1. THE OUTRIGHT NON-SUBMISSIVE MASOCHIST or KINKY SENSUALIST.
               Not into servitude, humiliation or giving up control; just pain
                and/or spiced-up sensuality, on the masochist's own terms and for the
                masochist's own direct pleasure (i.e. turned on solely/mainly by
                one's own bodily sensations rather than by being "used" to gratify
                one's partner's sadism).
             2. PSEUDO-SUBMISSIVE NON-SLAVE.
               Not into even playing "slave," but into other "submissive" role-
                playing, e.g. schoolteacher scenes, infantilism, "forced"
                transvestitism. Usually into humiliation, but NOT into servitude,
                even in play. Dictates the scene to a large degree.
3. PSEUDO-SUBMISSIVE PLAY SLAVE.
               Likes to play at being a slave; likes to feel subservient; may in
                some cases like to feel one is being "used" to gratify partner's
                sadism; may even really serve the dominant in some ways, but only on
                the "slave's" own terms.
4. TRUE SUBMISSIVE NON-SLAVE.
               Really gives up control (only temporarily and within agreed-upon
                limits), but gets her/his main satisfaction from aspects of
                submission other than serving or being used by the dominant. Usually
                turned on by suspense, vulnerability, and/or giving up
                responsibility. Doesn't dictate the scene except in very general
                terms, but still seek mainly her/his own direct/pleasure (rather than
                getting one's pleasure mainly from pleasing the dominant).
             5. TRUE SUBMISSIVE PLAY SLAVE.
               Really gives up control (though only temporarily; only during
                brief "scenes" and within limits) and gets main satisfaction from
                serving/being used by dominant-but only for FUN purposes, usually
                erotic. May/may not be into pain. If so, is turned on by pain
                indirectly, i.e. enjoys being the object of one's partner's sadism,
                on which the submissive places very few requirements or restrictions.
              6. UNCOMMITTED SHORT-TERM BUT MORE THAN PLAY SEMI-SLAVE.
               Really gives up control (usually within limits); wants to serve and
                be used by the dominant; wants to provide practical/non erotic as
                well as fun/erotic services; but only when the "slave" is in the
                mood. May even act as a full-time slave for, say, several days at a
                time, but is free to quit at any time (or at the end of the agreed
                upon several days). May or may not have long-term relationship with
                one's Master, but, either way, the "slave" has the final say over
                when she will serve.
              7. PART-TIME CONSENSUAL-BUT REAL SLAVE.
                Has an ongoing commitment to an owner/slave relationship and regards
                oneself as the dominant's property at all times. Wants to obey and
                please Dom(me) in all aspects of life-practical/non erotic and
                fun/erotic. Devotes most of time to other commitments (e.g. job) but
                Dom(me) has first pick of the slave's free time.
               8. FULL-TIME LIVE IN CONSENSUAL SLAVE.
               Within no more than a few broad limits/requirements, the slave
                regards herself/himself as existing solely for the Dom(me)'s
                pleasure/well being. Slave in turn expects to be regarded as a prized
                possession. Not much different from the situation of the traditional
                housewife, except that within the S/M world the slave's position is
                more likely to be fully consensual, especially if the slave is male.
                Within the S/M world, a full time "slave" arrangement is entered into
                with an explicit awareness of the magnitude carefully, with more
                awareness of the magnitude of power that is being given up, and hence
                is usually entered into much more carefully, with more awareness of
                the possible dangers, and with much clearer and more specific
                agreements than usually precede the traditional marriage.
               9. CONSENSUAL TOTAL SLAVE WITH NO LIMITS.
               A common fantasy ideal which probably doesn't exist in real life
                (except in authoritarian religious cults and other situations where
                the "consent" is induced by brainwashing and/or social or economic
                pressures, and hence isn't fully consensual). A few S/M purists will
                insist that you aren't really a slave unless you're willing to do
                absolutely anything for your Dom(me), with no limits at all. I've met
                a few people who claimed to be no-limit slaves, but in all cases I
                have reason to doubt the claim.
Author Diane Vera copyright 1985 and 1988
Remember you don't have to fit into one of these categories specifially.  you can be some where in the middle like a 7 1/2 and so on.  Find the levels that suit you the best.
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