Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (Full Version)

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WyrdRich -> Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 12:36:04 PM)

        This is coming from the 'safewords are NOT for novices' thread.

        When I think of 'edge play,' what comes to mind is breath control, electricity, holding someones head under water and all manner of things where risk is high and the variables are dangerous.
Yet on the other thread, resistance was classified as edge play and everyone just seemed to accept that.

          I can see that resistance play would be well outside the normal range in formal/traditional D/s or M/s relationships, but does that make it edge???  Is 'Edge Play' just another buzz phrase that means different things to different people?  And by the standard that seems to have been applied to resistance play, would it be edge play if I told my wife she has to address me as Sir at all times?

         I'm curious what the old hands and multi-paddle crowd who have seen it all before think about this.



Clothespingirl -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 12:44:50 PM)

Well, I'll give you the opinion of a new hand who loves words:  yes, words mean different things to different people.  That's why the Oxford English Dictionary is so darn big!

That said, the only resistance play I've seen was between two very large muscular men at a demo.  So I'd say if "edge play" means "scary", "dangerous", and "not for everybody", then this was edgy.



mnottertail -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 12:52:03 PM)

one persons edge is another's center of the bed.........

Ron



Proprietrix -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 12:54:43 PM)

I view "edge-play" in a couple of different ways. In my head, the phrase "risk of permanent bodily harm or death" keeps ringing, but I don't know that I would necessarily use that phrase in describing it.
I don't think of electric play as edge play. I do think of breath play as edge play.
Although, there's a big difference in using a violet wand on someone's toes and using defribulators on someone's chest. Not that I know of anyone who does the latter, but if I did, I'd call them edge players.
I've done bloodletting play in which a medically dangerous amount of blood was taken. I consider that edge play. But I don't consider knife play edge play. 
I consider using respritory chemicals edge play, but not chemicals on the skin.
I can see how a newcomer could consider inverted suspension bondage as edge play.
I've done scenes where the goal was to cut off circulation just enough to get that "my hand fell asleep and now it's tingling like ant bites" feeling. I suppose that could be considered edge play since we preach loudly not to cut off circulation. I considered it pretty damn fun for everyone involved, but never thought of it as edgey.

Why the distinctions? I have no friggin clue. It just makes sense in my head.

I actually saw dungeon rules posted once that said "No penetration. No scat. No edgeplay." I was kinda like "ummm... I'm not sure if I'm allowed to play here." Wasn't worth the hastle. We went home and cut each other instead..

I think edge play to a certain degree is about experience level. And then to another degree could be about the risk involved. No matter how experienced someone is, there's always a certain risk in breath play.

So I guess the point of my answer is
"I don't know."



LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 12:56:08 PM)

It's meaningless in terms of being actually definitive, just like "slave."

But it can have meaning when trying to convey a sense of something risky or more intense than average.

Any activity can be edgy, and some types of activities tend to have higher risks inherently than most other things.  So, as usual, it depends on how its used.



BitaTruble -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 12:58:18 PM)

When our resistance scenes are very primal in nature, we often end up bloody and bruised, broken bones are a distinct possibility, yes, I'd categorize it as inching towards edgy. I don't necessarily think they are 'all' edgy, however. A lot of S/m has to do with intensity and the motivation at that particular point in time. Knife play can be sensuous and barely draw a mark or it can be bloody as hell and if you're not careful can put you in the hospital. The mental aspects are another gauge that I would use to determine the difference between a scene which is on the edge and one which is run of the mill for us.

Celeste



spankmepink11 -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 1:05:02 PM)

I believe that as with many other terms commonly used in BDSM..."edge play" falls under individual perception. as does the term "extreme" .  As someone posted above...."one persons edge..is the center of the bed for another".
I am curious to know....what is the "multi-paddle crowd"???



JohnWarren -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 1:05:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WyrdRich

       This is coming from the 'safewords are NOT for novices' thread.

       When I think of 'edge play,' what comes to mind is breath control, electricity, holding someones head under water and all manner of things where risk is high and the variables are dangerous.
Yet on the other thread, resistance was classified as edge play and everyone just seemed to accept that.

         I can see that resistance play would be well outside the normal range in formal/traditional D/s or M/s relationships, but does that make it edge???  Is 'Edge Play' just another buzz phrase that means different things to different people?  And by the standard that seems to have been applied to resistance play, would it be edge play if I told my wife she has to address me as Sir at all times?

        I'm curious what the old hands and multi-paddle crowd who have seen it all before think about this.


"Edge play" first appeared as far as I know in the gay leather community and referred to the "edge" of a knife.  In short, it was what we now call "knife play."  I heard it in that context as far back as 1985 while observing a run in Ohio. 

However, it has transferred over to the straight community and has partially undergone a sea change to become play that goes to the "edge."  Since this, "edge" varies from person to person, it is definitely one of those phrases that if you are going to play with someone that demands "what do you mean by that?" before anything starts



merrymasochist -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 1:05:46 PM)

Dear WyrdRich,

I consider "edge play" to be any form of play that holds a real risk of physical or emotional damage and/or scarring. Such play should not be entered into lightly nor should it be practiced without solid training in the art.

The confusion happens because one person's edge play can be another's regularly practiced good time. Much of play involves risks of one sort or another. Some plays have higher risks than others. I think that's what gave birth to the new acronym RACK (Risk Aware Consensual Kink) as opposed to the SSC (Safe Sane & Consensual.)

But back to the topic, "edge play" does mean different things to different people. To a person who's never experienced bondage being tied would seem edgy to them. To others, it's the physical risk of damage or scarring that defines what thy would deem edge play. You have my definition of edge play above and I'm sure there are those who would disagree with me. Tis the nature of the beast for no two players are alike in their ideas and definitions, hence the importance of communication.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

merry



Lordandmaster -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 3:37:17 PM)

What's a phrase that DOESN'T mean different things to different people?

quote:

ORIGINAL: WyrdRich

Is 'Edge Play' just another buzz phrase that means different things to different people?



WyrdRich -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 4:37:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: spankmepink11
I am curious to know....what is the "multi-paddle crowd"???


     Just a term I use when my wife and I are talking about something we saw here.  I don't assign any particular credibility to posters based on their forum rankings (2000 insults does not make an expert) but on a topic like this, where terms and language are constantly shifting, pure experience in the forums is worth something.



WyrdRich -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 4:51:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: merrymasochist

Dear WyrdRich,

I consider "edge play" to be any form of play that holds a real risk of physical or emotional damage and/or scarring. Such play should not be entered into lightly nor should it be practiced without solid training in the art.  
merry


       This is how I think of it, the edge of safety rather than the edge of a particular individuals limits. 

         Thanks to all who took the time to reply.  I'll feel a bit more comfortable the next time I tell someone to keep their values out of my kink.



Kidless -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 9:55:21 PM)

Edge play is just when someone does something you're afraid to. Some people call my local scene "the bucket of blood" due to all of the needle and cutting work they mess with here.

But it's just blood sport to me,and I've done my share. An edge is just what you fear to fall over,that's all.



amayos -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 10:46:01 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: WyrdRich

Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term?


Anything with "play" after it usually is with me.



LaMalinche -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/4/2006 11:40:10 PM)

Hmmm. . . I think that "edge play" has gotten too much into the Vanilla vernacular. . . as playing "chicken" on the train tracks and "extreme" sports are seen as "edgey"  (sp).

Best,

LaMalinche




juliaoceania -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/5/2006 12:22:23 AM)

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought it meant pushing someone's limits. I thought that "edge players" were those who sought to push a subs limits or to put them in situations that they may become scared. Like a submissive that was a afraid of knife play would be pushed to do it, or a sub that was afraid of mummification would be pressed to do that. I had rejected some people that put "edge play" as an interest on other BDSM singles sites, perhaps I was just ill informed (although I am not into anything too edgy at this point anyhow).



Kidless -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/5/2006 12:25:46 AM)

Naw,that's just ego Julie.[:D]

(puffs up like a blowfish ,"BECAUSE I CAN!!!!!!!!)



masterdeltafire -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/5/2006 12:41:25 AM)

There used to be a HUGE gallery on this on another major site.  The couple used everything from knives to swords and pretty much everything between.  Think it had over 300 photos of a full scene of this done.

There are two sister terms, ones usually confuse with this: Edge play and cutting.

Edge play, would be taking a knife and lightly tracing it over the skin, say a person's neck, breasts, thighs, etc. without breaking the skin.  Cutting is just that, cutting into the flesh.  Edge play  is a major turn on to some, because of the thrill factor and danger.

A good edge play scene, especially if done at a munch, to give the ultimate mindfuck if you will, would be take a knife, dull of course  Add something like a small tube not well seen filled with fake blood, and as you "cut the flesh" if you will, it looks just like cutting.  Tis a little messy, but fun :)




Dustyn -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/5/2006 3:40:01 AM)

Now I have always believed that 'edge play' was anything on the 'edges' of what is considered SSC... rape play, age play, blood play... things that most of society is going to look at and either gag or get exceptionally defensive about... anything that challenges preconcieved notions of what is right and true in the normal scheme of life...

Something that pushes the envelop, for lack of a better way to put it... then again, I'm just a sick, twisted bastich anyway... I just don't indulge myself out of a desire to avoid  complications in my life... well, that and the fact that most people simply can't take the amounts of punishment I want to indluge them with, especially since most of what I would love to do would prolly break the mind of most people...

- Dustyn



bandit25 -> RE: Is 'Edge Play' just another meaningless term? (5/5/2006 3:58:40 AM)

Different strokes for different folks.



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