Wow I'm just full of questions today.

[bambina]

See that's weird to me Flesh. But I guess that's because I feel punishment should be used as a form of rightful discipline. Like if I did poorly on an essay or test. Or if I arrived 20 minutes late because of poor planning. Or if I didn't do well on something that actually affected me socially or economically. If not, then punishment seems a waste. As if no matter how good I am, I'm still bad. And, at that point I rebel and lose respect for my Dom for not actually teaching me anything. He's just looking for a reason to get his own kicks.

[IAmCanadian]

See that's weird to me Flesh. But I guess that's because I feel punishment should be used as a form of rightful discipline. Like if I did poorly on an essay or test. Or if I arrived 20 minutes late because of poor planning. Or if I didn't do well on something that actually affected me socially or economically. If not, then punishment seems a waste. As if no matter how good I am, I'm still bad. And, at that point I rebel and lose respect for my Dom for not actually teaching me anything. He's just looking for a reason to get his own kicks.

GUY 1: "I gave her twenty hard whacks. Then I dripped candle wax all over her behind, slowly...really letting her anticipate each drop. Once that was over I made her get on all fours and serve as my footrest."

GUY 2: "Jesus, what did she do to deserve that?"

GUY 1: "She was...twenty minutes late!"

Is that any more intellectually honest? ^_^ In rightful discipline the punishment typically fits the crime. We need to remember that sexual punishment and discipline in BDSM isn't really punishment at all a lot of the time- it's a sensation the slave wants to feel. So using it as a consequence for actual failures it treads a dangerous road.

If someone does terribly on a test, I don't think a leading team of psychiatrists would recommend a riding crop as the first punitive measure. There are other ways to solve problems like chronic tardiness or poor work habits.

I'm no psychologist but I think it might invite danger. If you like getting punished for poor results in crucial life situations, it may subconciously encourage you to do less than your best.

Just my two cents.

- FS

[cadence]

I think that the punishments you are referring to are more of the roleplay type and only meant as such.
Instead of a Dominant saying, you were a bad girl, now lets do something you enjoy for being such a naughty slut, he or she uses that typical form of I am going to punish you now for your insolent behaviour, even though I told you to do it anyway.
It's not really a punishment, but more to set the tone to get both parties in tune with things.

A punishment, is not intended to be memorable or enjoyable, it's going to be something you dislike. If a Dominant uses punishments in that aspect that you state, he is not correcting the behaviour very well.

I have been punished in such a fashion, but he was testing my limits and seeing how far I would go with what was asked of me.
If I was given a task I couldn't do, I was "punished" with another task which was just as difficult.
I knew I wasn't really being punished, it wouldn't be really wise of him to punish me with something I couldn't do either.
He was testing limits, seeing how I would react and how far I would go with each task. It made finding my limits more enjoyable.

I have been punished once, and it was a punishment that was effective, and something I definately did not like.
It wasnt' something I enjoyed such as a spanking or some other form of play, it was geared to not be enjoyable on my part.

Punishments can be used as a form of play or when they are warranted are used to correct unacceptable behaviours.
I would think that when you are punished you will know it.

[Ozme52]

See that's weird to me Flesh. But I guess that's because I feel punishment should be used as a form of rightful discipline. Like if I did poorly on an essay or test. Or if I arrived 20 minutes late because of poor planning. Or if I didn't do well on something that actually affected me socially or economically. If not, then punishment seems a waste. As if no matter how good I am, I'm still bad. And, at that point I rebel and lose respect for my Dom for not actually teaching me anything. He's just looking for a reason to get his own kicks.

Well that's the problem that we (often me too) use the one word for both the need to deal with serious lapses and offenses... and for play.

Most of the above examples are about playing... and are therefore acceptable excuses for "punishment".