Pain and its place in BDSM

[Ranai]

Hi master_kyrk1, thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts. Your reflections on pain play for pleasure vs. pain as punishment, and how each emotionally affects you as a dominant in a different manner, are insightful.

It is important to recall that the definition of a sadist is a person who enjoys infoicting pain on an unwilling vicitm.

I would like to offer an alternative, less narrow definition of ‘sadist’.

A sadist is a person who enjoys inflicting pain.
This is a sexual disposition.

It can be done to an unwilling victim, or consensually and carefully to someone who enjoys it. (Or, carefully and consensually, to someone who consents to take a certain degree of pain as a punishment in the context of a D/s relationship.)
This is an ethical choice.

There are sadists who commit abuse, sadists who practise consensual BDSM, and sadists who don’t put their disposition into practice except in their fantasy life.

So in my opinion it’s perfectly possible for someone who practises BDSM consensually, and skilfully and lovingly flogs their masochistic partner to ecstasy, to say ‘I enjoy giving pain. I am a sadist.’
~~~

On the question about pain and its place, there are lots of options within the boundaries of SSC. Just a few examples:

It's perfectly possible to say: 'I enjoy taking pain within certain limits and boundaries as part of our SM play. I am a masochist.'

Or: 'I am a masochist, and what especially gets me off is when my dominant and I engage in play that involves pain dished out for no apparent reason (except of course because we both get off on it).' This can still be perfectly consensual and within limits.

'Humiliation yes, pain no.' Or: 'Pain yes, humilation no.' Or: 'Both, please.' Or: 'Neither. I just love it when he/she takes control and dominates me.'

'I accept punishments within certain limits as part of our D/s relationship, even though I don't enjoy them.'

'I am masochistic, but not a full time submissive. I just want some pain play for fun now and then. Anybody who thinks they are in a position to 'punish' me, take a hike!'

etc.
~~~

Bald_J_and_F, determining and listing the circumstances under which pain is acceptable and unacceptable for you personally, shows you as responsible and competent partners. Other people's limits and conditions may differ from yours; they are still limits and conditions.

~~~
Giving and taking pain, under whatever circumstances, is certainly not a condicio sine qua non, something that needs to be present to give D/s flavour to a relationship. There are lots of lovely possibilities of D/s interaction without any pain involved at all. As the other contributors to this thread have mentioned, it is for the individuals involved to decide whether pain has a place in their relationship or not. And if so, to what degree and under which circumstances.

[fwss]

A very well-put response ranai.

There is room for all the approaches to dishing out pain, but I feel that those who have judged doms who simply enjoy inflicting pain as 'not reliable', 'selfish' and 'dangerous' are denying that room.

Personally, I am not a big 'pain slut', but I take it willingly from my Mistress for whatever reason She likes, even if it is just because She feels like seeing my ass reddened. I take great pleasure from satisfying Her desires.

I can completely understand relationships where pain (or any other torment) is only for use for certain reasons... but please don't be so judgemental of relationships where it is for use for OTHER reasons.

[Ruby]

The point of this thread was not to bash or judge anyone for their personal preferences or kinks. It was to discuss the role of pain in BDSM.

If the "pain" in the relationship works for you and your partner, whether it be for pain, pleasure, punishment or amusement, then by all means keep doing what works for you.

To label someone's actions as selfish or unsafe, does not label that person. It describes how the posters feel about those actions within the topics described. Everyone is welcome to their own opinion.

I repeat and stand by my earlier comments:

I have friends who have survived some brutal relationships, where the dom would beat them, just because he could. Not for their mutual pleasure, but for the dom's pleasure.

Please note: Some of them have ended up in the hospital or under a doctor's care, because of this rather brutal treatment. Therefore, in my opinion:

When safe words are not recognized, boundaries are not respected, when the rules are constantly changing and the sub is kept off balance or living in fear, then we move into the realm of selfishness and abuse.

fwss,

If I appeared to be judgemental of any SS&C or RISK relationship, please forgive me. That was not my intention. Thank you for voicing this concern. It is valid.

master_kyrk1,

Thank you so much for providing that insightful post.

Ranai,

Well said.

Who's next?

[master_kyrk1]

Ruby,

You are correct when a "dominant" does not respect safe words or boundaries that does cropss the line intop abuse. Those individuals and i use that term loosely in my opinion are not even worthy of being called dominants. I hate calling them sadists for they give the "nice" sadists like me a bad rep. Any time someone is placed intp physical or emotional trauma outside fo the consent of bnoth partners it is abuse.

In those cases I feel that individual should be invited to an old fashioned Army sock party as the guest of honor. That however is another discussion entirely.

If anyone feels they are in an abusive relationship you have the right to protect yourself. You ahve the right to report it as abuse. To the authorites to someine in the scene whom you repsect whom you feeel may be able to help. If your not sure where to turn feel free to e-mail me and I will see what resources can be found in your area to provide you with the safety and support you need.

master_kyrk1@yahoo.com

[cailean]

i agree with your theory of pain being inflicted due to one of the three main reasons. In my own personal experiences with my Master pain is normally caused by the first two. We don't participate in humiliation play much if any at all. There are occasions, however, when pain is inflicted by accident during playful activities such as a stray bite in public or a slap on the leg as a reprimand from previous misbehavior. During Master's last visit to see me this became a more prominent problem, but we are working through that. i just had to remind Him that even though i can take a beating in bed (i.e., back side region, and the like) i'm still fragile.