... isn't actually linked to anything. Pain and humiliation are also fetishes. Degradation is a form of abuse, but I'll not go into that right now.

Submission simply indicates a willingness to submit or a desire to serve. The D/s aspect of BDSM actually encompasses very little physically, although the mental aspect there is insanely huge. You may ask your submissive to bring you a cup of coffee and she will. That is submission. You may ask your submissive to bring you a cup of coffee, to offer it to you on her knees and then to lower herself to her hands and knees so you may use her as a coffee table. The added aspects are fetishes and disciplines. Yes, they are still part of the service, but they are not included in the actual act of service.

If you would like to read my take on some of the larger issues, have a look here.