I was recently talking to a friend who commented on a woman we both know online — let’s call her Maria (not to be confused with the Maria character in the March edition of Holiday Heat). Maria is very bratty online. In fact, my friend said she observed Maria in other Discord servers being bratty and then, when she would get called on it by a top, she would call “red”.

This is not an indictment of using a safeword; they should always be allowed. But it’s good etiquette in the spanking community that if you’re going to brat someone then you’re willing to take whatever punishment they choose to dish out.

In other words, don’t let your mouth write checks your ass can’t cash.

I’m not the biggest fan in the world of bratting. I allow a limited amount of it, but the people I’m closest to know when to be bratty and when not to, and they know that if they push me too far they will end up with a sore bottom. It’s just the way of the world. Even one of my friends, who is generally the brattiest bottom-leaning-switch that I know, limits her bratting when it comes to me, not because I’ll get mad and not because I’ll spank her, but because I don’t enjoy it. I’m not a brat tamer, and I don’t have any desire to be one.

To this day, Maria is still bratting in the Discord we have in common. She hasn’t called “red” yet, but I know we’re both going to be at GASP this coming weekend, and I’m curious to see how she acts when she gets called on the carpet in real life, instead of just online.

I predict some checks being cashed.

What’s the lesson here? If you’re going to be a brat, go into it with your eyes open and be ready to face the consequences. Otherwise the people you brat will very quickly cease to find it endearing.