In with the New: Harvest Edition

Ready or not, here come a dozen more new spanking-oriented blogs! If you like what the blogger has to say, I encourage you to tell them so.

Bluebirdlense

Blushing Bottoms of NJ

Crazy Beautiful Life

J&E Vanilla or Not?

Learning Discipline

My Wife, My Babysitter

Panty Spankings

Spank Her Ass

Spanked Blue Eyed Girl

Submissive Wife in the Hand

Tammy and Jake... Our Journey

Tommyspt Original Art

To these new members of our community, I hope you find friendship, fulfillment, and fun. If you would like some blogging tips and suggestions, try these. In any case, it's a pleasure to welcome you!

Recap: MBS Sunday Brunch for Sept 26

Our topic was stress relief spankings. Here are your thoughts.

HAL: Yes, we do use spanking for stress relief. The main difference is that I ask for it, rather than being 'sentenced' to it! LOL I also get to choose the implement and position, which is never allowed when it is for discipline purposes. I can also say when it is enough. So I guess I have more power in that situation. There are times when my partner will tell me that I need a stress relief spanking. I usually agree.

Hermione: I like to be spanked when I am feeling stressed, and the benefit is either reduction or elimination of said stress.

The spanking itself isn't any different, although my mindset is. I am expecting to be purged of my inner turmoil, so that's usually the result. It also sometimes happens that I may request a stress-relief spanking during the week rather than wait for our regularly-scheduled weekend session.

Ken: Oh yes! We utilize a 'Notice of Discipline' form (much like a 'Detention Notice' still used in many schools). My Lady can issue a notice any time she feels that I have earned a spanking.

However, I too can fill one out and hand it to my Lady when I feel I need a 'stress-relief' spanking. It's sort of a variation on the classic Dorthea Spencer Spanking Plan!

Katia: I think stress reliever spankings rate with GG's. When I receive a stress reliever, it helps to release all of that pent up crap I was storing away. All seems right again. It differs from the other spankings because you usually ask for these types of spankings. It's your choice.

Anon: All of our spankings are stress relievers. I usually have to ask to be spanked as my wife is not into it as much as I am. This weekend she did start the process by bringing the implements to our couch. So maybe she is getting the hang of this fun time...

Prefectdt: I am not currently in a relationship, but I would say that nearly all of the spankings that I receive result in stress avoidance rather than relief. The spankings help me to cope better with life, anticipate stressful situations, and reduce the stress that any situation can cause.

Bonnie: For Randy and me, stress relief spankings are somewhat distinct in purpose and execution. Often, he decides that a stress relief spanking is necessary. I almost always comply because history has demonstrated that he is usually correct. Occasionally, I will ask.

I am usually positioned over furniture like the back of the couch. Sometimes, I will lie on the bed over a pile of pillows. In any case, it's not OTK. I associate that position with connection and ultimately, with erotic spankings. For stress relief, I want to be alone in my own head for a while. The spanking itself is always on my bare skin from the beginning. There may be a warm-up, but it doesn't last very long. Randy typically employs a heavy percussive implement like a wooden paddle or brush.

I need this sort of spanking to hurt. The immediate, intense pain is what it takes to reboot my emotions. The actual spanking can be fairly brief in duration (though it may seem endless to me while it's happening). When Randy determined the harsh medicine has had the desired effect, he gathers me up and embraces me. We usually make love, but sometimes not until later.

After a stress relief spanking, I feel light and energetic for at least the next day. I smile easily and aggravate slowly. Given the option, I'll gladly choose a throbbing backside over a worried head every time!

Wolfsmate: Though I am new, I have found that almost any spanking helps relieve some sort of stress. I don't sure I understand the "why's" yet, but I know some of what I feel.

Welcome, Wolfsmate!

Barely Pink: I feel amazing after a stress-relief spanking, all purged and cleansed and ready to take on more for the week.

It doesn't differ much from a "good girl" spanking except that he stops when he senses my complete relaxation. It sometimes lasts longer or shorter, depending on what's on my mind.

The funny thing is that I usually don't recognize that a spanking is what's needed. Dr. D prescribes and administers them as he sees fit – and he hasn't been wrong so far!

Loki: Stress relief spankings are something that I would like to do with my wife and housemate. There are many times when that would be needed, as we three are at most times pretty stressed out due to our jobs and such.

Thank you to everyone who joined in our brunch! For anyone who missed it, we'll be back here next week and every week.

MBS Spanko Brunch #245

Happy weekend! Thanks to everyone who stopped by for our anniversary celebration. I truly appreciate your support and kind words.

Befitting the occasion, this week's brunch question is a classic from 2006.

Do you employ stress relief spankings in your relationship? If so, how do they differ from other spankings and what benefits do you derive from them?

If you would like to participate (and I hope you will!), all you need to do is enter your response in the form of a comment below. Once everyone has had an opportunity to answer, I will post an edited summary.

MBS at Five

It was five years ago today that I started a blog.  It wasn't quite a lark because I had been pondering the possibility for a while.  But at the time, it felt like an impulsive move.  As I've said before, I never figured it would last more than a couple of months.  I would get tired or bored or distracted or run out of things to say.  After all, how much can one write about being spanked?  He paddled my bottom.  It hurt a lot.  Ouch!  And then what?

Five years later, I'm still blabbering away.  Posts are not so frequent as in the early years, but I haven't given up by any means.

I think I've already used every anniversary gimmick there is, so I will spare you the traditional retrospective,  statistics, and anecdotes.  Instead, let me just say thank you to all of the wonderful people who make our community a friendly, supportive place.  Whether male, female, young, old, kinky, vanilla, straight, gay, lesbian, top, bottom, and/or switch, your presence is most appreciated.  Even if you're a silent lurker, we love you too (especially next month!).  Over the past five years, thousands of you have become a part of my life.  I've enjoyed this journey we've taken together.

What does the future hold?  If I knew, I'd tell you.  For now, I plan to keep rolling with the blog, take my spankings as they come, and try to find some joy in every part of life.

So what do you think we ought to be doing in year six on this blog we share?

Recap: MBS Sunday Brunch for Sept 19

This week, we considered when or whether it is acceptable for someone in a committed relationship to seek spanking elsewhere. Here are your thoughts.

Anon #1: If there is ever a time to describe the state of a relationship as "It's complicated," it's when one member of a committed relationship has exhausted all efforts to fulfill his or her need for whatever it is he or she craves and is not getting.

For me, the answer is whatever THEY decide. In other words, going off the ranch unannounced would simply be the first stage of the unraveling of many relationships. There are too many variables and permutations to establish a universal set of rules.

The multitude of sources for potential secret play partners makes the idea of "guiltless" recreational encounters all the more tempting. Ostensibly safe and reliable connectivity is no longer limited to the personal ads in the print version of Shadow Lane's "Scene One." But the complications aren't just with one's spouse or boy/girlfriend. There's a world of relationship grief to be experienced once a secret "play" relationship becomes an emotional entanglement.

Yes, it's monumentally frustrating to finally learn that your chosen one is ultimately not going to be, to quote columnist Dan Savage, "GGG", or "good, giving and game." And a natural, though short-sighted next step would seem to be retaliatory, in the direction of developing covert play partner pins all over the map.

I don't have any easy solutions. I have quasi-worked all this out for myself personally over a period of many years. My longtime marital relationship remains intact and loving. I have no pins on the map nor do I have any smoldering emotional entanglements out there. I do know that saying you didn't have conventional sex with your play partner doesn't negate the betrayal effected by sneaking around, regardless whether you think "spanking is sex and sex is spanking."

However, if partners to this "spankless" relationship can define a mutually satisfactory agreement, including but not limited to utilizing professionals, THEN they can see how it plays out from there.

Melanie: Personally, I will never look elsewhere. I reserve that level of intimacy for my man. I am committed to him alone, and I will not emotionally play with fire.

However, I can see how less monogamous people in our situation would go hunting. My fiance and I live on opposite ends of the country, so we only get to see each other twice a year. By the time we get married, we will have been doing that for nearly five years. If I were not so monogamous, I can see how not having my man around would be just cause to find someone else to meet that need. As it is, I simply practice a lot of patience.

Older Alpha: As a Dominant Husband, I would answer that under NO circumstances is it acceptable. Only I can physically discipline my submissive wife. Nor can I correct another man's (nor do I want to!).

My wife enjoys vigorous erotic spankings. I don't, but because they're important to her, I accommodate her. I let her know that she must tell me exactly what she needs in that regard. Then I spank away!

If my wife went elsewhere for that, it would be cheating, even if it didn't lead to sexual intercourse. Because it is erotic, arousing, her proper spanking place is with ME and nobody else. We have a monogamous marriage.

Hermione: If one partner in a relationship is uninterested in spanking and the other one craves it, it might seem like just cause for the spanko to look elsewhere. However, other things have to be taken into consideration. For example, if spanking is considered a sexual act, looking elsewhere may be seen as a betrayal rather than harmless fun. The relative importance of spanking in that person's life, weighed along with everything else, is also a consideration. A lot depends upon how accepting the non spanking partner is. Does that partner agree wholeheartedly, grudgingly, or not at all with the decision to seek spanking outside the relationship. Does that partner even know, or is it a secret?

For me personally, I would consider it akin to sexual infidelity, because sex and spanking are two sides of the same coin for us.

Six of the Best: If all parties agree, then it is permissible. Some husbands or wives might enjoy seeing their partners spanked by someone else. Such is the case with wife swapping.

S.N.M.: It is aceeptable when and if the other partner is okay with it.

Curtis: When my ex-wife and I were courting, we played spanking games, I thought for fun and arousal. After those two years, we lived together and played spanking games. And for two years after we were married, we played spanking games. Then she announced she didn't like it. I wasn't going to force it on her. We had a child on the way and I had an essentially sexless marriage for about 15 years while we did a good job raising our son. But at some point, I decided I wasn't going to be sexless for the rest of my life. So I started looking, found an ad and ended up with a torrid four-year spanking/sexual relationship which, along with two years of psychotherapy, ended our marriage (three days before our 25th anniversary).

My ex-wife was a deeply controlling person without emotional empathy, so there was no way to even broach the idea of going outside with her blessing. When I broke out, our son was in the last year of high school and was about to go to college. From my hindsight perspective, the only real regrets I have are that I stayed committed as long as I did without any sexual gratification and that the way I split inflicted hurt which was unavoidable collateral damage, but hurtful nevertheless (I did try to be discreet and was involved for two and a half of those years unbeknownst to my ex-wife). While I deeply believe in commitment, it needs to be accompanied by sexual and emotional compatibility.

TRH: Curtis makes a good point. In a *healthy* committed relationship, it is acceptable when all parties agree to it. That wouldn't work in my house, but relationships are hardly “one size fits all.” :)

Anon #2: It is completely acceptable only when it is done with informed consent from all parties involved. Whether it's sexual or not, sneaking is a type of infidelity. And infidelity has consequences.

My answers above are based on spanking as sexual foreplay, something done simply for my pleasure, enacted on my bottom, to warm me up for sex (I would have no problem returning the favor, should my partner request it).

Someone who cherishes you should be able to make at least that much effort. If they can't, do you really want to be in that relationship? If the answer to that question is yes, then just be aware that infidelity is likely to cost you the relationship itself.

On the other hand, asking someone who isn't into it for a 24/7 DD relationship is something else entirely. I see that as something more involved than a bedroom game.

I cherish my partner, so I would be willing to try. Of course, with some organizational skills, I suppose I could get my sub to police themselves, so to speak, so I wouldn't have to spend hours every day meting out corrections. Still, if my mate asked me for something far outside my personality, I might be able to deliver for a little while, but I don't think I could do so for the long term. I'd either have to outsource the DD thing, or quit the relationship.

However, if I caught my partner sneaking without discussing it with me, our relationship would be over. Period.

Ronnie: I'd say it's fine in circumstances where there is approval from both parties. If they take their committed relationship seriously, that would surely be the right answer.

Anon #3: A committed relationship means not only "thou shalt not," but also "thou shalt", as in thou shalt try to bring both of you joy. Why wouldn't I want to fulfill the fantasies of the one I love? We are called to joy in our relationships. It takes real grown-ups, but I'd say if all agree in real self-honesty, and with each other, then it's okay. If you're hurting or struggling with no resolution or real communication long term, then you're with the wrong person for you.

Our Bottoms Burn: Let's say it's mutually agreeable. Let's stipulate jealousy is not an issue. We still don't think it can work. If you are getting what you really want outside of the original relationship, why continue with the original?

A-Non: Here's a related scenario. An otherwise happily-married man meets a woman in order for her to spank him. There is no sex at all. He says men have also offered to to spank him, also with no sex. He wonders whether that's OK. He worries that if it is a sexual thing, then he's crossed a big line. What do you think about that?

Answering just for me, whether sexual or not, going to someone for a spanking is not like trying a new hair stylist. I think the spouse has to be aware and preferably involved.

Prefectdt: I think S.N.M. came up with a most apt answer. Spanking can be either sexual and relationship-related or not.

Decide where you are, decide what is most appropriate for all parties concerned and make your own decisions about this issue. This is not a situation where hard and fast rules apply. There are a lot of gray areas.

Bonnie: Spanking was, is, and always will be sexual for Randy and me. We are committed to monogamy. For one of us to engage in spanking without the other would be a profound betrayal.

I recognize that others view this favorite pastime of ours in very different ways, and I completely respect that. We each have to be true to ourselves.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your opinions and observations. I hope you'll join us again next weekend.

MBS Spanko Brunch #244

Welcome again, dear friends, to another weekly brunch. This forum offers an opportunity to examine spanking issues in an open and supportive environment. Our question was submitted by a new reader we shall call M.

Under what circumstances is it acceptable for someone in a committed relationship to look elsewhere for spankings?

To join our conversation, just enter your thoughts below in the form of a comment. Once everyone has had a fair chance to speak, I will post an edited summary.

Recap: MBS Sunday Brunch for Sept 12

Our topic this week was differing levels of interest in This Thing We Do. Here are your thoughts and ideas.

Florida Dom: This seems to be a common complaint from spanko wives married to husbands who either aren't interested in spanking them or don't spank as often or as hard as they would like.

And I can understand that some husbands may not get anything out of spanking. But I just wish they would think of it in the terms of something that is going to make their wives very happy. Or as something they are doing for their wives that will make their relationship better. And how hard is spanking anyway? And if it arouses her, isn't that what husbands want?

Maybe the wives can strike a bargain. If the husbands will spank them, they won't ask them to go to a chick flick with them or will go with them to some stupid action film. LOL.

I would like to hear some comments from husbands who don't like spanking.

And Bonnie, how fortunate that you don't appear to have this problem because you seem to get all the spankings you want.

Yes, I am fortunate. Whatever problems I may experience, a husband who is reluctant to spank is definitely not among them!

PK: I obviously have NO answer for you or I would have solved this problem long ago! I'll be back to see if anyone else can help those of us with this problem because I can tell you it is VERY frustrating!

Sara: Talk, and talk, and talk again. Communicate about what and how and why. Temper that with a whole lot of listening, and sincere respect for where your partner is coming from, and then add a huge portion of patience into the mix!

I think it is akin to a significant gap in interest in sex. It is a very personal part of us and comes with strong feelings, and takes work and sensitivity and lots of caring to work around and have both parties feel understood and attended to.

I think FD makes a very good point: If you know this is something your wife really wants, why would you not do your best to keep her happy? How much should you give in marriage and what will the payback for that be? Most marriages would yield tremendous return for the investment, and I think that needs to be seriously considered too.

Hermione: That's a good question, and Florida Dom gave some excellent advice.

I think one of the difficulties lies in the dominant partner not wanting to relinquish control to the submissive partner, assuming it's the latter who wants to receive more or harder spankings. In our situation, spanking was a pleasant form of foreplay, and always at my husband's instigation. When I decided I wanted longer, harder and more frequent spankings, it wasn't easy to communicate this. At first, it was just very difficult to talk about TTWD. We had rarely discussed it before, or even joked about it.

Once it became easier to speak about the subject, I made my wishes known, with the assurance that it wasn't intended to be sex on demand, but simply spanking for its own sake. Once Ron realized that he was still in control of the sexual aspect, everything fell into place. I am now getting what I need, my husband understands what it is that I want, and he has taken charge of fun spankings as well.

One thing I would not try to demand is spanking as discipline or punishment. That just doesn't work for Ron, and he wants no part of it. But that's okay with me, because my bottom gets plenty of attention for other reasons.

Daisy: If a couple truly loves each other, isn't a main part of that loving to give, unselfishly, and to want to make their partner happy? When two people find that their dreams are their partner's nightmares, then compromise has to be the dish of the day!

Davey and I discovered we BOTH loved to BE massaged, the whole body massage thing (not sexual). So we compromised. He gave me a lovely massage, then I gave him one. But this arrangement wasn't so good because as soon as I was relaxed from my lovely massage, I had to get up to give Davey one! So, we talked, and it was agreed to take alternate days. LOL. SO, GOOD COMMUNICATION is the key, along with a common goal.

Susan: Surely this is all about having an understanding and a solid relationship with your other half. If I need a spanking, I don't just bend over and say “Spank it'” I drop subtle hints, or pretend to have committed a misdeed, and the message seems to get through because D is always only too happy to spank me.

From his angle, if he wants to spank me, my bottom is always available for him, even when it is a bit tender from a recent bout. As regards severity, I like to get spanked a bit harder than I really bargained for, plus a few extra good whacks which take me over the top. Being restrained also helps, for I know that my upturned bottom is entirely at D's mercy, until he decides to release me. I trust him absolutely not to spank me more than I can tolerate or cause any lasting harm. D knows me so well that he can ignore my yells and pleas, which I am ( not always) putting on for his benefit.

If all else fails, perhaps Kathleen should get herself a Robo Spanker!

Anne: One time, I dressed in a particularly “spank-me” fashion, phoned him and told him he would find me in the bedroom when he got home. I also set out a selection of belts and a brush. He found me bent over the bed wearing short shorts, top fluffy boots and a corset. He laughed and said he didn't know whether to spank me, take me or just take care of himself while enjoying the view. The belts were a big hint and we had fun.

I also talk, not usually at the time, but the next day to indicate my level of enjoyment and severity. I find that Fisher is actually likely to go harder than I bargained for because he reads these blogs. I am a tender tush compared to you ladies. Still, it's not too much and we have a lot of fun making up.

Anon #1: I am currently having this problem too. I want my fiance to spank me harder and more often, but it just hasn't happened yet. We talked about it about a month or so ago. Since then, he has taken opportunities to randomly spank me for things like slapping his ass during sex or just as I walk by. But I am trying to get him to spank me with something other than his hand. Our wedding is this weekend, so I am really hoping for a spanking on our wedding night. Any ideas on how to make that happen?

Best wishes to both of you!

I think experimenting with spanking is wonderful fun and I highly recommend it. But probably not on your wedding night. You will want this evening to become a special memory and that means trying to make everything as positive as it can be. If he's not comfortable or your first experiment doesn't work well, that's the memory you will carry forward. I'd be inclined to save that first real spanking for later in the honeymoon.

Bill: It seems to me that it's easier if you're the one wanting the spanking. In my case, as a spanker, it seems like a lot to ask for someone to let me do something that involves physical pain, especially if they're not turned on by it and it just hurts.

I can still have fun even with less severity, but it's a compromise, and one I would expect to have to make with a non-spanko partner.

P.S. First comment, been lurking awhile.

Welcome, Bill! I'm sure that's true.

Anon #2: I am in a long term, totally committed marriage. There is no option for any activity of this sort outside of the marriage. I try to keep the topic open, but not be too insistent. The end result is paddlings that are sometimes begrudging and sometimes good-humored. I have to be content with this for the sake of our overall relationship. I really appreciate your blog and the help it gives me.

I'm pleased to be of assistance.

Bonnie: I think there are a lot of great suggestions here. I wrote two tutorials that might be helpful for Kathleen and others in her situation: Your First Spanking and Talking with your Partner.

I think the keys are to listen as well as talk, be open-minded, stay patient, and focus on activities that are enjoyable for both partners.

Kathleen, I wish you all the spankings you desire, plus that occasional one that exceeds even your expectations. To everyone else, I thank you for your thoughtful suggestions.

MBS Spanko Brunch #243

Welcome back, everyone. Our question of the week is a topic that many couples find relevant and potentially troublesome. It was submitted by Kathleen who wants to be spanked more often and more severely than her husband wants to spank her.

How can couples deal with different levels of interest in TTWD?

To participate in our conversation, just enter your thoughts in the form of a comment below. Once everyone has had their say, I will post an edited summary.

Poll: Why Spank?

Check all that apply Discipline Play Erotic Maintenance Stress Relief Why Not? Current Results

A Spanko Memory: The Archies

I've been interested in spankings since childhood.  True to the era, many of my formative influences came from television.  I recall a late sixties animated version of the Archie comic strip.  Each week, the teenage stars of the show would perform a new song as the Archies.

There were no overt spanking references in the Archie Show.  Had there been any, I'm certain they would have been etched forever into my memory.  However, every musical number included Betty, the blonde, banging a tambourine against what could have been her hip, but I always believed was more likely her bottom.  I had dabbled in self-spanking by this time and Betty's technique looked pretty similar.

A tambourine, I reckoned, consisted of a skin wrapped around one side of a wooden ring.  If the edge of that rigid ring made solid and repeated contact with someone's derriere, it might feel a lot like a spanking.  I just couldn't understand why Betty never switched sides.

I also remember trying to recreate the leg lift dance that Betty and Veronica did.  But I was never quite as graceful as those animated dancers.

The other part of the show that baffled me was why Reggie and Veronica could be so mean and yet they were happily welcomed in the band every time.

Anyhow, it's a little weird and perhaps not very spanko, but those are my memories of the Archies.

To see the Archies in action, click on the picture.

In with the New: Kickoff Edition

As I discover new spanking-oriented blogs, I am struck (OK, pun intended) by the sheer number of people engaging in this activity and the wide variety of reasons why we spank. What a wonderfully diverse community we have!

Here are eleven young blogs to explore and enjoy. If you like what the blogger has to say, please tell them so.

A Clandestine Adventure

C & e: Life in DD

D's Female Naughty Butts

Emilee's Diary

Kat Obeys

My Domestic Discipline

Naughty Ness

Richard Gets Spanked

Spank Me Hard

Strangelove

Thinking Out Loud about TTWD

To these new members of our community, I hope you find friendship, fulfillment, and fun. If you would like some blogging tips and suggestions, try these. In any case, we're glad you're here!

Recap: MBS Sunday Brunch for Sept 5

Our question of the week dealt with why wet spankings hurt more. Here are your inspired responses.

Our Bottoms Burn: Yes. I have given a few wet spankings and the spankees all said it stung more. I was given a wet bottom spanking and I think it had more sting.

You really need a helper with a squirt bottle, to quickly re-wet after every paddle pop.

Dioneo: I'm guessing that it has to do with how vibrations are less attenuated by water than by air. Think about how sounds carry further underwater. Now imagine that the sound wave as an implement colliding with a derriere. I would think the stronger vibrations are what makes it sting more, but this is all speculative.

Dano: Water tenderizes the tushy and the nerves in the skin are more sensitive.

Anne: Fisher thinks that on dry skin the air in the pores acts like an air shock on a car. Therefore, when you smack the bottom the air comes out and buffers the blow. When the skin is wet, the liquid fills the pores, removing the air which would act as the shock absorber. In addition, when the wet bottom is hit, the liquid compresses expanding the pores and increasing the nerve contact and so increasing the intensity of the feeling. That's our story and we're sticking to it!

Barely Pink: Previous posters are exactly right. The water opens the pores in the bottom, and these water-filled pores are conductors of vibration. With the water present, nerves are more receptive as well. So the whole experience is a lot more ouchy because of greater vibrations and a greater perception of pain.

D is a fan of keeping a spray bottle nearby. That evil, evil man.

Rich: Air is compressible, but water isn't. So, the energy from the hand goes straight through the water to the skin underneath, but air trapped between the hand and the bottom is compressed and absorbs some of the energy.

Of course, that takes all the romance out of it.

We should probably just agree to conclude that a wet spanking is "hotter" than one on dry skin. Maybe it's just a little kinkier. Splosh!

Michael: I think that the answer might be found within a consideration of kinetic energy and thermal conductivity. When the paddle, say, hits the bottom there is a transfer of kinetic energy into work and heat energy. The work energy moves the mass of the bottom flesh forward (flattening it) and squashes the air molecules between the skin and the blade creating a pressure wave which creates a sound (the smack). The heat energy created is transferred to the skin which raises the temperature and creates electrical energy which is transferred to the nerves under the skin.

The question thus relates to how much heat energy is transferred to the bottom compared to the work energy, out of the total kinetic energy. The skin is made up of lots of small points on the surface (the summits of the skin) and lots of depressions (the pores) and the surface area of the bottom is the total of the summits of the skin and of the areas of the depressions. There is a limited amount of summit area which is vastly increased if you add the surface of the depressions. So to transfer the heat energy effectively into the bottom you want to maximise the area exposed to the heat energy and ensure that there is high thermal conductivity in the surface.

The summits made of skin have good thermal conductivity (0.58 W/mC) and the paddle contacts directly with these summits so the energy is transferred efficiently. The transfer to the depressions has to take place firstly through the air filling the depression before it reaches the skin surface in the pore. Air has a low unit of thermal conductivity (0.024W/mC) so the transfer through air to the skin surface in the depression is poor and the whole surface of the bottom will be not receive as much transfer of heat as is possible from the overall kinetic energy in the spank. If the bottom is wetted the depressions fill with water which has a better unit of thermal conductivity of 0.6 W/mC (a bit higher than skin itself). So a good deal more heat energy will reach the skin surface in the depressions and the overall transfer of heat from the paddle is much larger. The bottom heats up considerably more and thus the spanking is more severe.

On a less scientific note the addition of glycerine to the water is said to further increase the heat of the paddling, possible because the glycerine adheres to the pore trapping the water molecules for longer and delaying evaporation.

Scunge: For me, it DOESN'T! We have tried on several occasions. My bottom, wet or dry, feels the same impact. It could be because I have a chronic disease called fibromyalgia, or it could be because I am just WEIRD!

Ronnie: Not being scientifically minded in the least, I don't have a clue. But I have to agree with the questioner. They do hurt more, but they're kind of sexy. The swats make a unique sound and the circumstances are typically different as well. Overall, wet spankings are yummy.

Keiter: On the one hand, this science behind the specialized spanking of a wet bottom is interesting. On the other hand, I really don't care why. The question made me realize that it had been far too long since this exquisite form of punishment had been utilized. I greeted my lover with breakfast in bed this morning (another thing I hadn't done for her in too long a time).

"And when you're done with eating, I'm gonna give you a bath..." I mentioned.

"I prefer showers," she replied foggily.

"I know, but this morning you'll take a bath, and stand up during it for repeated wet bottom spankings."

"Yes, sir," she smiled.

Thank you for the scientific insight. THANK YOU for the suggestion!

I salute your relentless pursuit of scientific knowledge!

Daisy: I hated science at school. Therefore, my answer is not scientific.

They just DO, OK?

I am now in awe of your readers, Bonnie, talking about kinetic whassamajig, compressions, vibrations and stuff!

Susan: These answers are very scientific, and probably right, but as a recipient I find that the temperature of the water counts. Having been scooped out of a bath many times, my hot, wet bottom does not seem to be any more sensitive to a spanking. However, the sound of palm on bum seems to be louder, and there is the added hazard of nearby hair or bath brushes!

Cold bottoms are a different matter and definitely sting far more. I suppose the nerve endings are more sensitive if I have just come out of the sea, or had an ice cold cloth applied to my rear before the spanking. After swimming, I am probably wearing a swim suit or bikini, and if this is wet it really hugs my cheeks, and I might as well be bare.

On one smarting occasion, I was wearing a thin cotton pair of tennis shorts in our garden. D made me bend over a deck chair, sprayed my bottom with the hose, and then attacked it with a table tennis bat.

I danced around the garden like a dervish after that, clutching my super smarting ice cold cheeks.

R Humphries: I am not of a scientific bent, so I am reliant upon MBJ to provide insight and observation regarding such phenomena. After all, she is the one on the receiving end. She tells me that wet spankings do not necessarily hurt more, but they have a different and entirely unique sensation.

She also informs me that during the immediate aftermath of being caned across silk pyjamas, the heat actually appears to increase rather than decrease. I have no idea of the validity of such sage observations. Perhaps the solution is for the community at large to commission a modern day equivalent of Jean Henri Fabre to conduct experimental research into matters of such import. I am sure that there would be no shortage of volunteers to act as research participants. Otherwise, I suppose we could just pour another glass of wine and continue to ponder such mysteries.

Make Mine Red: I have no idea as to the "why." I had never really thought about it much. I haven't been spanked on a wet bottom since I was 4 years old, but boy, do I remember that one well! We might have to try it again one day. Thanks for the idea!

Barbarossa: One possibility is that a wet bottom is colder, either because cold water was used to make it that way or because wet skin loses heat faster. It's well known that being hit hurts more in the cold. American footballers often comment on this.

Bonnie: If I knew the answer, I wouldn't have asked! However, I have observed that the wet spanking ouch seems to be primarily a surface of the skin phenomenon. This seems to support theories about the water adhering to the skin and transferring the force more efficiently.

Another possible answer in swimming or bathing situations is that the water softens the skin and increases its sensitivity. But as I said, I don't know.

Thank you, everyone, for sharing your scientific know-how!

MBS Spanko Brunch #242

Here in the US, many of us are celebrating the long Labor Day weekend. It's an opportunity to share these last days of summer with friends and family.

In honor of back-to-school season, we have a science question!

Why does a wet spanking hurt so much more?

If you would like to offer your thoughts, please enter them in the form of a comment below. Once everyone has had their turn, I will post an edited summary.

Fifty Things About My Bottom Smarts

In preparation for the fifth anniversary of My Bottom Smarts later this month, I thought it might be good to present some retrospective posts, each from a different viewpoint. This first one is a variation on the popular fifty things meme. Here are fifty facts and observations about this blog that the casual reader may not know.

1. I got spanked for a couple of decades before I ever knew what a blog was. For lack of a better option, we mostly figured it out for ourselves.

2. Many of the spanking stories I published during the first couple of years pre-date the blog. As a writer, I've always enjoyed memorializing noteworthy events.

3. Some of those old stories appeared on other, now defunct forums.

4. I started MBS as a place to share my stories with like-minded people. I hoped to attract a core group of regular readers who liked spanking stories.

5. I had no inkling this blog would become popular. I still find the numbers difficult to fully grasp.

6. I remember clearly the thrill I felt when I discovered that really successful bloggers like Dan had linked me. It was a bit like being featured by Chross today.

7. In those early days, I figured that I would run out of new material within a few months. I learned that I have a lot to say about spanking.

8. Much of the inspiration for In with the New comes from Angelbrat. She no longer links blogs, but in those early days, her blog was an authoritative source for the newest in spanking blogs.

9. As popular as In with the New is, it attracts relatively few comments. I can't explain that.

10. Readers and other bloggers ask me how I find so many new blogs. I use my statistics, Google blog search, Blogger keyword search, Wordpress keyword search, and friends' blogrolls. Once in a while, a new blogger will make the job easy by contacting me.

11. I had to agree to a list of guidelines before Randy would agree to help me with my blog. They were mostly to ensure my safety. I still follow them.

12. He actually helps a lot with the blog though his words seldom appear. We co-write the responses for Keyword Chaos. We spend a very silly hour laughing together. You should see the gags I don't use!

13. I try to maintain a certain degree of civility on the blog. I love a good joke and don't mind the occasional dirty word, but I insist that readers be treated in a respectful manner.

14. Other than spam (which gets eradicated on sight), I've deleted maybe ten comments in five years. This is not a move I undertake lightly. I want readers' voices to be heard, even when I don't agree. But I won't tolerate comments that are blatantly abusive toward me, Randy, our favorite pastime, or our friends. At those rare moments, I become a benevolent dictator.

15. I wrote a one act stage play set in a spanking booth. That's something I've never seen on any other blog.

16. I want readers to feel comfortable and at home here – sort of like your favorite sister's living room.

17. I decided early on that I would not accept any sort of advertising on the blog. I've never regretted this choice. All day long, I am a mercenary author. But in this place, I am contributing editor, publisher, and chairwoman of the board. I write what I like and everything you see is here because I chose it. Complete control over content make this medium an author's paradise.

18. I receive a lot of e-mail. I try to answer it in a timely manner, but that doesn't always occur. Too often, I begin my replies with an apology. What happens is that I ignore it for a few days and then get so far behind that I don't even want to look. Perhaps spankings would help...

19. The spanking story that readers most frequently ask about was one of my oldest. It's called The Boat Story.

20. There have been a number of occasions when other blogs have borrowed features they saw here. I consider this a kind of tribute, especially if they morph the idea into something that is uniquely theirs.

21. If this blog has a central theme, it is that consensual adult spanking can greatly enhance a loving relationship. That, and it's fun!

22. There are a few prominent and respected bloggers who want nothing to do with Love Our Lurkers Day (watch this space for our LOL 2010 announcement). I don't entirely understand their objections, but I certainly respect them.

23. I hope there aren't any lurkers out there who think they have to remain silent until October. Truth be known, we love you all year round.

24. As a professional journalist, writing fiction was never something I felt I did well. It's much more difficult and time consuming for me than describing real life events. I think my best fictional story is The Sphere. It was my first ever attempt at science fiction. It explores the physics and feelings associated with spanking and lovemaking in zero gravity.

25. One fun aspect of fiction is that it allows me to explore disciplinary themes that are not a part of my relationship with Randy.

26. The brunch began as an experiment. I didn't expect it to be an every week feature, let alone run for years. People ask where I get brunch topics. Many are submitted by readers. Others are inspired by events around here, stories in the news, or other blogs. If all else fails, I'll update an old topic.

27. For every blog feature that succeeded, there were probably two more that didn't. My philosophy is to try everything and keep the stuff that works.

28. Readers consistently tell me that the blogroll is one of their favorite features. It takes a lot of time, but it's tolerable thanks to good help from a great friend.

29. I use both the chronological and alphabetical blogrolls. I think others do too, but I haven't any way to track that.

30. From time to time, a reader will suggest that I should link this blog or not link that one. People have specific tastes, and I get that. But I try to link blogs that a reasonable segment of my audience will enjoy. If F/M, for example, is not your preference, that's perfectly fine. But let's not isolate these folks.

31. Readers write and ask me bizarre questions like, “Do you really get spanked?” “Do you really like it?” and even, “Are you a woman?” For those keeping score at home, the answer to all three is yes. I suspect some of these people ask me (or tell me) weird things just to see if I will mention them in the blog.

32. I used to write a lot more humorous posts. I'm not sure why those dried up. It wasn't a conscious choice.

33. One feature I've always wanted to try is an interview segment. I really like what Suzy is doing. I particularly appreciate her choice of subjects. Everyone interviews the spanking models, and we do love them, but it's great to hear from regular spankos too. Were I to try an interview feature, I would probably choose a somewhat similar format.

34. Nothing I write increases readership as much as a photograph of my rear. I guess we have to conclude that while the pen may be mightier than the sword, it's no match for a curvy pear.

35. I have a small group of readers I have dubbed the panty patrol. They write me to ask when I'm am going to show them more visible panty lines.

36. I love song parodies. I used to post a lot of these. Perhaps it's a good time to revisit the concept.

37. It bugs me when sites republish my content without permission and then adorn it with tacky ads. They steal my words, my readers, and my integity.

38. The MBS paddle logo was created by Dante.

39. I think I like the followers gizmo. It helps new people find my blog. But it also provides a path from my blog to spammish places I would not normally send readers. I try to block the worst of them, but I'm not very discriminating at this stage.

40. We need to invite Daisy to brunch because she is a much better cook than I am!

41. I'm glad that people liked the blogging tips post. It's off-topic, but it has the potential to assist community members. I am thinking about making it a stand-alone page.

42. The best part about blogging is the opportunity to meet and talk with so many interesting friends.

43. The second best part of blogging is when Randy reads the blog and gets inspired by what I wrote.

44. The worst thing about blogging is not having enough time to do everything I think needs to be done. I feel bad when I realize that I haven't spent time at a favorite blog in weeks.

45. Randy says my blog needs monkeys. I say the last time I mentioned the subject, I ended up up-ended.

46. Sometime around the end of the year, MBS should record our ten millionth page request. That will be an event worthy of celebration. But I'm really curious to see whether my counter will display eight digits!

47. When readers ask how long I plan to keep blogging, I never have a good answer. I'm sure I will call it quits someday. But that day is not today and it probably won't be tomorrow. I guess I would stop if blogging ceased to be fun.

48. My polls tell me that MBS readership is consistently about 60/40 male to female. Comments, however, run more like 70/30 female to male. I'm not sure why that is.

49. When I updated the template, I dumped all those little chicklet links. Did anyone miss them? I figured out that I wasn't getting many hits from those sites, so why bother?

50. I think the biggest difference between Bonnie the blogger and real life Bonnie is that my cyber incarnation is nicer and more patient. When I'm having a epic bad day, I typically don't blog.

So there you have it – Fifty things about MBS.