There are many things that separate Masters from each other and philosophies on punishment is one of the biggest. The social expectation is that Masters are emotionally removed and deliver harsh physical punishment at the drop of the hat. The worse the punishment the more “Masterly” the Master is considered. On the other side a slave that receives this type of punishment is supposed to glow and excel in its presence.
I suppose that works for some people. It however, does not work for me.
Over the last 17 years, I have developed a few rules about punishment:
- It cannot take any of my time, effort, or energy.
- It must redirect teach, explain, reinforce, and ultimately create a behavioral change.
- It cannot make me feel icky.
Let us look at each one.