There's a great thread on another message board about use of scene names, and the question came up as to why Master Jim is referred to as "Master Jim" (and why i'm referred to here as "slave marsha"). It's a good question, and i thought you all might want to know the answer.

First of all, Jim and marsha are not really "scene names" -- they're the names "our Momma's gave us." Believe me, i often say that in my next incarnation, i'm picking out a more exciting name for myself!

Master Jim does not permit either of us to use our last names generally in the community, but particularly on the Internet -- Master Jim runs a research center at a university, and i'm a practicing attorney. We have to practice some "identity protection."

Master Jim is addressed by almost everyone in our home community of Dallas (and most places beyond) as "Master Jim" -- and by everyone, i mean, Top, bottom, boy, submissive, slave, Master, Mistress, Dominant, Daddy, alike. Why? Because about 3 years ago, our home community held a ceremony. Master Jim had always said there was one piece of leather He would never purchase for Himself -- His Master's "cover" (hat) that in the older days of the gay leather community signified someone the community recognized as a Master. Several members of the Dallas community purchased a cover for Him, and at a public ceremony in the Inquisition Dallas dungeon, Joseph Bean and the Dallas community conferred the title of "Master" on Master Jim and presented Him with His Master's cover. Members of the community stood and spoke on His behalf, stating that they had watched Him and listened to what He said, and observed how He lived, and that He is, in the community's opinion, a Master, and one worthy of respect.

That's why He generally is known as "Master Jim." He really did earn the title.

As for me... please feel free to call me either marsha or "slave marsha." i do believe "slave" is a title of respect, and so if some feel i earned that title, i'm honored to be called by it. Believe it or not, there are some boys and slaves in the community who address me as "Ma'am" because they feel i am senior to them in the community. There also are some boys and slaves i address as "Sir" or "Ma'am" -- because of their seniority to me in the community.

Hi slave marsha,

Thank you for not being offended at the post on the other thread. That was not my intent, though I was afraid it may come across wrong.

My only experience with someone being called such names as Master and slave are from people who, IMO, just like to hear themselves being called that. Or who demanded that I use the word Master to address them in an opening instant message from a wanna be master. However, I can see that is far from where you two stand. My eyes are open now as to the difference of when, where, why some have titles who deserve it compared to those who self title themselves and why it's perfectly wonderful (respectfully) to have such names.

Thank you for addressing this subject and sharing your thoughts and information. :)

~chris

slave marsha,

you brought up the use of scene names and it triggered a question in my little hamster wheeled brain (lol), that i was wondering if you might answer for me. In my own real life relationship, my Dominate and i are a couple, a child raising, checkbook balancing, car pooling couple. When He needs me to change roles, which i sometimes have to make the effort to go from super-mom to His submissive, He often addresses me with a name that he has given me, to trip that trigger if you will. I was simply wondering if this was a primary reason for scene names, or if it was more for privacy's sake.

Thank you for your time slave marsha. <flowers and kudos to you> ;)

feisty kitty,

i've known people who used scene names for both the reasons you described, and for others as well. For example, i know people who took a "scene name" as part of a ceremony celebrating a milestone in their BDSM life, or because they finally felt comfortable accepting who they are. In the leatherdyke community, women who identify as butch may take a "scene name" that better fits their butch identity. So there's lots of very good reasons someone may choose to use a name different from the one on their driver's license. i'm not one of those people who believe you've got to use your full legal name everywhere or you're not "real."

And thanks for the flowers!

There are different subcultures in , and each one has its own rules. The problem is each culture uses the same terminology, and that's where confusion enters. In some cultures "Master" is a title confered by the community to show seniority. (Could this be comparable to saying one is a master craftsmen?) In other cultures using the word "Master" is a highly personal thing done only the sub or slave of a dominant, and any dominant can have their sub call them Master. It's good to be able to understand this.