View source for Safe, sane and consensual

{{short description|Precept for ethical BDSM play}}
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The fundamental principles for the exercise of [[BDSM]] require that it be performed with the informed [[consent]] of all parties. Since the 1980s, many practitioners and organizations have adopted the motto '''safe, sane and consensual''', commonly abbreviated ''SSC'', which means that everything is based on safe activities, that all participants are of sufficiently [[sound mind]] in their conduct, and that all participants do [[Sexual consent|consent]].<ref>Henkin, Bill; Holiday, Sybil (2006). ''Consensual Sadomasochism: How to Talk About It and How to Do It Safely'', page&nbsp;64. Daedalus Publishing Company. {{ISBN|978-1-881943-12-9}}</ref> It is mutual consent that makes a clear legal and ethical distinction between BDSM and such crimes as sexual assault and [[domestic violence]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=VICSS / Difference between Abuse and Power Exchange by the NLA, Dutch SM Media Information Center and Powerrotics |url=http://sexsupport.org/abusevsere.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216091307/https://sexsupport.org/abusevsere.html |archive-date=16 December 2007 |access-date=10 December 2007}}</ref> Given that [[Legality of BDSM|many BDSM practices are illegal]] in many territories around the world and could result in a conviction regardless of consent, adherence to SSC and other principles and frameworks should never be considered a shield from [[legal liability]].

Some BDSM practitioners prefer a code of behavior that differs from SSC. Described as "[[risk-aware consensual kink]]" (RACK), this code shows a preference for a style in which the ''individual'' responsibility of the involved parties is emphasized more strongly, with each participant being responsible for their own [[well-being]]. Advocates of RACK argue that SSC can hamper discussion of risk because no activity is truly "safe", and that discussion of even low-risk possibilities is necessary for truly informed consent.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2003 |title=Rack vs. SSC |url=http://www.withinreality.com/rackssc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108212010/http://www.withinreality.com/rackssc.html |archive-date=8 January 2007 |access-date=13 November 2006 |website=Within Reality}}</ref>

Still other BDSM practitioners prefer a code of behavior described as "Personal Responsibility, Informed, Consensual Kink" (PRICK). {{Citation needed span|text=This is newer term that puts greater focus on personal responsibility.|date=October 2024}}

== See also ==
* [[Consent (BDSM)]]
* [[Limits (BDSM)]]
* [[Risk-aware consensual kink]] (RACK)
* [[Safeword]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:BDSM terminology]]
[[Category:Consent]]
[[Category:Sexual ethics]]