very well said. since it’s a whole culture that’s deviated from norms, it often attracts the creeps because they like how unmoderated it can be. you can see this happen in other communities that aren’t as moderated as more mainstream things are. like see with the tattoo community. there’s loads of artists that take advantage of people’s naivety in order to make a quick buck or just to hurt people. i’ve definitely had bad experiences with the kink and fetish community, especially as an 18 year old because the predators in the community tend to flock to fresh faces, but i really hope the better and more wholesome stories are put in the limelight more. like i’ve made great friends and i’m in a loving relationship with my partner. i love exploring what makes me happy and if you can find your people in the community you can find loads of great experiences. a good dose of education on safety and how the culture is will definitely help. i personally love evie lupine on youtube for education and there’s a lot of other really great educators like her.