It’s nearly October sports fans and Alice has tumbled well down the rabbit hole. I was starting wonder if my research of the Shibari fan club had somewhat plateau’d, that I’d circumnavigated this roped niche. October brings us my favourite holiday of the year, Halloween, and of course everyones chaffing at the bit the create a pentagram chest harness. As a part of this ethnographic study, epiphanies are to be noted and to be frank, I thought I’d have none. But I’m spell bound, #brat #spiceymop… the dictionary evolves and my persona solidifies.

The ethnographer, on entering the field site, worked to transition himself or herself from outsider to insider, becoming accepted as a quasi member of the society under study on an equal footing to others of similar social standing. 

Apparently, October brings with it whole new vibe of hashtags #kinktober is apparently a promt challenge that revolves around #fanfic, writing and kink that see’s participants word smithing erotic narratives. The shibari community has adopted this for daily tie challenges and is a way to interact with and celebrate followers.

As I contextualise my own content creation, as an inclusive beginner based arena that offers an entry point to rope play, I have been gifted new content ideas for all my budget friendly bunnies out there. The internal emotional friction of putting myself out there on socials has been somewhat vanquished by the support of other Shibari creators.

I’m ensnared now, I won’t be able to exit this field site, ‘cyber ethnography’ (pg185) and this ‘anti spatial’ realm has presented a new element; the need to translate comments from Portugal and Belgium. Miss Knot.Fist appears to be a directory & entry point for those looking to enter the fieldsite.

I feel ‘unmasked’ in a sea of anonymity in online spaces. In effect, the personas use the game as a conduit for navigating the pandemic, with the character being an extension of the player’s self under lockdown – a social actor virtually interacting through means that the player is physically, and usually geographically, prohibited from emulating, and doing so via serious leisure practices that accentuate these personas as active, connected, and committed.

Visual – map / Friday the 13th.

@notchouffevon

I cant get this comparison out of my head #fyp #k1nkcomedy #k1nkcommuntiy #shibar #shibariart #viral #trend #relatable

♬ HEYYY WAIT A SECOND – FIN

https://twitter.com/drew_jane_/status/1706134040401809916

Comerford, C. (2021). Coconuts, Custom-Play & COVID-19: Social Isolation, Serious Leisure and Personas in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Persona Studies, 6(2), 101–117. https://doi.org/10.21153/psj2020vol6no2art970