My disagreement with you wasn't with the point that a dominant should understand the nature of submission and, more importantly, the nature of his (or her) particular sub. Rather my disagreement was with the idea that the Story of O provided a usefully universal view into the life or psychology of the submissive. I feel that it's very limited in its viewpoint and leans significantly more toward the realm of fantasy than reality in many particulars.

It's a lovely work of erotica, but it's hardly a reflection of real life or the participants therein.