Does anyone feel like in the media and the mainstream that our lifestyles are poorly represented?
After seeing the article about the guy who lost his job from wearing diapers at work and acting little at his job it definitely got me thinking about this question ive asked, but on the other hand I think of the popular ABDL/Little YouTubers who do a fantastic job of introducing people to the lifestyle and its contents…
I believe that everybodies variant of our lifestyles are different, so some may think we are poorly represented and some may not…My main love in being a little is for pacifiers, and I do wish that pacis would be accepted in public life for adults…but on the other hand I dont think I would ever throw my lifestyle in other peoples faces unless I knew it was fully accepted in modern society
Of course there are no right or wrong answers here, im just curious what everybody thinks, are we poorly represented in mainstream media or are people like the dude i mentioned in the article doing the right thing?
You’ve nailed it there sadly, being labelled alongside paedos is the reason I’ll never tell anyone about this side of me unless I know they’d accept me
I always thought furries were visible and accepted, just more comic con / RPG type of stuff.
If i were to be interviewed I would want to be photographed fully clothed and look presentable. Rather than just focus on the shocking parts (I wear diapers, spend $100 a month, use the diapers, sometimes act like a baby) I would want to highlight that, for myself, I am a functioning AB/DL. I have a career job, a family, exercise and have hobbies.
Then explain my history where I had these desires since I was a child and how I feel when I am diapered and or in a calming setting which is generally suitable for a nursery or baby.
That DL guy who was on Steve Harvey made a good attempt and was clearly nervous, but sadly Steve just made fun of him and there was no benefit to him being there other than shocking TV viewers.
What kind of representation do you think would happen? Anything off the sexual norm is going to be viewed with some level of disdain even if you claim it isn’t sexual.
If you want mild stuff, I’ve had tons of teddy bears in the open for years. My wife (who knows about my AB tendencies) and my daughter (15 at the time and probably did not) even took me to build-a-bear on my birthday. My bible-thumping, speaking-in-tongues holy roller sister-in-law has even bought me bears as gifts.
I don’t think we’ll every be fully accepted, but I’d like to see us get to the point that it’s seen as just another kink. Like he’s into being spanked. She’s into leather. They’re into being tied up. That person is into diapers.
Seems like it went from no body knew we existed to being shocked we existed to being the butt of jokes to being on peoples radar to etc…
I think we’re closer than we’ve ever been, but it’ll still take some more time.
IDK about all of this, This past spring I attended CapCon, first time ever for that venue, apparently there were posts made on social media or something about people threatening the security of the event, so the Cap folks called the state police for security, anyone who attended that even knows exactly what I’m talking out, at any given time there were 15 or 20 officers at all doors and checking things out, the first day there, they looked mean and all business, then something magical occurred; most became friendly and it looked like they got it for the most part and some even kind of looked liked they enjoyed being there.
So in my head, I feel like if we do things not as cringe worthy, while not being totally accepted, or welcomed by open arms in the mainstream world, it wouldn’t be as bad as we think.
I don’t intend to generalize but many folks in this lifestyle (such as myself) live with mental/physical illnesses and/or neurodevelopmental conditions that can multiply society’s lack of understanding. Educating others what it means to participate in this community can be hampered by difficulties with communication or social awareness. The people who have a spotlight shone on them by wider humanity (often unwillingly) may have other life challenges that supersede and cloud every outside conception of their ABDL interests. Speaking for myself, struggling with autism and a thought disorder (OCD) make it that much harder to discuss ABDL in a “normal” way because I am already perceived as eccentric or different in how I come across to people. So I already feel like I’m behind the 8-ball.
Representation of such a niche community can be tricky because if the people in media themselves aren’t ABDLs, then any depiction of our lifestyle will inevitably be grounded in stereotypes and shorthand which will do nothing to clarify how we are perceived.
The media will always portray anything out of the ordinary a lot worse than it actually is. I know when Jess (Binkie Princess) did her initial interview they filmed a load of footage and then cut out a massive chunk to portray her badly and they didn’t mention that her boyfriend at the time was working night shifts and was filming after he had worked so he was extremely tired. Plus they often make it out as if we want to sit around all day doing nothing but be a baby when I’d say 90% of us don’t do that or don’t want that.
I think it will take a long time for us to be accepted as people immediately think nappies they think human waste, poor hygiene etc. Also nappies are mainly associated with babies and they think it’s to do with actual children. In the article you mentioned though, this guy was openly acting childish while in the workplace and I believe exposing too much which got him fired and in the media.
sigh… It’s going to take a VERY long time for our lifestyle to be accepted. It doesn’t help when someone does an interview with an ABDL, and laughs or smurks. Not all have, but it doesn’t help. Our lifestyle is very serious, and should be treated as such. I’ve never had so much anxiety about the wrong person finding out. It needs to stop!
Hi Pacilord. I totally agree, we are hugely undermined and often accused of being perverts, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Also, and as ADISC freely admit, ADISC is not a ‘meeting site’ I love ADISC but also longed for a site that would facilitate AD/BL meets and be exclusive to our community. Nappydate.com is very new but seems to be filling this void.
I have to agree that the media is horrible in the way that it represents any lifestyle that is outside the accepted norms of society. The media is all about entertainment. What once passed for news is now just stories centered around sensationalism. For them, it’s all about reaching the masses and selling products through their tedious commercials. So people such as ourselves become a sideshow for them. Step right up. Step right up and look at the freaks and while you’re there, buy our products.
An ABDL acting far from societal norms gets people’s attention. An outwardly normal ABDL on a talk show is a channel-changer. So, most people will not believe that most ABDLs act outwardly normally and rationally, having only the talk-show ABDL exhibitionists (most commonly) to base their opinions on.
I’m not an exhibitionist, and don’t seek tolerance or acceptance of my diaper loving side from others. Aside from this forum (where tolerance is likely), nobody knows about this side of me. I grew up in a house where my wearing diapers for bedwetting was unacceptable (never allowed ever), even though my brother was put in Pampers until he was 7, for bedwetting! I gather a lot of you have experienced more tolerance of your diaper wearing than myself, and have more optimism for general public tolerance or acceptance in the future. If my parents couldn’t accept me asking about wearing diapers for legitimate uncontrolable bedwetting, I hold out no hope that ABDL will have an acceptable or tolerable public image in the minds of a majority of people, in my lifetime.
If it doesn’t fit the media’s agenda (no matter whether it is conservative or liberal or in between) they will make the topic seem very bad just to get the views and money, and push their agenda. Being an ABDL requires that I practice it at home or in privacy where the public eye cannot see.
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You think what you want one this guy exposing his diaper and lifestyle… but those two broadcasters were clearly judgmental and had no idea what they were talking about.
For a few moments they even confused our community with pedophilia
Honestly I don’t care what general public thinks about ABDL. I don’t want people to think we are in any way associated with pedophiles cause that’s just crazy and wrong.
But being ABDL is a very intimate for me it’s about feeling loved and nurtured by someone that loves me.
I don’t really think it belongs in the public eye.
I guess I don’t want people to think I am crazy or some kind of a joke if they were to find out. but I definitely don’t need or want to expose Myself or be represented by some dude who feels it should be acceptable to walk around at work in just a diaper
But like they say it takes all kinds and whatever Floats your boat
Someone needs to write a screen play, a HUGE screen play about an ABDL. About the miss understandings, the anxiety it causes. About the LOVE we have for it when we do regress, and why we regress. We really need to educate, to share our story. If nothing else but to say we’re just plan everyday people who has a special and unique lifestyle.
I wouldn’t throw it in anyone’s face even if it was mainstream. That’s not what anything is about. To do that with anything is rude and intrusive, nobody likes discovery forced upon them, be it religion, politics, lifestyle, whatever. Engines may do well with their fuel/air mix forcibly turbocharged…people don’t.
Now, if someone forced a windfall of cash or a giant burrito on me, that’s a different story…
Then the results, good or bad, are yours to reap, not mine or ours…necessarily. I wouldn’t say or believe any of this if I haven’t lived it a little myself or to have seen others do it, both online and in real life. I have been active across the community for 21 years, spent 18 years before that back in diapers (albeit secretly) for a total of 39 years. That will say nothing to you so by all means feel free to pave your own course. Others may say life is too short but in this instance, the recklessness one can engage and the consequence it can reap in can prove otherwise. I’ve already seen one exhibitionist attempt suicide for their own fallout…I don’t care to see history possibly repeat itself. Anyway, best of luck to you.
