I hate to plod the discussion down a bit but I hadn't thought too much of courtesy and respect being separate things. I had felt that everyone deserved respect until they had shown they were not worthy of it, kind of like the innocent until proven guilty premise. Of course maybe what I would term respect many others would say was common courtesy and respect was something much deeper and more intimate.

Of course I don't agree with the automatic idea that all subs must respect all Doms, we don't live on Gor after all And I have known quite a few Doms who were simply not worthy of anyone's respect as they were simply vile people. When I meet a prospective sub I actually find it offputting if they attempt to call me Sir. Until I have decided that she is to be my sub and she has decided I am to be her Master then we are simply two people who are getting to know each other. I think that is really what Dslave was getting at.

I have seen a lot of disrespectful behaviour from both Doms and subs on the internet and I am relatively new to the online scene. I have seen Doms who rail at people when they aren't called Sir (and promptly shouted down fortunately) but I have also seen subs run around calling everyone Master and Mistress which I find equally disrespectful. I met a sub recently who said she was once admonished upon entering a chatroom because she simply said hello and didn't perform some kind of foolish obeisances to all and sundry. I guess that's why I love these forums so much. Everyone here seems to be so wonderful and sensible. Can you feel the love

Jason