Learn The SSC And RACK Mantras For Safer, Risk-Conscious Kinky Sex

Learn The SSC And RACK Mantras For Safer, Risk-Conscious Kinky Sex

When it comes to sex, there’s almost no limit to the things we can be excited by or want to try. Some activities carry inherent risks, both emotional and physical, on top of the usual risks associated with sex. These two mantras can help keep you in the realm of healthy sex.

Photo by marco mazzone

The first is SSC, or “safe, sane and consensual.” The mantra, first attributed to David Stein in the essay Safe, Sane, and Consensual: The Evolution of a Shibboleth has been widely adopted by the BDSM community to identify which types of behaviours are acceptable between involved parties. The three guidelines are relatively simple. Any sexual behaviours should be:

  • Safe: While things like pain play or bondage may involve risks, it’s important to stay as safe as possible and avoid permanent physical harm.
  • Sane: Creating fantasy scenarios is fun, but blurring the lines between fantasy and reality can be dangerous. To put it more simply, a particular behaviour is not safe simply because it doesn’t harm the body. It should also not harm the mind.
  • Consensual: It should go without saying, but consent should be acquired not just for sex, but for all behaviours that go into sex. A person agreeing to have sex does not necessarily mean they agree to be tied up, gagged, or blindfolded, all of which are a new area of trust. Be sure to communicate through all of these.

You can read a bit more about the SSC guidelines here. However, others in the BDSM and sexual health community do not necessarily agree that SSC is an accurate or complete framework for healthy, alternative sex.

One major alternative guideline is called RACK, or Risk-Aware Consensual Kink. The difference is a subtle, but very crucial one. Under RACK, the “safe, sane” aspects of the guidelines would be replaced with a broader “risk aware” guide. This rule insists that all involved parties be aware of the potential consequences of the given behaviour and, knowing this, consent accordingly.

While the distinction may be subtle, the difference in phrasing acknowledges that in the realm of kinky sexual behaviour, there are always risks involved, whereas SSC implies that some behaviours are “safe” while others are not — a mindset that can result in some potential problems.

Both mantras are helpful in examining your sexual interests and desires with your partner before you engage in your preferred type of play. Communication and respect are the keys that underlie it all, so be adult, keep the communication channels open, and don’t be afraid to talk about things before you do them.


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