What is BDSM?

BDSM is an erotic subculture, some people think it is a sadistic subculture yet. The four letters of BDSM are a general generalization of the three concepts of bondage & discipline (B / D), dominion & Submission (D / S) and sadism & Masochism (S / M).

In BDSM, there are some very erotic activities but do not require sexual behavior.For example, binding and display can also produce strong pleasure and excitement without involving body contact and sexual behavior. Although these behaviors will be regarded as unpleasant, unwanted or unfavorable behaviors by most people, BDSM aims to achieve mutual pleasure on the premise of mutual consent, and on the basis of safe, sane, informed (SSC) or risk aware consequent kink,(RACK).

There are several basic identities in BDSM: S corresponds to the Sadist, M corresponds to the Masochist, which aim to pursue physiological pleasure; DOM is the dominator and SUB is the subject, which discusses spiritual pleasure. TOP is the person who performs the action, not necessarily DOM or Sadist ; BOT is the person who accepts the action, which is opposite to the meaning of top. In addition, there are "naughty" brat, flexible switch and so on. "Domination" is the state of mental or physical control over the partner in the relationship of power exchange. On the contrary, "Submission" is to transfer the individual's power to control the body and spirit to the "dominator". The power conversion of "domination" and "submission" will be agreed in the oral or paper contract of both parties to determine the length of time and intensity of "power conversion" in the relationship.

In the BDSM generally agreed by both parties, "abused" refers to the way to obtain pleasure by exerting pain or watching others suffer pain. "Masochism" refers to pleasure obtained by being subjected to pain or insult. Sadism and masochism are still used to refer to mental diseases and psychopathological models in psychiatric science and medicine. However, in the BDSM Community, abusive and abused represents that can bring strong pleasure, sensory and catharsis activities with the consent of both parties. As mentioned above, BDSM does not necessarily include all the above three modes. For example, rope binding includes binding and adjustment, but does not include "domination" and "submission". In terms of identity, although role-playing will change with different scenarios, the identity of DOM or SUB is more difficult to change. In actual cases, there are also cases that  you enjoy different scenes and roles, so you can't determine whether you are a DOM or a SUB. Therefore, DOM / SUB may also be switched, which will change your identity.

The core of BDSM relationship is the dynamic change of rights (right exchange). The principle of mutual voluntariness is the basis of right exchange, which is also the fundamental difference between BDSM and slavery, because there are no privileges that one party conceals from the other. Some BDSM behavior branches (such as exposure play) may involve innocent bystanders, so both parties voluntarily rise to multi-party consent, or cannot influence other people who are unknown to this behavior. Generally speaking, you can do whatever you want in BDSM, but you can unconditionally refuse what you don't want to do.