I'm a "Master-in-training" who's been trying to get into the scene for a while now, at least online. I've put out ads in r/BDSMPersonals, GayKink, Dirtyr4r, and Dirtykikpals on and off in the search for a sub or two that I can practice with and turn into something hopefully long-term. I put my expectations quite plainly out in the open in my posts (and they aren't much), and I've gotten a sizable number of applicants of varying types, intensities, and desires. Some come to me already begging me to be their master, claiming they'll do anything and everything I command of them. Others are more casual about it at first, which I prefer as it takes some of the pressure off of me.

But somewhere along the line, I always just... lose them. They simply stop responding to me, sometimes blocking me outright, without any word as to why. I get it when it happens because of my race/weight/appearance (which is why I also started point out I'm not white or fit in my ads). It sucks, but at least I know the reason. But a lot of the time, things seem to be going just fine, not a word of complaint on either side, and then the silence hits and the other person's just gone forever.

It's gotten to the point where I get mildly panicked if a sub doesn't respond to me within 15 minutes for no real reason, and it's got me at my wit's end. I hear success stories from other people all the time, so what am I doing? Is it the subs, or is it something doing wrong as a master that makes them run?