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MemphisDsCouple -> RE: From humiliation to degradation (4/29/2005 9:58:22 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrKite
Degradation is the process of lowering a person's rank, status, value, or worth – "de-grading" him – usually in someone else's eyes and often, thereby, in his own. This is how degradation may frequently lead to humiliation.
We see a well-defined difference between humiliation and degradation. The key words that we’d like to focus on are rank and status. Degradation makes the sub feel more submissive, there by increasing the power exchange dynamic.
That definition for "degradation" which you cite from sexuality.org matches perfectly Webster's definition of "degrade" (found here: http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=degrade ). While it is true that Webster's refers the us to "degrade/degrading" (same defintion/word in Webster's) in its first definition for "degradation", I think that is not the sense in which the word "degradation" is used in most d/s discussions. Rather, "degradation" is more often used to reference its second Webster's defintion (found here: http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=degradation ) namely, "2 a : decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state".
A "decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state" is rarely a stepping stone to anything desirable. To demoralize a submissive rarely creates anything positive in "the power exchange dynamic".
quote:
ORIGINAL: MrKite
Humiliation is the process of lowering a person's pride, dignity, or self-esteem, often by encouraging him to see himself as foolish, contemptible, or worthless.
That sounds like more degradation. Especially, the "contemptible".
The sexuality.org author's definition of "humiliation" is only vaguely related to what Webster teaches us. Specifically, for a definition of the word "humiliation" Webster's refers us to the word "humble". I conclude, therefore, that "humiliation" is the act of making or becoming "humble". The first two perferred defintions for humble are: 1 : not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive; 2 : reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission (found here: http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=humble ). I think these are the definitions most often implied in the uses of the term "humiliation" in d/s discussions and terminology.
As you can see, becoming humble, learning humility can be a very valuable and productive thing for any of us in the proper time and place, and certainly a valuable lesson for a submissive in the context of how she interacts with her dominant.
quote:
ORIGINAL: MrKite
We see a well-defined difference between humiliation and degradation.
Yes we do. A sensible dominant is well advised to learn the difference. One path is positive and the other negative.
quote:
ORIGINAL: MrKite
Degradation makes the sub feel more submissive, there by increasing the power exchange dynamic.
Instilling a feeling of being "destitute" is not the same thing as creating a feeling of heightened submission.
Creating a "demoralized state" does not make "the sub feel more submissive".
While it is true that the state of being that degradation creates may outwardly resemble willing submission, it is just as true that the resemblance you see is a facade.
Humility, on the other hand, is a personality trait often admired and complimented - whether in the vanilla or the kinky frame of reference.
Postscript:
You are welcome to print or save this post for your own use. Please do not copy it to any public or semi-public forum (including email groups/lists) without my express permission. Thanks. All rights reserved. (I write this postscript because after-the-fact someone wrote to me to inform me that they had copied a prior post I wrote to another list. So, I thought I'd better clarify what my preference/policy is regarding use of what I write.)
B. (the male half of MemphisDsCouple)
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