BitterGrey

Thanks. It's clear from your questions that you've given this some thought. Later surveys might be directed at specific sub-groups in our community. However, I'm hesitant to do that early on, before we are sure that those groups are clearly divided. For example, if the first survey had an AB section and a DL section, we might not have learned that only 31% of responses would be from people who report being either only AB or only DL. (7% were non-AB/DLs, and the rest were somewhere between AB and DL.) ~BitterGrey

Thanks! I invest a lot into each survey, so it is great to hear that they are being received well.

Thanks for taking the survey. The benefits of this survey series require both our efforts. As you know, it was announced at different places at different times. The chances that a sudden rush of surveyees would crash the server was small. The best reason for posting at different times is that those who read forums during the weekend might be statistically different than those who read midweek. Posting to different forums at different times is a way to sample both groups. (By the way, if you know of an unsampled AB/DL group, please let me know where to reach them.) That would be the best reason. The main reason is that I've been busy getting the survey #1 summary results ready, among other things. There is still much work to do with survey #1.

The second survey of the correlational survey series, 'Diapers and More,' is now open. As you might have guessed from the title, this survey covers an item central for many AB/DLs as well as a number of other topics. Survey#2: Diapers and more This survey series is unique in that it doesn't assume we were all the same and average us all together. It was designed to correlate multiple answers to show our diversity. (Averaged results will be also available, but they aren't the focus of the series.) The first survey, "ABs, DLs, Etc." was extremely successful, with over two thousand responses. However, it couldn't address everything. Three sets of preliminary analyses and a quick results summary are available. Survey summaries ~BitterGrey

Certainly. We need language to express the differences in our tastes within the community. However, there is no reason to arbitrarily divide the community. We don't have to be exactly alike to enjoy each other's company. True, and in some cases, it is inaccurate. For example, those who reported being equally AB and DL tended to mess more than either ABs or DLs. ~BitterGrey

Possibly, but this would be better dealt with in a general AB/DL survey. An AB/DL+ADHD poll will, as expected, get a high number of responses with ADHD. This is because those with ADHD will be more likely to take the poll. The poll might still show some commonalities among AB/DLs with ADHD. However, it wouldn't be able to show that a lot of AB/DLs have ADHD. This sampling bias would be less of a factor in a general AB/DL survey, where questions on ADHD were not given such a high profile. Of course, every survey has a sampling bias that needs to be compensated for. For example, only living AB/DLs can complete online surveys. Thus, 100% of AB/DLs surveyed will be alive. Clearly, this doesn't mean that AB/DLs are immortal. I have to admit to being partial to a particular series of ongoing general AB/DL surveys, although there have been a number of other great surveys.

Thanks for the spelling tip. We have similar interests, but are not all the same. For many of us, these interests are driven by conditions. However, I'm not convinced that we all have the same condition. The results are different, so the causes might be different too. AB/DL, used as a two-ended continuum, is a reasonable compromise between a detailed description of our interests and a complicated one. As for myself, I prefer to use a triangular picture of our interests, with three points. One corner focuses on a sexually-charged object, the diaper. A second corner focuses on the loss of control, much like masochism. A third corner focuses on the change in role, much like transvestism. (These other two corners wouldn't necessarily be sexual.) Depending on our interests, we would each be somewhere on the triangle's surface. Again, there are more complicated ways to visualize our interests. Perhaps we are in agreement that any system that depends on a few, isolated categories is an oversimplification. Since AB/DL is a continuum, and paraphilic infantilism and diaper fetishism are not mutually exclusive, neither of these require isolation into a few categories. We are all different, and should advocate language that conveys our diversity. ~BitterGrey

Actually, the AB/DL acronym is rooted in our community, not theirs. We usually discuss it as a continuum: We might be AB, DL, or a little of both. The technical classifications are paraphilic infantilism or diaper fetishism. While these tend to overemphasize sexuality, they are part of a more sophisticated system than mere pigeonholing. For example, consider a person who hasn't been significantly distressed or impaired by his or her desire to wear diapers. He or she wouldn't be diagnosed with either infantilism or a diaper fetish. It might be just a lifestyle choice for that person. For those who are interested in some more detailed (but admittedly more complicated) ways of describing our interest, please see the survey report on Mapping Infantilism ~BitterGrey

Thanks. I've invested a lot of time into developing and processing those surveys. Every thumbs-up is encouraging.

Would this be like being excited but without ejaculation, etc? If so, yes. This could be explored by contrasting questions #32 on the presence of masturbation/intercourse/etc. and #33, "Do you find diapers sexually stimulating?" ~BitterGrey http://understanding.infantilism.org

Actually, this survey was extensively tested. Both concerns that you raise are addressed with specific questions. Sex: The most direct is question #9. "How important are these specific aspects in scenes, games, or fantasies to you? ... The sex. Masturbation, intercourse, and the like might be involved." The options are 'very important,' 'important,' 'OK,' 'tolerable,' and 'must be absent.' Someone who objected to sex as part of his or her AB/DL games, scenes, and fantasies could simply select 'must be absent.' Another question is #32, 32)In your fantasies, games, and scenes, sex (masturbation, intercourse, etc)... 1... is present and unrestricted . 2... is present but moderated. For example, masturbation but no intercourse. 3... is present except when in caregiver/child roleplay. 4... is present except when in the child is regressed/ in a child or baby-like headspace. 5... is never involved. 6.I don't have ageplay or AB/DL games, scenes, or fantasies. .' Those who never involved sex as part of their games, scenes, or fantasies could simply select '.. is never involved.' Please note that #9 focused on importance, while #32 focused on presence. An interesting preliminary result was that a number of AB/DLs had games, scenes, and fantasies that involved sex, but they didn't consider it an important aspect. http://understanding.infantilism.org/mapping_ABDL_fig5.php Roleplay: There are also options for those who are only AB (as opposed to mostly AB, equally AB and DL, etc) but who don't roleplay. For example ABs who never roleplayed would be the rightmost (AB and Never) column in the following plot. http://understanding.infantilism.org/figur..._sv1A_fig4L.gif Please note that both of the above plots are preliminary. Are these options sufficient for you to express yourself? ~BitterGrey

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in survey #1, on ABs, DLs, Etc. The preliminary results have taught me a lot. On Sunday the 16th, I'll be finished collecting data for #1, and will open Survey #2. Survey #1 and three preliminary result sets online are at: http://understanding.infantilism.org/surveys/index.php After Survey #1 closes, I'll post the final results in a summary table. It will show that for for Question Z, X% selected answer Y, etc. When time permits, graphs and comments will be added. ( If you are interested in taking part in this process, email me. ) There is still a good deal of correlational analysis for survey #1 that will remain to be done, and at least a couple more reports are expected. If you haven't completed the first survey yet, there is still time to be counted!

A wolf plushie, of course! ...or maybe a Care Bears 25th Anniversary Tenderheart...

Special Lil Kitty, Thanks for sharing your background with us. You have been through a lot. Also, thanks for having the courage to openly explore yourself. This isn't easy to do - I know. There is a temptation to sweep things under the carpet and declare one's self OK. You're honestly exploring and dealing with your problems, and that makes you really OK. This is all any of us can do. Now to the initial question. There should probably be an "and/or" there. Needless to write, Dissociative Identity Disorder and ageplay are not mutually exclusive. People with Dissociative Identity Disorder and a child alter might act a lot like ageplayers without DID. They will both act like children. One difference (that you pointed out already) might be that the ageplayer without DID would be able to drop the roleplay (un-regress) if needed. Another would be that ageplayers without DID would have access to their adult memories when regressed. (Similarly, when not regressed, they would remember what happened when regressed. ) If this awareness isn't there or is partial, then they might have DID. Of course, that wouldn't stop them from being an ageplayer as well. I suspect that a percentage of ageplayers and AB/DLs also have Dissociative Identity Disorder, but don't know how small this percentage is. The final diagnosis would need to be made by one's doctor. At least when compared to paraphilic infantilism, Dissociative Identity Disorder is reasonably well documented.

I'm actually kind of disturbed that 12% voted yes. Some AB/DLs honestly stated their rationale in their comments. I disagree with them but respect their integrity and maturity. Tragically, not all AB/DLs have these qualities. There are AB/DLs who will intentionally out others, spread rumors, make false accusations, provide information for identity theft, anything. Perhaps they are seeking to get their way. Perhaps they are convinced that they are life's victim, and so revenge on anyone or everyone is justified. Perhaps they were using being an AB/DL as an excuse to childishly hurt someone. It really doesn't matter. All that matters is that innocent people are hurt, and the community as a whole suffers.

The arguing probably will not go away until we accept two things: While we have a lot in common, we are not all the same. 1. This isn't a community of ABs and DLs, but of AB/DLs. There is a continuum between AB and DL. 2. While there isn't a black and white division, the two ends of the continuum are not the same. Sometimes they are differentiated by roleplay, often not an interest for DLs. Sometimes they are differentiated by sexuality, often not an interest for ABs. (By the way, the phrase "infantilism fetish" is technically wrong, since the APA groups infantilism and fetishism in different sections.) You are unique, but not alone. ~BitterGrey

That was a great. Thanks for sharing!

One that comes to mind is the Littles Group Documentation Project . It currently lists 19 groups, indexed by country and state.

Generic Chlorophyll is also an option. It may be more widely available and less expensive. (For example, generic Chlorophyll is available at GNC and other heath food stores, while Nullo is available through specialized medical supply stores.) Both take a few days to build up in the system. The level of green color in the feces can be used to adjust the dosage. Some sources are uncertain about the long-term effects: Both name brand and generic Chlorophyll contain copper.

It's okay Brer Bunny. I could have sworn that I'd responded to this thread a while back. (I'm a wolf cub, by the way. Lot nicer than Brer Fox though. Here's a pic.)