Quote Originally Posted by fetishdj View Post
There seems to be an assumption that hoods=breath play when really they don't. They aren't even really blondfolds necessarily, unless you want them to be. The point of a hood is to dehumanise a sub - remove the face and the sub becomes something less human and therefore more open to abuse. Things like blindfolds, gags and breath play add to that but are by no means essential. My leather hood has open eye holes and an open mouth hole (which cannot be blocked easily). You can add a blindfold to it easily enough, you can also add a gag (including a gag with a tube that can be blocked for breath play) but the main reason I wear it is because it triggers off the submissive feelings in me (and presumably triggers dominant feelings in a Mistress...)

Sensory dep play is also an element of play possible with hoods - ear plugs, blindfold etc and the hood itself adds an extra layer of darkness to the situation as well as removing the sense of touch from the face. Can be scary but that is what the trust is for...
I guess I never thought about it that way. When people mention a hood, I instantly think about air restriction. Plus the other obvious of not being able to see.

I'm really glad you posted this. It definitely made me look at all of it differently. And I suppose it just became an option in play. Seeing your pic of you in a hood kind of proves your point about dehumanising (sp? Or even a word) a sub. Being faceless does add to the scene now that I see it as something more than just breath play. I will admit that you appear to be a pet/sex object/slave without adding the personal side of facial expressions.

Thanks again for the new outlook