From: nogarder@ix.netcom.com(*** ) Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories Subject: The Crack Of The Whip (bdsm) Date: 16 Mar 1996 19:34:12 GMT The Crack Of The Whip A great deal of talk has been bandied around about that secret deviation, S&M. Most of it has been in whispers, or in the privacy of one's own bedroom late at night when sleeplessness shatters the walls between daylight shock and midnight wonderings. Today, we shatter the chains of the mind that bind the secrets to the dark. There are many levels of S&M, running from the simple act of spur-of-the-moment trying one's mate to the bedposts with stocking to the true sado/masochism that goes on in professionally-run `dungeons'. And not all of the deviations can be labeled as S&M - some runs more to the `B&D'. The subtle difference between the two is fairly simple. B&D (or bondage & discipline) is much more playful, less painful practice of sado/masochism. A great many people practice B&D without understanding that it is related to S&M. Tying your mate to the bed, using a feather or string duster to stimulate new sensations in new areas, even role- playing where one is the Dominant and the other the Submissive are just a few examples. Some forms run higher up the rung, and though bordering on S&M, do not go over the edge entirely, for the only intent is to cause more powerful orgasms and stimulation. Bondage & Discipline can take many more subtle forms than simple mechanisms use, such as whips and masks. Bondage can also cover `Mummification' (wherein the Submissive is wrapped tightly in Ace bandages from head to toe and left alone in a room with his or her own thoughts); Voyeurism, where the Dominant hides in a closet or some such place and watches as the Submissive masturbates; or the practice of using whips, masks, the hint of leather, or verbal threats as to what will be done to the Submissive's body should they not do as they are told. S&M deals with whips and leather and masks, but on a more violent level wherein one may be suspended from the ceiling, dragged abut by a chain or rope connected to nipple (or any other places they can be found) rings, kneeling as the Dominant drips wax down upon the Submissive's bodily parts, racks, burns, etc... S&M is a serious game. B&D is a game that gives the same sensation of excitement, but it is still only a GAME! The one thing that they have most in common, no matter what level the games are being played upon, is trust and communication between the practitioners. One understanding that seems to be common is that, before getting into the game, neither of the participants are to indulge in alcohol or drugs. Control over the game is the responsibility of all involved! If you were willing to try it, even once, you certainly would not feel safe in the hands of someone who was drunk and in total control over the whip, chains, or anal beads! BOTH must be clear of mind to know when to call a halt to things. Unfortunately, the word `STOP!' can be used in many situations, none of which have anything to do with actually stopping! Therefore, `Code Words' must be agreed upon well in advance, and any Dominant worth their salt will go through everything with you well in advance of the game. The Dominant must know what you are ready for, what you DO NOT want done to your body or mind, and what level of pain you can withstand, though you yourself are uncertain as to that point. Since the Dominant is always in control of the situation, it is their responsibility to see that you are enjoying yourself, not reduced to a whimpering pile of flesh whose mind has run and hidden itself away too far into the depths. The `Code Words' are the stop-gap in the game. If something is becoming too painful, or if you suddenly find you are claustrophobic AFTER you have been locked into a full-face mask, YOU are the one who must tell the Dominant that you are uncomfortable or in real pain that is unacceptable. Choose words that will come easily to mind. Some examples are: `Dog', `Cat', `Rug', `Chevy' or `Ford'... something you are VERY familiar with, and will not easily forget. Talk to the Dominant about your choice of `Code Word', and once uttered, the game will be stopped, and you can both decide whether it is completely over, or if you want to go to something less terrifying or trying. The real dangers in both B&D and S&M are in finding yourself with the wrong person in control. You (as the Submissive) must TRUST your Dominant to follow your decisions immediately and completely! A good Dominant will continually check you and your bindings to make sure you are enjoying the experience and not suffering too much pain. Or that blood is being cut off to vital areas! Some hints to the novice game-player are: NEVER use a whip unless you have practiced! And Practiced! AND PRACTICED!!! Use balloons as targets, and try to wrap your whip around them several times without breaking them. If you can, you are on your way to becoming proficient. Remember, whips can pop an eye or testicle out, or, with the wrong blow, cut an artery or leave scars! It can be a toy, yes, but they were first created as WEAPONS, and should be treated with great respect. (If you consider how many people get shot EVERY DAY with unloaded guns, you have a general idea of how a weapon can be misused or misunderstood!) Start off slow. Use feather dusters and soft bondings such as stockings, clothesline (not the plastic kind, the cotton type! Both clothesline and stockings tend to slip tighter!) or, if you use handcuffs, make certain the key is in a safe, quickly-reached place. If you use clothesline, wash it in your machine at LEAST three times, and soak it overnight in fabric softener. Always tie knots so that they can be immediately slipped off by the Dominant, and when tying hands together, make certain the wrists are facing towards each other and the knot is to the side. Knots can slip around and tighter very easily, and the chance of seriously cutting off needed blood supply is dramatically increased when the wrists are facing OUTWARD! Decide on your codewords well ahead of time and REMEMBER them! Always try your chosen equipment out on YOURSELF before you use them on someone else! Running a whip over your back will show you how it feels to other people, and a few whacks will teach you that there is such a thing as too much!! Leather articles can have edges or `catches' or buckles that will be painful. Take some medium sandpaper and run it over your equipment, then take finer sandpaper and repeat the process until you can wear it in total comfort. If you have ever had a `Seven Gates of Hell' contraption slid onto your cock or into your vagina right out of the shop, you will have already learned the important lessons ofi 1) trying it out on yourself first, and 2) yes, you really have to sandpaper damn near EVERYTHING that is leather! Sandpapering is a necessity, not a frivolity! One does not HAVE to be jaded or bored to explore these new reaches, nor do you HAVE to take things to the `wilder side'. Remember, `toys' tend to make your body build up a certain resistance to sensation after a time. Pace yourself, and do not try to go beyond what is fun and pleasurable. During sex, your body puts out a certain level of natural `novacaine'. What may hurt one time may not be necessarily so the second, depending on your level of stimulation. Be wary at ALL times! Be certain to trust your Dominant! Ask questions, no matter how silly they may sound. With an experienced partner in B&D or S&M, they know the control necessary and the trust one must have. A good Dominant will NEVER take things further than you want them to go, because it simply is not fun anymore! The thrill of these games is in the sensation of fear and new stimulation. But, injury could await those that do not make their needs perfectly clear, or are sure of the one holding the whip. Remember, even a Submissive is responsible for how far the game goes, and the only object is to have a good fantasy and a very good, enjoyable time for all.