|
Most slaves rely on their Masters to guide, instruct & discipline
them; they rely on their Masters to explain their needs, they hope for
instruction about how to behave and how to serve, and they are glad to
be provided with sufficient incentive to learn. A further desire is that
the Master provide punishment when necessary. All of these expectations
are valid and are meant to assist in the achievement of the Master' goals.
While numerous essays have been written about methods of punishment, they
are usually written for Dominants. These essays often accurately suggest
that physical punishment (such as spanking and paddling) is not especially
useful, since many submissives and slaves are sexually aroused by pain.
Other methods are suggested, and often, a Master feels his obvious disappointment
in his slave is, or at least should be, punishment enough.
Despite the inclination to be aroused by pain, a corporal punishment can
be as effective, and sometimes more effective, than other methods of punishment.
While a Master's disappointment may arouse feelings of guilt and a desperate
wish for approval, it is not always enough to make a point or change behavior.
Any submissive or slave has a responsibility during punishment - not just
to accept it and "attempt to learn from it," - although those
things are obviously important, but to change the mindset that would allow
her to find it pleasurable. This is something a slave must do for herself,
something she is obliged to do in any punishment situation, not just a
corporal one. It requires nothing more than disallowing the pleasurable
aspects of pain - temporarily dismissing sexual or stimulating elements.
Punishment, just like the power exchange itself, begins in the mind. If
an encounter with a paddle is viewed as sexual and exciting, that's what
it is. But changing the frame of mind allows the slave to recognize that
structured pain can also help her become exactly what she wants to be.
Although a good Master knows how to inflict a painful punishment without
allowing the slave to slip into subspace, she, too, must take the fantasy
out of corporal punishment.
|