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Safety issues in using masks. - 5/10/2007 5:40:51 AM

cyber

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I saw in movies and websites that many people use and enjoy to use masks for slave as part of their play. These black masks usually are made of leader and cover all the head of the slave which completely cover his identity.
Two questions:

What is the main pleasure of using these masks for slaves?
What safety issues need to be considered while using them especially in public dungeons?

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/10/2007 6:02:01 AM

sublimelysensual

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I think you're referring more to being hooded than being masked, though I could be wrong. I have to admit, I saw your post and couldn't help but have a huge smile appear. I absolutely love being hooded, it's one of my favorite things. For me, it's all about the sensory deprivation.. not being able to see, not being able to hear (if it's a high quality hood, hearing is dampened to a very large degree), and though this might sound odd, somehow there's a sense of security in the tightness, I'm not sure why that is. Being able to smell the leather, being surrounded by the scent..doesn't hurt either -laughs-. I love the feeling of suspense..not knowing what's going to happen next, not knowing where the Dom is..where His hands are, I would compare it to being blindfolded on a rollercoaster only even better.

Okay, before I space thinking about it..lol..safety issues. Whether in public or private the biggest thing in my eyes is trust. I would never wear a hood with Someone I was not completely acquainted with and trusted implicitly. As far as physical safety, things like ability to breath need to be found out beforehand, not in the middle of a scene, the same goes for some kind of signal for wanting out, whether that's the hands being free so one can gesture, a set of bells or keys in hand that could be dropped, etc. It also depends on the style of hood, there are hoods that have gags and hoods that don't, ones with removable gags/blindfolds, etc. In my opinion the emotional safety is a bigger factor, the Dom knowing you and being familiar with your reactions and things of that nature, and you knowing and being totally comfortable with the Dom. Hope this helps, I'm sure you'll get other input...

-a

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/10/2007 6:28:19 AM

MstrssPassion

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yup... you pretty much nailed it

but I too wonder exactly what type of mask the OP is referring to because there are so many out there.

If it is one that restricts breathing then I would say that this should be considered. I mean the ones that deprive the wearer sensations such as sight or sound could cause them to stumble, fall or get lost in a crowd.... but one that restricts breathing could render the wearer unconscious or worse.

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/10/2007 6:43:27 AM

Enyo

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quote:

What is the main pleasure of using these masks for slaves?

What safety issues need to be considered while using them especially in public dungeons?

I think sublimelysensual hit it on the head, the main pleasure is sensory deprivation, knowing that without several of your senses your D is in even more control of your body, experience and well-being then normal. It also tends to increase physical sensitivity because it becomes your direct connection to what is going on around you.
As far as safety issues I think it was said very well previously. Also will note that as a D I like to make sure that the hood doesn't smell like sweat (or worse) and has been cleaned since the last time it was used....unless I have a need for it to smell terrible....

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/10/2007 6:57:45 AM

MissOchistic

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speaking purely from experience...

First, of course, is the breathing issue. Even when there are air holes, sometimes a person just can't get enough and is being deprived slowly. It can be hard to tell the difference between arousal and loss of air.
Also, the dangers of gags. For me, even holding something between my teeth for a short time will trigger my gag reflex, and if it is not removed shortly i will vomit. This happens to a lot of people. When it's only a gag, this is easy to see and take care of before one is in danger. But in a full hood, where you can't see the eyes, close attention must be paid to the sounds being made to distinguish between gagged moans and groans and the sound of choking, especially if your partner is also body bound and can't remove the mask or easily alert you with movement.

Oh, and helmet hair. That can be pretty bad. I suggest removing the mask in the bathroom and quickly fixing your hair before the walk of shame ~.^

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/11/2007 11:40:52 AM

Pezzle

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Also speaking from experience, I enjoy hoods a great deal. I don't know if it's the sensory deprivation or the fact that I can't tell just what he's planning next. I can't even tell where he is around me unless he speaks close to my skin. Also, my wonderful Dom likes them because they make me look almost objectified. And of course, he gets a kick out of the fact that I can't move my mouth and annoy him with my mouth-sounds.

A little rambling about my hood...It's a nice little piece of leather... I bloody payed 350 for it, it better be. Material is leather, it laces up in the back (softer/thinner leather) and then over it is a mask of rather thick... almost armor like leather which is studded in a few places either for aesthetics or to fasten it to the inner soft hood. This mask is connected to the back with a series of six buckles, 3 on both sides which actually makes it nigh on impossible to move one's jaw while in it whilst still being able to adequately open the lips/mouth and part the teeth for air or groaning.

This mask has two eyelets and a zipper on the mouth, so we had to sort of get putting it on down to a science to make sure my nose lined up with the eyelets. I also get air in from the eye holes funny enough -- I am not sure who made this piece, the eyes are not totally covered but have tiny perforations so you can see but very little... and comes with an optional buckle-on blindfold. Just sorta' picked it up in NYC one night whilst drunk browsing.

It's safest to put together some sort head/finger/hand/clap sort of gesture as a safeword stand in, just incase. This is directly dependant on how bound up you really are but... I still recommend it. Even in TEP when someone's choking it's no good! And if you're gonna leave someone overnight in a mask, just make sure you have ADEQUATE breathing. As in, if the mouth opens and closes, keeeeep it open. This might sound obvious but it's so easy to asphyxiate slowly even in common situations.

As far as the smell (presuming you're working with leather), you should treat it once and a while. It'll keep that nice leather smell and won't smell so much like the inside of Chuck E. Cheese's helmet so to speak (having performed that job I can tell you being surrounded by that smell for 5 hours at a time is no damn fun!) :P

Sorry I have a thing for hoods ^.^

@MissOchistic: hee hee, the helmet hair is rather shameful. Master says it's cute. I sincerely doubt that but he's weird sometimes :D

< Message edited by Pezzle -- 5/11/2007 11:42:15 AM >

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/12/2007 2:55:57 AM

cyber

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One of the interesting aspects of hoods (masks) is the hiding the personal identity. It helps the players to hide their face behind their masks and it gives them more sense of game play. Sometimes slaves need to release their identity to be able to feel their role. Also between partners it can help them to come out of their usual relationship and feel braver to experience new roles and games in their sexual life (without feeling shame or uncomfortable)

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RE: Safety issues in using masks. - 5/12/2007 11:52:27 AM

dogobedience

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A general answer, make sure that either or both the mouth and nose can get fresh air.
IF you are talking about hooding (look at my pics, many have a hooded girl in them, but cropped for collarme standards). This allows the girl to focus more by taking away the ability to see, hear and sometimes taste or smell.
BUT also remember MOST BDSM films are done with actors and NOT people really into it. Kinky perhaps, but PAID actors. So what you see is VERY staged and edited.

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