So...

A string of comments and replies with 100 upvotes about safe play involving some type of failsafe way to remove consent, verbal or nonverbal, but agreed prior to play and respected no matter what

I respect the right of everyone to play differently to each other, but I think that there are some universal truths... in most of the countries we live in there is an age of consent, in most of the countries we live in by law animals are off the table, and in most of the countries we live in consent is important (in fact you could argue that the first two rules apply because those groups can't give informed consent)

In Victoria, Australia we live under a set of enthusiastic consent laws... that means that here the only thing that means yes is yes... and the law says you can change your mind about any act at any time... to my mind playing without a failsafe way to withdraw consent is illegal where I live

At this point I see that the discussion with the mods is that we should all play the way that suits us best, and I would like to publicly state that I agree with that, up to the point that the law is being actively broken in a way that could permanently hurt someone... see edit note below

I was taught to never just stand by and watch things happen if you think something is inherently this level of wrong... "you are the behaviours you choose to accept, and if you didn't speak up you showed acceptance"

So I'm calling it out... I expect a public statement like this will get me booted from the group no matter how respectfully I have chosen to disagree... but I'm hoping this comment will live on in my digital footprint to prove that I tried to speak up

edit to add clarification *** apologies, what I was trying to say here is I don't agree with breaking the law, but I'm lucky enough to live in a place where BDSM can be consented to... I also meant permanent psychological harm, but clearly did not make that clear at all ***

• 2nd edit - thanks whoever told the autobots to mental health check me... I'm good, this all feels like a sensible adult discussion with two different opinions... I'm leaving the sub because the discussion has highlighted a disconnect between my values and what this sub is about... but I'm good, this was never a mental health thing for me, it was an interesting way to fill a Wednesday night where my favourite Wednesday night buddy is out of town - but I'll take the care and check in as well intentioned kindness and say a genuine thanks to whoever was attempting to create a community that shows care for each other