[QUOTE=Miss-Sett {Kuve};Sadism, to derive pleasure itself from inflicting consensual delight onto another lends itself to a direction of being dominant, as you are giving to another. Equally as a masochist you enjoy receiving the pleasure therefore taking it, submissively, subservient, taking it.
Sett[/QUOTE]

I disagree with this interpretation. Giving pain does not imply being dominant, being active in any way does not in itself imply domination. A therapist massaging an injury and causing pain is not therefore a dominant, nor is the patient a submissive. A dentist is not a dominant, nor is the patient a submissive. Necessarily, anyway ;-)

It is true that a sadist need not be dominant in any way whatsoever, and a masochist need not be submissive. I have seen people who could not find a partner 'do' each other as a favor, after discussing how.

I think most are probably a bit of each, but if you lean toward being much more dom than sadist or vice versa, you should definitely make it clear on so many words.