Safe Sane & Consensual

Safe Sane & Consensual (SSC) is one of the fundamental concepts of the scene. It's used as the simple, quick, rule of thumb as to whether things are ultimately acceptable and reasonable in a scene which is, from the outside as neither of them.

Quite what Safe, Sane and Consensual means varies from person to person. It is more of a feeling than a straight definition. We've tried to come up with a basic, simple, definition that'll explain things but let you apply your own values.

Safe

"Does what you're doing have the potential to cause permanent harm" This doesn't have to only mean "could the knife slip?", it extends to safe sex and further to any situation where a safe escape should always be considered, such as getting unintentionally caught during forced exhibitionism. Often, the fear that something is unsafe can be part of the excitement. The trick is for them to actually remain safe and under the control of one partner, while made to appear risky to the other.

Sane

"If you could take the time to explain what you're doing to someone with an open mind, would they agree it was sane?" There are all sorts of things that seem insane when only viewed upon the surface. Pain's one such thing. It seems insane to many people that pain arouses some people. When you stop to consider that temporary, controlled pain can release endorphins in to your system to deal with it, it starts to make sense. Simply consider whether, if explained, a reasonable person could see your point.

Consensual

"Is everyone willingly involved and gaining from it?" If you read the majority of allegedly bdsm related fiction on the internet, it seems to be about how someone is blackmailed, forced, tricked, whatever, in to obedience, against their will. That's not what the scene is about. While there is often a power exchange that goes on, it should always be consensual. While extreme scenes, with one partner struggling, are often a part of bdsm, they should always be agreed upon in advance and if one person, for whatever reason, begins to feel ultimately uncomfortable, there should always be a way out.

SoulThief