by Hermes Solenzol Everything I described in Ask a Neuroscientist: The physiology of BDSM (Part 1) – How Pain Moves to the Brain forms the so-called ascending pain pathway, which goes from the skin to the cerebral cortex. There, in the cortex, is where the pain becomes conscious, it is felt with its particular emotional…
Category: Identities
When the “D” in Your D/s Dynamic Stands for Depression
Being a caregiver to someone with depression isn’t an easy thing to do. It is even harder in a D/s or Master/slave relationship. When mental health issues surface, they can often do so seemingly out-of-the-blue. In a D/s dynamic, this can destabilise or cause fluctuation in the power flows between the Dominant and the submissive….
Ask a Neuroscientist: The Physiology of BDSM (Part 1/2) – How Pain Moves to the Brain
by Hermes Solenzol We need to rescue the word “sadist”. In the vanilla world it is often taken as a synonym of “cruel”, but in the BDSM culture we know this is not true. We are not cruel, we don’t like to cause suffering, just as masochists do not like to suffer. It is only…
Do Slaveboys Dream of Soft Pillows?
It’s only a week into my first full-time job and i have already been through a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Every morning i’m up at 5am, drive to work at 7:30am, finish around 8pm, and then get back home for dinner around 10pm. The routine is automated and self-repetitive. i’m feeding the big corporate…
Scene Etiquette and Leather Protocol: A Few Notes on High Protocol & In Closing (6/6)
by Ambrosio Part 1: General Principles Part 2: More Specific Guidelines Part 3: Cruising with Class Part 4: Play Parties Part 5: Flagging, Symbols and Rituals HIGH PROTOCOL IN PERSPECTIVE i can’t get all involved in what is ‘protocol’ and what is not… good grief, relationships are hard enough… i frankly just prefer to please…
Scene Etiquette and Leather Protocol: Flagging, Symbols and Rituals (5/6)
by Ambrosio Part 1: General Principles Part 2: More Specific Guidelines Part 3: Cruising with Class Part 4: Play Parties Part 6: A Few Notes on High Protocol & In Closing FLAGGING NOT FLOGGING Flagging refers to non-verbal signals that serve as very specific cues in the scene. Most of them originated from the Gay…
The Thrill of Financial Domination
i am a fresh graduate, and just started my first full-time. At the same time, i am a collared slaveboy to a Master with His pup. Having just been through multiple intensive interviews, and talking about jobs with families and friends, i’ve discovered something interesting about salary and money. It intrigues me the way people…
Scene Etiquette and Leather Protocol: Play Parties (4/6)
by Ambrosio Part 1: General Principles Part 2: More Specific Guidelines Part 3: Cruising with Class Part 5: Flagging, Symbols and Rituals Part 6: A Few Notes on High Protocol & In Closing THREE TYPES OF PARTIES Play parties — or dungeon parties — are parties where people in the Leather and BDSM scene can…
Scene Etiquette and Leather Protocol: Cruising with Class (3/6)
by Ambrosio Part 1: General Principles Part 2: More Specific Guidelines Part 4: Play Parties Part 5: Flagging, Symbols and Rituals Part 6: A Few Notes on High Protocol & In Closing EXPECTATIONS OF SEX BDSM is not always about sex. BDSM is not synonymous with swinging, swapping, or Polyamory — although it’s possible for…
Being Old Guard Leather in a Modern World – The Constructivist Approach
We’re often prompted to label everything, even thinks that resist labeling. So, how do i categorise my own BDSM dynamic? Is it old guard or new guard? The way i see it is as a constructivist approach in practicing M/s dynamics. Does actual BDSM fantasy – like the one described by Gengoroh Tagame comics, or…