Titles & Respect

By Mistress Michelle

When a slave or submissive is "asked" to call all Dominants Sir or Ma'am they are not being forced to show added respect, beyond basic respect or common courtesy.

The use of Sir or Ma'am is not all or exclusively about respect. It's about conveying honor as a title or grammatical form used in speaking to or about a superior or elder. These are called "honorifics".

As there is a "hierarchy" in BDSM Lifestlye as is in any Master/Mistress – slave/sub relationship, Dominants are "superior" to slaves/submissives in this hierarchy.

When addressing or referring to a Dominant by name the slave/submissive should do so with use of the Dominants "honorific" such as for example Sir Doe, Ms Doe, Master Doe or Mistress Doe.

Sir and Ma'am are often used for referring to any male or female Dominant, while Master and Mistress is usually reserved for the owner of the sub/slave.

Although it might not be generally common in other BDSM lifestyle groups, it is suggested that Dominants between themselves should address or refer to each other at a level chosen by themselves, when addressing or referring to another Dominant by name, such as for example Sir Doe, Ms Doe, Master Doe or Mistress Doe.

In this "hierarchy" no special provisions concerning status or title for switches are implemented. That of course does not mean that there are no switches. It simply means that the switches may choose the basic status most comfortable or applicable to them.

Hence, a switch is either a Dom/Domme or a slave/submissive as far as their status in our "hierarchy" and titles is concerned.

Whenever in doubt as to address someone of who's status one is unsure, a simple Sir, Miss or Ma'am, should be appropriate, unless one is informed otherwise.