I am gravely disturbed by this. God.
I think this happens to many, many in the Lifestyle. (Submissives and slaves I mean). Not being aware they are being abused, or even the fact that they think they deserve to be treated poorly.
They may believe they get off on it, when really...they don't know how to handle someone who truly loves them.
Treating someone "very badly" and hurting someone emotionally in any way possible (or "whatever way he can") at every turn is something I consider abuse.
Perhaps my abuse meter is off, or perhaps I need to be more open about abuse being good for someone.
I can understand humiliation in play, but if the person truly believes I am piece of shit and treats me badly then that crosses the line into abuse. If I believe I am nothing but an piece of trash to be thrown away until he/she gets bored...then there is something wrong with not only myself for feeling that dispassionate about myself, but also with the other person who has no love for human feelings, nor caring if someone is hurt. (And I am not talking about physical hurt, or a moment of play for humiliation, I am talking about someone who damages another's mind and view their self...altering it in a way that makes them believe they are nothing and they don't matter in this world).
Which it sounds like in the article the person was doing. A person can refer to another as an object in play and believe it, then a person can refer to a person as an object in life...and believe it. There is a HUGE difference there.