Punishment/Consequences and their Role in Submission

So...as I mentioned on Sunday, I've been starting to think that maybe punishment can serve a better role in a d/s relationship than simply turning me on.

That's been my primary argument (mostly with myself) against punishing a sub. In a lotta cases, it's a game...I like being spanked, teased and denied, and otherwise being made uncomfortable or humiliated. I'm even getting a little turned on right now writing about it.

If the goal is to be submissive, to put my domme first, to be worthy of wearing her collar...then punishment shouldn't play a role in that end of it. If I'm truly submissive, then I shouldn't NEED correcting; I should just do what's going to please Her.

Meh...yes and no. I'm not always, by nature, a submissive person. I've spent most of my professional life and much of my personal life being that guy in charge. I try to work hard so I feel justified relaxing. I like to set my life up to make me happy.

Which means...it's not always first on my mind to keep everything neat and tidy around the house. Sometimes I let cleaning the kitchen slip from 1st to 3rd priority. I rationalize: "She'll understand I had this and this to do as well."

I'm sort of cringing as I type all that out, because...a vast majority of the time (and not always when horny, which is surprizing to me) I want to do better than that. I know I can do better, I know I can get what she wants done AND everything else.

And if I can't? I should be willing to sacrifice to do what she wants. If it comes down to a choice between reading and having the dishes done before she comes home...the book shouldn't get opened. I know that, and I genuinely want that.

But habits are hard to break. And while I'd love to take all the blame, she really isn't in the domme mindset 24/7, where she's waiting for an excuse to bring me into line. We'll go days, even weeks where there isn't a hint of d/s in the relationship...and it's easy for me to just go with it, hover in that equality realm. To break any subservient habits I've formed.

So she and I discussed last night (briefly, it wasn't the main issue last night) that it might be time to put a rule or two in place, and establish consquences. There was a case this week where I forgot to wear my collar to work, and I felt bad and sorry and knew I deserved to be punished (something thoroughly unsexy, say losing coffee priviledges or something)...but nothing happened.

I'm not the type of guy who can sub alone...so we're going to explore some ideas, and see how they fit with us.

Anyone been in a similar situation? Suggestions, comments, concerns? We'd love to hear it!

---Him

Back to the Spanko Brunch

So it's been a long hiatus, for multiple reasons, some of which were detailed by Her in her last post. Time to start getting back into things again.

So here I am, looking over at the topic Bonnie put forth on My Bottom Smarts: "If we enjoy spankings, how can they be effective as a punishment?"

It's kinda funny, since I've been thinking about this particular tidbit a lot lately, as I've been forgetful about things, a little on the selfish side, and just all around not-as-good-as-I-could-be. After a couple incidents of misbehavior (for a lack of a better term, tho it's not quite that simple), I started thinking, "There really need to be consequences for this sort of thing."

The road forks here...the whole "punishment vs casual d/s" theme should be continued this week, so...come back then to get more specifics on this story. But the Brunch part of this goes on below.

I've also been craving a spanking all week, since planned playtime got hijacked by some other things last weekend. So part of me is going, "Do I want a spanking, or do I want correction? Are they one and the same? Or do I like spanks too much for it to serve as a corrective action?"

The truth for me is a lot of things sound REALLY sexy...until they happen. Cold showers, for instance. The idea of being forced to take one is really hott, but...I hate them with a passion once I'm under the water. Standing in a corner...sexy, until it hits the point where the arousal wears off and I'm simply standing with my nose in a dusty corner of the room.

At the same time, standing in a corner while being teased or otherwise played with is a lot more fun. A cold shower with Her standing outside the tub, giggling at me, is more enjoyable than being alone. So the manner in which the "punishment" takes place makes all the difference.

A spanking done "just because" or because I was "such a naughty boy, flaunting that butt" is WAY different than one done because I've been "disappointing" or a "bad sub." The tone of voice She uses to frame the spanking and the lecturing (or worse, the silence) goes a long way to bringing something fun to something awful.

There's also differences in techniques. A hard, fast spanking with no warm up wouldn't be fun (at least not satisfying) under any circumstances. There are also different toys She can use on me that HURT, and not in the "Oh BABY" way.

In summary, a spanking can easily be used as a punishment in my case simply by changing the context and making it HURT.

What do you think? Check out this week's MBS Spanko Brunch to learn more, voice your thoughts, and read what everyone else is thinking!

---Him