Explanation of BDSM

Explanation of and etymology for the term BDSM in BDSM

BDSM is an acronym for the three acronyms
B&D (B/D, BD) for bondage and discipline or dominance,
D/s (D&s, Ds) for dominance and submission, and
SM (S&M, S/m) for sadomasochism or sadism and masochism.

The acronym BDSM was instated as a collective denominator for the mentioned, often but not necessarily sexual, variations, other types of power exchange within relationships or role play, and some related fetishisms. The definition of BDSM vary quite a bit between different individuals, but the one important and common denominator is the necessary consensuality of all parties involved in such activities, especially stressed in the duality of the terms D/s and SM. Without such consensuality it is no longer a matter of BDSM, but rather of rape and abuse.

One of the reasons for creating the denominator BDSM was to avoid fruitless disagreements over the borders and differences between the mentioned related but partly separated activities. The term BDSM is however also subject to such disputes, mainly through attempts to narrowing down or adjusting the term's original wide definition. Such attempts appear mainly to be the work of individuals and groups seekin an identity or group belonging within BDSM, and therefore in need of creating a well defined, homogen and exclusive group, to be able of distinguishing between "us" and "them".

Etymology

The acronym BDSM was used for the first time at UseNet alt.sex.bondage 1990-11-21 by Rich Chandler at the University of Maryland, and was used consequently by Jack McBryde at the University of Houston starting 1990-12-20. However, at that time it was written as "B/D/S/M". Already at that timepoint the meaning of the term varied. For some the term was synonymous with "D/S" as a collective term for B&D and SM, for others it was a pure combination of "B/D" and "S/M" and was then written as "B/D/S/M/D/S" if psychological D/s was addressed as well, and for still others it included B&D, D/s and SM in the most common meanings of the terms today. A few attempts were made to write the term "BD/SM", in difference from "B/D/S/M" when only B&D and SM were addressed, but this usage did not stick. The first time the term was written "BDSM" at UseNet alt.sex.bondage was 1991-06-20 by the anonymous signature "avarti", and this was then used alternating with "B/D/S/M". The terms "B/D/S/M" and "BDSM" didn't become commonly used as common denominators until 1993, and while "BDSM" kept its position, "B/D/S/M" was ruled out almost entirely before the end of 1995, even if it was still used in the FAQ for alt.sex.bondage as long as it was maintained.

The above etymological information was compiled mainly from BDSM magazines and the UseNet archive on the Internet. Probably none of the terms first found on UseNet have their origin there, but have been instated in discussions within BDSM organizations, and come in more wide use through BDSM BBS's (dial-up electronic bulletin board services that were popular from the end of the 1970's until some time after the Internet boom in the 1990's). But the terms appearing on UseNet after the Internet boom have probably been spread there rather quickly after they have been instated at other forums.