Jezebel 
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New York, 9:24 AM
Tue Dec 15
69 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/26/09
The men in positions of power (there are no women who hold the priesthood) bare more than religious swords over their followers heads. They control the economic, emotional, and social power from birth until death. This is a system of abuse from start to finish.
Jessop is part of that system and indeed, a family, of patriarchs that practice extreme control over others, and will not hesitate to inflict violence and death for subversion (blood atonement). Whether or not he is guilty of this particular charge or set of charges, the pattern is clear, and traceable for about 100 years, with escalation in the past 30 or so. I hope he, and the others, are convicted and that it brings a spotlight bright as the sun upon the 'Yearning for Zion' compound and other FLDS strongholds.
I wish I wasn't so angry about this. I've lived my life in the two states most accepting of FLDS practices, and I'm infuriated that these state governments do nothing but turn a blind eye to what is happening. I understand that they go after charges they think they can win, but it still really gets me riled up. Clearly I'll never sit on a jury in one of these cases. #fdls
10/26/09
10/26/09
that being said, i hope these guys get whats coming to them, because they disgust me. #fdls
10/26/09
Perhaps we are not providing what our founders expected in the constitution, but considering they had no problem trying women and blacks in front of juries made completely of white men, I doubt they would complain. #fdls
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If it is financially viable and all parties are amenable, I don't see the point of making polygamy (as encompassing both polygyny and polyandry) illegal. #fdls
10/26/09
10/26/09
I think by legalizing polygamy and encouraging people to get marriage licenses from the country/state, you could eliminate some of the problems because there's a way to track these relationships and determine who is responsible for whom.
Marriage in a legal context isn't about sex, its about determining who has what rights and responsibilities towards another. People can have polyamourous relationships, but this isn't really what its about. #fdls
10/26/09
10/26/09
But then, wouldn't polygamy as a whole being illegal make it so that issue is somewhat ignored? It's just, "oh, that's an illegal type of marriage," and not, "this woman was not given another choice". #fdls
10/26/09
I know "Big Love" makes it seem like polygamists are basically standard-issue, suburban Relief Society ladies with interesting personal lives, but the majority of cases (like the FLDS in Hilldale/Colorado City) are more like Nikki's family on the compound.
Not that there aren't consenting adults making it work in the suburbs like the Henricksons, but that's not what we're dealing with most of the time. #fdls
10/27/09
You can have amenable parties even if young men are expelled from the community.
Unfortunately, I think you're right in that these practices limit choice and in many cases amount to coercision. #fdls
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I know that New Hampshire and Texas are the same nation politically speaking, but there are obviously other rules governing the limits and borders of different social and communital behaviours than the national borders on a map. This raises much bigger issues regarding the ability of a generalised notion of national values to have any realistic arbitration over, or relation to, a body of people who belong to diverse communities.
I'm just paying devil's advocate... according to MY moral codes, these allegations, if true, are abhorrant. #fdls
10/26/09
10/26/09
I may be making one of those things up, but yes, the Lone Star State prides itself on being "tough on crime." As well as tough on those whoring teenagers who don't listen when their health teacher tells them not to have sex before marriage. #fdls
10/26/09
10/15/09
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10/15/09
If, as a dom, you stop the scene before the sub says so, it seems like you would be taking away that power and making them into complete submissives - denying them any real control and saying you don't trust their judgment. #soniasotomayor
10/15/09
10/15/09
And I just haven't found that the sub holds all the power in reality.... not in some really complex, entrenched dynamics. sometimes something like Stockholm Syndrome sets in or the sub feels so emotionally and financially dependent that they agree to actions they find violating. I don't do live-in type stuff but I've known people who have live-in naked slaves with no money or power of their own. It's pretty hard for a slave like that, if their masters get unethical, to reclaim their independence with a snap of their fingers.
Also as a domme, I have the right to say what I get involved in. Just because someone wants me to inflict a certain level of abuse doesn't mean that I'm obligated to provide it, if I feel the scene is making me uncomfortable. Consent goes both ways. #soniasotomayor
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that's what i was wondering - do you know what the appellate issue is? #soniasotomayor
10/15/09
ETA: the lower court already ruled in defendants favor and remanded the case. I just read the opinion and I really don't think the government has a good case, I'm surprised the Court chose to hear this case, unless they have something new and interesting to say about ex-post facto. which, maybe.
10/15/09
10/15/09
I think this is just one of the risks you assume when you engage in S &M type activity.
10/15/09
But I'm confused by how this kind of consent is "acceptable" for S&M purposes. And also, as a person who wants to reverse the consent burden onto the aggressor/dom, I don't know how comfortable I am with safe words anyway. Why should the onus be on the sub? #soniasotomayor
10/15/09
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However, for her role in this to be under such a thing is dubious as fuck. That's why I'd be interested in seeing this "contract". Is it just something that clears him of liability under very circumstances (not injury), or is it something with a standard non-compete clause, or is this some fucked up indentured servitude kind of shit? I think there's a lot up in the air.
I do understand though that if there are repercussions for the submissive of any kind, even standard ones like a non-compete clause, in this "employment contract" it's going into abuse territory. I would understand how a contract might protect both parties in such a situation (I mean maybe, I don't know enough about contract law) but repercussions for the sub in any kind of contract is going way too far.
I hope this isn't coming across as victim-blaming in any way, I think this whole situation has so much potential for abuse and it would be beneficial if the law provided some guidance on how to protect all parties. #soniasotomayor
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Also, I don't know much about S&M sex play, but actually carving someone's skin with a knife seems excessively extreme. #soniasotomayor
10/15/09
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10/15/09
If she stops the scene, the scene is stopped. No contract will force her to participate further. #soniasotomayor
10/15/09