(Untitled)

[yvennat]

So, cutters and self-flagellants and such.
Automasochists, or autosadists?
I think they're automasochists, the vast majority of them.
I just noticed that they look like the same thing.

Comments

[woolysw]

Re: cutters, perhaps neither? I view BDSM as sexually related (for the most part, anyway), and the cutters I have known have cut to relieve psychological issues not related to sex.

Self-flagellants; I have insufficient information to offer an opinion.

[randalscott]

With regard to the former, neither. They're 'damaged'-usually from childhood abuse-and cutting is the only thing they know to release the psychological pain. They're acting out the only way they know how.

What Flagellants are you referring to? Religious flagellants?

Regardless, you've falsely categorized them both as sexual proclivities, when in fact neither is sexual; both are psychological issues.

[yvennat]

Masochism and sadism are definitely not exclusively sexual.
Whatever the motivation, they're still doing it either to endure pain, or to give pain. I suspect that there are more people doing such things to endure pain as a release, or as a turn-on, or as whatever they make of it.
I bet it takes some strength to want to hurt others and limit it to hurting yourself, though, for autosadism. Makes me glad I don't have that issue.

[randalscott]

OK, I'll bite: how are sadism and masochism not exclusively not sexual? Give me an example of S&M that *isnt* sexual.

The only thing I can say is this: the release a cutter feels when they cut is in no way sexual whatsoever. Why do you automatically tie 'pain' and 'sexual stimulation' together?

[yvennat]

You're not listening. I thought by pointing out that since enjoying pain and enjoying giving pain are not exclusively sexual, I thought I implied that both the examples I gave were non-sexual.
Another example: some people have multiple piercings or tattoos just because they like the feeling they get when they are pierced or tattooed. (Not to say that's the case for all of them, but some people.)
I'm sure there are other examples too, but I can't think of any more common ones.

If a person hurts himself as an erotic attempt with the intention to enjoy the pain, he's pretty clearly an automasochist; for a person who hurts himself in order to hurt someone/something, to me is pretty clearly an autosadist. Now I have to wonder how often that happens...hm.