SMack!

Safe, Sane, Consensual

by Dommanator - 05.02.2004

We have all heard the slogan safe, sane, consensual. Most bdsm clubs and web sites have adopted it, one way or another. But what does it mean? Where did it come from? Does it even apply? I thought the meaning was easy.
Safe; depends on your definition of safe I mean I want to be safe, do thing's in a safe manner.
Sane; well I don't think I'm insane, don't like to do thing's in an insane manner.
Consensual; okay this one is easy consensual means to have consent to do something.
But all's not as easy as it seems…

Safe; free from injury or danger. Okay I'm using a whip on my submissive to give pain, so she will transform it to pleasure. I know using a whip on someone isn't really safe, okay using a whip on someone is unsafe. Of course someone, that has been trained to use the whip, and has years of practice isn't as dangerous as someone who never picked one up.
Sane; having or showing sound judgment. We all do insane things one time or another. What one person considers insane, might not be insane to another, depends on your perspective. So is what we do insane? All depends on who you talk to.
Consensual; having consent, the big okay to use the whip But what about the top that decides there going to push a limit? Did they get consent for that? So where does that leave us? Unsafe?

Insane? Unconsensual? Let's dig deeper, where did the phrase safe, sane, consensual come from? Back in 1983 David Stein was part of the committee for GMSMA (gay male s/m activist) and was charged with drafting a new statement of identity and purpose for the organization, GMSMA's community involvement committee chose safe, sane, consentual as the slogan for the contingent and conference it was meant to stop stereotypically negative views based on movies bad head lines in newspapers and magazines tru out the country in other words, the strategy was not to try to redefine s/m, itself, inherently safe, sane, consensual they felt safe, sane, consensual was the best slogan to distinguish the kind of sexual expression they were marching for… So we see the intent of safe, sane, consensual was never meant to be taken literally.

Look at safe, sane, consensual as a tool, to remind us of what your responsibility's are, and lessen the risk of unintentional injury or pain. Excersise sound judgment. Don't get yourself in the position where you wish you hadn't gotten in, and remember doing something against someone's will breaks trust and might at the least insure they won't play with you again at the worst will get you thrown in jail for assault. We all can take steps to lessen the risk of unintentional injury or pain when we play. Know who your playing with, carefully consider the risk and benefits, educate yourself on safety issues concerning s/m SAFE, SANE, CONSENSUAL. Let's use it.