Thanks to the World Wide Web, the blogosphere, the Twitter-sphere, the forums, etc., etc., there are a bazillion sources for spanking information out there. And a lot of places where people pose questions. Some blogs are interactive, like this one, and like one of my favorite's, Pixie's. Pixie is very good at coming up with original questions, like her latest about how embarrassment figures into your spanking scene.

A disclaimer before I launch into this: Yes, I know that there are new people coming into the scene every day. And what's old to the veterans is new to them. So I do realize that certain questions will be asked over and over and over. I don't mind answering a lot of them more than once. I mean, it's quite legitimate for a new person to ask what subspace is like. Or questions about etiquette (or protocols, as the BDSMers call it), how to go about meeting playmates, etc. I don't have a problem with any of that.

But come on, people. A little imagination is in order. There are certain topics that appear, repeatedly, ad nauseam, on damn near every forum. Did I mention repeatedly? I recently asked for original topics on spanking in my status, because I try hard to come up with things that are fresh, that haven't been answered to death.

My former co-manager on SCSW, Becca, was one of the best at coming up with original topics. I mean, she'd ask stuff like, where's the weirdest place where your panties ended up, after a top yanked them off, or after you kicked them off as they dangled around your ankles? Funny! OK, the topics don't have to be that off the wall. But please. Do we really, really need these tired old chestnuts again and again?

1. What celebrity would you like to spank/be spanked by?

(groan) If I had a dollar for every time I read Britney Spears/Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton/etc., I could retire. Sure, I had my few minutes of fun imagining some hunky male movie/TV star hauling me over his knee. Years ago, when The Practice was on, I posted about how I dreamed that Dylan McDermott showed up at a Shadow Lane party. And then I was done with it. I am so, so tired of seeing this question still turning up everywhere. How many times can one answer it? And why are we all so celebrity-obsessed, anyway? But that's a whole other subject.

2. What's your favorite implement?

Again... how many times can one answer this? Come on! Come up with a variation, at least. On FetLife, someone asked which implement you fear most. OK, at least that's somewhat different. Or someone else asked, which implement did you think you'd never allow, but you ended up liking? Again, more specific. And makes people think a bit more.

3. What's your favorite "buzz phrase"?

Oy. Granted, I have plenty of my own. But you know, it gets old reading the same old list of "over my knee, young lady" and "I'm going to teach you a good lesson, missy" and "you won't sit down for a week" and "I think it's time for the business end of my hairbrush and your bottom to have a little discussion." (OK, that last one made me throw up in my mouth a little.) Once again, there are ways to narrow this down and make it a little more interesting. Recently, I blogged asking why so many grown women seem to like "little girl" phrases so much. I got a lot of thoughtful replies on that one.

4. What's your favorite movie/TV spanking scene?

Yeah, yeah, I get it. You like McLintock. (yawwwwn) And while I'm on the subject, can I just say, considering how many people love that damn movie so much, no one knows how to spell it??  It's McLintock. Not McClintock.

5. Do you prefer thin, smaller bottoms or "big/bouncy/meaty/jiggly/ample/insert your adjective here" bottoms?

People, please stop asking this one. Because no matter what you answer, you're going to insult someone. Stop reducing us to body parts. It's tiresome.

These are just a few; there are tons more. But you get my drift.

I know, I know, it's a world of computers and Wiis and iPods and iPhones and apps and games and all sorts of gadgetry that does your thinking for you, but some of us remember this neglected little human trait called "imagination." Use it. Really, it does make life and interactions with fellow humans more interesting.

I'd like to end this blog with my own question: When did you first know that you were a spanko?
KIDDING! I'm kidding! Aaagghhh... please don't answer that one!