|
TeachMeTonight -> RE: I have no clue (4/18/2008 9:25:19 AM)
|
It is my observation that there are many levels of BDSM relationships. The three dichotomies (probably false ones, but still useful) that we tend to think in terms of are
Top/Bottom or Sadist/Masochist, Dominant/Submissive, and Master/Slave. One of our BDSM educators and teachers that I admire is a leatherman named Skip Chasey aka Master Skip. Without giving one of these a higher status or a value judgement per se, he suggests that Top/Bottom is the physical dimension of what we do, the Dominant/Submissive is the mental dimenseion, and the Master/Slave is the spiritual dimension. I do not consider someone who operates in the Top/Bottom spaces any less "lifestyle" than the person who operates in the Master/Slave space. The fun part is that each of us gets to choose what works for us. I have known people who totally do not grok the D/S portion of things, and for that matter D/S and M/S people who do not have an SM or physical dimension to what they do. Still others that are Dominant, Sadistic, and Masochistic all in the same package. Midori does an interesting workshop called "Beyond Twisted." She outlines the infinite set of possibilities that we can travel through in our chosen lifestyle depending on things like partner, mood, and what we want at the time.
Do what works for you and consider the judgement of others for what they are, statements about themselves and not you.
|
|
|
|
