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ORIGINAL: OhReallyNow

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But when speaking with someone openly, wouldn't it be handy to have a name for what it is? Without a descriptive term, it seems like it would be rather awkward to explain any relationship

this slave tells everyone that she lives a 24/7 Master/slave relationship. Yet, she has been asked how that can be if she and Master do not live in the same house. Some would argue that what we have is only that of a Dominant/submissive relationship; yet, this slave would argue it for the simple reason that she HAS given up all control to Master. It matters not whether we live in the same house or not; what matters is the mindset between Master and his property.
 
why would this slave need a more descriptive term to define her relationship? She supposes that she could instead call it a 'sometime 24/7 Master/slave relationship' but that would only raise more questions as to what would define 'sometime'

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ORIGINAL: Lashra

I agree with all of those. I don't see why people get so caught up in labels you would think they were merit badges or something.

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ORIGINAL: NINASHARP

Question?  Sadist / Masochist one who enjoys inflicting / receiving pain, is that sexually speaking only?

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ORIGINAL: ScooterTrash

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

I also think that all slaves are submissives, but not all submissives embrace being a slave.

Not all slave are submissives (assuming you were using this as a noun), totally different dynamics. I might agree that all slaves may be submissive however. 

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

Our dynamic is what it is, it really doesn't matter how others view it, it matters how we view it.

 
But when speaking with someone openly, wouldn't it be handy to have a name for what it is? Without a descriptive term, it seems like it would be rather awkward to explain any relationship.

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ORIGINAL: ScooterTrash
To me, no dynamic is clarified solely by the mindset..it is the physical relationship as well.

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ORIGINAL: twicehappy

 

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ORIGINAL: NINASHARP

Question?  Sadist / Masochist one who enjoys inflicting / receiving pain, is that sexually speaking only?

For the purpose of these definitions we shall agree on pain of any type.

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ORIGINAL: LadyHugs

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen;
 
Labels.  Interesting things about labels. 
 
Labels identify what the brand is, the contents of the package, the breakdown of the contents of the packaged item.  Some labels identify the weight, the description, the nutrition value and all those pounds that might find you called calories.  Some labels come with instructions on how to use.  Some labels come with warnings how not to use.  Some labels explain how to put together or take apart.  Some labels give how much weight they can carry or not.  Some labels warn that they have the possibility to 'shock.'  Some labels tell where it came from or where they were packaged.  Some have old designs and some have such beautiful labels you do your best to avoid tearing them up. 
 
Some labels tell where they are coming from or return them back to the sender if nobody is there to receive it.  Some labels send you somewhere.  Some labels say when.  Some labels give you a code, much like a road map of what route you took.  Some labels say you're First class.  Some say you're second class or worse, third class.  Some say your glass or fragile.  Some say don't bend.  Some say hand process or hand stamp.
 
Some labels tell others who you are, in some crowded convention.  Some labels tell others where you'll be.  Some labels tell you where to sit or where not to.  Labels identify the variety of foods on the buffet table.  Interesting Ranch and Blue Cheese dressing looks so similar.
 
Labels identify, labels inform, labels help make a choice.  One thing labels can never do--and that is explain the contents of a human entirely.
 
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
Lady Hugs
 
 

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ORIGINAL: twicehappy 
After a week or so i will add up the ones that are similar and see how it came out then post the ones who were the most repeated or agreed with.
 
If your vote is "labels or definitions are what they mean to you " this will be counted as a non vote. This is an experiment to see what the general consensus is.
 

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ORIGINAL: WyrdRich

   Add me to the list who think the switch definition is dismissive of the possibilities. 

    How about, Switch:  one who is able to create a synthesis of both sides of power exchange.

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ORIGINAL: twicehappy
Top; one who controls the scene for play only.
 
Bottom; one who submits during the scene only
 
Sadist; one who enjoys inflicting pain
 
Masochist; one who enjoys receiving pain
 
Dom/Domme; the one who dominates, the one who is in control of, is responsible for, gives orders and direction to the sub/slave. This is something they are, a personality type, not just something they do only in the bedroom. A Dom/Domme is what they are whether or not they currently own a sub or slave.
 
Master/Mistress, is one who is dom/domme and currently owns a submissive or a slave. It is a title bestowed on them by virtue of such ownership. It also goes much deeper than the Dom/Domme relationship on the spiritual, emotional and physical levels in regards to the depths of the power exchange and the responsibilities involved.
 
Switch; one who can either top or bottom during play or a scene.
 
Submissive; one who yields power or control to the dominant on a limited basis both during day to day life and during scening or playing. Or one whose nature is submissive, one may be a submissive whether or not they currently are submitting to a dominant, it is what they naturally are.
 
Slave; one who yields control of all aspects of their existence to the dominant within the limits agreed upon prior to being collared (these are generally agreed upon moral limits, not to be confused with" I get it my way or I leave or Sam type behaviors). One who is considered to be owned by another as their sole property. One whose submission to their owner/s is total, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in and out of any scenes or play..

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ORIGINAL: ScooterTrash
But when speaking with someone openly, wouldn't it be handy to have a name for what it is? Without a descriptive term, it seems like it would be rather awkward to explain any relationship.

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Should they ask me specifically for my opinion? I would tell them the same thing I tell everyone that asks... and believe me, not many ask. A slave is owned property

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  the branch off of that would be "with a slave mentality" or "with the desire to be a slave".

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  If there had been in place a generally accepted commonly used definition of the terms that we use regularly in this lifestyle in place when the newcomer came on to the scene... would this have been an issue?

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  I would tell them to re-think that with the information they now have available to them.

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  To me, no dynamic is clarified solely by the mindset..it is the physical relationship as well.

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ORIGINAL: ScooterTrash
To me, no dynamic is clarified solely by the mindset..it is the physical relationship as well.

For the sake of argument, what of a married couple that must live apart?  For example, in a family I know, the husband's company transferred him to the UK.  Because his line of work is scarce, he went.  Rather than uprooting both of his children from their home, their school, their grandparents and other relatives, his wife continues to live in the States with the kids, and they visit him one week out of each month.  Would this mean their marriage is no longer clarified as a marriage?

A CEO I worked for had a similar situation, only his wife and 4 kids were in Southern California, while his job was in Northern California.  He was in the Bay Area 4 days out of the week, and home Fri-Sun.  How would that marriage be clarified, by the definitions listed above?

My cousin's husband is a merchant marine, out to sea 3 months at a time.  Obviously there is no physical interaction, and hardly even voice interaction as well. 

The examples above, in my opinion, show how a dynamic can absolutely be a full time, 24/7 one, whether the parties are in the same residence or not.  Or, is there a set value of number of days together per week/month/year that would then define what is 24/7 for the masses?

What of a slave whose Master has absolute authority over all she does - her finances, her job, her family activity, her daily schedule, etc.?  Yet she does not live with him? She is watched while at home, even as she sleeps.  Is she still considered something other than a 24/7 slave, by your definition? 

Not trying to be argumentative, but stating that in my definitions, complete authority can occur in non-traditional settings.

I may have misunderstood your post, however.  If the emphasis is on the word solely, then that would mean simply that some form of physicality must exist, rather than a requirement somehow being that they must live under the same roof.

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Hello A/all,

I apologize if you feel awkward explaining what you do in the lifestyle.  I am not sure I can recommend any way you can overcome this, but I do wish you well.

While your comment is a nice ideal, I cannot help but think you want precise definitions to deal with your own feelings of awkwardness in explaining it to other people.  In my experience in the Real World it seldom happens.  People tend to take a standard definition (say C (the speed of light)) and start to monkey with it to work in their own dynamic.  For example, is that the speed of light in a vacuum? through water?  through a gravitational field?

So what ends up happening is the two people have to COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER and figure out what their individual definitions are and come up with a common agreed upon definition that works within the context they are talking about.

Scientists do it.  Why cant we?

Forcing me to define my Dominance by somebody else's yardstick is problematic.  What if the most Dominant thing I can possibly conceive of involves spearfishing with my submissive in Fiji?  Am I likely to encounter another Dominant with a similar bent.  No. 
Does this mean my definition is wrong?  No.  It simply means that I choose to define my existence in this lifestyle a certain way.

So in my opinion, people have to sit down and figure out what definition works for both of them within the context they are talking about.

In my experience, limited though it might be, the people who most insistent on clarified, codified, nailed down, types of definitions tend to be the most insecure in their own interactions in the lifestyle.  To me, they seem inordinately concerned with whether I consider them a True Dominant or True submissive or True Republican or whatever, leaving me to wonder why the hell they care what I think.

Universal infinitive definitions have not ever worked for any group of people who have attempted it in history (feel free to disagree, but please cite SPECIFIC EXAMPLES) and I personally do not think this is likely to change.

But that is just me, and I could be wrong.

Sinergy 

this is the first time that this slave has every agreed 100% with what you have said Sir, thank you