Fifty Shades of Grey

Didn't search the whole thread for it, so sorry if it's been mentioned... is there any significance to the number 50?

And since you asked for it, yes, it's true - the title of the german version is "Shades of Grey". Yep, you guessed it, this is NOT a german title. Dropped the number, left the rest unchanged.

I bet they had a LOT of fun on their meetings. Did they do something similar for other languages as well?

edited 26th Sep '12 11:16:30 AM by vijeno

http://50shadesofwhy.tumblr.com/post/32415198662/fifty-shades-boosts-sales-of-duct-tape-cable-ties-and

I have no words.

Besides growing worry over the fact that people actually think cable ties are a good thing to use in bondage... They're really not...

Agreed. Padded leather restraints, with as much accent on the "padded" bit as on the "leather" bit and on the "restraints" bit would be as far as I would prefer to go, either on the using or getting used on me. Hypothetically speaking, of course. Nylon ones are far too impersonal.

Duct tape and cable ties are what serial killers use on their prey as far as I am concerned. Using them as part of your BDSM play is neither safe, sane nor consensual. If anyone tried that on me or you I hope we would have the sense to knee the person responsible in the groin and phone 911 or 999 a. s. a. fucking p.

Um...As much as I myself would love to use those things in my bondage that worries me. Especially given that these people likely haven't researched about gags and restraints in detail and aren't aware that RACK (Risk Aware Consensual Kink) is a thing. A thing with firmly discussed boundaries and even neat little things you can go to at cons to learn more about so your risk of horribly maiming the other person is lowered. It'd be something me and her researched thoroughly, considered, and talked about. As well as defining the number of safe words/gestures and boundaries involved. Other safety measures too...

edited 27th Sep '12 3:25:39 PM by Aondeug

I don't think duct tape is uncommon, but cable ties...

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Yeah it's the gah worthiness and horribly impersonal and improvised nature of the restraints that makes them and things like nylon appealing. Things specifically designed for the purpose and look like such tend to frustrate me because they lack that impersonal nature and the "serial killer" thing mentioned earlier. There's something deeply intimate about it to me since that's something I would only do with a very few select people. Which basically means "My girlfriend".

People being retarded and hurting themselves and others with restraints, gags, and other toys frustrates me more though.

You see? I knew it. Retarded book teaches retarded people how to hurt themselves.

Though duct tape's really not that bad, cable ties? What are people thinking? Oh, I bet I know: "it hurts, so it's all a part of the kink."

Jesus, what the fuck?

Cable ties HURT. They aren't meant for bedroom stuff! Duct tape isn't that good of an idea much of the time either because it sticks to the skin and can rip off both skin and hair. The kind of rope hardware stores sell is also a terrible idea!

AAAGH, why are these people so gullible and STUPID?! They're just going to hurt themselves and their partners because of some poorly-researched, poorly-written shit masquerading as erotica!

Cable ties and ropes do hurt like a bitch. Hence the interest I have in them, but again RACK. We'd be completely aware of dangers at all time, have safety measures in play, as well as aftercare. All of which would be researched. But mmm...rope burns.

Oh it's certainly erotica. Absolutely shitty erotica, but what I would call erotica. Erotica, like the word literature, really isn't a sign of quality. It's more a description of what the object is and, in the case of erotica, its content. Sort of like how I can cry about shallow rebirth belief only masquerading as belief in rebirth when in fact it still is belief in rebirth. Merely a shallow belief, but still belief and thus fitting the qualities that grant it the title. Quality and moral right are different issues and handled in different manners.

The problem is that this sort of stuff was kept to old erotica novels old ladies seem to have a neverending supply of. The second 50 Shades became popular, every bandwagon jumper this side of Sydney thought "ermahgerd i want a boyfriend just like Christian Gray".

The fetish forum I frequented had a huge noob rush after the book, and about half the "introductions" mentioned wanting a boyfriend like CG. What, you want a man to tie you up and commit abuse for his own sick satisfaction, with literally no afterthought to how you cope afterwards? Ugh.

edited 28th Sep '12 1:58:53 AM by MrMallard

If you want to read some decent bondage porn, read A.N. Roquelaure's Sleeping Beauty trilogy. (that's Anne Rice when she was fun and wrote porn under a pseudonym rather than all the Christian stuff she writes now.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sleeping_Beauty_Trilogy

S'really rather good.

That is a problem. One that doesn't make it not erotica nor rule out duct tape or rope as fine tools to use in RACK play as opposed to SSC. What it is is that one, the thing is written like absolute shit and two, the people reading it are learning terrible shit from it and aren't likely to properly research or think about things. Like the fact that RACK is a thing and there's things to keep in mind when delving into that shit because well...risk aware...That's when we start playing with knives, fire, and plastic bags, yo. Or that being in an abusive relationship (read: This entire fucking series) is pretty ass.

^I only read a bit of it when I was like...14? Can't remember a damned thing about it, but I may as well look into it because one, the title and two, Rice was okay. At points.

edited 28th Sep '12 2:01:58 AM by Aondeug

I hear she left that Christian stuff behind ages ago.

She did. It's less that and more my issues with her writing in general. Lady can't do it right all the time. But then can anyone?

Well besides Tolkien. I mean. He's the master of everything written.

Fifty Shades of Grey consistently irritates me because it's the kind of stupid, sexist crap that should've stayed in airport shops and supermarket shelves instead of becoming this huge, massive bestseller that's teaching people all the wrong things about BDSM.

For God's sake, if you're going to read shitty Twilight porn, then don't hold it up as some "great awakening" of women's sexuality because it's NOT. It's idiotic, misogynistic, and it's going to get people hurt.

"For God's sake, if you're going to read shitty Twilight porn, then don't hold it up as some "great awakening" of women's sexuality because it's NOT. It's idiotic, misogynistic, and it's going to get people hurt."

Unless "great" is used to mean "good" those aren't contradictory. 50 shades (or rather the attention it gained) has certainly made female hornyness visible to a far greater extent, regardless of whether it did so in a positive way.

edited 28th Sep '12 7:02:59 AM by Kzickas

I agree with all of this.

Regarding the hardware store thing: how do they know that people have been buying these things for S&M rather than, you know, more common uses for ropes and cables ties? It's not like people tend to announce it in the store...

Well, the sales have only really gone up ever since 50 Shades hit it big. This isn't just 1 hardware store, it's hardware stores all across America. It's fair to say a major contributing factor would be people with no common sense buying duct tape and uncomfortable plastic crap to practice kink in.

I still can't be arsed even pirating this series. Even though there are probably millions of different versions out there for the plucking.

I just think the author needs a damned good talking to and an explanation of how to play nice in the sand pit, which she obviously ne'er got when she went to Kindergarten, 8-)

On the Beauty thing, it isn't going to be for everyone if they do pick up the trilogy, let's just put it like that. It is as challenging in a way as her other famous work in the same sort of genre, "Cry To Heaven" was.

edited 28th Sep '12 10:49:07 AM by TamH70

Huh. So people really are buying this stuff because of the book. Well, I'm not surprised, but I'm not sure they're buying the proper things for this. How's duct tape to be used anyway? That'll just give you a waxing job when you try to take it off later.

Also, I still can't get over the fact that they spelled it "duck tape" on the shop window.

Duck tape is an acceptable colloquial term in some parts of the world.

And it's actually a really good binding material if you lay it on thick enough. It's also good for self bondage, because a small amount can be used for the illusion of bondage and then torn fairly easily when you're done. Plus, it's waterproof!

Yes, but you need to put it on over clothes or it hurts like mad pulling it off. And using it as a gag can seriously damage the skin on your face if you leave it on too long.

Yep. Constant contact with the adhesive used in duct-tape with the skin is contra-indicated for health grounds. It isn't what it was designed for, and the adhesive can be toxic.

Some people are just stupid. I'm not into BDSM but even I'm not going to go to the store and buy heavy duty duck tape to put on my skin. There's a reason it's in the hardware area and not the "adult" area.

Got into an argument on Facebook with a friend who insists everything in the book was totally consensual and true love.

I think I may vomit.