If someone were to ask me why I want a Master/slave relationship, I would tell that person to go watch the ABC show “Here Come the Newlyweds.”

On this show, newly married people compete for prizes and, hopefully, learn relationship skills in the process.  Some of the couples are great, but there are a few I really don’t like… because…

They don’t support each other. They don’t communicate. One partner will put the other one down. One person even mentioned divorce.

I don’t believe in that crap. People who are in love are supposed to support each other. Of course, when the other person is doing something wrong, that should be pointed out in a non-confrontational way. But couples should challange each other, push each other to become better people, and above all, support each other.

Anyone in any sort of relationship needs to communicate with each other. Yes, there will be some times when there are misunderstandings, or things aren’t said that really need to be said. But too many people keep too many thoughts and feelings tucked away.

Making the person you love feel “less than” is just.so.wrong. Seriously. When you love someone, you love them for a reason. So what is the point of being overly critical and negative about their qualities? If your significant other is so awful, why would you be with him/her in the first place? Or do you criticize so your spouse will think he can’t get anything better and won’t leave you?

Again, if the person you love does something he shouldn’t, that should definitely be pointed out. However, one goal of being married is to accept and support your partner. Every time you look at your significant other, love should shine from you. Your words should reflect your feelings. You say things to build him up, not tear him down.

And you never bring up divorce, even jokingly, unless you are absolutely sure there can be no reconciliation. Throwing the “D’ word around just gives your partner the impression that you can and might leave them. But when you are in a relationship, you need to instead show that you are strongly committed to making things work.

I know all of this makes me seem very naive, like a teen girl looking forward to her first marriage. But I’m not. I’ve been married. I know relationships can never be all that I described. But that should at least be the goal.

And in many Master/slave relationships, that goal seems to exist, even if it’s implicit. There is more support, more communication, less insults, more commitment.

And that’s what I am looking for in a relationship.