on this little blue planet.

Thanks,
JohnM

[Bluestone]

Okay, I understand that mainstream social media may still be out, but what about DFN and similar community media?

Blue

[Max5s]

I think that there will always be forums for the death fetish community members to share their thoughts, works and whatever material they can dig up from the mainstream video market. Death fetish video producers will probably diminish in number (or at least the number that stay in it for the long haul will diminish).

The character of the community has changed quite a bit over the years, and many of us who were there at the start have switched from contributors to observers or have left completely. Changes, both good and bad, will no doubt occur, and if and when the whole community goes Tango Uniform, it will no doubt be our own fault.

[Algenon5]

I'm afraid that with the end of US net neutrality and other troubling developments like more countries blocking certain internet content, this community will be forced further underground. I don't expect changing attitudes toward the LBGT communities will have any positive carryover for us.

I hope I'm wrong.

Al

[xj900uk]

I am worried it will go (more) underground than it already is. There was an attempt a few years back to legally ban the DS-community and anything to do with it, fortunately the new laws were shown to be unworkable, and since then although there is even less internet & IT freedom in the UK, our government is more concerned with finding would-be terrorists by eavesdropping on their internet activities than looking for anyone who might have an 'unusual fetish or fantasy'

[JohnM]

Further thoughts based on the new comments.

As too death fetish producers dwindling.....perhaps. I hope so. In fact, when I started there were very few. Then, there were a bunch. Then, there were a ton. Then, there were a few again. And now, there are a ton again. So, in 18 years, I have seen a lot of changes, but a lot of things simply repeat as well. As far back as I remember, there were these same conversations and worries. Over and over.....even before the UK law. In fact, when Dr. Don had troubles, it was thought that that might bring everything down. Then were was the NB lawsuit and everyone worried about the exposure about that. And, there has been many many other instances.

So, I guess my perspective is from the scope of the big picture, or the long haul. It is like when I think I am overdrawing my bank account----and I am in a mood where I think this is the lowest I have been--ever. Then I realize, I have been in this same situation, umpteenth hundred times and like the others before, I somehow got past it.

As far as more underground. Perhaps. But, I find with everything that may restrict the internet, there comes solutions for unrestricting it. People are creatures of habit. Take away something they want, and they figure out a way to get it. If we have to go Tor, so be it, but I don't think it will come to that. Not at least in this country. We are as passionate about our freedom of thought as we are about our guns.

As far as being targeted for being "unusual". Oh boy. If we could simply figure out who are killers by looking at what they post and websites they go to, then I guess there would be no murders. Though, what did we do in the 1000's of years of violence prior to the internet. Did we casterate Samuel for reading a book with naughty pictures. Or did we stone Krog for drawing boobies on the cave wall. Violence has always been around and fantasy act do not equate to violent acts. There are millions of kids playing violent video games,yet violent crime has only fallen in the last 20 years.

I don't sneak around the internet, hiding the sites I visit. Is fantasy violence worse then reading a CNN article about real violence. And does CNN and the rest of the new media covet real violence for viewership, this advertising revenue. Who is the real villain here.

Thanks,
JohnM

[Grace X]

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I feel the future of our community is very bright. In my almost two years now of hosting FetNoir, I have seen so much enthusiasm for sharing our special passion together...and in so many ways (through art, writing, film, and conversation). And far from dwindling, that enthusiasm seems to grow as older community members hang out with newcomers.

Blue, I believe that boards (like here at FF, which has always taken an open, positive approach to our fellowship as fetishists) will always play a large part in maintaining our identity as a community. The ease of bonding and communication in a forum like this is such a powerful force in the lives of those who may have felt alone before discovering our gathering places.

New technology will certainly have an effect on exactly where and how we interact, but I believe the basic desire to share our excitement and passion with one another will always drive us to find ways to join as a group. We have the choice to make those places nurturing, fun, exciting and welcoming (as you do so well, Blue). We have the choice to treat one another with dignity and caring. As long as we do that, the future beckons to me with no end of delight yet to come.

[Egeek]

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I feel the future of our community is very bright. In my almost two years now of hosting FetNoir, I have seen so much enthusiasm for sharing our special passion together...and in so many ways (through art, writing, film, and conversation). And far from dwindling, that enthusiasm seems to grow as older community members hang out with newcomers.

Blue, I believe that boards (like here at FF, which has always taken an open, positive approach to our fellowship as fetishists) will always play a large part in maintaining our identity as a community. The ease of bonding and communication in a forum like this is such a powerful force in the lives of those who may have felt alone before discovering our gathering places.

New technology will certainly have an effect on exactly where and how we interact, but I believe the basic desire to share our excitement and passion with one another will always drive us to find ways to join as a group. We have the choice to make those places nurturing, fun, exciting and welcoming (as you do so well, Blue). We have the choice to treat one another with dignity and caring. As long as we do that, the future beckons to me with no end of delight yet to come.

I dont know about blues site. But I have found inspiration for my stories on pfk forum. But I have started to lose my passion to write. just dont have the heart to write much anymore. I cant say that these sites are nurturing. thats too fluffy to say on a death fetish board. hehe. But I think that treating each other with respect and diginity and support each other is important. Also fun and exciting helps too. Also communication is very helpful. messaging and emailing. Also forgivness. Its tough to be a writer when other cool writers and friends are on a board and you cant be. It cuts off your support to help be a better writer and help give you confidence to continue to write which I may be quiting soon on. I wanted to stop by and give my thoughts on that after reading this topic.

[xj900uk]

Thanx for Input, Egeek. Which is the PFK forum?
Btw agree with you 101% that communication is of great importance, even negative feedback/constructive cricism of one's writing/artwork helps (providing that it is done properly!) and yes we should all stick together and support one another. I have always found on these Forums a great deal of refreshing honesty and openness which I seldom encounter in Real Life elsewhere!

[Totallibertarianism]

I'm afraid that with the end of US net neutrality and other troubling developments like more countries blocking certain internet content, this community will be forced further underground. I don't expect changing attitudes toward the LBGT communities will have any positive carryover for us.

I hope I'm wrong.

Al

Funny to see in my country that the trend is reversed comparing others countries in the world, especially GB or US, in fact in my country it is the leftists and even the far left parties who want to increase the censorship on internet and even banning the pornography on internet ! "Because it degrade the woman dignity and her image", 2 years ago the leftist in my country has banned the prostitution, a law campaign launched by the feminists !

The only party who want internet and all the things with totally free and who want a "constitution" in the country to make internet totally free and with no censorship, guess who are they ?

It is the far right party ! and more they said that for the pornography they don't care and they want only protection for the children.

[xj900uk]

Well funnily enough the impetus to ban pornography or 'anything that could be constituted as pornography or offensive to anyone else' has rather dropped off in the UK over recent months. Our government voted themselves even more extreme emergency snooping powers so that they could monitor the internet & Emails but only so that they can be on the look-out for muslim extremeists and also paedophiles (which is ironic, considering that our parliament/government has been exposed as a hotbed for paedophilia as recently as the 90's) - they have said they are not interested in anyone else

[Chris B]

The future is what we make it and if you stay positive, but not be passive, and continue to participate in the community, it will survive and thrive. As far as the internet; regardless of restrictions, people always find a way to get their fetish.

I hope everyone has a wonderful fetish future. CB