Quote Originally Posted by Spitman
There are dominant masochists who enjoy the experience of the sub vicariously, and are more interested in controlling the sensations of the sub than getting off on the infliction of pain.
Fascinating. I never thought of that angle. I wonder how many people who 'switch' are still enjoying the same element of the interaction, only vicariously.

Quote Originally Posted by ProjectEuropa
Hmm I think there is a whole spectrum that various people inhabit and some move along it with ease and some are happy in their own particular place. Domination is not a form of paternalism, it is what it says, domination. OK we are on the whole civilised people and confront our kinks usually and preferably in cooperation with a partner who has a complimenting kink. However if we take away the sugar coating of cooperatoin and domination has no sadism in its make up, what is the motivation behind the domination?
Domination/submission comes in many, many flavours. Just like non-kink people can call themselves "breast-men" or "leg-men," people into D/s are getting off on different aspects of the relationship. Some people crave to humiliate or to be humiliated, and don't need a whip, cane, or clamp around to enjoy themselves. For those people... it's still called domination, because it involves control/giving up control. For a painslut like me, the sadistic streak my S.O. has is a must, but many people just don't need to go there. How about all the stories on this site where there is no infliction of pain at all? They're filled with domination--just of a different type. I think the only common denominator is the control part.