So I did some research. I followed players. I observed their actions. I compiled data. What towns do players live in? What music do they listen to? Am I really not alone? I found that I am indeed not alone. After my exhaustive search in bookstores, video stores, music stores, reality offices, meetings, and a host of other places, I came up with the following results. Listed below are common characteristics of us players.

RESIDENCY: During this initial phase, I followed players home from various munches, meetings, and BDSM clubs. In the Northeast, nobody seemed to live in ME for some reason, and most players resided in PA.

Willing, Scarsdale, Rush, Middlesex, Locke, Dix, Eden, Fine, Rose, and Freedom.

Wilder, Mount Holly, and Moretown.

Boys Ranch, Bent, Loving, Gallup, Hope, and of course, Truth or Consequences.

Bow, Stark, Unity, and Freedom.

In PA

Broad Top, Hop Bottom, Manns Choice, Climax, Intercourse, Mount Joy, Defiance, Kane,

Needmore, Palm, Force, Freedom, Keisterville, New Hope, Venus, Laceyville, Paradise, Large,

Goodville, Peach Bottom, Great Bend, Thorndale, Pillow, and Queen.

FAVORITE BANDS: I then followed Subs and Doms to concerts, festivals, and music stores.

Arrogant Worms, Da Brat, Asylum Street Spankers, Tool, Blind Boy Grunt, Open Mind, Blood

Sweat And Tears, Naughty By Nature, Briar Rose, Sublime, Opposites Attract, Disappear Fear,

The Pluck And Squeeze Band, Double Trouble, Queen, Rush, She’s Busy, Four Bitchin’ Babes,

The Four Tops, Simple Gifts, Hand To Mouth, The Snug, The Circle Jerks, Loose Ties, Stay All

Night, Nirvana, Hole, More Power To Your Elbow, Fear Factory, Bare Naked Ladies, Los

Straight Jackets, Naked To The World, Belly, The Queers, Strings And Things, Threshold, Me

First And The Gimee-Gimees, The Well Oiled Sisters, No Strings Attached, The Nudes, and

Wildest Dreams.

FAVORITE ALBUMS: While the players were out having their own fun, I searched through record collections in their homes, and found some consistent tastes.

Strap It On, Hush, Get Nervous, She Screamed, Shock Me, Always Stay Sweet, Are You Ready

For This, I Didn’t Mean It, Seal My Fate, King, I’ll Give You Something To Cry About, Soon

Come Happy, Whore, Infliction, In A Doghouse, Kinky Love, Inconsiderate Bitch, Labor Of

Love, Euphoria, Lovey, Brace Yourself, Lick, Mad Love, On The Mouth, Me Me Me, Mesh And

Lace, Leaves Me Blind, Love’s Easy Tears, Mama Told Me Not To Come, Mistress, Pretty

Deep, Mercy Seat, No Balls, Tattoo You, Nick The Stripper, Queer, and Are You Experienced.

LIKELY MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB IN THE NEUSA: Here I posed as a Forest Ranger, Naturalist, Ridgerunner, Game Warden, and famous mountaineer to ask prying questions regarding their lifestyle and their hiking destinations.

Gothics, Dix Mtn, Mt Bond, Nippletop, Saddleback Mtn, Camels Hump, Mt Isolation, The Bulge,

Scar Ridge, The Cannon Balls, Mt Deception, Rump Mtn, Madonna Peak, Calamity Mtn, Mt

Hunger, Savage Mtn, Saddle Ball Mtn, Saddle Hill, Smarts Mtn, Worth Mtn, Payne Mtn, Knob

Lock Mtn, Chase Mtn, Beaver Mtn, Pete Gay Mtn, Round Top, Rose Mtn, Squaw’s Bosom, Blue

Knob, and Tongue Mtn.

MAGAZINES: Monitoring subscriptions while posing as a magazine selling telemarketer, going through mail boxes, and spying in book stores, I came up with the following list. In their blind search for anything containing BDSM themes many were let down- “Leatherneck” turned out to be the official Marine Corps magazine, and “Methods And Tools” was a software engineering publication. (Sigh….)

Stick It To The Man, Suck, Any Swing Goes, Bad Subjects, Beat Magazine, Bliss!, Challenge

Weekly, Dog Fancy, Outrageous Sex Magazine, Home Canning (turned out to involve mason

jars, not spanking), Electricity, Holy Tit Clamps, Home Power Magazine, Sports Just For

Women, Hot Spot, Romantic Notion, Rumors, Impossible Object, Peeks, Fear, Modest Proposal,

Thrillride!, The Passion, Switch, Mister Lucky, Journal Of Mundane Behavior, Conspire,

Getcrafty, YES Mag, After Dark Magazine, and Blind Spot.

MOVIES: I also took up part time jobs at many video rental stores to record the renting patterns of Masters, Mistresses, and the like. Most forego the adult section for fear of attention.

The Unforgiven, Better Off Dead, Bound, Truth Or Dare, An American Tail, Relax Baby, From

Dusk Till Dawn, As You Like It, Kidnapped, Some Girls Do, Tummy Trouble, Ruthless People,

Never Say Never, Challenge To Be Free, The Nutcracker, Dr. Strangelove, For Your Eyes Only,

Pulse Pounders, Freddy Got Fingered, Crazy/Beautiful, The Closet, Two Can Play That Game,

Psychos In Love, Nightmare In Wax, Fantasies, The Favor, Joy Ride, and Don’t Say A Word.

TRANSPORTATION: Attend any BDSM party, and you’ll most likely find these cars parked out back.

Pose, Social, Beat, Chaser, Delica, Rising Ranger, Fighter, and Probe.

NAMES: Whether trying to remember people’s names at a gathering, or helping them decide what to name their children, these are always the most popular names encountered.

Treasure, Precious, Shirley, Will, Charisma, Joy, Rose, Chastity, Lacey, Destiny, Chase, Passion,

Divine, Ty, Blade, Patience, Reem, Cherish, Abel, and Fanny.

EMPLOYMENT: Ever have a job you just loved? These people do too.

Police Officer- Access to handcuffs, zip ties, jail cell, and uniform to play in.

Mountaineer- Very knot savvy, owns a lot of cord, rope, and harnesses.

Postal Worker- Able to sneak home huge rolls of tape and cellophane.

Sailor/Fisher- Knot savvy, out to sea for extended periods = very exited to come home.

Drug Store Employee- Discounts on lube, condoms, make up, film, and pain killers.

Nurse- Familiar with medical examinations, access to fun toys, uniform.

Yoga Instructor- Positions you never thought were physically possible, padded mats.

Dog Trainer- Has doggie biscuits, leashes, collars, and cages. “Lay down. Beg! Good boy!”

Wholesale Food Seller- Massive quantities of whipped cream, Crisco, honey, bananas, and

chocolate syrup.

BUYING HABITS: A Dominant or Submissive is so easy to pick out of the “normal” crowd at the supermarket. I’ve compiled a list of the top 20 items usually purchased.

Duct Tape Clothesline

Mouse Traps Instant Camera

Ben Gay Dog Collar

Hot Sauce Clothespins

Sandpaper Crazy Glue

Triple Antibiotic Ace Bandages

Pad Lock Candles

Saran Wrap Dog Food

Whipped Cream Cucumbers

Permanent Marker Condoms