I'm doing a research paper on BDSM, for those of you that don't know it stands for :
Bondage & Discipline
Domination &submission
Sadism & masochism

SO says it's abuse. I say it isn't. For it to be BDSM, a person has to be of sound mind, and be a consenting adult.

What do you think?

I don't think it's abuse.

IMO, it's not abuse if both parties are consenting adults.

Not abuse.

If the other adult wasn't consenting, then yes, I'd call that abuse and not BDSM.

Me loves some BDSM.   

Two fully consenting adults? I fail to see the abuse.

clearly, if there is consent, it is not abuse.

or, put it the other way... if there is not consent, it isn't BDSM.

ETA-- of legal age

It's DEFINITELY not abuse. Especially because most interactions like that, require a contract. Which will normally state the exact acts and types of pain that is going to happen. These people willingly do it. =) Didn't they read 50 Shades *snicker*

It's not abuse.

Just because 50 shades of grey makes it seem that way.

It's a lifestyle which both parties choose.

Quoting the grace life:" Two fully consenting adults? I fail to see the abuse. "

  same

Quoting Alecia Downey:" It's DEFINITELY not abuse. Especially because most interactions like that, require a contract. Which ... [snip!] ... the exact acts and types of pain that is going to happen. These people willingly do it. =) Didn't they read 50 Shades *snicker*"

No 50 shades, that guy is abusive. That's not even remotely what it's about!

I read a paper on it that analyzed the fact that many people who were abused for long periods of time become so desensitized to it they come to be obsessed with BDSM, if you need to talk about more. It's in depth psychological analyst viewpoints though. Some people who like BDSM like it out of abuse.

Quoting kaaw:" clearly, if there is consent, it is not abuse. or, put it the other way... if there is not consent, it isn't BDSM."

 

Quoting Michael Westen:" No 50 shades, that guy is abusive. That's not even remotely what it's about!"

 
It romanticizes abuse.

It's not abuse, it's recreation! (: Like someone else said, if it's non consensual (and sometimes it certainly appears that way, but it should all be discussed beforehand) it isn't BDSM.

Not abuse, in the slightest.