Quote Originally Posted by BDSM_Tourguide
This is true. Consent on either side is required. Refusal to play with someone doesn't alter any power in a relationship aspect that never existed in the first place. Everyone has the right to say no.

I have always maintained that a BDSM relationship is still a relationship. It's no different from a vanilla relationship in the expectations of caring, respect, trust, honesty, and communication. When it comes to the actual DS element, however, I will still say the ultimate control of what does or does not happen rests with the submissive for the reasons I gave above.
This is one of the few things on this site that I've read so far that makes sense to me. Some of the other arguments listed here are ones I've heard many times, usually between the snap of the cuffs and the words duck your head and get in the back seat. They didn't impress me then and they don't now.

I don't think it has to be a mile worth of words. For either person it boils down to who do you trust and are they trustworthy. If they are great. If they're not, get out before the paramedics are called.