Recap: MBS Sunday Brunch for May 29

My apologies for Blogger's weirdness on Saturday. I guess they took a long weekend as well. Thank you to everyone who persevered.

Anyhow, our topic this week was favorite (and least favorite) media for spanking content. Here are your thoughts.

Michelle Carlyle: My reply is all of the above. And of course, I am partial to spanking fiction. I can't imagine why.

Six of the Best: The audio portion would not be of interest to me. All of those others are “Go.”

Anon: I enjoy written real life accounts the most.

Bree: I enjoy pictorial sets the most only because I do not have enough time for the others. Phots are quick and they get the job done. I feel like I get a quick emotional wallop and feelings I never knew I had are brought to the surface often leaving me to ponder the why, when, where and what about those feelings.

I would like to consume more written real life stories, but there's not enough time. (sigh)

I think audio podcasts are most helpful to people who are learning about adult consensual spanking. They are actually helpful regardless of one's experience. It has helped me tremendously. It was there when I needed to be set straight or reassured a few times.

I would be most likely to create and share semi-biographical spanking stories. Fictional stories have to come from some part of you, so for me, that part is real. Real life spanking stories sometimes have to be spruced up a bit in my opinion. I think no one totally remembers every little detail before, during or after being spanked. You have to also be inside the head of the other characters to make a good story. Semi-biographical spanking stories, as I like to call them, would be my forte. I am working on a book right now. I don't know whether I will have the time to do this. Maybe I can work on this when have writer's block for the other story. I might try that.

Then there are spanking blogs. What about spanking blogs? They seem so time consuming and too much of a responsibility to me. If I could do it without having to worry about answering people or worrying about snakes in the grass, maybe I would do it. I'm not sure. Maybe sometime in the future. Who knows?

I love all of the other items on the list, but I like being spanked in person the best. Nothing can replace that.

Bree, had I included real life spankings in the list, we probably wouldn't have much to discuss. :D

Mockingbird: I guess I prefer the written word. I love real life accounts and fictional stories. However, I also enjoy the artsy kind of bondage/spanking photos.

Lea: I love reading blogs and real life accounts as well as fictional stories. It's always interesting to hear another take on things.

I don't watch videos or look at pictures much. I've never listened to a podcast before. I'm not sure where to even find one.

I don't know that any one thing is more helpful to people who are learning, but I've learned a lot from reading stories on blogs spanking forums.

As for creating and sharing with others, you won't be seeing any pictures or videos of me. I prefer real life as well as fictional stories. I've shared a few on my blog already.

Prefectdt: I vote for audio podcasts.

I would like to do more reading, but I have limited time to spend at a computer. This reduces my ability to commit to much screen literary indulgence.

I've been a fan of the spoken word since I discovered BBC radio four as a child. Being a bit of an outdoorsy type, it is convenient to put some podcasts on my MP3 player and listen to them when I am out and about doing other things. The Masochist does some very good interviews.

The downside is the time gap between the time when podcasts become available and my opportunity to listen. It is a bit pointless to leave comments for the podcasters by then. I do hope that podcasters are not put off by the lack of reaction to their work.

Daisy: Written real life accounts are my absolute favourite. Fictional stories would come second, but I prefer the ones which COULD be real life. In other words, I can fantasise about them actually happening. I find stories that could not be real (e.g., those that are way out or ridiculous or gratuitous and make no sense), just irritate me! Instead of enjoying reading, my mind picks holes in the content!

Similarly, I like full length videos to be believable. One that particularly sticks in my mind as an amazing video is Pixie in "The Anxiety of the Girl Waiting." I don't like to see intimate parts on show or excessive force/marks/bruising. Fussy wotsit, aren't I? Regarding short video vignettes, I look at YouTube occasionally, but these videos also have to follow my strict codes above(!) or I switch them off feeling more annoyed than inspired!

Pictorial sets don't really do it for me, unless they are very tastefully done. Artwork can be sometimes great, but again, I like the tasteful ones that leave most to the imagination... and the cute, fun ones. Ronnie always finds great artwork, as does Hermione!

Audio podcasts have to be last on my list as I have never experienced these!

Velvet: I enjoy short real life accounts and stories. I also love erotic art and pictures. We are all individuals, so I think it's important for there to be a variety of genres out there. Personally, long wordy blogs lose my interest fast unless they are very well written. My blog is generally real life events and erotic black and white photos, but I try to steer away from being overly graphic.

Joeyred: Velvet's blog is a great example of what I find most enjoyable. I like real life events told brilliantly and illustrated with art gallery quality erotic photos.

What I find least enjoyable are spanking videos, except those of Zelle demonstrating London Tanner products.

To learn about spanking, I find this blog and Lea's Corner to be excellent sources of information. For example, Lea's blog post on safe words was exceptionally well done. Zelle's blog is also very informative and often so hilarious.

Fortunately, there are a wide variety of blog styles and intelligent and clever bloggers. Thanks to all of you.

KayLynn/ExMoWife: Time is a commodity that I lack these days! But I love blogs and need the wisdom/commiseration. Next is fiction with complex characters and plots. Evoking artwork is great (Deviant Art is a great venue). My least favorite are the videos. Most lack complexity (likely due to production cash – I'm taking up collections, anyone? ;) Thanks for tip on podcasts. Any "graphica" loses me.

Here's hoping you have an improved weather Bonnie! Head south, the sun misses you.

Thanks, KayLynn. Our weather is getting better, albeit slowly.

Raven Red: Artwork gets a definitely yes from me. There are lots of creative and talented people out there who can portray in an image more than what words can.

I have listened to a couple audio podcasts and found them enjoyable. However, I am not the biggest fan.

I definitely love fictional stories. A Voice in the Corner and Michelle Carlyle's blogs are some of my favourite visiting places. I most definitely love written real life accounts as well.

I am not really a fan of full length videos, nor do I enjoy them. Most of the time, they seem like the same thing over and over. I prefer short video vignettes.

If the photography is good, pictorial sets are a definite yes.

To the share and create question, I am very honest in my blog about what happens to me, my emotions etc. I love using images and even did try once or twice to write some fiction.

As for video clips, eh, some serious consideration has been given to that...(GRIN)

Hermione: From the available choices, I most enjoy written real-life accounts, with fiction a close second. I also like artwork like cartoons and sketches.

I would like to read more real-life accounts by my favourite blogger.

For me, the least effective are audio podcasts and videos. When a blogger I visit regularly does one, for a special reason or on an occasional basis, then I will listen or watch. But as a general rule, I avoid them. They are time-consuming to download, and because of limited privacy, I have to keep the sound turned off on my computer most of the time. Pictorial sets are of no interest to me when they are the only means of communication on a blog.

As for choosing a useful learning tool, that would be depend upon the learning style of the audience. It might be any of the methods mentioned, depending on personal preference. For beginners, some of the videos and pictures might be too extreme or frightening.

Personally, I am most likely to create real-life accounts and the odd piece of fiction because writing is the medium with which I am comfortable.

Our Bottoms Burn: I enjoy all forms. The medium is not what makes it for me, it's the content. Some creative types merge two or more media to make excellent presentations.

What makes it special for me is when it's personalized. We have all seen spanked bottoms. I like to know a little about them.

I just watched the audio clip of Zelle. It's very cute and more than audio.

This couple is new to me. They share things about themselves in addition to some tasteful pictures.

I am waiting for Tarantino's spanking movie.

Jack: I'm only interested in videos. Unfortunately very little realistic stuff is being produced. They all use the same fake hairbrush!

Jane: I love real life stories. I remember first discovering My Bottom Smarts, and after I figured out how the whole blog thing worked (archives, etc.), eagerly reading all of the real life stories! Occasionally, when Bonnie drops a hint that another may be coming up, that makes me happy.

Thank you, Jane! I'll do my best to follow though on those hints.

Season: Real life accounts and fictional stories top the list for me. Reading draws me in and I can really feel the experience of it all - physically, emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even spiritually.

Even in the vanilla world, I always enjoy the book better than the movie. :-)

Ronnie: For me, it's the written word, reading about real accounts followed by fictional stories. I do like tasteful artwork.

My least favorite are audio podcasts and videos.

Rootsdown: I'm especially fond of erotic artwork blogs and I like real life accounts also. These are the blogs I read frequently. I think that if one is limited to online learning, the best way to learn about spanking is a combination of all of these types. However, when it comes to learning kinky skills, I have a preference for having a workshop at a kink event. It's an experiential way of learning and that usually is the best way.

Uncle Nick: What I like the most are interviews that I conduct. I love to record a real girl talking about a real experience, like this one that I did just the other day and then ran on my blog.

In second place would be the newspaper reports that I turn up from time to time.

Pink: I'm a fan of real-life accounts, delivered in a short, concise (yet eloquent) manner. There are so many blogs that I count as "favorites" and I have limited reading time with my full-time job and other responsibilities.

I wish I had more time to read spanking fiction. I very rarely read lengthy stories online. If I am reading anything of length, it's a book that is non-spanking related ('cuz a girl has to have balance).

I do like videos, if they are realistic and not too harsh. I don't enjoy excessive humiliation or marks in videos.

I am a visual person, so I love photos and artwork. I spend a lot of time looking for photos to use on my blog and have a huge collection on my computer. We joke that I'm a pornographer, but most of the photos are tasteful (some are super raunchy for days when I need more dirt).

As far as video vignettes and audio, I typically don't watch or listen to these. I would much rather leave it to my imagination.

I sometimes wish I had a clone that could spend all day online reading, watching, and listening. Until we get that technology, though, I unfortunately must be selective.

Bonnie: I have a T-shirt that reads, “Word Nerd.” That about covers it. The written word is my medium of choice. I can appreciate any of the other media if the content and presentation are tasteful, but it's words that light my lamp.

For the newcomers, I agree with Greenwoman. Different people learn in different ways. To be effective in our educational efforts, we must strive to reach each reader. In many cases, that means using all of the media available to us.

Thanks, everyone, for joining our brunch discussion!