" This person is an HNG. Use
some common sense here. Why waste time with somebody that's not even
polite? There's a time and a place for these endearing terms, and it
isn't online!

Test #5: "I don't have to answer that question!"
or "It's not proper etiquette for you to ask a Master/Mistress that." These are
examples of some the dangerous lies that control freaks and snerts use.
This is the Acid test I personally think is the most important! A Dom
had better be ready to at least try and answer every question you have,
and honestly at that! It's literally your ass that's on the line! Never
forget this!

Test #6: "It's my way or the highway!" or words to
that effect, are the mating cry of the common control freak. Doms can
have limits too, but it's your limits that count FIRST. Don't let any
would-be "Dom/me" tell you differently. Don't let any of the wannabe subs
tell you differently either. Where Male Dom/fem sub play is concerned,
it's always lady's choice!

Test #7: Don't bother with online collars.
Don't make decisions about a prospective partner based on his
online play style. It's a very simple test if you think about it: Would
a real-life Dominant waste much time on cyber sex and cyber domination?
Please take my word for it; The answer is no. Forget it, once you've
done the real thing, cyber is just too damn dull.

Test #8: Ask your prospect if s/he's ever made any mistakes during a scene. If s/he says
"no," run for your life! If s/he says, "very rarely," at least be
suspicious. Everyone makes mistakes, even if they are experienced and
skilled. Sometimes submissives have limits they don't even know about,
and even the most careful and skilled Dom/me in the world will trip over
these occasionally. Remember, according to our good friends of the
Christian faith, the last perfect guy to walk this planet got nailed to
a tree for his trouble. So expect competence, but not miracles.

Test #9: "I'm a [bank president, captain of industry, combat photographer,
self-made millionaire... yadda yadda yadda.]" Wouldn't it be nice to
meet a rich Dom/mes too? Sure it would! But use some common sense. How many
captains of industry have hours to spend in an AOL chat room? Also,
think about this personality profile; If this super successful,
always-in-control person is really into BDSM, he's likely a submissive!
Worse yet, it could very likely mean he is a control freak. I have met
a lot of submissives that fit this ambitious profile, but not one Dom/mes
yet!

Test #10: "I'm 33 years old, and I've been a Master/mistess for 15
years." Gimme a break! What are the odds? When you ask about a Dom/me's
level of experience (and it's a good idea to do so) remember to do the
math as well. 18-year-old boys/girls don't care about the intricacies of
BDSM; they want to get laid. Trust me on this one Ladies/gentlemen, I was an
18-year-old boy once! I personally believe that people do become what
they are (be it gay, straight, Dom or sub) very early in life, but it
takes maturity and training to be a Master/mistess. What are the odds a person
became a Master/mistress when they were still using Clearasil?

Test #11:
Ask for references! Especially if s/he claims to be "very experienced."
Talk to the references on the phone. Lots of HNGs have female/male
screen-names set up to act as "references" for them! I notice that a
lot of newbies seem to have trouble with this concept. Which is
understandable since in the vanilla world it's considered rude to talk
to someone's ex-girlfriend or boyfriend. However, in the BDSM scene it's the opposite;
experienced Dominants should accept and accommodate this kind of
request gladly.

Test #12: "I have three real-life collared slaves right now, but you can't talk to them."
OK, when you consider the ratio and all, this sounds possible.
What makes this an acid test failed (and failed miserably at that) is the last part.
I have met couples (and even triads) that really were looking for an extra person
to add to the mix. This is not uncommon at all in the scene. But these
couples were looking together. If a "Dom/mes" has anyone already collared
to them, you probably ought to talk to her/him first!

Test #13: "I don't need safewords." Well of course he doesn't! If he said this he's
likely a snert and therefore he's never really been in a scene! Of
course he might be a predator too, and then he wouldn't need safewords
either. Need I say more?

Test #14: "My slaves trust me to set their limits for them.
" If you hear a "Dom/mes" say this it's most likely because these slaves only exist in his mind.
Or worse still, his/her "slave" is simply the victim of spousal abuse. Even so-called TPE
(Total Power Exchange) and other sorts of 24/7 (i.e. full time) BDSM
relationships should involve careful and thorough negotiation.

Test #15: "I'm married, my wife/husband can't know about us" If I have to explain
this one to you, you've got problems. I have played with many married
submissives in my time, but only with the express permission (and more
often than not, participation) of their wives/husbands. Safe BDSM requires
complete honesty. You can't build a good scene on lies. There are
plenty of people that will be willing to tell you differently; but
please note, they will all turn out to be adulterers (and hence, liars)
themselves.

Test #16: Insert your own Acid Test here: You will
learn much from your mistakes and missteps. If you an online
contact with a "Dom" that falls through, analyze why it fell through.
Don't make the same mistakes twice if you can help it.