by
feather
People in
this lifestyle will argue that this lifestyle was based upon
de Sade and many walk away that in order to be in this lifestyle,
one must be sadist and cruel to a submissive. Keeping in mind
knowledge is needed in this lifestyle to put things into perspective,
this is a bit about the man this lifestyle is often associated
with.
Sade, Marquis
was born in Paris,(1740-1814), a writer of French of novels,
plays, and philosophical treatises, best known for his long-suppressed
erotic works, many of which were written will confined in prison.
In 1772 he was tried and sentenced to death for a series of
sexual crimes. He escaped to Italy, but on his return to Paris
he was arrested and imprisoned at Vincennes in 1777. Six years
later he was removed to the Bastille and in confined to the
Charenton lunatic asylum in 1789. Following his release from
the asylum in 1790, yet incarcerated again in 1803, he was placed
in several prisons throughout the years until he died in Charenton
in 1814.
Amongst
his writings are: The Story of Juliette (6 volumes, 1797; trans.
1958-59) and The Bedroom Philosophers (1795; trans. 1953), in
which he described in detail the many sexual acts he practiced.
His erotic writings were consider obscene and perverted amongst
society and these works were banned until well into the 20th
century.
While institutionalized
he was diagnosed as a sadist, a new psychological term derived
from his name and used by the psychiatrists treating him. Sadism
denoted a form of neurosis wherein sexual satisfaction is gained
by the infliction of pain on others. De Sade’s neurotic philosophy
was that both criminal and sexually deviant acts are regarded
as natural. Keep in mind with de Sade that with his victims,
there was no consent and with death often being the result,
was hardly considered safe, or sane.
You will
find that BDSM articles and publications often make note of
this writer, his moment of making history and introduction of
the new term “sadism” to society by his psychiatrists. For the
outsiders looking into this lifestyle, one may wish to conclude
that all parties participating in BDSM are into the extremes
of this neurosis as de Sade had been. This of course is not
true. BDSM as we know it today is based upon the basis of Safe,
Sane and Consensual activities between the parties involved.
Granted,
BDSM related activities are often considered illegal in most
states. Today, according to the laws on the books, for one to
inflict pain on another person, is an illegal act of assault
and punishable by the courts; and in some states the masochist
may be arrested and tried as well, for consenting to the assault.
Look up the laws in your own state. Keep in mind that, Marquise
de Sade not only committed heinous acts of torture for his own
sexual pleasure, but often killed or maimed his victims as well.
De Sade's
acts of sadism then, as they would today, confined him to prisons.
This lifestyle does open the door to others suffering from similar
psychoses and unsavory individuals use it as a means to prey
upon an unsuspecting victim with the intent to commit an act
of crime.
The word
sadism came into existance with de Sade's insane acts of cruelty
for his own personal pleasure...Dominance and submission, with
or without BDSM activities, as we know it today, is based upon
Safe, Sane and Consensual activities and interaction with your
partner.
It is my
believe that ever since time people have been born with dominant
or submissive traits; therefore, D/s has been around forever,
privately perhaps within households but in existance never the
less. Today we as a society, have become more open and honest
about ourselves and establish organizations for those with like
minds, thus we hear about this lifestyle more than we had before.
Of course, the internet has opened many doors for those who
are curious and we have found a place to share our "perversions",
"preferences" and "uniqueness" with others
like U/us.
© 04-25-03
feather aka mjwr
Protected by the copyright laws. Not to be reproduced, copied
or redistributed without the express permission of the author