TAKE MY HAND - Awareness and Respect
Gerrys Pups / Take my Help / Hand
That was the name of the first project, which was given several names over time. Roughly speaking, it could be described as an ‘online advice column’ where people came to me for advice on life situations. Even though others might consider the project ‘unsuccessful,’ there were some people who used it. So for me, it was very successful.AWARENESS & RESPECT
This project was launched in 2024. Its primary aim was to highlight injustices in the queer community through the experiences of its members. Although this project did not receive many contributions, I still considered it a success. Both projects succeeded in encouraging people to reflect on the issues.This project is a shared platform for visibility, exchange, and support within the pet play, fetish, and queer communities. It combines personal stories with thoughtful analysis and an accompanying advice column. It is not intended as a self-help programme, but rather as a space for awareness, responsibility, and honest discussion.
The focus is on experiences, feelings and situations that have burdened, hurt or excluded people within the community. Not the sensational, but what sticks in the mind. What often remains in the mind or body for years. Stories about boundary violations, invisibility, shame, illness, exclusion or disrespect – regardless of whether they are current or long past.
Thematically, the project covers, among other things:
- Psych Illness
- Respectlessness
- Questionable things that have caused you discomfort
- Verbal / Psych / Physical abuse
- be marginalised
- Discrimination/shaming of any kind (kink, gear, age, body, etc.)
- Disabilities
- Depressions
- Physical illness
- Not being taken seriously
Similar or identical topics may also be addressed multiple times. People experience situations differently, and it is precisely these differences that should be made visible.
In addition to the stories, the same project includes a regular column where readers can ask for advice anonymously or openly. Many problems affect more than just one person, which is why selected questions are published and answered below. Depending on the reader's preference, either an anonymous reference or an abbreviated first name with location/state, country and age is published, e.g. ‘G from Berlin, 31, wrote: ...’. If desired, the full first name can also be given.
My answers are based on life experience, observation and reflection – not on therapeutic or medical training. I am not a trained psychologist or doctor. Issues that require specialist medical or psychological advice are not dealt with publicly. In such cases, I will respond directly by email without publishing the question.
To ensure that this platform does not become a pillory, a space for voyeurism or a place for personal vendettas, clear guidelines apply to all submitted texts:
Guidelines
- No outcalling
- It is not desirable for the names of perpetrators who may have bullied or discriminated against others to be made public.
- No person describings
- Look above
- No NSFW content
- Your text should contain a minimum of 300 words.
- With less, it may happen that the feeling you want to convey does not come across.
- Each person may submit as many stories as they wish. However, only one story per topic (e.g. one story on kinkshaming, one on age shaming, and so on).
- If anyone thinks that there should be two stories on the same topic by the same person, that person is of course welcome to write to me and we will see how we can resolve the issue.
- Even if a topic has already been covered (e.g. autism in the community), but someone else would like to write something about it, they are very welcome to do so.
Everyone perceives situations and actions differently. Therefore, it is highly desirable for several people to contribute a story on a particular topic.
The form and the consequences
As mentioned above, you will find the form at the end of this blog. It contains the following fields and explains why they are required. Any data marked with ‘DP’ will not be published or stored outside of the intended purpose:- Name (who are you) (mandatory) (DP) Naturally, I want to know whose story I am publishing.
- Email address (mandatory) (DP) Of course, I also need to be able to communicate with you.
- Would you like your story to be published anonymously? (Yes/No) (mandatory) This is particularly important, as I want to protect your privacy.
- If no: Under what name should the story be published? (Optional, but should be filled in if you select ‘no’ for anonymity.)
- Would you like to provide me with a photo for the topic starter? (Optional) This depends, of course, on whether you want to remain anonymous or not. If so, then this question is obviously absurd. I need the image for the post starter, as you can see in the example above this post.
- Your story (mandatory) You can find the input field for your story here
- Important information (mandatory) You must agree to these terms in order to submit your story. They are as follows:
- You are aware that this is not a self-help project. All tips and advice from me or in the comments are provided to the best of the respective author's knowledge and belief.
- Du versicherst, dass deine Geschichte der Warheit entspricht.
- Your data will only be used within the scope of the AWARENESS & RESPECT project, anonymised if you wish.
- Eine Datenweitergabe (Persönl. Daten und E-Mail-Adressen) an Dritte wird komplett ausgeschlossen.
- Sobald deine Geschichte veröffentlicht wurde, kann diese zu keiner Zeit zurückgefordert werden. Auch eine nachträgliche Löschung ist nicht möglich.
- Es besteht kein Recht deinerseits und keine Pflicht meinerseits, deine Geschichte zu veröffentlichen.
- Eine nachträgliche Anonymisierung der persönlichen Daten (Name, Foto) ist jederzeit möglich. Bitte nutze dafür das Kontaktformular auf der Take-My-Hand-Startseite.
- GDPR – Declaration (mandatory) Because I have to.
All submissions will be reviewed prior to publication. I will make stylistic corrections to avoid gross errors and to protect the privacy of contributors. If changes to content or censorship are necessary, I will consult with the contributor. For each published contribution, I will share my own impressions, clearly separated from the submitted text.
The aim of this project is to raise awareness of how differently people feel and perceive things. What may be insignificant to one person can be existential to another. It is not about assigning blame, but about responsibility, reflection and respect. It is about shades of grey instead of black-and-white thinking. It is about community as something that must be actively shaped.
If this project helps people to question their behaviour, stand up for themselves or others, or interact with each other more consciously, then it has served its purpose. I also want to learn from these stories. No one is flawless, no one is invulnerable, no one is permanently strong.
This project is intended to be a space where it is permissible to say:
I am here. That is how I feel. And that is what matters.
