Dominant vs. Master

[ProjectEuropa]

What's the difference between a dominant and a master? What do the words actually mean?

I've always found all the titles in BDSM a little ambiguous since the fundemental rule is that the relationships are consensual.

How can a slave really be a slave if s/he can freely walk away from a relationship without even giving a reason? A 'slave' is owned property which is certainly not the case in BDSM. A 'slave' is owned property without the free will to negotiate the relationship. I can accept a submissive can freely submit him/herself to the dominant in a relationship and the dominant has to earn the respect and keep the respect of the submissive in order to keep him/her.

I always thought and obviuosly wrongly, a Master was someone who had mastered the art of BDSM i.e. the art of bondage or other such skill, like in renaisance times a Master painter was fully conversant in his art and able to mentor those that wanted to learn the art. I've been a spectator at a couple of scenes and was particularly impressed by one person I would gladly call a Master who conducted the proceedings with such fluidity and ease that he was obviously a Master of his craft.

OK I accept we conduct our relationships in the realms of fantasy and desire and it is in that context we label ourselves and I suppose ones title defines our position on the spectrum of kink.