New insight into the appeal of heavy masochism

[vinnie_tesla]

The other day, I was at my local bookstore cafe. I finished my mocha, put my book away, and got up from my stool. Something in my knee went pop, and for three agonizing seconds I struggled not to collapse to the floor. Then it popped back and I hobbled over to the counter

Comments

[najalaise]

Play piercing is generally regarded as providing more endorphins for the buck than other forms of pain, so that might be something to look into. (I'll note that I don't personally have a stance on this one.)

[aroraborealis]

So, you got an insight into part of the appeal of heavy painplay. The part it sounds like you may be missing is the actual masochism, that is, where the pain itself, and for itself is satisfying, even pleasurable.

Uh. Or so I hear.

[vinnie_tesla]

Absolutely. That particular rush, though, is something I've often seen described, and never had a chance to observe so clearly before.

[mycrust]

Enjoying pain because of the endorphin rush is like saying you give oral sex so your partner will give it to you later.

[yagagriswold]

Can you say more about this?

I don't consider myself a masochist. To the extent that I enjoy erotic pain, it is as an act of submission/devotion. But, I've certainly heard and read accounts by people who do consider themselves pain sluts in which they say that the endorphin rush is part of the appeal. So, I'd like to better understand your stance.

[mycrust]

As usual, I was mostly being flip. And, to be fair, I should not try to present myself as some kind of serious devotee of pain play. What I was trying to say was basically what you did: that people enjoy erotic pain for different reasons, some for the pain itself and some because of emotional or physiological side-effects.

it's possible my comment had a slightly deragatory tone towards people in the latter camp. I personally just don't understand doing something that doesn't do it for you for the promise of something you do like that might come in the future. But apparently these people exist, at least with respect to oral sex, if you believe Sex and the City anyway.