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I was recently challenged over my usage of words in one of my articles in the comment section. The article in question is titled, "Kinky sex and checklists."
I frequently refer to B.D.S.M. as a craft. This is intentional. The Oxford English Dictionary defines craft as:
1. An activity involving skill in making things by hand.
2. Skills involved in carrying out one’s work.
Why do I refer to B.D.S.M. as a craft? Well, that is fairly simple. While the activities grouped under B.D.S.M. can be often practiced by anyone, such as light flogging or spanking, with little to no skill, they are often dangerous, and certain activities are downright lethal outside of the hands of those that are highly skilled in them.
An example of this is full suspension bondage. Full suspension bondage carries a high degree of potential lethality and/or serious injury. A rope can give way, you can twist the wrong way, etc. What happens? The rope pulls the wrong way and an arm or leg is dislocated if you're lucky. If you're not lucky, it wraps around your throat and either breaks your neck or strangles you.
Even the tame activities coupled under B.D.S.M. such as flogging are dangerous if not done right. An example is using a cane across the lower back. This can lead to damaged kidneys and/or spine. Other activities, such as mummification or breath play can lead to suffocation. Knife play if not careful can lead to punctured organs if you slip or stumble. Needle play can lead to pierced organs and nerve damage. Piercing suspension can lead to massive ripped skin.
There are a great many dangers associated with activities that fall under the banner of B.D.S.M. This is why I spend as much time as I do cautioning people about potential complications, and why I emphasize as strongly as I do that you need to research, you need to learn, you need to study, you need to communicate your limits, you need to be open, you need to have a safe word set in place if you're just starting and pay attention.
Anyone can play, but it takes a great deal of skill to be good at it.
