Beyond the ‘Perfect Dom’ Fantasy

[So****]

I’m not interested in playing the stereotype of the “all-powerful Dom.”

The more I learn, the clearer it gets real dominance isn’t about being untouchable or always right. It’s knowing my limits, owning where I f*ck up, and still choosing to lead with intention.

I don’t need to be perfect to be genuine I would rather be honest, accountable, and fully present with the submissive who chooses to trust me.

I’m curious though for you:

• subs: what actually makes you feel safe and led perfection, or honesty?

• doms/switches: when did you realise being “flawless” was actually getting in the way?

[JackJonesHull]

I was lucky in the respect that when I assumed the role of dom I already understood I was flawed. As a result I've never assumed that I was all powerful and always right.

[Se****]

Honesty, even when it’s ***ful and something they know I won’t want to hear THAT is what makes me feel safe. If you can be honest and true to yourself and show that same honesty to me with compassion and kindness then I know I can trust you with anything. Being really, truly seen, heard and understood is the other thing that makes me feel safe and secure - when you can see through the facade, see the realness of me that scares me at times, when you question my “I’m fine” responses that all compounds my feelings of safety.

I don’t, and never have, want(ed) perfection - it isn’t real. I already see some of your flaws, so quit pretending you have none and give me your authentic self but do it with kindness and compassion

[Da****]

This revelation was a big "aha" on my own journey from just being a cocky kid to a Dominant. I now bake into my rules an assumption that Im gonna get things wrong sometimes. Basically I call it a "Right of first refusal". If any rule ir order is unclear or they believe runs counter to their basic health or safety they may stop the scene to discuss. At that point I have an obligation to take seriously their concerns.

The rule essentially hardwired an explicit breaker into any situation where maybe the order or rule could be interpreted in a way I dont mean or didnt realize. It assumes im going to flub or not always know everything and my partner can hit pause. It acknowledges the fact im human. Cause... I am.

Ive never managed be in a dynamic with someone and NOT had that rule invoked at least once. And it never created conflict. It created trust.

[Ad****]

It's less about perfection, and more about confidence.

[st****]

As a sub, the one relationship I had that made me the happiest, was the man who came to me when he was “weak” . It didn’t happen often, but being able to sense when he was about to break, and being able to be the person he trusted enough to let it out, to cry, to be held, to be taken care of, to be weak, so he could heal , meant everything to me.

I never needed him to be perfectly in control and strong, him having a weakness , and me being able to do that, was a far stronger bond than never showing me who he is.

[Pe****]

As a sub, respect was always what did the most to make me feel safe. My desires, my limits, my safewords, who I am. If you don't respect one of those, how can you be trusted to respect the others or for play in general?
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As a Dom, I've never had an issue with feeling like I need to be flawless. I've always seen myself as flawed and had to work to build self-confidence and the knowledge that I deserve a submissive who respects and wants to be with me, not just one who wants to use me for their own benefit. In my opinion, any dominant who thinks they're perfect and/or flawless is arrogant, prideful, and weak.

[Mo****]

The things that communicate safety:
Frequent check-ins, reading body language (for both sides) and responding or asking clarifying questions, apologizing when you mess up instead of doubling down to appear in control, and building a connection around communication outside of scene.
If I can't trust you enough to be *** when I'm just living life, how am I ever supposed to get into sub-space?