The following are the definitions of terms which may be found throughout this web site.
While you may choose to define these words differently, this is how they are defined and used here.
| bottom: | Also referred to as either being, or possessing the qualities of, a masochist. Unlike Tops, most (but not all) bottoms can enjoy ‘punishment’ or ‘torment’ from almost anyone willing to perform it, their ‘tormentor’ need not necessarily be an established Top. As with Tops, some bottoms only enjoy receiving a particular, specific sort of torment; and such torment, again for some, need not be physical in nature. There are some bottoms who only require the realistic threat of torment, or maybe just the fearful aspect of play, to enjoy themselves. Usually, bottoms are "adrenaline junkies" and/or "endorphin junkies". |
| Dominant: | A Dominant, also loosely referred to as a Master or Mistress (think “pet owner” rather than “Martial Artist” here) or “Dom” or “Domme”, is a person who does, or would choose to, dominate any aspect, or any part of any aspect, of another persons life. A Dominant must respect whatever parameters, and any limits, of any submissive that may accept them as a Dominant while in performance of such domination. A Dominant may assume whatever level or amount of control over a submissive’s life as has been negotiated between the Dominant and submissive in question. A Dominant is required to strictly observe any limits set by the submissive and respect any requirements put forth by the submissive who has accepted their domination. |
| Master or Mistress: | See Dominant. |
| Negotiations: | A discussion regarding preferences, limits, and Safe Words and general parameters regarding ensuing play. Typically held between a Dominant or Top and a submissive or bottom just prior to play. |
| Owner: | An Owner is a person who owns another person as property; who owns one or more slaves, including those instances when such ownership is shared among one or more other Owners. An Owner is a Dominant who assumes complete control and total domination over every aspect of a slave’s life. An Owner also assumes total responsibility for every aspect of the life of any slave they own. If a slave were to make a mistake, it is, in fact, the Owner’s mistake and it is the Owner’s responsibility to correct both the mistake and the slave’s future behavior. While an Owner is a Dominant, they do not have the luxury of relying on any slave they own to outline their relationship, set parameters, or guide them in their domination as their domination over their property is absolute. Many who claim they are, or would be, Owner’s are not honestly ready for the enormous responsibility and tremendous burden that an Owner must bear. |
| Play: | (A.K.A. "Role Play") Also referred to as “sessions”. Play occurs between at least one Top and at least one bottom; and will usually involve any one or group of elements or aspects of Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and/or Masochism (BDSM). Play may also involve, or even be entirely limited to, strictly scripted Role-Playing and need not include any BDSM whatsoever. Although not necessarily involving them, play is often associated with toys. Play can include “unscripted” and “scripted” Role-Play, where the people involved assume assigned “roles” or “characters” for a predetermined period of time; often, but not always, these roles will include at least one Dominant and one submissive role. |
| slave: | The consensual nature in which a person enters slavery does not diminish the level at which they transfer power and control over their life; simply because someone consents to become a slave does not mean they are less (or more, depending on your point of view) than a slave in any respect once owned. To claim that a slave is something other than completely a slave, owned and forfeit of all rights, in fact makes them a submissive. A slave is a human being, a person, who is owned by at least one person; a slave is someone who is property. A slave retains no rights, having consensually forfeited all of them upon becoming a slave. 99.9% of (especially American) people who consider themselves as being slaves are, in fact, submissives and are not slaves at all. A slave has only those privileges as those who own them allow, and any such privileges may be revoked at any time for any reason an owner may choose. A slave cannot set their own limits. A slave cannot claim any rights to any property; a slave is property and anything they may have access to would, in fact, be owned by their Owner. A slave has resigned themselves to whatever fate their Owner may choose for them. A slave is a submissive that submits totally and completely and in all ways without any set Limits, Safe Words, Negotiations, or any parameters whatsoever to dictate how their Owner must act. A slave is, very literally, at the complete “mercy” of their Owner. If a slave is not currently owned, their proper label would either be “un-owned slave” or “submissive”. A slave may be controlled 100% by one who is their rightful Owner or may be given any degree or level of autonomy as a person who rightfully owns them sees fit. |
| Submissive: | The label: “submissive” (also referred to as “sub” or “Subbie”) is given to anyone who may choose to submit any aspect, or any part of any aspect of, their life, to some degree no matter how small or shallow, to a Dominant. A submissive may choose their own limits and set whatever parameters they want regarding how, when and to whom they will submit. The term: “submissive” is a broad, sweeping label that could be applied to even those who choose to only submit once, and only very briefly, to a Dominant. The term: “submissive” can also be applied to someone who has yet to ever submit to a Dominant, but may choose to do so at some future time. |
| Top: | Also referred to as either being, or having the qualities of, a Sadist. Most typically, a Top can only enjoy acts of sadism when the recipient of such acts is a bottom. There are Tops who only enjoy the psychological aspects of play, and would only assume the role of a domineering person. There are also Tops who can only receive sadistic pleasure from certain particular types of play or only with certain types of toys, such as playing the role of a Head Master of a school and only using a wooden paddle on the buttocks of a bottom during play; then there are Tops who might only require tears of humiliation from a bottom to enjoy themselves. |
| Toys: | Almost any object or item that could be used during play or unscripted or scripted Role-Play. Often included in these are: a vast assortment of whips, paddles and other striking implements, any types or designs of ropes or strings or twine, cloth or leather or metal restraints (such as locking cuffs or arm binders or straight jackets), clamps, clips or other pinching and/or pulling devices, even dildos and silk scarves or costumes of any sort can be considered “toys”. |
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