Quote Originally Posted by WyldWyl View Post
'is it ethical to give someone something they take pleasure in, even though in the long run it may be harmful to them?'
If you are the Dom, you are responsible for the health and safety of the sub - that includes psychological health. Therefore, no if you truly believe something you are doing is causing long term harm to the sub, it is not ethical to continue doing it to them, even if it gives them pleasure.

That being said, not all humiliation play has long term harmful effects. One sub I know, feels he needs the humiliation play in order to humble him occasionally, so that he is a nicer person in his vanilla life - otherwise, he tends to get too egotistical and arrogant. For him the humiliation play, creates balance. Thus the Dom/me's job is to determine what effect the play is having of his/her individual sub.

However, you shouldn't do something that makes you feel bad about yourself, either. Even if the sub gains pleasure and no harmful effect from the humiliation play, if it leaves the Dom feeling bad about himself, the DOM may experience a long term harmful psychological effect from it. Don't forget to take care of yourself too!

fantassy