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ORIGINAL: MissLaura1973

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ORIGINAL: Arafiss82

So I was sitting here wondering what is the difference? mind you this is all your personal opinions and idea's but it would be worth hearing input from others. 

As someone who self-identifies as both, here's how I see the difference within myself:

Dominant - I get off on the power exchange, the ownership, the responsibility. This is who I am, 24/7 (though I am not dominant to all in my life, such as in the vanilla world), but I strive to be calm, collected, empathetic, and rational in all interactions.

Sadist - I like to inflict intense sensations (some would classify them as pain, others find them pleasurable); I am a very tactile person and find it physically arousing to touch another's skin, whether with the lightest of touches or the bite of the cane. In a very intense interaction, my "tools" become an extension of my body: I can literally feel the tips of the floggers' lashes as they curve around the buttocks to nip at the person's sweet spot. The very thought makes me salivate. But my sadistic side isn't always present - it's a desire and craving that waxes and wanes and that I do not always indulge.

Sometimes the dominant and sadistic sides are present at the same time, such as when I'm feeling sadistic and there's a slave around that I can lay into. If I am being sadistic with one that I consider to be my own, frequently I don't care if they are enjoying themselves - not only am I getting off on the sensations that I'm inflicting, but I am also flying on the knowledge that they're taking the agony out of respect for my desires - that's a heady thought.

At other times I am sadistic without there being much power exchange at all, such as when I'm "playing" with a submissive who isn't mine - then, while I am the one providing the sensations, I don't feel that I am the dominant in the scenario - instead, we're equally going through the experience together.

(I've a feeling that I've muddled that.)

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ORIGINAL: Prinsexx

You'll know the difference when it hits you... or doesn't.

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ORIGINAL: RumpusParable
Is it really that hard to open a dictionary or, since already online, to pull up dictionary.com?  Really?

It's not a matter of personal opinion(s);  They're two different things with two different, verifiable definitions.

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if she trips and falls down, the Dominant, full of concern, helps her up and asks her if she is ok, checks to make sure she is walking again without pain, obtains an ice pack if necessary and orders her to sit down and apply the ice pack to whatever is swelling for a few minutes before proceeding.
 
the sadist giggles, either right out loud or stifled into a wry smile, and if they happen to be Dominant as well, goes about the same activities as described above...might even feel bad about the uncontrollable giggle...but still finds the trip/fall amusing.