When I got into the petplay fetish, I was a military pup. With uniform and gear. My greatest preference is the full-gear soldier.
Since many locations don’t have enough space, the fetish is often reduced to just the uniform with field pants and field jacket. That’s why for years I attended many CSDs and meetups in uniform, ranging from CCE to AT Digital or Multicam.
It didn’t bother others either. On the contrary: they found it interesting.
But since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, behavior has changed. When I posted a picture of myself wearing a Mandra Night uniform (Mandra Night has no nation), I was politely asked in the group not to come to the regulars’ table in uniform, as it might unsettle him and others. A discussion broke out, and it was decided to avoid each other at the meetup.
However, this person approached me personally and asked which side I was on. When I replied that this topic had no place at the meeting, I received the following answer: You’re wearing a uniform. You remind us of the war.
Weeks later, I received many hateful messages and comments on Instagram about the pictures. People couldn’t believe that someone would bring a fetish into things during a war in the EU. What disappointed me most was that people commented who had accepted everything without issue before the war.
I’m not alone in this. Other military pups I knew had similar problems. In the end, many switched from military to MX.
But is that the solution? Do you have to change your fetish just because others wage war? Do uniform puppies now have to hold their meetups in basements so no one can see them?
First of all: I can understand the background of the criticism of uniform fetishes in times like these to a certain extent. But the question I ask myself is whether we should now align our fetishes with the current political situation.
Let me throw a rather drastic thought experiment into the room: there are a huge number of MX fetishists out there. What if a mass murderer in MX gear killed 100 people somewhere? Would we then ban MX gear at meetups?
You could continue this example with any uniform fetish or any other fetish. Of course, some fetishes are not exactly predestined for this. But as I said, it’s just an example.
I’d like to quote a commenter from a few weeks ago: We don’t choose our fetish—the fetish chooses us. That does not mean that just because I have, for example, a camouflage uniform fetish, I want to run around shooting real weapons.
War is something terrible. What is happening in the east of the EU is cruel, and I don’t even want to imagine what it’s like to have to flee your homeland. But in general—and this is my personal opinion—fetish should never be linked to war.
Fetish does the opposite. Fetish brings people of all kinds together. It helps people find a sense of satisfaction within themselves that they didn’t expect.
War, on the other hand, separates people. It destroys people, cities, and entire countries. Condemn war and those who wage it. But don’t condemn a fetishist for their fetish. Because the uniform a fetishist wears has usually never seen real combat, and I believe most fetishists have no intention of ever seriously going to war.
However, if toy weapons (or weapon replicas that are not capable of firing) are part of an outfit, I generally argue that they should always—regardless of war or not—be left at home. Weapons like that, for example, make me anxious.
As a matter of principle, respect every fetish. Fetish is not politics. Fetish is a passion!
Gerry
P.S.: One more small jab at the uniform critics: why does it bother you specifically now during the Ukraine war? Because it’s so close? Wars have been raging around the world for decades and have cost countless lives. If you condemn, then condemn all wars in this world.
1 shine on „A&R – 5: Uniform? AbEr DoCh NiChT jEtZt!!! (Aiko)“
Lieber Aiko,
Danke für deinen Beitrag. Es ist ein wichtiger Punkt, der unbedingt angesprochen werden muss.
Ja ich verstehe natürlich die Bedenken gegen diverse Fetische bzw. diverse Teilbereiche davon und habe hier selbst ab und an welche. Gerade wenn man im Skin Outfit, Springerstiefel und Bomberjacke übern CSD läuft. Aber ich bin der letzte, der irgendwem seine Art und Form den Fetisch auszuleben anspricht.
Lächerlich finde ich es nur, wie die Leute über die du schreibst reagieren. Nie stört es sie, aber dann is Krieg hier in der Nähe und schon sollst du dich anpassen. Absolute Heuchler die nicht weiter denken können als ihr eigenes Ego reicht.
Bleib stark und lass dir von denen nichts absprechen.
LG Suri