The paparazzi are everywhere these days. Why is the lady on the left being interrupted in her dressing by a photographer? She must be newsworthy in some way.
Complete the caption by leaving a comment, and I will publish your headlines before brunch on Saturday.
How can we encourage more bloggers to participate in Love our Lurkers days? Here's what you said:
Rosco: You and others permit anonymous comments. That works for me. Others may still be more cautious. I really don't want my sexual and spanking interests to be public - and I think most people feel that way.
I am reluctant to give my email address even when someone says they will not post or share it. I suppose I should get another email address for only this purpose, but I am not exactly sure how to do it securely.
"Bottom" line - I suspect lurkers worry anonymity will be compromised.
Alan: I do participate if I have something relevant to say. And it is fun to do so. However I probably would participate more if there was a real dialogue rather than the monologues that are more likely. Maybe it’s the nature of the format but I bet there would be more participation if there was more discussion.
Minielle: Hi Hermione, I think many of us know bloggers who have stopped blogging due to life’s many challenges. I believe some think when they disappear they can’t come back, or they no longer have much to say... I left for a while and wondered if I should stop, but I’m trying again. Maybe having friends reach out...
Wendel: I think all the other social media platforms overshadow blogging. Every
event, TV show, restaurant and product has a Twitter, Facebook and
Instagram link. You never here the local news anchor say: "Follow us on
Blogger". Walmart: "Check out all the holiday bargains on Blogger". The
other thing is that all the newer platforms are more real-time. People
get alerts on the phone when someone makes a quick comment and they can
immediately comment back. Fast and furious. Most probably think of
Lurking as a Facebook thing now.
Some sort of advertisement on the other social media platforms would help remind people Blogging is still around.
KDPierre: You specifically asked about LOL participation but the comments reveal
an interest in overall blog participation in general. Two separate
issues I believe. The latter is complex and I might actually do a full
post on it since it would take too much space here to properly cover it
all. But as to your main question, I think the answer is as simple as
asking if ANYONE has ever benefitted long-term from LOL-Day
participation?
For me it HAS both in years past and this year as
well......but NOT in the spirit that LOL is intended. I have never
gotten a lurker to convert to becoming a participant past LOL day
itself. What I HAVE gotten.....repeatedly.....is exposure to other
active bloggers who 'discover' my blog from LOL-Day exposure and stick
around. And that to me is very telling. Lurkers are by their nature
lurkers. Bloggers are by their nature active participants. Neither seem
inclined to change.
So LOL-Day might better be called: "Here are
some good blogs you might have missed"-Day and be targeted to fellow
bloggers. As you know I have long since given up on "lurkers". I know
others have as well because they have told me so. Pursuing lurkers is a
waste of energy, but pursuing other bloggers seems to be much more
rewarding.
I think if past LOL participants saw LOL-days result
in converted lurkers, you would not have seen the drop-off in
participants. But I'd be VERY curious to hear from ANYONE who has
actually had a lurker make such a transition and become an active
commenter aa a result of LOL-Day.
So if more participation is the
goal, perhaps the concept should change from a futile attempt to
convert lurkers to participants to a day where blogs interconnect to
boost exposure among those of us who care to comment.
Lastly, I
would also say that MAYBE the conversion goal of LOL-Day might be better
achieved a different way: by example. We have a pretty tight community.
I'm sure there are a lot of us who recognize each other's names from
comments on other blogs and a lot of us have long lists of blogs posted
on our own. But how many of us non-lurkers make the effort to regularly
comment on each other's blogs? I know some do, some don't and I myself
try but don't always cross-participate as often as I probably should. So
what does our own behavior tell a lurker? Maybe if comments were flying
about freely and were scintillating and in-depth rather than brief
phrases of praise, we would appear to be an enviable salon party where
others would be eager to want to get in on the action? We bloggers can't
be semi-lurkers ourselves and then try to lecture true lurkers to
behave better. It's like a smoking parent telling their kid not to
smoke.
Roz: A great question Hermione and some interesting comments above. I really
don't know but I do also wonder if blogger just isn't the preferred
platform nowdays. I also think many bloggers drop off due to life
changes or don't feel they have much to say. In this case I think they
would be less likely to encourage lurkers to de-lurk.
The above
are the main reasons I don't post now, but I always enjoy keeping in
touch with everyone and visiting their blogs. I have made such amazing
friendships from blogging. Perhaps that fact should be promoted more?
PK: We see spanking pictures from more than 100 years ago and I have no
doubt there will still be interest in another 100 years so we know
that’s not it. I think young people see blogging as old fashioned just as
they are beginning to see facebook – it’s something that their parents
do. But I don’t like the new mediums where your words are limited. But,
maybe we should ‘advertise’ out blogs there. Put something on twitter or
Instagram when we have a good spanking post up to try to lure them
over. That is if I can figure out how.
For older folks (like many
of us) I wish we could stress the safety. I was so scared of being
‘outed’ in the beginning. And it’s just not an issue. Everyone is in the
same boat, and hopefully they know that those of us who have been here
for more than a decade wouldn’t have stayed if there was danger and
wouldn’t have lasted if we’d BEEN a danger. I also wish we could stress
the friendships that can develop. That was what got me – making new,
close friendships in my fifties. I was amazed and thrilled.
Glenmoretales: Quite frankly, the reason my blog does not participate is that it is not worth my time.
I
have no time for lurkers who stop by regularly to enjoy blog content
but are too lazy or inconsiderate to leave a comment or a word of
appreciation. Lurkers are nothing more than freeloaders and I see no valid reason to reach out to them as they will never change.
Like KD I may make my blog private by invitation only so that only appreciative people stop by the blog. I would say LOL is a concept that is past its time.
Bonnie: One word: Twitter. Microblogs are blogs and there are more now than
ever. These are spankos and they are bloggers. I suggest it might be
time to join their community as we invite them to become part of ours.
It's not an either-or proposition. Bloggers like Erica have sustained
great success by advertising her Wordpress posts using pinned tweets.
After
saying all that, I have to admit that I have no Twitter account. So
that makes me a major lurker. I will guess that there are great many
more Twitter lurkers. In preparation for LoL XVI, perhaps we engage
with friends on that platform and invite them join the festivities.
Prefectdt: A lot of bloggers don't seem to be as interactive with other bloggers,
as they used to be when I first started blogging. Perhaps a lot of blogs
did not participate simply because they did not realize that the event
was going on.
To email all potential participants must have been a
gargantuan task and I don't know how Bonnie used to manage that and I
do not think that it would be the best way to get the message out now.
Perhaps,
when you announce LOL day, the regular participants here could try
commenting on potential participants' blogs from bloggers that might not
visit this blog much. A simple message of what LOL day is, when it is
happening and ask if they might be prepared to participate. If enough of
your regular visitors here do that we could raise awareness amongst a
lot more blogs.
I would be happy to lend a helping keyboard.
Hermione: I took a look at Bonnie's first Love our Lurkers event, and out of 43 bloggers who participated, five of those blogs still exist, and only one is active now. There was more of a sense of community back then, which is what drew me to becoming a blogger myself. Bloggers would hold virtual surprise parties, and everyone would join in. That sense of community has diminished as other platforms have become popular.
Thank you all for your observations and suggestions. You have given me much food for thought.
Welcome everyone, to another spanko brunch. Two weeks ago we had fun welcoming lurkers to our blogs. While the bloggers who joined in had a good time and received numerous comments from their silent readers, I noticed that participation has sadly declined ever the years. This could be for several reasons: bloggers are moving on to other platforms like Twitter; general interest in spanking is decreasing (no, that can't be right!); people are too preoccupied with a world turned upside down by covid. Can we reverse this decline? Ronnie and I have been wracking our brains for a solution, and now we need your help.
How can we encourage more bloggers to participate in Love our Lurkers days? What can we do to reach out to those who may not be aware of LoL? Are there changes we need to make in order to entice more participants? All suggestions are welcome.
Please leave your feedback as a comment, and I will publish a summary of our conversation once everyone has put their thinking caps on and made their suggestions.
Yesterday Ron asked me to give him a haircut. That surprised me because his barber has resumed operation and Ron went for a haircut two months ago. But the barbershop is a tiny mom and pop place, with mom the hairdresser and pop the barber, and Ron thought the covid precautions weren't all they should be. So I eagerly grabbed my sewing scissors and a comb and got to work. I actually enjoyed it, since it was my third time and I felt confident. I reserved the clippers for neckline cleanup, and maybe I was a little too enthusiastic, but oh well, it will grow back.
I think I did a pretty good job, unlike these bad haircuts.
Stay safe!
Not what you expected?SLIPPERED
"Right, Lewis. Where were you yesterday?"
She fidgeted and cast her eyes down. She knew she had been rumbled. Her hands nervously twitched the hem of her short blue skirt. It had seemed a bit of fun to take the day off school and just lie around doing nothing. Particularly as it was double Maths. But she also knew there would be a reckoning. Knew it because the school had phoned her Mum at work to find out where Karen was. Of course when her Mum had got home there had been a lot of shouting and early bed-time, but Karen knew that was only the start. She knew she would have to face the Headmaster in the morning.
And so the appointed hour of 9 o'clock came. And here she was stood in front of him, in his office. Her blonde hair glinted in the light reflecting through the window. Her blues eyes glistened as tears of shame fought to escape, despite her wishes.
She had no answer.
"I think we both know where you were. You know of course I have spoken to your mother?"
She nodded, her eyes still downcast.
"She has agreed that I shall punish you severely. I cannot allow this behaviour to become the norm in this school. Such behaviour must be clamped down upon."
The fidgeting became more pronounced and one little tear managed to escape down her cheek.
"I propose that you will be slippered."
She looked up in shock. Surely not?
"And to ensure that the message gets home to others, I shall do it in front of a specially convened assembly this morning. You will be slippered in front of the whole school. Now get out and you will be called when it is time."
How she got through the door she later couldn't remember. She was in a state of shock. She had only been at the school a few months, having moved to the area, and so she had no idea that such punishments were meted out.
And in front of the whole school too! She had only heard of the slipper being used once, in junior school, when a couple of the lads had been sent to the Headmistress for fighting. They had returned to class red-faced and sat gingerly back in their desks. Red-faced, and red-cheeked. They showed everyone their marks at breaktime. Bright glowing, red bottoms. They told proudly and bravely how they had had to take their pants down, bend over the desk one after the other, watching each other get it, while the Headmistress had given them a mighty six on each cheek, totally bare – twelve in all. Karen had never considered that girls would be slippered, nor that she would be the one suffering it. But surely girls wouldn't have to do that pants dropping, would they? Sixth form girls wouldn't have to bare their bottoms, would they? Not in front of the whole school. Would they?
Her friends Sue and Donna approached.
"Well, what's the verdict?"
"I'm going to be slippered." The tears now were in full flow. Sue put her arm round her.
"Oh God, that's awful. But why didn't he just do it there and then?"
"Because he's going to call a special assembly. He's going to do it in front of everyone."
The two friends gasped. Their eyes widened and Donna added her arm as support too.
Karen was full of questions.
"How does he… I mean how will I... What does he...?"
Sue blushed a little.
"It's very rare for a girl to be slippered, and I only remember two other times when it was done to a girl in front of everyone. We have an agreement that we don't mention it in any way afterwards. It's so embarrassing that it's best not to even think about it. Just accept it, and we won't mention it. It's the best way to get through it."
"But – can I just ask? When he said in front of everyone, he doesn't mean in front of the boys too, does he? They won't be watching, will they?" The desperation in her voice was intense.
"Well, I said we don't talk about it, but I suppose you need to know. Yes, it's in front of the whole school, first form to sixth form. Girls and boys. All will be watching. To be honest the boys like it if it's a girl being slippered. They like to see the humiliation."
"But how will he...?"
Sue held up her hand.
"No. It's better not to think about it. But a word of advice. When he tells you to take them off, then just do it with as much dignity as you can. Of course everyone, including the lads, will see, but just maintain your dignity. Try to keep whatever pride you can."
Karen's worst fears were confirmed. She remembered the two boys in junior school. She remembered what she saw, and shook.
The bell rang for lessons to start, and they made their way to class.
Karen's head was in a whirl. This was far worse than she had expected. And all the lads would be watching. Even Johnny Parker. Well, he was going to have a treat. Maybe he would be nice to her afterwards, feel sorry for her, maybe even rub it better… No. Get those thoughts out of your head. This is going to be awful.
The clock ticked by and at 10:45 the teacher announcer they were all to proceed to the hall, for a "special assembly".
"And Karen – can you go to the Headmaster's office, please"
Her feet felt like lead as she made her way along the corridor. She did a mental check. Luckily she had put clean knickers on that day. Nice bright white ones. Not that they would be party to the proceedings, if she understood correctly. Which way would she be facing? With her face towards the whole school, so everyone would see her expressions and her tears and her anguish, or the other end pointing towards the school, so everyone would see... would see her… would see her bum…? The idea was of course humiliation, to warn others off, there could only be one answer. Everyone would see everything that went on. Every girl in the school. Every boy in the school. They would all clearly see her being punished in a most humiliating manner. She trembled slightly.
She arived at his office and without a word he gestured for her to follow him to the Hall, and they both entered the back of the stage. There was a sea of faces, 864 of them, roughly half boys half girls. Number 865 looked anxiously out at them. Boys, girls, female teachers, male teachers. Mr "pervy" Dawson had made sure he got a good view. He would! And was that the caretaker right at the back?
The Head signalled she should wait at the side of the stage.
"When I call you to the centre of the stage you will take your position and when I tell you to take them off I shall expect you to do it straightaway. No delay. We will get this over as quickly as possible. Do you understand?"
She nodded, her mind a whirl and numb at the same time. He strode out to the centre of the stage.
"It is my terrible duty to inform you that a sixth form girl, Karen Lewis, decided to play truant yesterday. You are all, I hope, aware that this is viewed as one of the most serious offences in this school. And therefore one which must be dealt with most severely. Karen Lewis will be slippered in front of you all, as a warning to everybody."
There was a growing hubbub amongst the throng. Some of the boys shuffled in their seats to get a better view. At least that could be one reason why they shuffled in their seats.
"Step forward, Lewis."
She walked slowly to the centre of the stage. All the time her head was full of questions.
How far down should she pull them? Just enough to expose the target, or down to her knees, or right to her ankles? He'd said 'take them off'. Did that mean she had to take them completely off?
Should she hold up her skirt to keep it in place? Making sure everyone gets a good view. Oh God!
How far should she bend over? Just a slight incline, or hands on knees, or touching toes with absolutely everything on show? Everything!
She stood in front of him. Feeling every eye on her. She realised without knowing that she was stood facing him, facing the back of the stage, with her back fully towards the audience. Was that his plan, or had she subconsciously complied?
"Right, Miss Lewis. Take... your... shoes... off." His words were spaced and precise.
Karen paused, puzzled. The Headmaster hissed quietly.
"I told you to do it when told."
She nodded and bent down quickly to unfasten the straps of her shoes, and in doing so her short skirt rode up giving a display to the whole school. Her clean white pants were fully on show to anyone who cared to look. And all the boys, and all the male teachers, and the caretaker, all cared to look. She stood up, her feet clad in just the white knee high socks.
"Mrs Davies."
The deputy Head strode purposefully from the side of the stage, holding a box.
Why is the slipper stored in a ceremonial box? Karen now was confused. This really is a formal occasion. Full of theatre pour encourager les autres.
The Head opened the box and withdrew two bright red slippers, ordinary household slippers. With white faux-fur and the words "Naughty Girl" emblazoned upon them in gold glittery letters.
"Right. Put these on."
Confused she bent down to comply, once again giving the whole school, and particularly the boys, and particularly Johnny, another bright white eyeful.
"Right, girl you will wear these for the next two days, so that everyone can see how wicked you have been."
Karen's cheeks glowed red with the embarrassment. She understood now why no-one ever mentioned it. Being 'slippered' was an awful punishment for a girl her age.
The humiliation was complete. The shame glowed. The embarrassment severe. She could now see everyone in the school giggling and sniggering, pointing, whispering to each other.
Oh how easy it would have been just to hitch up her skirt, drop her knicks, bend right over, and get six, or even a dozen, of the very best, in front of everyone, with her pert bum on display. Even on display to the boys. And the teachers. Yes, even to the caretaker. That could be lived with, and even maybe laughed at sometime later. But this? This was inhumane.
She made a vow she would never, ever, be slippered again.
What do you think about during a spanking, and how does the person wielding the paddle help with focus?
Rosco: Mostly when Irene spanks me it’s for some imaginary offense, related to
peeking up girls’ skirts, surreptitiously smelling worn panties or
similar forms of puerile behavior. She’s lecturing me all the while and I
soak it all in as if it were real. It’s an other-worldly experience in
some ways.
Sometimes I’ll also complain or misbehave during a spanking, just to be sure it doesn’t end all too soon.
Bonnie: I'm sorry to respond, "It depends," but it does depend upon the nature of the spanking and my headspace. For example, if I am getting a fun or sexy spanking, I might be planning my next wisecracking retorts. If Randy is trying to deliver a message, I am more likely to pay attention to his words and the manner in which he punctuates them. There are more shades in between and he sometimes changes the tone midway through. Most of the time, we are in sync, but when we aren't, the results can be pretty funny.
Baxter: I am 99% always the spankee and I am concentrating on the fire that is erupting on my bottom and counting how many spanks I have received. While painful, I also realize I asked for the spanking and trying very hard to soak in the enjoyment of it, as all too soon, it will be over.
Joe: When my spankings start I am always thankful that my wife is willing to do this for me. As the spanking progresses, if it is a sexy spanking I am fantasizing about different things which we will talk about later. If a hard spanking I am not thinking about anything else. I totally clear my mind.
Roz: It depends for me. At the start of the spanking my focus is on the spanking itself and Rick's words. However, depending on the reason for the spanking, intensity, duration etc my mind may begin to wander.
Prefectdt: At the start of the spanking I am usually focused on the pain and wondering why I do this, as it f(censored)g hurts. Then I become focused on self control, breathing and mentally processing the pain. Then my focus starts to drift and is all over the place and I get locked into being controlled by the spanker and wishing that the spanking will never end.
Jack: I think about just having the spanking over, especially when my mother-in-law is visiting and enjoying seeing me over her daughter's lap.
Barrel: Initially, I try to corral my butterflies to the realization that, yep, I’m about to get spanked. Thereafter, like Perfectdt, I am processing the initial waves of stinging pain, and wondering why I crave this treatment. But then I focus on controlling my breathing being sure not to hold my breath. I, too, count strokes as my wife generally delivers them in groups of 20, so I generally have an idea when I may get a break. This may sound crazy but I try to think about letting the pain in, and trying to relax. With one of our extended sessions where I am secured over the bench at the bottom of our bed, I just process the last stroke and prepare for the next, knowing there will be a lot.
Ronnie: Similar to Bonnie. Depends on the spanking I'm receiving. Fun spankings, I throw in a few funny wisecracks. If a serious spanking, then I have to concentrate on P's words very carefully and make sure I answer his questions.
Hermione: Mostly I think about the pain, if one of the harsher implements is being used. Otherwise, my mind does tend to wander a bit. I can actually mentally play one of my online video games in bits and pieces. More often, I think about the erotic fun that's sure to follow.
That's all for this week. Until next time, stay safe!
Welcome, one and all, to our weekend brunch. How's your concentration? Can you focus on the job at hand, or are you more of a daydreamer? Let's find out.
If you are the spankee, during the actual spanking, what do you think about or where is your focus? Does your thinking or focus change as the spanking progresses? If you are the spanker, what encouragement do you provide as the spanking progresses to help you partner endure?
Please leave your response as a comment. Once everyone has had a chance to contribute, I will publish an edited summary of our conversation.
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