Sayeth Agent 5
Now, as far as the S&M thing, I think it's WAAAAAAAY too conservative on his part to turn down orders if he knows you're going to be doing S&M stuff with the whip. Why in the he!! would it matter to him what you're doing with it? Not his problem to worry about it in the least. He's not selling lifestyles, he's selling a product. Not my lifestyle but it's also not my place to judge and certainly not his place either.
Just my observation, and certainly not an attack on A5, nor truly a defence of Morgan. Just my observation of what goes through Morgan's head, based on secondhand information. I don't know the man, so take it for what it's worth:
Morgan is something of a throwback to a different time. When his interest in bullwhips started, (probably as a boy,) they were strictly considered a cowyboy tool. Folks like Lash Larue and Zorro were who were the icons associated with bullwhips, (and served as Lucas's inspiration for Indiana Jones.) This was in the 1930s-50s. In the 50s and 60s the S&M subculture imagery began to to make its way into the popular culture image. The bullwhip was co-opted then.
Today, we've got Indy and again Zorro, (once again, throwbacks to the 40's and 50's) but most modern references are fetishized; Biggest example of course, being Catwoman, (both Pfeiffer and Berry.) Everything else is dominatrix-imagery or "Bad Guys with Bad Whips" like in the Rock/Chris Walken action pic, "The Rundown," (with whips by our very own Paul "Midwestwhips" Nolan.)
There is a movement out there now, (through folks like world record holder, and whip performer, Chris "Canasta" Camp, writer Rich Hoffman, and others in the WWAC,) to promote a positive, "family friendly" image of the whip and whip artists. I include myself in this category, (and am trying to make my own contribution in my own particular way, but more on that at a later date.)
Morgan is taking what he considers a "High Road" on this as well, and is doing the same thing in his own way. Weak analogy here: It's like tobacco companies and drug dealers claiming that they're not the problem because people come to
THEM to buy their products. It's about personal choice and responsibility. Like Pagey said about Morgan, it's not about the money. It's about personal choices. If you don't like his business practices, or can't abide by his requests, don't solicit business from him. Now I don't agree with this particular business practice, (and I don't plan on buying a whip from him, for reasons I've already mentioned in the previous post,) but I respect him for standing behind his personal values, even at the cost of losing business.
And to further clarify my stance on the "Positive Image of Bullwhips." I'm not railing against that image. I really don't care what choose to do in privacy. I just want to see a "Family Friendly" view of them in the public eye as well. It's great physical, mental, and even spiritual excercise, (when looked at from a Zen perspective.) I also reguarly practice with, and exchange ideas and techniques with people who use them for S&M purposes. I'm just not interested in that aspect of the bullwhip.
But let's face it, if you REALLY want to learn true control and precision, who would you trust more: a person who throws whips at people's skin without crippling them, or a person who throws whips at playing cards and styrofoam cups? Choice to me is pretty clear.
Anyway, that's enough from me. Just my....hmmm...let's see....compound normal word count with regular 2 cents price...add in inflation and VAT....Shipping and handling....OK. That's just my $20!
Thanks for reading this far.
-Dan
P.S.
IndyK You have chosen....wisely. Strain makes one of the nicest whips out there...hands down. If this is your first whip, you're spoiled for life. Crack it with pride!
-D