what do you think of the silent treatment as used for punishment?

[openyoureyes]

I think it is one of the worst possible ideas. It may be an effective threat, but if it is carried out, it hurts terribly. To deliberately cut off contact is only going to make re-establishing it more difficult.

I would agree with this. Silent treatment, in person, is probably one of the worst punishments I can think of. Even when my boyfriend is distracted, there is nothing worse to me than feeling ignored.

Never online... that provides the dominant no control and is therefore not a punishment but an abandonment. Seems counter to what should be the dominant's intent. If you're at that point (see next paragraph,) you might as well end the relationship.

I would think even in person this punishment could still feel like an abandonment, at least for me. I could see it as being used as a last resort punishment, though I suppose it depends on the effect it has the sub. For me, it would be devastating, but for someone else, it might not be as harsh of a punishment.