Becareful what you ask...

[joreth]

Going through the "security" line at Disney's Animal Kingdom, the security guy noticed my pocket knife clipped to my pocket (visible to avoid any possible charges of "concealed weapon") and said I couldn't bring it in the park. That part was fine, I put it back in the car and only had it with me because I forgot to leave it at home, but the knife just happens to sit very close to the keyring that I wear on my belt.

Which happens to have a set of handcuff keys on it.

Which the real cop standing nearby happened to notice.

So I leave to put the knife back in the car and someone calls after me "are you a cop?", which I didn't hear. sterlingsilver9 did and yelled back "no, she's not" as I continued walking.

I drop off the knife in the car and return to the line. The security guy goes through my camera bag a second time and we proceed, only to be stopped by the cop before I completely clear the gate:

Cop: Is that a handcuff key you're carrying?
Me: Yes.
Cop: Are you a cop?
Me: No.
Cop: Are you a cast member?
Me: No.
Cop: Are you with security?
Me: No.
Cop: Then why do you have a set of handcuff keys?
Me: (brief pause) Because I use handcuffs during sex and I keep the keys with me for safety reasons.
Cop: (blank expression & brief pause) Well, we don't want any trouble in the park.
Me: Ok.

His actual parting shot was a bit more mumbling and unfinished sentences, interspersed with sterlingsilver9's assurances that we fully supported the park's efforts for a safe environment, but that's a little hard for me to write out.

Basically, we came away from the encounter under the impression that the cop could think of only 2 reasons to have handcuff keys: 1) law enforcement and 2) escape from law enforcement.

Since I was not #1, I must therefore be #2 and he just couldn't wrap his brain around a third option, which was 3) None of the above. In his world, it appears as though there are two types of people, those who cause trouble and those who take care of trouble. His attitude towards me and his reaction implied that he believed I was there to cause trouble. That's why I finally went for the absolute bald truth for shock value, to try and make it sink into his head that there are other options.

The moral of the story is: Becareful of what questions you ask. Make sure you really want to know the answer.

Comments

[joreth]

Unfortunately, I did not have my handcuffs with me, just the keys. I don't ever want to have to wonder, after the fact, just where the keys are, so they just live on my keychain.

But I wished I had ;-)

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. I have various specific boxes and such for that kind of thing, and I tend to wear the keys on a necklace while they are in use (especially locking things in longer term use). I've never played with handcuffs, though. Cuff keys aren't specific...all keys open all cuffs?

I had this image of you leaving a sub cuffed while you went to the park. ;) That would be a bit on the extremely mean side for me, but I can see its appeal...

[joreth]

All real handcuffs use the same key and all handcuff-specific keys open all real handcuffs. Play cuffs (plastic, or "magic" cuffs, etc.) may have another system, but police-issue and real metal BDSM cuffs all use the same key.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Aaah, that makes sense. I've only played with leather cuffs and rope, but the metal ones intrigue me, particularly since I have a bit of a fetish for metal things. If I was going to obtain handcuffs, I'd definitely want the real thing.

[joreth]

Metal handcuffs are rather more dangerous than leather cuffs, because they can do nerve damage to the nerves in the wrists. Metal cuffs are best if not used in a strong struggling scene, but rather one in which the "victim" is more passive.

Also, should you start shopping for metal cuffs, look for the kind with a "double locking" mechanism. This means that, not only do they lock to prevent the prisoner from opening them, but they also lock a second time to prevent the cuffs tightening any further, thereby reducing nerve damage via accidental tightening.

[joreth]

I'm quite fond of the metal cuffs, personally, I have a bit of a metal fetish too. I now have 2 pair - silver and black metal.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

/nods/ that's good information to have. I recall reading about the nerve damage factor at some point. I'd definitely want a pair that locked so they wouldn't get tighter. In...silver, I think. Purrrrrrrrrr.