RGordon45 said:
I'm very curious as to what the members on here feel that the proportionality of the average persons acceptance level of ABDL is in society. In other words, what portion of the population would fall into the following categories:
1. Utter disgust to the point of phobia/hate
2. Acceptance so far as to keep a friend or significant other but never expect them to act out your ab or dl side around them
3. Acceptance to the point of totally being fine hanging out with a diapered friend/partner
4. Open minded enough to try it
I think a real component to this question that should be discussed is how people actually feel
independently and how they might feel/react
collectively in a larger group.
I guess I am an optimist, but I think many people (even perhaps most people) if they were exposed to you being ABDL in a respectful way (meaning that you are not flaunting your interest), they would not be disgusted with you if this occurred on a one-on-one situation. Rather, they may actually be curious and ask you about it. Perhaps they may actually be understanding to some extent.
I believe that there are more people than we think that have some form of feelings of wanting to be little themselves at times, but would never admit to it. Yet, because it was taught to them since they were in diapers that they should grow up and be a "big boy" or "big girl", the desire to remain as a little child was taught as something that was wrong. --But that doesn't mean that inwardly they may not still feel a connection with being little. That they may still have a reflection and desire for the time when they did not have all the responsibilities of an adult, and their world was filled with soft things and being loved just because of being a baby.
--If you don't believe me, then
why do so many adults still admit to having stuffed animals or other objects from their childhood? Just google it.
Now, if the circumstances are that people are exposed to your being ABDL while in a group setting, I think the response would be more of your #1, with varying ranges of courtesy towards you, but they would express feelings of disgust or disagreement with it.
Why would that be so? Well, that is pretty basic psychology in that people want to be accepted by others. So... if they think that others would be disgusted by this, most often they are going to say and act accordingly in order to be accepted by the group. They were taught by their parents and everyone around them that we are supposed to be "big boys and girls", so that if you are not doing so, then people think this is wrong. Even if they themselves don't have a disgust towards it, or even a real interest in it, there is a threat that if they don't feel against it, that they might themselves be ostracized. So, their reactions are more likely going to be negative, rather than supportive or even interested, just because of the perceived notion that others think this is disgusting, so it must be disgusting.
Check out this link that shows just how powerful the desire to be part of the norm may be when you are in a group, even if it doesn't make any sense!
[video=youtube_share;BgRoiTWkBHU]https://youtu.be/BgRoiTWkBHU[/video]
In my heart I truly believe that the desires for being ABDL or little are not that uncommon. Perhaps to the extent that we act upon these desires by actually wearing diapers and even privately acting out on other ABDL desires such as using a paci and wearing baby clothes, that is uncommon --but the association to our childhood is likely not that uncommon. Rather, I would propose that it is the stigma that is associated with what is commonly taught and conformity to the crowd that causes most people to otherwise react as the OP suggested as in response #1.
:educate: So, if this has any merit of truth, what does it mean? Well, I would suggest that the answer to ABDLism being more accepted is found in the one on one and individual understanding of this. As more people, especially celebrities or otherwise well-known and respected individuals share their ABDL interests and it becomes more commonly known, there is less stigma against it.
I have to think this is similar to the situation of being LGBT. As more and more individuals in society have shared that they are gay or lesbian, the stigma against those who are has greatly decreased. --Not that many years ago, many people who were not actually against being LGBT still stood with those who were, simply to conform to the group. It was likely taught to them by their parents, by the government by its laws, by religions, and in the media that this was wrong. --Hence, they were not going to actually be considerate of those who were gay or lesbian, as they would be afraid of being seen as sympathizers. And many who were gay and lesbian inside would never admit it, because of the fear of being ostracized and instead may have actually joined in the criticism of such, just to make sure their own interests of being so were not discovered.
My hope is that as we progress as a society and future generations that the psychological power of conformity to the group is lessened. That individuals are able to be more freely the individuals that they are.
I know we are far from this. I hope this is not just a pipe dream, but that it may become a reality someday. That eventually the benefits of each of us being our individual selves may become so "popular" that the conformity of the group ends up being such that the pressure is to allow people to be who they are. That those who make fun of others for being different end up being the ones ostracized, as the normal becomes acceptance rather than rejection of those who are different.
:detective3 This may never in reality happen, but I can at least hope that humanity moves closer towards this.:hug: