Monday, August 21, 2006

Clothing Optional

Clothing Optional

Essays on a life of P.E.
August 1, 2005
by shadow

Being new or fresh into town, BDSM play conjours up lots of fantasy ideals about what people wear when they meet for kinky sex.

Most of those fantasy writings are pure b.s. made up by folks that have never set foot outside of their computer room, many of whom do not even believe that there IS a real BDSM subculture in the world.

Meeting people, and being out in the public scene is very exciting, full of fun and laughter and sharing. Keeping in mind that this is NOT an Anne Rice novel and that you are trying to find real relationships and not kink fantasy should be high on your list of priorities.

The kind of venue you attend, and the event, will often dictate how you should look. First and foremost however, is that you start out with a clean, shaved, well groomed YOU. Wash your hair and clean under your nails, make sure that your teeth are brushed and your breath is nice. The friends you will make are just like anyone else in the world- they remember your first impression.

Unless you are attending an actual private party or dungeon, your attire should be clean, normal, vanilla casual wear for most meetings. Most munches are held in public restaurants with other patrons, and few people in the scene want to draw attention to themselves or create issues for their restaurant hosts. Dressing in clean jeans, pressed shirts, and walking shoes is always a good choice. While flamboyant, outre, devil may care dress may be your personal style, and *you* may have no reason to care who knows about you or your life, the other people at a munch or class might have a different view. Dressing to fit in rather than stand out while you make new friends will help.

Classes are another place where more restrained attire is a good idea in the beginning. Some classes are held in public dungeons, some in rented classrooms, some in private homes or even in hotels. Until you know the location and what is acceptable, lean towards the more restrained items in your wardrobe, thinking more of what you would wear to dinner with friends or dressing for a casual job interview. Cut offs, torn pants, trendy shredded things might be great with the gang, but are probably not the best choice for a first visit to a new venue.

Some classes, such as those about protocols, ethics, or legal rights, tend to be populated by more people that have more clothing. Hands on classes such as rope knots, flogging, or group demos tend to be a bit more casual, especially if advertised as workshops in private locations where the class members can shed some clothes to facilitate learning (fisting class would be a great example).

So. You think that now you have mingled a bit, met a few folks, and had a meal or 2 and it's time to head down to that public dungeon.

Now what do you wear?

Well, unless you have already spoken to a lot of people and feel really confident, try the classics. Black shirt and black pants with black shoes for males, simple nice evening wear for women. You are probably not planning on a play date that first time, and so dressing comfortably but with some care and that aura that says "tonight is special" sends out great vibes and makes it easy for others to strike up a conversation. Sandals, cut offs and T shirts should be left at home- you want to dress to impress. Use lightly scented personal hygiene items sparingly- you will be indoors and possibly in a location where there is little fresh air.

No one expects new members to show up in fetish wear, low cut blouses, lacy sleeves and a fedora sporting a shoulder full of floggers and a rash attitude. No one expects a new person (or anyone else for that matter) to come dressed in *any* particular fashion or with any intent. Those that put pressure on new folks to "get naked" at a dungeon right away are NOT the norm.

Dress sexy. Dress nice. Dress respectfully as if you were visiting old friends rather than a place where you might see nudity and sex. Keep jangly jewelry and noisy accessories to a minimum. Give yourself a chance to enjoy the night without adding to your worries with clothing that does not reflect "you".

Men have it easy in the scene. Black on Black on Black with a touch of black sox and they are fairly well *done*. But for us ladies, fetish wear and is often part of our play. It makes us feel vibrant and slim, sleek and pretty, helps us step out of "ourselves" and become that woman we want to be. Fetish wear however, does not come cheap. The average corset can easily cost $200.00, and some of the better leather ones run to $500.00. Nylons get torn, shoes need to match the nights outfit (and those heels!), and we like to have different outfits for different days and moods. You do not, however, have to spend an arm and a leg to be dressed to play.
Lots of ladies are on a budget. Shopping for fun things can run the gammut from sales at Mervyns to discount Wednesday at Good Will (which is a GREAT place to shop for tear away/knife play clothing!). Sexy night gowns are marvelous to wear before play, and if you have any flair for style simple bolts of yardage can be turned into fantasy gowns. Yes, there are lots of lovely and exspensive things to buy, from Ren Fair costumes to push up bras, but you don't have to spend a fortune.

Don't forget, once you get to playtime at a party, clothing is optional!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

The Kinky Dictionary


We wish to thank Franklin Veaux at Kinky Dictionary for this great listing.


Note: These pages are copyright by Franklin Veaux. You may reproduce the contents of these pages, provided you do so intact and unedited, and you provide credit and a return link.

This glossary is intended as a guide to many of the terms you might hear in the BDSM community. Note that you should not assume everyone who is involved with BDSM is into everything listed here; many of the specific practices described in the Glossary are quite rare.
It's sometimes common for people who are involved in one particular type of play--bondage, for example, or perhaps spanking--to believe that what they do isn't BDSM, on the mistaken idea that being involved in BDSM means being into everything from pain play to extreme sadomasochism. In fact, nobody is into everything, and even in the BDSM community, not everyone has the same tastes, the same limits, or the same ideas.

If you see something described in here which you personally find disturbing or offputting, that's fine; it doesn't mean that you aren't or can't be interested in BDSM. Hell, there are plenty of things I find disturbing, and there's nothing wrong with that!

The definitions given here reflect the usage I am most familiar with. Some terms contain commentary; anything following the word Commentary indicates my own experiences, interpretations, or views on a particular subject, and should not be assumed to be part of the formal definition of the word.

Links in the definitions will take you to other definitions on this page unless the links are in [[brackets]], in which case they will take you off this page. (Links have been disabled for this repost) Comments or additions? Hit me! (use the Link embedded in the title).

ABRASION: Any form of sensation play involving stroking or brushing the skin with rough, textured objects such as sandpaper, emery boards, and the like.

ABSOLUTE POWER EXCHANGE (APE): See total power exchange. Usage: Less common than TPE.

AFTERCARE: A period of time after intense BDSM activity in which the dominant partner cares for the submissive partner. Commentary: Some BDSM activities are physically challenging, psychologically intense, or both. After engaging in such activities, the submissive partner may need a safe psychological space to unwind and recover. Aftercare is the process of providing this safe space.

AGE PLAY: A form of role play in which a participant assumes the role of someone of a different age. Typically, the submissive partner will assume the role of a very young (and hence powerless) child.

ALGOPHILIA; also, ALGOLAGNIA: Psychology Sexual arousal from receiving pain. See also masochist; See related pain play, sadomasochism, sadist.

ALPHA SUB: Colloquial In a relationship in which one dominant has more than one submissive, the submissive accorded the greatest power or respect among all the submissives. See related polyamory: [[polyamory]]; polyamory: [[primary/secondary]]. Commentary Not all relationships which have more than one submissive include a hierarchy among the submissives; that is, not all such relationships have an alpha sub.

ANIMALISM: Any form of role play in which a participant assumes the role of an animal to be trained, such as a horse or dog. See related pony play, puppy play.

ANKLE CUFFS: Any cuffs (Def. 1) specifically designed to be affixed to a person's ankles. Ankle cuffs are often made of leather, but may also be made of cloth, rope, metal, or even wood.

ARMBINDER: A restraint device consisting of a long sleeve into which both arms are placed, often fitted with laces or straps to hold the arms securely together. An armbinder may also include an integrated collar to prevent the wearer from withdrawing the arms. Also referred to as a single-glove.

ASPHYXIA: see breath control; see related auto-erotic asphyxia.

ASYMMETRIC BONDAGE: Any bondage technique in which a person is bound in an asymmetric pose; for example, with one leg extended and one leg bent. Many forms of shibari include asymmetric bondage.

AUCTION: See slave auction.

AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIA, also AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIATION: A specific form of breath control in which a person who is by himself or herself constricts his or her own breathing, often with a rope or similar implement, while masturbating. Commentary: Often considered among the most dangerous forms of edge play (Def. 1). According to some estimates, between five hundred and a thousand people a year die in the United States doing this. It is almost impossible to do safely.

BALL GAG: A gag consisting of a ball, usually made of rubber, which is attached to a strap. The ball is placed in the mouth and the strap is placed around the head to hold it securely in place.

BALL HOOD: A specific type of hood, often without openings for the eyes or ears and sometimes containing integrated bladders designed to be inflated with air to press the hood tightly against the head, used as a means of rendering a person unable to hear, see, or speak.

BALL TIE: A specific form of bondage in which the person is bound in a seated position with the knees up, the head bent down over the knees, and the hands behind the back. Commentary: This posture quickly becomes fatiguing and should not be used for extended periods of time on people who are not accustomed to it.

BANDAGE SCISSORS: Specialized scissors, often used by emergency medical personnel, consisting of a pair of scissors with one sharp blade and one blunt blade with a rounded end. The blunt blade can be slid beneath bandages or anything else wrapped tightly around a limb without risk of cutting or injuring the person. Commentary: Often used in BDSM to remove a person from tight bondage or mummification very quickly in the event of an emergency. A sturdy pair of bandage scissors will make quick work of even thick rope; a person totally wrapped in rope can be freed within seconds with bandage scissors without injury.



BASTINADO: Any form of pain play involving inflicting pain on the soles of the feet, often by striking, cropping, or whipping them.

BAT: A thin, flexible instrument used for striking, consisting of a rigid but flexible shaft wrapped or braided with leather or cloth, very similar to a crop but usually slightly shorter and with a wider leather striking tip.

BDSM: A composite acronym for "B&D" (bondage & discipline); "D&S" (dominance & submission); and "S&M" (sadomasochism). Used to refer to any consensual activities or lifestyles between adults which include some or all of these things. The term "BDSM" is used in a general sense to describe any situation or practice which includes erotic power exchange, dominance and submission, pain play, bondage, sensation play, or anything related to these.

BIRCH: An implement used for striking, consisting of a bundle of light, thin wooden rods, typically made of birch. Also, verb To strike with a birch.

BIT: See mouth bit.

BLINDFOLD: Any implement designed to prevent a person from seeing by covering the eyes. Also, verb the act of using a blindfold on a person.

BLOOD PLAY: Any activity involving drawing blood. Specific types of blood play include needle play and knife play, among others. Often considered edge play (Def. 1). Commentary: This is a high-risk activity which may transmit HIV and other infectious diseases. Persons who engage in blood play should be aware of these risks and take appropriate precautions.

BODY BAG: A long, heavy bag, often shaped like a narrow sleeping bag and typically made of canvas, rubber, or latex, used to restrain a person very tightly. Sometimes includes integrated straps which wrap around the person within the bag. See related mummification.

BODY HARNESS: A harness consisting of a series of straps designed to be worn around the torso, which may optionally include a mechanism for locking the harness into place and may also include rings or other attachments for ropes, cuffs, or chastity belts.

BODY MODIFICATION: Any practice, including piercing, tattooing, branding, and the like, intended to modify, often permanently, the appearance of one's body.

BOI: Colloquial A person, usually biologically female and often boyish or "butch" in manner, appearance, or dress, who is submissive; commonly but not exclusively used in lesbian D/s relationships.

BONDAGE: Any practice involving tying or securing a person, as with ropes, cuffs, chains, or other restraints. Restraint bondage, the most common form of bondage, involves immobilizing a person, by tying or otherwise restraining him or her to an object or by binding his or her limbs together. Stimulation bondage is any form of tying in such a way that the subject is not immobilized and has freedom of motion, but the ropes or ties shift and move against the body, often in sensitive or erogenous areas; certain forms of shibari are stimulation bondage. A person in bondage is said to be bound. See also asymmetric bondage, ball tie, breast bondage, bondage tape, cock bondage, frog tie, self-bondage, suspension, mummification, punishment tie. See related bondage belt, bondage bunny, rigger, spreader bar, spreadeagle, straitjacket.

BONDAGE BELT: A belt used to restrain a person, which consists of a heavy band of leather or a similar material which can be strapped or locked about the waist and which has several attachment points to which the subject's wrists may be bound.

BONDAGE BUNNY: Colloquial A person who enjoys being tied or bound. Usage: Often implies that the person described is not necessarily submissive or masochistic, but enjoys bondage because he or she takes pleasure from being restrained.

BONDAGE TAPE: A vinyl tape material, available in many colors, which sticks only to itself but not to other materials such as skin or clothing, making it ideal for bondage.

BOTTOM: A person who receives spankings, floggings, or other forms of stimulation in situations which specifically exclude power exchange. For example, a masochist may be interested in receiving some kind of stimulation but may not be interested in giving up psychological control; whereas a submissive has given up authority and may receive some kind of stimulation on the instruction of a dominant, a bottom does not give up authority and may control exactly how, under what circumstances, and to what degree he or she receives some form of stimulation. Contrast top; see related submissive.

BOTTOM DROP: Colloquial A sudden, abrupt feeling of depression, unhappiness, or similar negative emotion in a submissive which may occasionally occur immediately after a period of BDSM activity. May include feelings of shame or guilt, especially if the submissive has traditional ideas about relationship or socially appropriate behavior; after a period of intense pain play, bottom drop may be related to the reduction of levels of endorphins in the brain as well.

BRANDING: Body modification by the use of a heated metal implement to brand a person's skin, leaving a permanent mark in the form of a scar. Occasionally done as a way for a dominant to "mark" his or her submissive.

BREAST BONDAGE: A specific form of bondage involving binding around or over the breasts. See related breast press, karada, shinju.

BREAST PRESS: A type of device, often consisting of two horizontal wooden planks with an adjustable screw or clamp mechanism between them, which can be clamped over the breasts.

BREATH CONTROL: Any practice in which a person's breathing is constricted or interrupted, as with a hand or ligature around the throat or with a covering over the face, for the purpose of increasing sexual arousal or sexual climax. Often considered an extremely dangerous form of edge play (def. 1), as it can and often does lead to permanent injury or death. Also referred to as asphyxia, erotic asphyxiation, gasping. See related auto-erotic asphyxia.

BULLWHIP: A type of singletail consisting of a woven or braided leather whip, usually longer than 4' and sometimes 6' long or more. Commentary: Requires extensive practice and great skill to use safely.



BUKKAKE: A sexual practice, originating in Japan, in which a very large number of men masturbate and ejaculate onto a person. The word originates with the Japanese term meaning "to splash water."

BUTT PLUG: A sex toy intended for anal stimulation, consisting of a flared dildo, usually quite short, with a wide base, designed to remain securely in the anus until removed.

BUTTERFLY CHAIR: A chair which contains two horizontal planks to which the legs can be secured, affixed to a pivot such that the legs of the secured person can be spread apart.


CABLE TIE; also, CABLE CUFF, PLASTICUFF, ZIP TIE: A type of cuff consisting of a thin plastic strip with a row of teeth in its surface, and a small ratchet on one end. The end of the cable tie can be placed through the ratchet to form a loop which can be pulled tight but not loosened again. Sometimes used by police in favor of handcuffs.

CANE: A thin, flexible instrument used to strike a person. Canes are typically made of rattan or a similar material, and are quite painful, often leaving marked welts. Also, verb to strike with a cane.

CARABINER: Any device used to connect two chains or ropes together, often in the form of a D-shaped metal ring with a spring-loaded lever which can open the ring. See related panic snap. Commentary: Carabiners are not usually appropriate for suspension, as they cannot easily be removed if the suspended person's full weight is bearing down on them.

CAT: Colloquial; from cat o' nine tails: A generic term for any flogger whose lashes are braided or knotted, regardless of the number of lashes. Commentary: Knotting or braiding the lashes makes the flogger considerably more painful.

CAT O' NINE TAILS: A specific type of flogger consisting of a handle, often made of wood and wrapped with cloth, with nine lashes affixed to it. The lashes are usually made of rope or of leather cords, and are braided or knotted. Generally more painful than many other types of floggers.

CATHERINE'S WHEEL: A large, upright wheel, usually made of wood, to which a person may be bound and then rotated to any position.

CATHETER: Any thin, flexible tube designed to be inserted in the urethra. See related sound.

CATHETERIZATION: The act or process of inserting a catheter, often as a part of a medical role play.

CBT: see cock and ball torture.

CHASTITY: The practice of disallowing any form of sexual release or sexual activity, sometimes imposed on a submissive by a dominant. Some forms of imposed chastity include the use of locking devices such as chastity belts to prevent direct sexual stimulation of the genitals. Also sometimes called chastity play, enforced chastity.

CHASTITY BELT: Any device intended to prohibit contact with or stimulation of the genitals. Female chastity belts often take the form of a lockable harness which passes between the legs and around the waist; male chastity belts may include a locking enclosure into which the penis is placed.

CHEMICAL PLAY: Any form of sensation play involving the use of mild irritants such as wintergreen oil, menthol, Tabasco sauce, and the like to create sensation.

CLOVER CLAMP: A specific type of nipple clamp consisting of a clamp with a lever mechanism to which a chain or cord is affixed in such a way that pulling on the chain or cord increases pressure on the clamp.



COCK AND BALL TORTURE (CBT): Any of a number of different practices involving pain play of the penis and testicles, including such practices as binding, compressing, striking, or stretching the penis or testicles. See related parachute.

COCK BONDAGE: Tying or restraining the penis.

COCK RING: A ring (often made of metal or rubber) or strap designed to be affixed around the base of an erect penis. The ring allows blood to flow into the penis but constricts the penis sufficiently to prevent blood from flowing out, preventing the penis from becoming flaccid once it is erect.

CO-DOM: 1. A person who acts in conjunction with or as an assistant to a dominant during a specific scene. 2. A person who shares a submissive with another dominant, often in the context of a [[polyamorous]] relationship. Also, verb to act in concert with another dominant.

COLLAR: An item worn around the neck, sometimes equipped with a locking device to prevent its removal, and often worn as a symbol of submission. Also, verb To put a collar on, often as part of a ceremony indicating a committed relationship between a dominant and a submissive. See also posture collar, training collar; see related collaring ceremony. Commentary: A collaring ceremony in the BDSM community has many of the same kinds of social significance as something like a marriage or a wedding; often, the process of collaring is used to indicate a committed long-term relationship, particularly in TPE relationships. A submissive who has participated in such a ceremony is often said to be "collared to" his or her dominant. A collar in this context has symbolic value not unlike that of, say, a wedding ring. Some people outside the BDSM community associate collars with animals or pets, and erroneously believe that a collar is a sign of humiliation or is used to dehumanize a submissive; however, the symbolic value of a collar within the BDSM community is completely different.

COLLARED: The condition of having engaged in a committed, long-term relationship to a dominant, often by means of a collaring ceremony of some kind.

COLLARING CEREMONY: A formal ceremony celebrating or symbolizing a commitment between a dominant and a submissive, typically during which a collar is placed around the submissive's neck. Commentary: There is no single type of collaring ceremony, and not all people in committed relationships in the BDSM community practice collaring ceremonies. A collaring ceremony is generally viewed as a serious, long-term commitment, not unlike a wedding ceremony in some ways. Such ceremonies may be public or private, and may include whatever elements the people involved find appropriate. Collaring ceremonies may or may not imply a monogamous relationship; one dominant may have more than one collared submissive, but it is extremely uncommon for one submissive to be collared to more than one dominant. A collaring ceremony may mark the formal beginning of a TPE relationship.

CONSENT: Affirmative permission, assent, or approval. In a BDSM context, "consent" is an affirmative assent to engage in a particular activity, freely given without coercion or distress. Informed consent: Consent freely given with full and prior knowledge of the conditions and potential consequences of the assent. Also, verb To give affirmative permission to engage in an activity. Commentary: Consent is one of the hallmarks of BDSM, distinguishing it from abusive activities which may appear superficially similar. Consent is based on the active, willing participation of everyone involved in a particular activity; for example, if two people are engaged in something like pain play, a key defining characteristic which differentiates this play from physical abuse is that all the people involved know exactly what they're doing, want to be there, and give specific assent to the activities in question, whereas the victim of abuse does not specifically and affirmatively assent to the abuse. Consent is valid and meaningful only if it is informed, meaning that all the participants have full knowledge of the activities to which they are consenting (including but not limited to the circumstances under which the activity will take place and the possible risks, if any, inherent in the activity); if it is uncoerced, meaning that the participants give the consent freely without threat, force, or intimidation; and if the people involved give that consent from a condition of sound mind, meaning their judgement in not impaired by drugs, disease, or any other condition which might cloud or distort their ability to make reasonable, rational decisions.

CONSENSUAL NON-CONSENT: Any situation in which one person knowingly and voluntarily gives up the ability to prevent another person from doing whatever he or she wants; as, for example, deliberately engaging in activities which the submissive may be physically prevented from resisting and does not have a safe word. Some forms of rape play are consensual non-consent. Commentary: Consensual non-consent is still consent. A person who gives consent in this way is giving affirmative assent to engage in an activity that he or she will not be able to stop in the middle; it can be thought of as consenting to an activity in such a way that the consent may not be revoked.

CONTRACT: A mutually negotiated, written agreement between a dominant and a submissive, outlining the submissive's limits, the activities the participants wish to explore, and the like. Commentary: BDSM contracts are not legally valid or enforceable, but are useful tools for defining what activities are and are not acceptable and in what contexts.

CONTRAPOLAR STIMULATION: Physiology Of or relating to any form of stimulation which produces both pleasure and pain sensations simultaneously.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: Any activity involving disciplining a person through physical means, as by spanking.

CORSET: An article of clothing, often made of leather and sometimes including strips of rigid "boning," which is tightly laced and designed to narrow the waist and lift the breasts, creating an "hourglass" figure. See related corsetry.

CORSET PIERCING: A form of body modification in which rings are placed through a person's skin, then laced together with a silk cord or similar tie. Corset piercings can be done on the back, or even on the labia, tying it closed. The piercings themselves may be temporary or permanent.

CORSETRY: The practice of wearing a corset, often laced extremely tightly, and sometimes constraining motion, as a form of body modification or for the purpose of control. See related lacing (Def. 1).

CO-TOP: A person who acts together with or as an assistant to a top during a specific scene. Also, verb to act in concert with another top.

CRACKER: 1. A short piece of cord on the end of a whip, which makes a loud cracking sound as the whip is snapped. 2. Archaic, colloquial One who wields a whip. Commentary: The colloquial term "cracker" when used to describe a person from the rural southern United States originates with Def. 2.

CRASH: Colloquial An abrupt feeling of depression or unhappiness immediately following the end of a BDSM activity. This feeling may be triggered by a number of different factors, including feelings of guilt (especially among people raised with traditional ideas about sex and relationships), confusion, unexpected psychological response to the activities, or even physiological processes such as a drop in the levels of endorphins. See related top drop, bottom drop.

CROP, also RIDING CROP: A thin, flexible instrument used for striking, consisting of a rigid but flexible shaft wrapped with leather or a similar material, with a handle at one end and often with a small leather loop at the other. Also, verb to strike with a crop.



CROSS-DRESSING: Sexual arousal or gratification from wearing clothing appropriate for the opposite sex.

CROSS-ORIENTATION PLAY: See orientation play.

CUCKOLD: One whose partner practices cuckoldry.

CUCKOLDRY: The practice by which a dominant takes one or more sexual partners other than his or her submissive, for the purpose of humiliating the submissive. Commentary: Cuckoldry is distinct from the practice of [[polyamory]] in the sense that it is done in a context where the submissive has no direct control over the dominant's other partners, and the primary purpose is to humiliate the submissive. Those who are aroused by cuckoldry are most often attracted to the humiliation and powerlessness aspects of it. The majority of the people who practice cuckoldry as a sexual fetish are women, who humiliate their male partners by having sex with other men.

CUFF: 1. Any restraint which has a band or band-like structure, which may be made of metal or of a flexible material such as canvas or leather, intended to be strapped or locked around an extremity such as a wrist or ankle for the purpose of securing or immobilizing it. 2. Archaic the fist. Also, verb 1. To restrain or immobilize by means of a cuff or cuffs. 2. To strike a rapid blow, as with the hand. 3. Archaic: Cuff with, to engage in a fistfight with.

CUPPING: A type of sensation play involving the use of small glass or plastic cups which are placed over the skin and then evacuated to create a vacuum, and hence suction. Some cups have an integrated valve to which a hand-operated vacuum pump can be attached; in other cases, the vacuum is created by dropping a flaming cotton ball, usually soaked in alcohol, into the cup and then placing the cup over the skin in such a way as to extinguish the flame. The vacuum is created by the contraction of the cooling air.

D/s: Dominance and submission.

DISCIPLINE: 1. Any activity in which one person trains another person to act or behave in a specified way, often by enforcing rigid codes of conduct or by inflicting punishment for failure to behave in the prescribed way. 2. Archaic Any instrument used to enforce discipline or to punish physically, such as a whip or crop.

DOMINA: A female dominant.

DOMINANT: A person who assumes a role of power or authority in a power exchange relationship. A dominant takes psychological control over or has power over another person, and may, for example, give that person orders which are to be obeyed. Contrast submissive; see related top, switch.

DOMINATE: To assume or exert control over; to take psychological power over. A person who controls another person or takes control of a scene is said to dominate that person. Dominant is a noun or an adjective; dominate is a verb. Domination, dominance: the act of wielding authority over another.

DOM: A dominant. Usage: Often indicates a male dominant; however, may be applied to a dominant of any sex.

DOMINATRIX: A dominant, usually female and often a prodomme.

DOMME: A female dominant.

DRAGON'S TAIL: An unusual type of whip consisting of a handle, often made of wood and wrapped with leather, to which a wide piece of thin leather or suede is attached. This leather or suede forms a lash which is a hollow tube tapering to a point at the striking end.

DRAGON'S TONGUE: An unusual type of whip consisting of a handle, often made of wood and wrapped with leather, and a lash made of a single wide piece of leather or suede wrapped around another, thinner suede lash. The outer lash is rolled into a tube around the inner lash, and tapers to a point at the striking end.

DREAD KOOSH FLOGGER: Colloquial A flogger made from a rope handle tied to several Koosh balls, which are children's toys consisting of a small, hard rubber ball with a very large number of long rubber "whiskers" attached. The dread koosh flogger was invented by a participant of the UseNet newsgroup alt.sex.bondage, and is generally considered the definitive standard for thud in a flogger.

DUNGEON: Any place specifically set up for BDSM activities, often equipped specifically for BDSM play, as with furniture such as racks, crosses, and the like.

DUNGEON MONITOR: In a play party, a person charged with ensuring that the participants adhere to safety rules and treat one another with respect.

EDGE PLAY: 1. Any practice which involves significant risk of injury or physical harm; as, breath control, fire play. 2. Any practice which challenges the limits or boundaries of one or more of the participants.

ELECTRICAL PLAY: Any of a variety of different practices involving the use of electrical current or electricity to stimulate a person. Some common forms of electrical play include using high-voltage, low-current devices such as violet wands or the use of controlled pulses of electricity to induce muscle contractions as with a TENS unit. Commentary: Many forms of electrical play are not safe to use above the waist, as even small amounts of electrical current across the chest may induce heart arrythmia or heart attack.

EMT SCISSORS; also, EMT SHEARS: See bandage scissors.

ENDORPHINS: Naturally-occurring opiate-like chemicals produced in the brain in response to pain, which block pain and can produce a euphoric sensation. The euphoria sometimes described by people who engage in BDSM is often attributed to endorphins.

ENEMA: The act of introducing water or other liquid into the bowel or lower intestine, often by means of a nozzle inserted into the anus and connected to a liquid-filled bag or bulb. Commentary: In a BDSM context, enemas may be given for pleasure (some people find the sensations enjoyable or arousing), as a form of humiliation play, or simply as a precursor to anal sex.

ENGLISH: Archaic caning.

EXHIBITIONIST: One who is sexually aroused by showing others his or her body or by being watched, particularly in a sexual setting or while engaged in sexual activity.

EXHIBITIONISM: The act of engaging in exhibitionistic behavior.

FEMDOM: A power exchange relationship in which the dominant is female. Often (but not always) used to refer to a relationship between a female dominant and a male submissive.

FEMINIZATION: The practice of enforcing activities or behaviors on a male submissive which are typically associated with women, as cross-dressing, requiring the submissive to sit when urinating, and the like. Often used as a form of humiliation play. Also referred to as sissification.

FERULA: See tawse. Usage: Originated in Catholic schools; uncommon among people who have not attended Catholic school.

FETISH: 1. Formally, Psychology a non-sexual object whose presence is required for sexual arousal or climax; informally, anything not generally considered sexual which arouses a person, as a foot fetish or a leather fetish. 2. Anything of or relating to BDSM in general; as a fetish convention, a fetish event. 3. Items, practices, or apparel relating to BDSM; as, fetish photography, fetish clothing.

FETTERS: see leg irons.

FIDDLE: A type of restraint consisting of a short metal rod with a locking collar, usually made of metal, affixed to one end and a pair of locking cuffs on the other. Used to bind the wrists together and prevent freedom of motion of the hands and arms.

FIGGING: The practice of placing a piece of carved ginger root into the anus or vagina. The result is a burning sensation which many people claim can intensify orgasm.

FIRE PLAY: Any of a number of practices involving the use of fire or flame in BDSM or sexual play. One form of fire play, for example, involves placing an accelerant such as alcohol on a person's body, then igniting and quickly extinguishing it. Commentary: Very dramatic, but also dangerous. Not appropriate for inexperienced people.

FISTICUFF: Archaic 1. To strike with the closed hand. Fisticuffs: Archaic 1. The fists. 2. Colloquial A fistfight. Get into fisticuffs: Engage in a fight with bare fists.

FISTING: The practice of inserting the entire hand into the vagina or (less commonly) into the anus. Commentary: Vaginal fisting is actually quite a bit easier to do than most people realize; the human body is quite accommodating. Contrary to common misconception, fisting is not done by making a fist and shoving it into the vagina; rather, the fingers are placed together and inserted slowly; as the hand is inserted, the fingers tend to curl into a loose ball. Many women experience intense orgasms from vaginal fisting.

FISTING SLING: A sling designed in such a way that the person within the sling is reclined with the legs spread apart, in a posture convenient for fisting.

FLAGELLATION: A generic term for any sort of activity involving flogging or whipping.

FLAGGING: The act of wearing a specific clothing, insignia, jewelry, or other sign as a means of expressing interest in a specific form of BDSM activities. See related hanky code.

FLOG: To strike with a flogger.

FLOGGER: An implement used to strike a person, consisting of a handle with multiple lashes attached to it. The lashes are typically made of leather, but may also be made of materials such as rope, suede, horsehair, or even Koosh balls. See also cat, cat o' nine tails, dread koosh flogger; See related thud, sting.



FLORENTINE: A flashy flogging technique involving the use of a flogger in each hand. The floggers are most often swung in a figure-8 pattern.

FORCED ORGASM: An orgasm induced in a person against that person's will or as part of resistance play, often by means of bondage combined with sexual stimulation. See related consensual non-consent.

FOUNTAIN OF VENUS: Colloquial Water sports involving urination by a woman.

FREEPLAY: BDSM activities in which there is no domination or submission. See related top, bottom, sensation play.

FROG TIE: A specific form of bondage in which the person kneels and the ankles are bound to the thighs, preventing the person from rising; the wrists are then bound to the ankles.

FUCKING MACHINE: Any device or machine which is designed to simulate the act of sex; often consisting of a dildo affixed to a reciprocating motor so as to thrust in and out of a person. Many varieties of fucking machines exist, some designed so that the subject straddles or sits on them, others designed to be used when the subject is prone or spreadeagle.

FUNNEL GAG: A gag, usually consisting of an oblong or penis-shaped rubber or plastic bit, which has a tube running through it connected to a funnel. When the gag is placed in the mouth, any liquids introduced into the tube will pass into the mouth, and the person wearing the gag has no choice but to swallow them.

GAG: Any device or object designed to be placed in the mouth, most commonly to prevent a person from speaking or making loud sounds, sometimes to hold the mouth open. Also, verb To place an object into the mouth to prevent a person from speaking. See also ball gag, ring gag, mouth gag, mouth bit, pump gag, funnel gag.

GASPING: colloquial; see breath control.

GASPER: colloquial One who participates or engages in breath control or auto-erotic asphyxia.

GATES OF HELL: A male chastity device consisting of a series of metal rings connected by a leather band which are placed around the penis.

GENITORTURE: pain play inflicted on the genitals.

GIMP MASK: Colloquial A specific form of hood, often made of heavy leather or rubber, which entirely encloses the face and head, and which often lacks openings for the eyes, mouth, or ears.

GOLDEN SHOWER: A form of water sports involving the act of urinating on a person.

GOR: A mythical planet created by science fiction writer John Norman and used as the setting for an entire series of science fiction novels. The novels describe a civilization in which women occupy an extremely submissive position in society and are often used as sex slaves. The novels describes a formalized, ritualized set of social structures centered around female submission and male superiority, which have been adopted by a subcommunity of people within the BDSM community.

GOREAN D/S: Male domination and female submission according to a formal system adapted from the fictitious society described in the Gor novels, and characterized by strong hierarchy, male superiority, and an elaborate system of protocols. Includes such elements as ritualized postures and positions which women are expected to take in the presence of men under certain circumstances. Also Gorean master, Gorean slave: one who adopts a dominant or submissive role in a manner which reflects the society described in the novels. See related kajira.

GREEK: Colloquial Of or related to anal sex.

GROPE BOX: A long, narrow, enclosed box, often made of wood, with many openings along its front and sides, into which a person may be placed and then groped or fondled by people outside the box. A person within a grope box is helpless to prevent the fondling and often cannot see the people doing the fondling.



HAIR TIE: A bondage technique in which a rope, twine, or cord is woven or braided through a person's hair, then tied in such a way as to limit mobility of the bound person's head.

HANDCUFFS: Narrow metal cuffs with a pivoting hinge and a ratcheted locking mechanism, connected to each other by a short length of chain and often used to restrain people's wrists together. Commonly used by law enforcement and security personnel. Commentary: Handcuffs are not always safe to use in BDSM scenarios, particularly if resistance play is involved, as their narrowness and hardness can cause injury to the wrist if the restrained person pulls or struggles against them.

HANDBALLING: Colloquial; see fisting. Usage: Uncommon.

HANKY CODE: A covert technique developed largely by the old leather community for advertising one's BDSM preferences and to indicate the activities in which one was interested. The code worked by using a system of colored handkerchiefs, usually worn in the back pocket, on the left side for dominants and the right side for submissives. Each class of activity had its own particular color; for example, a person who was interested in pain play might wear a black handkerchief, whereas a gray handkerchief might indicate an interest in bondage, and so on.

HARD LIMIT: A limit which is generally considered to be absolute, inflexible, and non-negotiable. Contrast soft limit.

HEDGEHOG: A device used for sensation play consisting of a short metal cylinder with numerous spikes attached to a handle in such a way that it can be rolled over the skin, producing a sensation somewhat similar to that of a wartenberg wheel.

HOBBLE SKIRT: A item of clothing consisting of a very tight skirt that ends below the knee, which prevents freedom of motion of the legs, allowing the wearer to walk slowly in a hobbling motion but not to move quickly.

HOGTIE: A bondage technique in which the bound person's ankles are tied to the wrists, usually behind the back while the bound person lies on his or her stomach.

HOOD: Any covering designed to go over the head, often partly or completely covering the face as well.

HORSE: 1. A piece of bondage furniture consisting of a plank supported by two legs on each end, similar to a sawhorse. A person may be bent or tied over the horse and flogged or spanked. 2. See wooden horse.

HOUSE BOY: A male house slave.

HOUSE GIRL: A female house slave.

HOUSE SLAVE: A submissive, who may often live with the dominant, who acts as a maid, cleaning up the dominant's house and performing other household errands, often while nude. A house slave may sometimes be punished for failure to perform satisfactorarily; with this form of D/s, sexual submission may or may not be part of the arrangement.

HUMBLER: An implement consisting of a locking metal ring which fits around the testicles, connected to two wings which go between the legs and behind the buttocks. A person wearing a humbler cannot stand straight without placing painful pressure on the testicles; the humbler forces the wearer to walk bent over or on all fours.

HUMILIATION PLAY: Sexual arousal from activities which include an element of humiliation, shame, or embarrassment for one or more of the participants. Commentary: Humiliation play is a relatively unusual taste that is often very difficult to explain to someone who doesn't understand it. While humiliation play may carry little or no risk of injury, it can be psychologically very intense, and is sometimes the psychological equivalent of edge play.

IMPALEMENT: A practice in which a person is bound, usually while standing, and penetrated anally or vaginally with a dildo attached to the end of a fixed pole or rod in such a way that the person cannot escape or remove himself or herself from the dildo. Commentary: This practice can be dangerous if not done correctly. The person must be bound in such a way that he or she cannot fall if he or she loses balance.

INFANTILISM: A type of role play in which one of the adult participants takes on the role of an infant, and may be dressed in diapers, suck on a pacifier, and so forth. See also age play.

INFLATION: A practice involving injecting saline solution into the scrotum to "inflate" the scrotal sac, sometimes to a very large extent. Commentary: A sometimes painful practice that is not safe if not done by a skilled and experienced person.

INFORMED CONSENT: See consent. Commentary: Consent is not valid if it is not informed; in order to be valid, a person who gives permission to engage in an activity must know and understand what the activity is, what the circumstances surrounding the activity are, and what the potential consequences are, including any risks involved in that activity.

INVERSION TABLE: A piece of furniture consisting of a flat table to which a person can be bound, suspended between upright supports on a pivot in such a way that the table can be rotated upright, inclined, or completely upside-down.

IRONS: See leg irons. Archaic, colloquial locked in irons, thrown in irons, clapped in irons: restrained with leg irons.

JAPANESE BONDAGE: See shibari.

JAPANESE CLOVER CLAMP: See clover clamp.

KAJIRA: In the Gor novels, a female sex slave. In Gorean D/s, a woman who identifies as a slave.

KARADA: A rope harness, originating in Japan, that is tied around the torso in a series of diamond-shaped patterns. Often used as a foundation in shibari. The karada does not restrain the subject, and can even be worn under clothing.

KENNEL PLAY: A specific form of puppy play in which the submissive is confined to a kennel or doghouse as part of the play. See related animalism.

KINBAKU: See shibari. Usage: Most technically, shibari is the act of tying, and kinbaku is artistic bondage. In general use, however, shibari and kinbaku are often used as synonyms.

KOTORI: A rope harness intended to support a person's weight from the torso and upper legs, used for suspension in shibari.

KNIFE PLAY: Any activity involving use of a knife. Sometimes done strictly for psychological effect, as with a dull knife; sometimes done for the purpose of cutting or breaking the skin. See related blood play, edge play (def. 1).

KNOUT: A specific type of whip with multiple lashes made of wire and usually knotted.

LADDER: A structure consisting of either a triangular wooden frame with wooden slats running across it or two vertical wooden planks with several horizontal cross members, to which a person can be bound.

LACING: 1. The practice of extreme corsetry; particularly, very tight corsetry done as a form of body modification. 2. A specific and unusual type of bondage done by suturing a part of the body to or around a fixed object. 3. Any functional tie used to close an article of clothing, such as boots or corsets. Commentary: In the sense of Def. 2, the practice of lacing is often considered edge play and may not be safe if done by a person who is not skilled and knowledgable.

LASH: 1. Any long, flexible implement, often made of leather or cord, used to strike a person. 2. The flexible striking part of a flogger. Also, verb To strike with a lash (def. 1).

LEATHER BAR: A drinking establishment catering to the BDSM community, often specifically to the old leather community, which may have strict dress codes for entrance.

LEATHER BUTT: Colloquial A condition where prolonged, repeated stimulation of a particular part of a person's body, most often pain play involving paddling or striking so as to leave deep bruises, makes that part of the body less sensitive. Usage: Used generically, not necessarily only to describe one's butt. Commentary: In some cases, repeated, prolonged, and very hard striking, as with a paddle or a crop, can create bruising deep enough that the area that is bruised becomes less sensitive. If this is done repeatedly over a period of time, this decrease in sensation can reportedly become permanent, resulting in leather butt. As the people I know tend to enjoy forms of play that do leave very deep bruises, and as I've never seen any cases of permanent reduction in sensation, I am of the opinion that such permanent reduction in sensation is probably rare.

LEG IRONS: A set of locking cuffs, often made of iron fastened together with rivets, with a length of chain about a foot long between them. Designed to be locked around the legs or ankles in such a way that the bound person can still walk, in a slow, shuffling gait, but cannot run. May also include additional chains designed to be affixed to a belt and to cuffs fastened about the wrists. Leg irons which attach specifically to the ankles or feet are also called fetters.

LEG STRETCHER, also LEG SPREADER: See spreader bar.

LIFESTYLE: 1. Colloquial; often "the lifestyle" Of or pertaining to involvement in BDSM, as in How long have you been in the lifestyle? 2. Of or pertaining to a TPE relationship, as in We practice lifestyle D/s.

LIMIT: A boundary, which may be set by a dominant or a submissive, which specifies a point past which any activity will not go. See soft limit, hard limit. See related edge play (def. 2).

LUNGE WHIP: A specific type of whip consisting of a handle attached to a long, flexible, rigid shaft, often made of fiberglass and typically about 65" long or so, with a single long, narrow lash. Lunge whips often telescope or disassemble for easy storage.



MANACLES: Any metal cuffs with a length of chain attached, which either connects the cuffs together (as in a pair of handcuffs) or which may be used to affix the cuffs to a wall or other restraint point.

MARTINET: A specific type of whip (def. 1) consisting of a short, rigid handle with many short leather lashes, each of which is square in cross-section.

MARTYMACHLIA: Psychology Sexual arousal from being watched during sex; exhibitionism.

MASOCHIST: One who experiences arousal, excitement, or sexual gratification from receiving pain. Contrast sadist. Commentary: Contrary to popular misconception, a masochist does not experience arousal at all forms of pain; stubbing a toe, for example, is unlikely to be arousing. The context of the pain is important.

MASTER: A dominant, usually in a TPE relationship. Usually male; the female equivalent is a mistress. Contrast slave.

MASTIGOTHYMA: Psychology Sexual arousal from being flogged.

MILITARY PLAY: A specific form of role play which involves military-style settings, uniforms, hierarchy, or protocol.

MILKING: 1. The practice of stimulating the male prostate, often with a finger or with an implement such as a dildo, or of stimulating the perineum in such a way as to produce ejaculation without orgasm. 2. The practice of inducing orgasm repeatedly in a man, often by sexually stimulating him over and over, until he is no longer able to produce ejaculate. 3. Stimulating the prostate by means of an electrode built into a dildo or similar probe, inserted into the anus and connected to an electrical stimulation device such as a TENS unit. The electrode causes involuntary contraction of the muscles around the prostate, causing ejaculation without arousal or orgasm.

MISTRESS: Female equivalent of a master.

MOUTH BIT: Any of a style of gags with a long, cylinder-shaped bit, usually made of soft rubber or latex, in place of a round ball. Mouth bits may include an integrated harness; such bits are often used in pony play.



MOUTH GAG: A dental instrument designed to hold the mouth open for long periods of time, sometimes used as a gag in BDSM play.



MUMMIFICATION: A form of bondage in which the subject is immobilized by being entirely wrapped quite tightly, as with Saran wrap, rope, fabric, or similar material.

MUNCH: An informal social gathering of people interested in BDSM, usually in a public place such as a restaurant or cafe, for the purpose of meeting other like-minded people and socializing. A munch is generally a low-pressure gathering without overt BDSM overtones. Commentary: The word "munch" was coined by the same person who gave us the word squick.

NEEDLE PLAY: Activity involving placing needles through the top layer of skin, or using needles for temporary piercings. See related blood play, edge play (def. 1).

NEWBIE: Colloquial A newcomer to BDSM; or, more generally, a newcomer to any sport, hobby, or subculture.

NEW LEATHER: Anything of or related to a specific part of the BDSM community which began taking the place of the old leather community in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The new leather community abandoned many of the rigid hierarchies and strict protocols of the old leather community, and welcomed lesbians and heterosexuals interested in BDSM. Commentary: The old leather community began to fade for a number of reasons, including the fact that many of its members were aging, the fact that both homosexuality and BDSM became much more mainstream during the late 1970s and 1980s (a trend which is continuing today), the fact that BDSM began reaching a wider and wider pool of interested people thanks to new communications media such as the Internet, and the effect of AIDS on the gay community in the late 1980s.

NIPPLE CLAMP: Any clamp or clamp-like device designed to be clamped to a subject's nipples. May include a mechanism for adjusting or limiting the amount of pressure applied to the nipple. Clothespins make good (and cheap!) nipple clamps. See related clover clamps, tweezer clamps.

NOSE HOOK: A set of rigid, blunt hooks, about an inch long, connected to a length of rope, cord, or chain. The hooks are inserted in a person's nose and the rope is tied above or behind the person, forcing the head up. Sometimes used in shibari.

NOSTRIL STRAP: See nose hook.

NULLIFICATION: Sexual arousal from the act of amputation. Commentary: very, very, very rare.

OBJECTIFICATION: Sexual arousal from any act in which one person is dehumanized or dehumanizes another. Animalism, and some forms of humiliation play and utility D/s, involve objectification.

ODALISQUE: (Literally, Turkish oda chamber, room + liq woman) Archaic A female sex slave.

OLD LEATHER: Anything of or related to the gay male BDSM community which began in the United States and Canada after WWII and was most popular primarily between the 1960s and the late 1980s; characterized by a very rigid and structured hierarchy, elaborate codes of conduct, ritualized protocol, and a strong sense of community, duty, and loyalty. Often modeled on military traditions and practices, the old leather community was almost exclusively comprised of gay men and was suspicious of "outsiders." Contrast new leather; See related hanky code.

ORGASM CONTROL; also, ORGASM DENIAL: The practice whereby one person is not permitted to reach sexual orgasm without the permission of another person, or for a set period of time, or sometimes at all, even though that person may be permitted (or required) to engage in sexual activity or sex.

ORIENTATION PLAY: Any activity in which a person is ordered or instructed to engage in sexual activity with another person whose sex is not appropriate for the first person's sexual orientation or identity, as for example instructing a straight female to engage in sexual activity with another woman.

OTK: (Acronym) see Over the knee.

OVER THE KNEE (OTK): A style of spanking in which the dominant or top is seated and turns the submissive or bottom over his or her knee so as to spank the buttocks.

OVERSEER'S WHIP: A type of singletail, usually about six feet long and having a braided lash but without a rigid handle, commonly used by slave traders and slave owners in United States history. Very similar to a bullwhip.

PADDLE: Any stiff, hard implement, often made of wood, used for striking a person, most commonly on the buttocks. Also, verb to strike with a paddle.

PAIN PLAY: Any activity in which one person inflicts pain on a consenting partner, for the pleasure of one or more of the people involved. Spanking, flogging, paddling, whipping, and so on are all forms of pain play. See related sadist, masochist.

PAIN SLUT: Colloquial A masochist who enjoys forms of pain play involving large amounts of pain.

PANIC SNAP: A specific type of carabiner designed in such a way that the mechanism can be opened to release a rope or chain even if a full weight is bearing down on it.



PANSEXUAL: 1. Of or relating to all sexual orientations, sexes, and gender identities. 2. One who engages in sexual or erotic activities with partners of all sexes and orientations. Pansexual event: an event catering to people of any sexual orientation or identity. Pansexual group: any group open to membership by any person regardless of sex, sexual orientation, or sexual identity.

PARACHUTE: A small leather cone with a hole in its center, which is often used in CBT. The parachute is wrapped around the scrotum, and weights are suspended from it, pulling on the scrotum and compressing the testicles.

PERVERTIBLE: Colloquial Any object which serves an ordinary and prosaic function, but which also has a use in BDSM activities. For example, clothespins are often used as nipple clamps; saran wrap can be used for mummification; paint stirrers are sometimes used as paddles; and so on.

PILLORY: Archaic; see stock. Also, verb, archaic: to expose to scorn or ridicule.

PLASTICUFF: See cable tie.

PLAY PARTY: 1. A social gathering in which people participate in BDSM activities, often in a space outfitted as a dungeon. Play parties may be public or private gatherings, and may or may not permit overt sexual activity. Play parties often offer the advantage of access to equipment and furniture that many people may not own. Play parties also offer the opportunity for people to engage in exhibitionism and voyeurism. 2. See polyamory: [[play party]]

PONY PLAY: An activity in which the submissive takes on the role of a pony; for example, by walking on all fours, sometimes with a bit or bridle in the mouth; by pulling carts; by allowing the dominant to ride on his or her back; and so on. See related animalism, mouth bit.

POPPER: 1. See cracker (Def. 1). 2. Colloquial A vial of amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, cyclohexylnitrite, or any similar high-volatility organic nitrate or nitrite compound, whose vapors produce euphoria and sometimes heightened sexual sensation when inhaled.

POST: See whipping post.

POSTURE COLLAR: A specific type of high, rigid collar, often shaped to the wearer's neck, which prevents the wearer from moving his or her neck and forces the wearer to hold his or her head high.

POWER EXCHANGE: Any situation where two or more people consensually and voluntarily agree to a power relationship in which one (or more) people assume authority and one (ore more) people yield authority. This relationship may be for a predetermined time, or indefinite. Relationships based on indefinite power exchange are often referred to as TPE relationships. The defining factor of power exchange is the conscious, deliberate construction of a power dynamic in which at least one person assumes psychological control to some agreed-upon extent over at least one other person.

PRODOMME: A female dominant who earns money by dominating her clients. Commentary: Men who earn a living in a similar way seem so rare as to be virtually nonexistant.

PROSTATE MILKING: See milking (def. 1).

PROTOCOL: Any defined, enforced code of behavior which a submissive is expected to abide by. A protocol often imposes constraints and limits on the submissive's behavior, particularly in social settings; for example, a protocol may specify that a submissive is not to speak to another person without the dominant's permission, may not speak unless spoken to, and so on.

PUMP GAG: A type of gag consisting of a blunt, rounded, or penis-shaped rubber bladder which is placed in the mouth and can then be inflated with air by means of a hand pump. The gag increases in size, filling the mouth, when inflated. Commentary: Some inflatable gags can be quite dangerous, as they can enlarge until they press against the back of the throat, cutting off breating and causing suffocation. Some pump gags have breathing tubes through them to mitigate this danger. Some forms of pump gags may not legally be sold in the United States.

PUNISHMENT TIE: Any form of bondage done in such a way that the bound person's pose or the bondage itself is painful or uncomfortable, or any kind of bondage done with the intent of causing pain or discomfort to the bound person. Some forms of shibari include punishment ties. See related pain play.

PUPPY PLAY: An activity in which the submissive takes on the role of a puppy, as by barking, walking on all fours, and in some cases even sleeping in a doghouse or cage. See related animalism, kennel play.

QUEENING: A practice whereby a female dominant sits on the face of a submissive, who is often restrained, forcing the submissive to give her oral sex. Sometimes may also include breath control.

QUEENING STOOL: A low stool, typically only about six inches high, with a large round opening in the bottom, used for queening. The queening stool is placed over the face of a prone submissive, allowing a female dominant seated on the stool to receive oral sex from the submissive.

QUIRT: A type of whip with two or (occasionally) three short lashes affixed to a long, thin handle.


RACK: (Acronym) see risk aware consensual kink.

RACK: (Non-Acronym) Any type of bondage furniture consisting of a framework or platform to which a person may be bound; often derived from a Medieval implement consisting of a platform and a wheeled mechanism designed to stretch or pull the person bound to it.

RAPE PLAY, also RAPE FANTASY: A form of role play in which one person stages a mock "rape" for the purpose of gratification of all the people involved. See related consensual non-consent, resistance play. Commentary: A surprisingly common form of BDSM play, often staged so as to fulfill a woman's sexual fantasies of rape or coerced sex in a safe and controlled way.

RESISTANCE PLAY: Any mutually consensual activity in which one person struggles against another and is subdued by "force." May involve rape play; some forms of bondage include resistance as well. See related consensual non-consent.

RIGGER: Colloquial A person who specializes in tying up others, often using elaborate techniques such as shibari, primarily as an art form rather than for sexual gratification. Commentary: Talented riggers can earn a living by selling photographs of their work to magazines or Web sites which cater to bondage enthusiasts, writing books on the subject, and so on.

RIDING CROP: See crop.

RING GAG: A specific type of gag consisting of a metal ring, often padded with leather, which has a strap attached to it. The ring is placed in the mouth in such a way as to hold the mouth open, and the strap secures it in place.

RISK AWARE CONSENSUAL KINK (RACK): A loosely defined code of conduct in the BDSM community which holds that a given activity is ethically acceptable between adults so long as everyone involved is aware of the risks involved, if any, and gives informed consent to that activity. The idea behind "risk aware consensual kink" is an acknowledgement of the fact that some BDSM activities may involve risk of injury, and that as long as all the participants are aware of any risk and consent to the activity, the activity is okay. See related SSC, edge play (def. 1).

ROD: Archaic; see cane.

ROLE PLAY: Any activity in which the people involved assume roles or identities different from their own and act out a scenario. For example, one extremely common form of role-play has one of the participants assume the role of a teacher or other authority figure, and the other assume the role of a student or other character in a position of less authority, and the people act out a scenario in which the character in the position of authority somehow takes advantage of that authority, often in a sexual way.

ROPE DRESS: See karada.

S&M: See sadomasochism.

SADIST: One who is aroused, excited, or receives sexual gratification from inflicting pain on another. Contrast masochist. Commentary: A sadist does not necessarily take pleasure in inflicting pain indiscriminately; for most sadists, the pleasure relies on knowing that the subject is also enjoying the experience.

SADOMASOCHISM: Any activity or practice involving the inflicting or receiving of pain; pain play.

SAFE CALL: A practice sometimes used as a safety measure when meeting a new partner for the first time. The safe call is a prearranged telephone call made to a trusted friend at a specific time to let that friend know that everything is okay; may involve the use of special code words to indicate whether or not the person making the safe call is in danger or distress.

SAFE, SANE, AND CONSENSUAL (SSC): A code of conduct which holds that any activity between adults is acceptable as long as it is safe, sane, and consensual. Often held up as a test to whether or not a particular activity is ethical. See related RACK. Commentary: Many people see a flaw in the idea of "safe, sane, and consensual" because whether or not an activity is "safe" and "sane" is subjective, and because people may choose to engage in activities which might not always be "safe," as in some forms of edge play (def. 1). (This is true even outside the BDSM community; consider skydiving, for example). Because of this, SSC has given way to the code of conduct called "RACK" (risk-aware consensual kink) in some places.

SAFEWORD: A predefined "code word" which a submissive can use to stop an ongoing activity if it becomes too much. Commentary: Safewords are often used in situations such as resistance play, where the submissive may be expected to struggle or resist and where the word "no" might not actually mean no. In such cases, for safety's sake it's often helpful to have some word that does mean "no," and is a word unlikely to come up otherwise.

SCARFING: Colloquial Breath control by means of using a scarf or scarf-like object as a ligature around the neck. Usage: A relatively uncommon term; appears to have originated in the United States.

SCARIFICATION: A form of body modification involving cutting the skin, often in intricate or elaborate patterns, in such a way that the healing process leaves behind a permanent scar.

SCAT; also SCAT PLAY: Any activity involving feces. Commentary: Very likely to elicit a squick reaction from most people.

SCENE: 1. A specific period of BDSM activity; as in, We had a scene lasting about two hours last night. 2. Colloquial The BDSM community as a whole. 3. In the scene: participating in the organized BDSM community.

SCOLD'S BRIDLE: A lockable metal cage which encloses the head, with an integrated metal protrusion which goes into the wearer's mouth, preventing speech. Commentary: A rare piece of BDSM equipment modelled after a similar device used in Medieval times to punish gossipy or "troublesome" women.

SCOURGE: A specific type of flogger which usually has two or three long, heavy lashes attached to a rigid handle.

SELF-BONDAGE: The act or practice of tying one's self up or otherwise restraining one's self, sometimes as a part of masturbation. Often includes some mechanism by which the person may be freed after a set amount of time, which may include a timer mechanism to release a key or otherwise release the person.

SENSATION PLAY: Any BDSM activity involving creating unusual sensations on a person, who may be blindfolded, as with ice cubes, soft fur or cloth, coarse materials, and the like. Sensation play is much more mild than pain play and may or may not include an element of power exchange.

SERPENT'S TONGUE: Colloquial; see tawse.

SERVICE D/S: A specific type of D/s centered around the submissive serving the dominant in practical ways, as by bringing the dominant food or drink and so on. For people involved in service D/s, sexual submission may or may not be a part of the relationship. Commentary: For a submissive whose focus is service D/s, everyday acts that many people might take for granted become a powerful symbol of submission. Even something as simple as bringing the dominant a drink can be a token of the submissive's submission.

SESSION: See scene (Def. 1). Usage: Most often used to indicate a scene with a prodomme.

SHIBARI: A type of bondage originating in Japan and characterized by extremely elaborate and intricate patterns of rope, often used both to restrain the subject and to stimulate the subject by binding or compressing the breasts and/or genitals. Shibari is an art form; the aesthetics of the bound person and the bondage itself are considered very important. Also sometimes called kinbaku. See related karada, shinju, kotori, sukuranbo. Usage: Most technically, shibari is the act of tying, and kinbaku is artistic bondage. In general use, however, shibari and kinbaku are often used as synonyms.

SHINJU: A type of rope harness, originating in Japan, which goes around and over the breasts. A shinju does not restrict motion, and can be worn under clothing; as the subject moves, the ropes shift against the breasts, providing constant stimulation. Often used in shibari.

SIGNAL WHIP: A type of small singletail, usually three to four feet in length.

SINGLE-GLOVE: See armbinder.

SINGLETAIL: Any of a class of whips having a single lash; most commonly applied to bullwhips and similar implements. Commentary: Most varieties of singletail whips can inflict great injury and can be dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced user. Singletail whips require skill and training to use properly, and are not easy to master. Use of a singletail is sometimes considered edge play (def. 1).

SISSIFICATION: see feminization.

SLAVE: A submissive, usually in a TPE relationship. Contrast master. Commentary: People who self-identify as "master" or "slave" often see dominance or submission as a cornerstone of their identity, an essential part of who they are as people; this self-identify may affect and inform almost every aspect of their lives.

SLAVE AUCTION: An event sometimes held at play parties, conventions catering to BDSM participants, and the like, in which submissives are auctioned off for the use by the highest bidder in some context or for a set period of time. Slave auctions are sometimes held at BDSM-related events to raise money for charity.

SLAPHAPPY: See slapper. Usage: Becoming archaic.

SLAPPER: An implement used for striking a person, consisting of two thick leather paddles bound together at the handle, such that when the person is struck the two paddles hit one another, creating a loud sound.

SLING: Ain item of furniture, usually made of leather, canvas, or nylon webbing, suspended by chains or cables from the ceiling. A person may sit in the sling and arranged for easy availability to such activities as sexual intercourse, fisting, and the like. Slings may include additional mechanisms to restrain the person within the sling or to keep the legs spread apart. See also fisting sling.

SMOTHERBOX: A lockable box, often padded with leather, designed to be locked over the head of a submissive and used for queening. The smotherbox contains a large opening which exposes the submissive's face, allowing the dominant to straddle or sit on the box. May include a mechanism for affixing the box to the floor or to an item of furniture such as a bed or bench, so that the submissive can not move.

SNAKE: A type of flexible singletail which lacks a rigid handle.

SOFT LIMIT: A limit which is not necessarily be set in stone, but which may be flexible or may change over time. Contrast hard limit. See related edge play (def. 2). Commentary: One of the most powerful aspects of BDSM is that it offers a way for people to challenge their soft limits, testing themselves against their own boundaries in a safe and controlled way.

SOUND: A thin, solid metal rod designed to be inserted in the urethra, often as a part of a medical role play.

SPANK: To strike on the buttocks, either with an open hand or with a paddle.

SPANKING BENCH: A low bench, often padded and often equipped with restraints or tie-down points, over which a person can be bent or tied and spanked or flogged.

SPECULUM: A medical instrument commonly consisting of two or occasionally three probes designed to be inserted into the vagina or (less commonly) the anus, together with a mechanism intended to spread the probes apart, opening the vagina or anus. Sometimes used in medical role play scenarios.

SPREADEAGLE: A posture in which a person is bound or restrained with the legs spread apart and the arms spread wide with the hands over the person's head.

SPREADER BAR: An implement consisting of a rigid bar or rod, often with attachment points for restraints built into it at each end, designed to be attached to a person's feet or ankles so as to hold the person's legs spread apart. May be adjustable in length.



SQUICK: Colloquial A feeling of disgust, repulsion, or similar negative emotional reaction to the idea of an activity which does not appeal to someone. Also, verb to feel disgust or revulsion at an idea; Water sports make Lisa squick. Commentary: The word "squick" has an interesting history. It was coined by a regular user of the old UseNet newsgroup alt.sex.bondage to describe a sudden and unexpected revulsion experienced by her partner when a group of very young kittens tried to nurse on him. It was originally intended to mean a strong negative response to something that was both surprising and unexpected. Since then, it has commonly been used to describe an emotional reaction of disgust in general, in spite of the original intent.

SSC: See safe, sane, and consensual.

ST. ANDREW'S CROSS: A popular type of bondage furniture consisting of an X-shaped cross, commonly made of wood, to which a person can be bound and flogged, whipped, and so on.



STING: A sensation of quick, sharp pain. Usage: The feeling caused by being struck by a flogger is usually described in terms of thud or sting. Commentary: All other things being equal, a flogger with a large number of lashes (Def. 2) produces a sensation with less sting and more thud than a similar flogger with fewer lashes; a flogger with narrow lashes produces a sensation that is more sting and less thud than a similar flogger with wide lashes; a flogger with soft lashes (as with a flogger made with lashes of suede or deerskin) produces more thud and less sting than a similar flogger made with stiff lashes; and a flogger with braided or knotted lashes produces more sting than a similar flogger whose lashes are not braided or knotted.

STOCK: A device used for bondage consisting of a vertical wooden post or a wooden frame atop which is set two heavy wood planks which close around a person's neck and wrists.



STOCK WHIP: See signal whip.

STRAITJACKET: A heavy jacket, often made of canvas, whose sleeves end in long straps, which are wrapped around the jacket and buckled in place. A person confined in a straitjacket has very little freedom of motion; freeing one's self from a straitjacket is virtually impossible.

STRAP: An implement used for striking a person, consisting of a long, flat piece of heavy leather. Also, verb to strike with a strap.

STRAP-IN: A dildo designed to penetrate a person either vaginally or anally and then be held in place by a strap or harness, sometimes equipped with a lock to prevent it from being removed.

STRAP-ON: A dildo attached to straps, a harness, or some other mechanism designed to be worn around the waist.

SUB FRENZY: Colloquial A very strong, sometimes overwhelming, desire to find a dominant partner or to become immersed in BDSM-related activities, sometimes seen in people who identify strongly as submissive, particularly peope who have either just newly discovered their submissive side or who have not partaken in BDSM-related activities for a long time. People in the grip of sub frenzy may sometimes make unwise or unsafe choices.

SUBMISSIVE: One who assumes a role of submission in a power exchange relationship. A submissive is a person who seeks a position of or occupies a role of intentional, consensual powerlessness, allowing another person to take control over him or her. Contrast dominant; see related bottom, switch.

SUBSPACE: A specific state of mind that a submissive may enter, particularly after intense activities and/or (depending on the person) intense pain play, characterized by euphoria, bliss, a strong feeling of well-being, or even a state similar to intoxication. Thought to be related to the release of endorphins in the brain. The euphoria associated with subspace may last for hours or sometimes even days after the activity ceases.

SUBMIT: To give up power or control. A person who gives up power or psychological control to another is said to submit to that person. Submission: the act of giving up control.

SUKURANBO: In shibari, a type of rope harness which wraps around the buttocks and upper thighs and passes between the legs and over the genitals. A sukuranbo does not restrict motion, and may even be worn under clothing; as the wearer walks or moves, the ropes slide over the genitals, stimulating them.

SUSPENSION: Any form of bondage in which the person bound is suspended partially or completely off the floor, often by ropes affixed to an overhead point (as with a kotori in shibari), or by means of a rigid bar with attached suspension cuffs.



SUSPENSION BAR: A short bar, often made of metal and which may be straight or slightly curved, with a mounting point in the center and additional mounting points designed for rope, chain, or suspension cuffs on each end. A person is bound to the suspension bar, which is hung from an overhead point by means of a cable or chain connected to its centeral mounting point. May often be used in conjunction with a lift, winch, or pulley system such that a person may be bound to the suspension bar and the bar may then be raised or lowered.

SUSPENSION CUFFS: Any restraints designed to encircle the wrists, ankles, hands, or feet and designed in such a way as to distribute the wearer's weight so that the wearer may be partially or completely suspended from the cuffs. Some suspension cuffs contain an integrated panic snap.

SUSPENSION FRAME: Any frame, rack, or similar structure designed for the purpose of suspension. Common configurations of suspension frames include an open "box" with mounting points along its upper edges, in which a person can be suspended so that the person hangs horizontally within the box; a rectangular upright frame, from which a person may be suspended with rope or suspension cuffs; and a long wood or metal pole, supported by two legs on each end, from which a person may be suspended by ropes.

SUSPENSION RACK: See suspension frame.

SUTURING; also, SUTURE PLAY: The practice of temporarily suturing or sewing parts of the body, particularly the genitals, for sexual gratification. Forms of suturing include sewing the labia closed and sewing the foreskin of the flaccid penis to the scrotum See related needle play, lacing (Def. 2). Commentary: An unusual practice that may not safe unless done by a skilled and knowledgable person.

SWITCH: 1. One who can change roles, being either dominant or submissive (or, less frequently, sadistic or masochistic) at different times or with different partners. 2. A thin, flexible rod, often made from a green branch of a tree such as a willow tree, used for striking people; similar to a cane. 3. See polyamory: [[switch]]. Also, verb 1. To change roles, as from a dominant role to a submissive role. 2. (infrequent) To strike with a switch (def. 2).

SWINGER: See polyamory: [[swinger]].

SYBIAN: One popular variety of commercially-available fucking machine consisting of a dildo affixed to a dome-shaped saddle which the user sits on. Commentary: The Sybian has been described by a friend of mine as "a machine that rips orgasms out of women." After my experiences watching people use these machines, I have to agree.

TAWSE: An instrument used for striking or whipping a person, consisting of a thick, heavy leather strap which splits into two or three parallel tails at the striking end.



TELEDILDONICS: Colloquial Of or relating to any form of sex toy or fucking machine designed to be operated remotely, as by radio, over a computer network, and so on.

TENS UNIT: An electrical device which applies electrical signals through pads affixed to the skin, commonly used in the medical community to relieve pain by blocking the transmission of pain impulses through the nerves. Stands for "transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation." Used in BDSM as a form of electrical play. See related violet wand. Commentary: A TENS unit can have an effect ranging from a mild tingle to a very strong sensation, depending on how it is used. It can also cause involuntary muscle contractions. Some TENS units used in BDSM play include electrodes designed to be inserted in the vagina or anus; some people find that the vaginal contractions induced by a vaginal TENS probe can cause intense, long-lasting orgasms.

THUD: A sensation of heavy, dull impact. Usage: The feeling caused by being struck by a flogger is usually described in terms of thud or sting. Commentary: All other things being equal, a flogger with a large number of lashes (Def. 2) produces a sensation with less sting and more thud than a similar flogger with fewer lashes; a flogger with narrow lashes produces a sensation that is more sting and less thud than a similar flogger with wide lashes; a flogger with soft lashes (as with a flogger made with lashes of suede or deerskin) produces more thud and less sting than a similar flogger made with stiff lashes; and a flogger with braided or knotted lashes produces more sting than a similar flogger whose lashes are not braided or knotted.

TOP: One who administers some form of stimulation, such as spankings, floggings, or some other kind of stimulation on another person but does not have psychological control or power over that person. Contrast bottom; see related dominant.

TOP DROP: Colloquial A sudden, abrupt feeling of depression, unhappiness, or similar negative emotion in a dominant which may occasionally occur immediately after a period of BDSM activity. May include feelings of guilt, especially if the dominant believes he or she has made an error, or has traditional ideas about relationship or socially appropriate behavior.

TOTAL POWER EXCHANGE (TPE): A relationship in which one person surrenders control to another person for an indefinite duration, and in which the relationship is defined by the fact that one person is always dominant and the other is always submissive. One of the more extreme forms of power exchange. Sometimes referred to as lifestyle D/s. See related master, slave.

TPE: see Total Power Exchange.

TRAINING COLLAR: A collar given to a submissive in the early stages of a BDSM relationship (particularly a TPE relationship) when the submissive and the dominant are still exploring the possibility of a committed relationship. Similar in some ways to an engagement ring in a wedding.

TRAMPLING: A practice in which one person lies prone and is stepped or walked on by another.

TRANSVESTITE: One who engages in cross-dressing.

TWEEZER CLAMPS: A type of nipple clamp consisting of long, thin, tweezer-like clamps made of flexible spring steel, with a ring which can be used to adjust their tightness. Commentary: Among the mildest of all forms of nipple clamps, typically causing little or no pain.



UGOL'S LAW: A law first stated by Harry Ugol in the UseNet newsgroup alt.sex.bondage which holds that if there's some kink you have or something turns you on, no matter how strange or bizarre it may be, you're not the only one who has that kink. Commentary: I receive a great deal of email from these pages; much of it along the lines of "I didn't realize other people had the same fantasies and ideas that I do!" The nice thing about living in a world of six billion people is that, no matter how weird or bizarre your turn-ons may be, yes, there are other people like you.

UTILITY D/S: A specific type of D/s centered around using the submissive in utilitarian capacities; for example; the submissive may kneel and act as a table for the dominant to eat from, and so on. For people involved in utility D/s, sexual submission may or may not be a part of the relationship.

VAMPIRE GLOVES: Gloves used for sensation play which have a large number of short spikes or needles protruding from the palms and/or fingers.

VANILLA: Colloquial Not interested in or involved with BDSM or activities related to BDSM; as, a vanilla person. Usage: Sometimes considered condescending or insulting.

VETO: See polyamory: [[veto]].

VIOLET WAND: A device used for electrical play consisting of a handle, which contains a high-voltage coil called a "Tesla coil," and several interchangeable electrodes, most commonly made of glass and filled with a gas which glows a brilliant purple in the presence of an electrical field. Commentary: One of the most common and safest of electrical play devices, the violet wand works by creating a strong static electrical field on the electrode. The violet wand feels nothing like you might expect, and almost everyone I know, including people who believe they would hate anything related to electricity, wants one once they've felt it.



VOYEUR: One who is excited or aroused by watching others, particularly in a sexual context or while engaged in sexual activity.

VOYEURISM: The act of engaging in voyeuristic behavior. See related polyamory: [[candaulism]].

WARTENBERG WHEEL: A small implement consisting of a short handle to which is affixed a small wheel with a number of sharp needle-like projections around its outer edge. Used by neurologists to test nerve function in the skin and by people in the BDSM community for sensation play.



WANNABE: Colloquial A disparaging term for a person, usually a self-identified dominant, who is inexperienced yet assumes knowlege or experience far exceeding his or her actual degree of expertise. Usage: An insulting term which indicates disrespect or contempt on the part of the speaker for the person so named. Commentary: Such people, because of their lack of experience, may be dangerous.

WATER SPORTS: Any of a class of activities involving urination, often urination on a person. See also golden shower. Commentary: Often elicits a squick reaction from most people, including most people in the BDSM community.

WAXING: 1. The practice of dripping hot wax onto a person, as from a paraffin candle or from molten paraffin wax prepared in a double boiler, for the purpose of sensation play or pain play. 2. The practice of removing hair from the body by spreading a thick waxy substance on the body, allowing it to cool and harden, and then ripping it off suddenly, pulling out the hair by the roots.

WHIP: An implement used for striking people, consisting of one or more lashes (often made of leather or of some stiff material wrapped or braided in leather) affixed to a handle. 2. Any of a class of knots made by wrapping one part of a rope repeatedly around itself or around another. Also, verb 1. To strike with a whip, flogger, or similar object. 2. To strike repeatedly and rapidly. 3. Uncommon: To tie using a whip knot. See also singletail, bullwhip, signal whip, quirt, lunge whip.

WHIPPING POST: A fixed upright post, often made of wood and secured at the base so as to be immobile, to which a person may be bound and whipped or flogged.

WIITWD: Colloquial An acronym meaning "what it is that we do"--a shorthand for the entire spectrum of BDSM-related activities.

WOODEN HORSE: An implement consisting of a wooden plank supported edgewise between two upright fixed posts, or of two sheets of wood coming together at a sharp angle with the edge facing up, to which a female submissive is bound with her legs off the floor. The submissive is bound in such a way she straddles plank or the point of the triangle, causing her entire body weight to rest on her clitoris. Some wooden horses include an integrated dildo which penetrates the person affixed to it. Commentary: Extremely painful. May cause nerve damage in the clitoris if not done carefully.

WOODEN PONY: An implement consisting of a wooden plank supported edgewise between two upright fixed posts, which a female submissive straddles and is bound in place. The plank is at such a height that the submissive's weight is not borne by the plank so long as she remains standing on tiptoes; as her legs tire, she will eventually have no choice but to lower herself onto the edge of the plank, which is extremely painful.

YOKE: A restraint device consisting of a metal bar or wooden plank, often about three feet long, with a locking cuff for the wrist on each end and a locking collar in the middle.

ZIE: See polyamory: [[zie]].

ZIR: See polyamory: [[zir]].

ZIP STRIP; also, ZIPPER: An arrangement of clothespins tied along a length of cord or twine, which can be placed on the body and then yanked off one by one or all at once.

ZIP TIE: See cable tie.


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Saturday, August 19, 2006

"Fainting" During BDSM Play

Assessment and Treatment of "Fainting" During BDSM Play

Copyright 2003 By Jay Wiseman. All rights reserved.

The big question: Is this a simple vasovagal or is this something much more serious?

"He's OK! He only fainted!"

I confess that hearing the above statement always worries me, particularly when the person uttering it seems relieved or unconcerned. Fainting is an unnatural act, usually of the not-good kind, and it deserves careful evaluation.

A key concept here is that fainting is symptom of an underlying medical condition, not a medical condition in and of itself. Fainting can be a symptom of more than a dozen underlying disorders, some of which are deadly. A short list of causes other than emotional upset that can induce fainting includes stroke, dehydration, epilepsy, strangulation, suffocation, alcohol and/or drug overdose, head injury, internal bleeding, heat stroke, exceptionally high or low blood sugar, and the onset of a sudden, dangerously irregular heartbeat. Therefore, fainting should be viewed as a tip-of-the-iceberg signal that needs further assessment. Don't brush it off as "nothing serious" too quickly.
There are two more key concepts here regarding simple fainting: (1) type of causation and (2) frequency of causation. Fortunately for us, the huge majority of such cases are simple fainting -- a brief loss of consciousness due to non-serious mechanisms, followed by a rapid recovery with no nasty after-effects. Simple fainting is that most pleasant of medical entities, a self-limiting condition that gets better by itself with no need for outside assistance. However, some fainting spells are caused by much more serious conditions, including stroke and heart attack. These are, of course, certainly not self-limiting conditions and they can get much worse unless they receive immediate medical attention.

Thus, it is important for the BDSMer to have some idea of how to distinguish between conditions that are self-limiting and conditions that are not self-limiting. This distinguishing cannot be done with certainty outside of a hospital, and may be difficult to do with certainty even inside a hospital. While it is not possible to draw what some might call "a bright and shining line" between self-limiting conditions and non-self-limiting conditions, there are certain major findings that can help guide the BDSMer's thinking into either the "this probably isn't all that serious" category (sometimes called "little sick" by medics) or the "hmmm, this just might be serious" (sometimes called "big sick" by medics) category. This article will discuss how a BDSMer might sort a fainting victim into either the "little sick" or "big sick" category, and will also discuss some aspects of what to do in either case.

First, let's define our terms.

Fainting is loss of consciousness that is relatively brief in duration -- typically less than one minute. The medical term for a brief loss of consciousness is syncope (pronounced sin-koh-PEE) and it has numerous causes, however all causes have one thing in common; they disrupt the perfusion of the brain. The metabolic demands that the brain must meet to sustain consciousness are very high, so anything that disrupts the perfusion of the brain for longer than a few seconds can cause loss of consciousness.

OK, what is perfusion? Perfusion is the bathing of the body's cells in a solution that supplies nutrients and removes waste products. All cells require perfusion. If perfusion is disrupted to the brain, unconsciousness can occur within seconds. If perfusion is disrupted to the entire body, shock can result, and if shock is not corrected fairly promptly (usually within an hour) death can result.

The four components of perfusion.

Perfusion has four components, and all four components must work together to perfuse the person's body, including their brain, adequately. The four components are:

1. The pump (The heart.)
2. The pipes (The blood vessels.)
3. The fluid (The blood and its contents, particularly sugar and oxygen.)
4. The controls (The brain and nerves.)

Remember: pump, pipes, fluid, and controls. If the perfusion of the brain is disrupted by a disturbance in one (or more) of these components, unconsciousness can result.

As a general rule (and there are exceptions to this general rule, as I'll discuss later on) a "pump problem" is the major "big sick" category of problems that may not be self-limiting and may require outside assistance, perhaps even an ambulance. Therefore, it is particularly important for the BDSMer to spot the person who may have fainted because of a problem with their heart. On the other end of the scale, a "pipe problem" is the major "little sick" category of problems that are likely to be self-limiting and can often be managed without outside assistance. A "fluid problem" or a "control problem" can go either way.

By far the single most common cause of fainting is what's called vasovagal (pronounced vase-oh-VAGUE-all) syncope. This is caused by a problem with the blood vessels (the pipes). In order to maintain adequate perfusion, our brain sends signals via our nerves to our blood vessels that cause the vessels to constrict so that sufficient blood pressure is maintained. In the case of vasovagal syncope, a sudden nasty jolt to the person's nervous system -- often the result of things like sudden pain or fear, bad news, or the sight of blood, causes their blood vessels to relax, particularly the blood vessels in their legs. This same sudden, nasty jolt also causes the vagus nerve to decrease the rate and force of the person's heartbeat. (Thus "vaso" indicates blood vessel involvement and "vagal" indicates vagus nerve involvement, i.e., "vasovagal.") This results in a sudden lowering of their blood pressure in general and, if the person is in a standing position, a particularly sharp lowering of the blood pressure in their brain. When the blood pressure in their brain falls, the perfusion of the brain declines and the person may experience "near-fainting" symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, "cold sweats," and blurry vision, especially at the edges of their vision. If the drop in blood pressure worsens, they may pass out completely.Cautionary note: A moderate jolt to someone's nervous system can cause "near fainting" symptoms such as dizziness and cold sweats, and a strong jolt to someone's nervous system can cause vasovagal syncope. However, a very strong jolt to someone's nervous system due to sudden severe pain, fear, rage, or sudden exposure to extreme heat or cold can actually cause cardiac arrest. This is especially true of older and/or sicker people. BDSMers who engage in extreme forms of pain play and/or fear play would be well advised to keep this in mind. "Sudden" is somewhat risky. "Severe" is somewhat risky. Mix "sudden" with "severe" -- especially when playing an older or sicker bottom -- and your risk level become exceptionally high.

A CASE SCENARIO

Let's examine how a DM at a play party might respond to a report of a "person who fainted" and consider their thoughts and actions. This DM is very experienced regarding BDSM and is equipped with EMT scissors, gloves made of latex, vinyl, or nitrile, and a small but powerful flashlight. They have recently had a good one-day class in Adult CPR and Basic First Aid. A party attendee tells them that someone in the next room has just fainted. They quickly but not recklessly hurry into the room.

Step One: Look at the overall situation.

As they approach the scene of the fainting, the DM takes a quick look at the overall situation. How many people seem to be involved? How well lit is the area? Does more than one person appear to be injured? Any spilled blood or other possibly infectious fluids? (If such fluids are present, the DM will put on their gloves before going closer.) Any broken equipment? Any other hazards or clues as to what happened? Is the room exceptionally warm or exceptionally cold?

Step Two: Look at the victim

The DM notes the victim's apparent age (young adult, middle-aged adult, or elderly adult), position they are in (standing, sitting, or laying down), any unusual clothing they are wearing (a tight corset can restrict breathing, latex clothing can cause a build-up of body heat), any obvious injuries or bleeding, and if the victim appears to be in distress. The DM further notes if the victim is in a possibly hazardous location or at risk for further injury.

Step Three: Perform a quick first aid assessment.

The DM quickly determines the status of the victim's level of consciousness and their possible need for cervical spine protection if any injury is involved. The DM makes sure that the victim's airway is clear, that they are breathing, that they have a pulse, and that there is no major bleeding. The DM will also assess the victim's "skin signs" for color, temperature, and wetness, and will check the rate and quality of their pulse and breathing. (They will have learned how to perform these assessments in the FA/CPR class that they took.) For the sake of this essay, let's assume that the victim appears to be regaining consciousness but they are still kind of groggy, that they do not appear to be injured, that their airway is clear and that they are breathing regularly and with no distress (this means that they have a pulse) and that there is no immediately obvious bleeding. However, their skin is somewhat pale, cool, and sweaty. Their breathing is "more or less" regular and their pulse is a little fast but otherwise seems OK.

Step Four: Stabilize the victim.

The goal of all emergency care can be summarized in one word: stabilize. In essentially all cases, we are trying to turn an unstable, dangerous situation into a stable, safe situation. Thus, an almost universal question to ask in emergency management is: what is needed to stabilize this situation?

In this particular scenario, let's assume that the bottom is standing there, still distinctly wobbly on their feet, with their hands cuffed over their head and a gag in place. Let's further assume that the equipment involved does not seem to be about to break. What to do?

I would be inclined to first remove the gag, even if the cuffs were digging into the victim's wrists. My reasoning for this is that a gagged "groggy" person is both at increased risk for vomiting and unable to protect their airway if they vomit. Aspiration of vomit into their lungs can occur in an instant and is always life-threatening, whereas injury to wrists from the cuffs, while admittedly serious, is not immediately life-threatening. Thus, my first action would probably be to remove the gag.

Once the gag was removed, I would probably try to relieve the pressure on the bottom's wrists and to get them down onto the floor. If the victim was "coming around" somewhat I would probably try to get them to stand up so that I could release their wrist restraints and then help them lay down. However, if they were still essentially unconscious, I would have a much tougher problem. Please note that if they seem to be rapidly "coming around" it might not be necessary to remove their bondage and lay them down. While I would be cautious and thoughtful about making exceptions, not every bottom who has fainted necessarily needs to have all their bondage immediately removed and to be placed in a horizontal position.

I wrote in "SM 101: A Realistic Introduction" that it can be a bad idea to tie a bottom into a position that would require their cooperation to release them from because if the bottom goes unconscious the situation immediately becomes much more complicated and difficult. Unconscious people become "floppy" and this floppiness, combined with their "dead weight," makes them exceptionally difficult to move. Fortunately, at a play party, there are probably enough people around to safely lower even a large, deeply unconscious bottom to safety. In private, however, it may be a much tougher situation.

In terms of lowering a "groggy" bottom to the ground, I want to make a particular point: I recommend against the use of panic snaps in this situation. I have two reasons for this: First, given that the quality of metal in many panic snaps is not very high, I have received too many reports of some portion of the snap failing or breaking. (If you must use them, buy the good-quality -- and, yes, expensive -- ones called "snap shackles" sold in boating supply stores.) Second, because the release of a panic snap "drops" the weight of the bottom in a sudden way, I have heard of at least two cases in which the top sustained a compression fracture of their lower spine when they tried to hold up a suddenly released bottom. I am increasingly skeptical of the use of panic snaps in any vertical load situation. I am much more in favor of the use of a mechanism that allows a more gradual, controlled lowering such as a worm gear or block-and-tackle. Even rigging up the knot called a Trucker's Hitch to create a simple pulley system can offer a much better alternative to the potentially dangerous, all-at-once release of a panic snap.

Special Alert: In the case of simple fainting, it has been often pointed out that getting the person down onto the ground allows for better re-perfusion of their brain and thus facilitates "waking them up." However, what if, because they are restrained, they pass out and they are unable to lie down? In some cases, they may recover anyway, however in other cases they will not only fail to recover but they may even get worse. It turns out that some people who faint and who are not able to get into a horizontal position may become even more unstable, to the point of developing potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias within ten to twenty minutes. (This has become especially important to climbers. For more info, please check out the article titled "Harness Induced Pathology" at www.caves.org/grotto/nag/html/harness.html.) For us BDSMers, the take-home message here is that if a person faints while held in upright bondage (or something similar) and doesn't regain consciousness fairly quickly, we need to know that they may get worse, possibly much worse, if they're not placed in a horizontal position. While this is not an utterly frantic "seconds matter" situation, it most definitely is a "minutes matter" situation.

Step Five: Further Assess The Person.

OK, just for the sake of discussion, let's assume that the bottom has had all of their bondage removed and is now laying on the floor. They are still a bit groggy but are awake enough to answer questions. There is no immediate crisis. In many ways, now the DM's work really begins regarding figuring out whether this is a "little sick" situation in which the person is likely to become more stable or a "big sick" situation in which the person is likely to become less stable. Getting answers to the following questions will help.

Assessment is generally in two phases. Phase One is the assessment that takes place immediately. Phase Two takes place after about five minutes. In general, a lot of "little sick" people will look and feel considerably better after about five minutes, while a lot of "big sick" people will still not look or feel much better after about five minutes, any may look or feel even worse.

1. How old is the person?

Fainting in a younger bottom (younger than 40) suggests "little sick." Fainting in an older person (older than 40) suggests "big sick." Fainting in someone over age 50 definitely suggests "big sick."

2. What were they doing when they fainted?

Three factors associated with "little sick" vasovagal fainting are: (a) standing position (b) warm room and (c) painful stimuli. (Hmmm, what kind of person do we BDSMers encounter who receives painful stimuli while standing in a warm room?) Anyone who fainted while walking, sitting, laying down, or during vigorous activity is at definite risk of being "big sick." An older person who faints under such circumstances is at high risk for a pump problem. Strongly suspect "big sick" if the person fainted while walking, sitting, laying down, or doing anything other than standing, especially if the person is over 40.

Note # 1: Moving our leg muscles helps blood return from our legs to our heart. Standing with one's legs locked does not pinch off the blood vessels, but does reduce the amount of help the leg muscles provide to help blood return to the heart. Therefore, not standing with your knees locked and moving your leg muscles "from time to time" will help improve blood return to the heart and reduce your chances of fainting.

Note # 2: While it is widely believed that raising one's hands over one's head increases the odds of someone fainting, with very few exceptions this does not seem to be the case. I can find no credible evidence in the medical literature to support this belief with the exception of a very rare condition called “subclavian steal syndrome” (which occurs in only about 1% of the population). I suspect that it is the motionless of the legs that occurs while the arms are being raised overhead that is the real culprit.

Note # 3: If the person faints immediately after standing up, this is called orthostatic syncope and in and of itself tends to be a "little sick" situation, however it suggests that the underlying health of the person is not so good. They may be on medications that inhibit the rapid changes in their blood pressure necessary to compensate for a quickly standing up. Caution: Be especially alert for signs of dehydration or internal bleeding.

Note # 4: In general, fainting during or immediately after orgasm, even if the person was laying down, tends to not be of special concern. For more info, please see Coming and Fainting: Is It Possible To Pass Out From An Orgasm? (http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2136.html) and "Passing Out at Orgasm" by Spyral Fox (http://members.aol.com/spyralfox/syncope.html).

Note # 5: Fainting that occurs while the person was straining to have a bowel movement, especially in an older person, suggests "big sick." In older people, especially those with heart disease, heavy straining during a bowel movement can sometimes actually cause a cardiac arrest or fatal cerebral hemorrhage. This is why such people are sometimes told "never hold your breath during a bowel movement" by their physicians. This causes a sudden increase in pressure within both the chest and abdominal cavities and is known as a Valsalva (val-SALVE-ah) maneuver. (For you medical-types reading this, the effect is due to stimulation of the aortic sinus bodies, which are similar in function to the carotid sinus bodies.) A Valsalva maneuver is usually harmless in younger people, although it does cause the occasional episode of unconsciousness if they "take a deep breath and hold it" as is seen in the "playground pass-out" games that children play when adults aren't around. However, in very rare and tragic cases, the occasional cardiac arrest does result from a strong Valsalva maneuver performed by a young, healthy person. What this means to the average BDSMer who likes breath control games is that, contrary to popular belief, some people can die from holding their own breath. Some choke-holds cause pressure on nerve bundles in the major arteries in the neck that are known as the carotid sinus bodies, producing effects identical to that of a Valsalva maneuver.

Note # 6: Fainting is occasionally seen during or after a strong episode of coughing or urinating, especially in older adults. This is typically a "little sick" situation if the person quickly recovers and otherwise seems OK.

3. Any injuries or incontinence?

Fainting with no associated injuries suggests "little sick." Fainting with injuries caused before, during, or after the fainting suggest "big sick." A person who was knocked unconscious, even briefly, is automatically in the "big sick" category. Obviously, any bleeding or other injuries should be treated. Fainting associated with tongue-biting and/or incontinence of urine or feces is often seen in fairly severe seizures and suggests "big sick." (Keep in mind that, like fainting, a seizure itself is a symptom of an underlying disorder, not itself a disorder.)

4. Are they known to have any medical conditions?

A person with a known history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, seizure disorder, and similar conditions is at risk for being "big sick." (Hopefully, they told their play partner about these conditions during pre-play negotiations.) Check for a medic-alert type bracelet or necklace. Some people know that they faint easily. Obviously it would be a good idea to tell a new partner about this before playing.

A note about seizures: As a general rule, a single seizure in a person with a well-established history of seizures may be a "little sick" situation, whereas a seizure in a person with no history of a seizure disorder is probably a "big sick" situation. Also, two or more seizures in a short time, especially if the person does not regain consciousness in the interval between them, is most definitely a "big sick" situation, even if they do have a history of a seizure disorder. At this point, it's probably time to get an ambulance. This could be the dreaded "status epilepticus" condition, and it's a killer.

5. How is their pulse rate?

A textbook normal pulse rate in a adult at rest is 60 to 100 beats per minute. An exceptionally slow pulse rate (below 50 beats per minute) suggests a "big sick" pump problem, especially if the person otherwise seems not OK. An exceptionally rapid pulse rate (above 120 beats per minute) suggests a "big sick" problem due to either a pump problem or a fluid problem (such as dehydration, blood loss, or low blood sugar). An exceptionally slow or rapid heartbeat that lasts longer than five minutes is strongly suggestive of "big sick." An obviously irregular pulse rate suggests a "big sick" pump problem, particularly if the person is also sweaty and otherwise in distress.

Note: A small number of adults, usually older adults, have a chronically and totally irregular pulse caused by a condition called atrial fibrillation. These people will typically know that they have this condition. In and of itself, atrial fibrillation is usually not an emergency unless other "heart-attack-like" symptoms accompany it.

6. How is their skin?

Skin that is exceptionally cold or hot, and/or exceptionally sweaty and dry, and/or exceptionally pale, blue, or flushed, especially if it continues to be so five minutes after the fainting occurs, suggests "big sick." Skin that rapidly returns to normal levels of temperature, color, and moisture suggest "little sick." (Note: in darker-skinned people, check their tongue for changes in color.)

7. How is their brain working?

A person who is confused, disoriented, unconscious, has trouble speaking or walking, has unequal grip strength, or has an uneven face when they try to smile is likely to be "big sick." This is especially true if it persists more than five minutes. Note that dehydration and low blood sugar can cause these conditions, so giving the person a small amount of a sugared drink to swallow, assuming that they are alert enough to do so safely, can be helpful.

Caution: People who have gone unconscious more than once, or who have been unconscious for longer than five minutes, are especially likely to be in the "big sick" category.

8. Did the person show or experience any "warning signs"?

A person about to experience a vasovagal syncope often experiences symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and blurry vision, sometimes for more than a minute, before they pass out entirely. These conditions are not likely to go away on their own if the person continues playing. Therefore, many faintings can be prevented if the person stops their play for a while and doesn't resume until they feel entirely better. Trying to "tough it out" under these circumstances, hoping the symptoms will go away on their own, can be a genuinely bad idea.

A person with an established seizure disorder may experience an "aura" shortly before they have a seizure. This symptom would tend to indicate "little sick." On the other hand, a person who blacks out very suddenly with no warning signs may have a pump problem or other serious condition.

Caution: "No warning signs" suggests "big sick."

9. How is their breathing?

A "little sick" person will tend to be breathing evenly, without difficulty, and at a normal rate. (Typically 12 to 20 breaths per minute in the average adult at rest.) They will have no unusual odors on their breath. A "big sick" person will often be breathing unevenly, with difficulty, and at an abnormally fast or slow rate. A rate of less than ten breaths per minute or more than 24 breaths per minute is definitely worrisome. An unusual breath odor is also worrisome.

A note regarding hyperventilation: Like fainting and seizures, hyperventilation is a symptom of an underlying disorder, not a disorder itself. (Some medics are taught "all that hyperventilates is not emotional distress.") However, a hyperventilating person can sometimes be successfully treated by mindfully administered re-breathing therapy of a small amount of their own carbon dioxide. However, please keep four important points in mind:

1. No unconscious person is a candidate for re-breathing therapy.

2. Hyperventilation is considerably more likely to be due to a serious medical condition rather than due to emotional distress in someone over age 40, so such people are considerably more likely to need more formal assistance such as medical oxygen instead of re-breathing therapy.

3. If the person will benefit from re-breathing therapy, they will likely do so within the first ten minutes of it, so if re-breathing therapy is not working after fifteen minutes, discontinue it and see further help.

4. No more brown bags! While re-breathing some of their own carbon dioxide can be helpful, always make sure that they always have plenty of access to oxygen. If you must use a brown bag, first tear a really huge hole in the bottom of it. Also, if they can, let them hold the "brown tube" themselves rather than you holding it for them. If they feel the need to remove the bag, let them.

While re-breathing therapy is somewhat controversial (due to cases of disastrously improper use, it is a forbidden technique in some EMS systems), a rational case can be made for the use of "brown tube" therapy, but the age of "brown bag" therapy is most definitely over!

10. What kind of environment are they in?

An exceptionally warm room, particularly if it's "stuffy" due to poor ventilation or crowding, makes fainting due to "little sick" reasons more likely, but if the room is a comfortable temperature and well-ventilated, the chances of the fainting being due to "big sick" reasons is increased. Note that relaxed nudity often requires that the room temperature be at least 75 degrees. (Good playrooms have a thermometer handy somewhere.)

Summary

LITTLE SICK

The more of the below you find, the more likely the person is to be "little sick."

Younger than 40.
Fainted while standing, especially after prolonged standing. Fainted immediately after receiving pain or fright, especially while standing. Fainted during orgasm. Fainted immediately after standing up. Fainted while coughing or urinating.
No injuries or incontinence before, during, or after fainting.
No known medical conditions, especially heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or seizure disorder.
Pulse either is or quickly returns to being regular, strong, and of normal rate. (60 to 100 beats per minute)
Skin either is or quickly returns to normal in terms of temperature, color, and wetness.
Person quickly regains consciousness, orientation, ability to speak clearly, and otherwise normal neurological functioning.
The person experienced warning signs such as nausea, dizziness, blurred vision or an aura prior to fainting.
Breathing either is or quickly returns to being unlabored, regular, and of normal rate (12 to 20 breaths per minute).
The person fainted while in a noticeably hot and/or crowded, poorly ventilated room

(Note: "quickly" means within five minutes.)

BIG SICK

The more of the below you find, the more likely the person is to be "big sick." Two or more findings are especially worrisome, however even a single finding may be more than enough to classify the person as "big sick."

Older than 40
Fainted while walking, sitting, laying down, or during vigorous activity, without apparent cause. Fainted during a bowel movement.
Injuries or incontinence.
Known medical conditions, especially heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, seizure disorder.
Pulse is and remains irregular, weak, and/or exceptionally fast or slow
Skin is and remains unusually hot, cold, wet, or dry, or unusually pale, blue, or red.
Person remains groggy, disorientated, or unconscious, or continues to have slurred speech, unequal grip strength, unequal smile, difficulty walking. Repeated episodes of unconsciousness.
The person experienced no warning signs prior to fainting.
Breathing is and remains unusual in terms of being rapid or slow, irregular, or labored
Fainting occurred in a well-ventilated, uncrowded room of comfortable temperature.

(Note: "remains" means longer than five minutes.)

Regarding Further Treatment

If the person falls into the "little sick" category they are likely to get better on their own with little need for further additional assistance. Fainting while playing is often caused or complicated by dehydration and/or low blood sugar, so giving them a sugared drink may be useful. If they feel uncomfortably cold or warm, whatever measures make them feel better should be provided. Interestingly enough, while elevating the legs of a person who has fainted or is in shock is widely taught, new evidence suggests that doing so is not especially helpful. Nowadays, placing an uninjured groggy or unconscious victim on their side in what is known as the recovery position is often preferred. (A very useful aphorism, taught to medics, is "any person who cannot cough on command is presumed unable to handle vomiting in the face-up position.")
A person having trouble breathing due to a medical condition will often do better if they rest in a seated position. Be advised that it is very dangerous to transport people who are suffering from chest pain or other symptoms that suggest a heart attack by private car. Possible heart attack victims should be transported by ambulance if at all possible, even if the hospital is near. A chest pain patient being transported by private car is in a very dangerous, unstable position.

Because victims of heart attack or stroke may benefit from "clot-busting" therapy, it is especially important that they be promptly taken to a hospital.

Further treatment will depend on a number of factors. How stable is this person now? Who will be with them? How will they get home? Will they be driving? Candidly, most people who faint will turn out to be "little sick" and will recover entirely from their fainting spell within a very short time. If they look and feel fine, they probably are fine. However, if there is any reasonable doubt, they should be considered "big sick" and measures taken accordingly. If they suffer from repeated or prolonged unconsciousness or repeated seizures, or from chest pain, respiratory distress, or other symptoms of a heart attack, or from a serious injury, it's time to call an ambulance.

Textbook References:

"Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" by R. Collins, MD
'Forensic Pathology" (Second Edition) by Bernard Knight, MD
"Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking" (Sixth Edition) by Barbara Bates, MD.
"Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care" by the American Heart Association.
"Healthwise Handbook" (Fourteenth Edition) by Donald Kemper.
"Medical Physiology" (Eighth Edition) by Arthur Guyton, MD.
"Paramedic Emergency Care" (Third Edition) by Bledsoe, Porter, and Shade
"The 60-Second EMT" (Second Edition) by Bosker, Weins, and Sequeira.

Medical Journal Articles Regarding The Non-usefulness of Elevating the Legs:

"Use of the Trendelenburg position by critical care nurses: Trendelenburg survey." Am J Crit Care 1997 May;6(3):172-6. Ostrow CL.

"Trendelenburg position and oxygen transport in hypovolemic adults." Ann Emerg Med 1994 Mar;23(3):564-7. Sing RF, O'Hara D, Sawyer MA, Marino PL

Online References:

http://hometown.aol.com/safescene/ (Jay Wiseman's website on First Aid and CPR.)

http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/syncope/index.htm (This is a really good URL on fainting.)

http://www.intelihealth.com/ (There is a good medical dictionary, with pronunciation guide, under "look it up.")

Coming and Fainting: Is It Possible To Pass Out From An Orgasm? (http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2136.html)

"Passing Out at Orgasm" by Spyral Fox (http://members.aol.com/spyralfox/syncope.html).

"Harness Induced Pathology" at www.caves.org/grotto/nag/html/harness.html

http://gwis2.circ.gwu.edu/~atkins/ (A really good overview of the nervous system and other aspects of physiology put up by David L. Atkins, Professor Emeritus of Biology Department of Biological
Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052.)

Editor's Note: Jay Wiseman is the author of the widely recommended book "SM 101: A Realistic Introduction" and "Jay Wiseman's Erotic Bondage Handbook." He is currently at work on a book regarding BDSM and polyamory. His books are published by Greenery Press (www.greenerypress.com) and are widely available. Jay responded to thousands of emergency calls during his eight years as an ambulance crewman and received the highest Red Cross commendation for lifesaving action. He has been active for more than thirty years in teaching basic, advanced, and wilderness emergency care. Questions, comments, and requests to reprint this essay can be sent to him at jaywiseman@yahoo.com.