After a great deal of careful thought, I have grave disquiet and serious concerns, and feel it important to bring to the attention of the organisers of “Alert” (and the membership) an incident which occurred at last Friday’s event 28th November. I only learned about this incident after the event, and would have addressed the matter with the person concerned, and the organisers, if I had known about it at the time.

One of my subs had expressed one of his fantasies to me - that he be taken to an S/M, leather or fetish club as a dog, that he wanted to be in a collar and leash, hooded and on all fours for the night. After full discussion about the implications of this and what would be required, especially in terms of his safety and well-being, and my responsibilities for that safety, and my trying to ensure that the experience would be as pleasurable as possible for him (whatever form that pleasure takes) we went to “Alert”.

At one point I was leading him through the downstairs “disco” bar, trying to ensure that the way was clear for him to come through because he was on all fours, and hooded with limited vision. I now know that whilst going through, he was kicked on the arse by someone.

This was a non-consensual, non-invited or negotiated assault on him. This indicates to me that the person who did this has no proper understanding of S/M. fetish etc. It is supposed to be about safe, sane and consensual, and to have respect for others’ preferences, even if they may not be to our own tastes, and as long as they have been properly negotiated with those concerned.

Having been engaged in S/M, fetish etc for nearly 30 years (and taught by many experienced Masters, subs etc like S/M Gays), I think, certainly hope, that I have a very good understanding of what this is ultimately about, so am more than happy to kick a sub (and more) if that is what he really wants, and it has been negotiated and agreed.

And with that (and this is the counter argument to the one that it is the sub who is really in control), I know that I have the ultimate control as Master. That if the sub is fully under my control, tied up etc, then I can choose to do whatever I want - to override the boundaries and limits, the negotiated parameters, And I fully understand the power of that moment, and choose to control MYSELF. That, I suggest, is about ultimate power, control and responsibility.

So to the person that kicked my dog, I suggest you need to look, very carefully at your behaviour. You went over the boundary. If you are who I suspect you are, then I have already heard many stories about things you have done. I also suggest to those who were with this person on Friday night, that, if he is prepared to carry out an action like this on someone unknown in “public”, what might he be prepared to do, perhaps to you, in private?

So, to the one who did it, are you “man enough” to apologise to my dog, me, organisers and the members of “Alert” for what you did?

Oh, and wearing leather, “fetish” gear etc does not make you a “man”, Master, sub etc, or give you proper understanding of these things (the clothing, or lack of it, is supposed to be symbolic), as having a wooden leg does not make you a table. It is about the right attitude and full understanding of the dynamics and psychology, especially your own.

I also suggest to the organisers that if this sort of non-consensual activity is allowed to continue, then there could be very serious consequences, not least the closure of the night.

Master Andrew