SSC v RACK?

[SilkVelvet]

Throwing a Spanner in the works..

I discovered yesterday, that in the UK, it doesn't matter whether you subscribe to SSC or RACK.

Although SM is not illegal here, there have been successful prosecutions and jail terms for assault for consenting SMers indulging themselves in private properties.

Back in 1987 British police came across a videotape of some gay male SMers at play and launched Operation Spanner believing that the torture they had seen inflicted must have resulted in murder or serious injury. After spending about GBP four million they were left with a bunch of guys (none of whom died or ended up in hospital btw) whom they intimidated into saying yes we did scene with consent. So they were prosecuted and jailed for assault.

The judge decreed that anything in the way of marks that was non-transient in nature was assault.

The Spanner Trust came into being to help fight the prosecution and went all the way to the European Court of Human Rights and the prosecution was still upheld.

So in the UK, while it is not illegal to practise SM, it is illegal to cause lasting pain/marks (which can include bruises under the judgement) as these are considered to be Assault, even if the sub/slave/bottom (PYL) consents to the activity.

www.spannertrust.org

 

[JMohegan]

I discovered yesterday, that in the UK, it doesn't matter whether you subscribe to SSC or RACK.

Although SM is not illegal here, there have been successful prosecutions and jail terms for assault for consenting SMers indulging themselves in private properties.

For reasons described in this post, I have a keen & nostalgic appreciation for the SSC phrase.

Nevertheless, I would like to add to your comments here, SilkVelvet, by pointing out the following.

The SSC mantra will not necessarily keep you out of jail, that's true. But neither will it prevent emotional trauma, serious injury, or worse.

Words are obviously valuable, for many reasons. But in the critical moments of SM play, words have no more power to prevent disaster than a STOP sign on the side of the road.

 

[intothewoods]

*bump*

 

[Ebonyfire]

Not to toss a bucket of water in here but dadgum I get tired of this one...

SSC (Safe, Sane, Consentual) and RACK (Risk Aware Consentual Kink) are not philosophies.

They are no longer outlooks about how to approach the lifestyle.

They are not guidelines regarding how we should play.

They are soundbites. They are marketing slogans. They are a shorthand approach to making what we do seem less scarey to the vanillas.

Nothing more, nothing less.

And according to the Kinky Lawyer (and yes, he's listed in the KAP list) SSC is actually the more legally defensible of the two terms. *shrugs* Whatever.

If one floats your boat because it's "darker" or more "mysterious" or "edgier" I'm happy for ya. Really. But please, do not buy into anyone's arguements that one or the other "means" something better or truer or more profound.

That's kinda like arguing whether "It's the real thing" vs "It's a Pepsi Generation" is the more legitimate way to evaluate soft drinks.

I have to agree with ya, EG. It's just words.