I just want to thank everyone for taking the time to write and share your kind words and experience. After reading my original post I was suprised I didn't catch more verbal abuse for my misspellings and grammar but you all were very nice. I can see how one could get turned on by verbal abuse by your postings, but for me, it did the exact opposite. I turned inward and got numb . I felt so low I wanted to crawl under a rock and disappear. Maybe it's my disposition and over sensitivity and disliking certain things about myself that hearing them, all of them, and some new ones brought me back to some ugly times in life that have nothing to do with "fun". But it was a learining experience and as they say if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. Mistress Tran --thank you so much for your post. I also enjoy the playful exchange of power you described. I love submitting to beautiful women like yourself it's a real turn on. And sometimes there is a fine line between what is fun and play and what is not. You really put it elegantly , " finding pleasure in the control that is gained through truly understanding a subs wants and desires." Also like yourself I don't believe there was any intention by the Mistress to hurt me that deeply. Obviously, by the postings many enjoy this kind of verbal abuse.And when I told her I wished to stop she was kind and asked if I was ok and asked if I wanted to talk. At that time I touched on it briefly but I really didn't want to, I wanted to run. But all in all this was a learning experience to grow on. You were all very cool in responding and thank you so much. And Patches if there is a way to e-mail me on here I would love to hear your story. And hopefully after licking my wounds some more and some intense psycho-therapy (kidding) I will be able to return to the Fortress someday if they will have me. Until then best wishes --thanks Sean