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number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 1:54:39 PM

MiladyLily

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does anybody have any idea how many people in the world are into the bdsm lifestyle? has it ever been estimated?

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 1:56:54 PM

cuddleheart50

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Not enough of them live in Ky, I can tell you that.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 1:57:48 PM

gooddogbenji

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437 894, not counting switches, as they don't know what they're doing anyway.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 1:59:25 PM

Thoradon

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It would be nice to have more numbers on the BDSM community. I think that there are a lot of people that shy away from it thinking that it is wrong or not something they should get into. I know I have a few friends that thought it was completely immoral and wrong until I walked with them and told them how long I have been involved in the lifestyle.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:09:55 PM

LokisBrat

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quote:

ORIGINAL: cuddleheart50

Not enough of them live in Ky, I can tell you that.

They must have all went south for they are not here in Illinois either.

Although I do admire the question of how many, the actual number or even a close estimation would be impossible. I don't think you would get everyone who is or has been interested in the lifestyle to openly admit it.

LOKI

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:13:53 PM

SusanofO

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I've heard (over and over) that this figure is in the neighborhood of 10% of the population. It was never anything I read in a book or a magazine or what otherwise might be considered a "reputable source" but I have heard it many times, so maybe that is true.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 7/8/2006 3:00:53 PM >

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:21:48 PM

Vancouver_cinful

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SusanofO

I've heard (over and over) that this figure is in the neighborhood of 10% of the population.

Susan, I hear this number too. But have you ever noticed it's the "magic" number? How many people are gay? 10% How many people are into spanking? 10% How many people this or that? 10%

I have a theory that 10% is the number that some politicians got together, and agreed on, as the perfect statistic to cite in order to let people feel it's common enough, but to avoid creating panic.

"OMG, those perverts are taking over the world, Harry!"

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:25:54 PM

gooddogbenji

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Hell, if your name is Harry, you're perverted enough.

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benji

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:32:08 PM

gooddogbenji

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Okay, a serious reply.

I think it would be very tough to find an answer to that question for one simple reason - definition.

Would kinky people into pain qualify? Or would a component of D/s be needed? I mean, you can't exclude tops and bottoms, but how kinky do you have to be?

What if people were practicing D/s without realizing it? We all know a few couples where one is so submissive to the other, but they don't even know it has a name, and probably have vanilla lives and sex.

So who do you count?

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benji

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:34:02 PM

Padriag

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According to statistics compiled by the Kinsey institute on sexuality the following was published regarding BDSM in 1999.

5-10% of the population of the US engages in SM activities for sexual pleasure.
12% of females and 22% of males reported an erotic response to a SM story.
55% of females and 50% of males reported having responded erotically to being bitten.
14% of men and 11% of women have had some sexual experience with sadomasochism.
11% of men and 17% of women reported trying bondage.

Of people involved with BDSM...
51% are men, 46% are women, 1% are transgender, 2% are "intersexual"
40% are heterosexual, 22% are homosexual, 36% are bisexual, 4% did not respond.

8% are students, 5% work part time, 62% work full time, 22% are self employed, 1% are unemployed, and 2% are retired.

3% are ages 18-22, 15% are ages 23-29, 49% are ages 30-44, 31% are ages 45-64, and 2% are over age 65.

7% make less than $10,000 per year, 17% make $10,000 to 24,000 per year, 37% make $25,000 to $49,000 per year and 39% make over $50,000 per year.

You can find these statistics and more at this link.
http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/resources/FAQ.html#bdsm

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:34:53 PM

SusanofO

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I think any statistics could be considered somewhat "fluid" as far as accuracy, since that depends on how the study has been constructed, how many were "polled" or, if not polled, how whether they were determined as being in the catergory being studied (or not) was determined. There is always going to be a margin of error (maybe especially if someone named Harry constructed the questions).

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 7/8/2006 3:01:29 PM >

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:35:05 PM

Thoradon

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Any type of action that would figure on the kinky side should be included. It would really show the number of people out there that have the kinky side.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:37:31 PM

SusanofO

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I think I agree with you there.
In this case, I'd think coming up with a definition of what constitutes 'kinky" behavior would be the first (and maybe one of the biggest) hurdles in making it a decently accurate study.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 7/8/2006 2:45:30 PM >

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:37:32 PM

gooddogbenji

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But not necessarily BDSM then - never forget the purse shitters!

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benji

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:39:35 PM

Thoradon

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Well figure google and spyware have been put into the dictionary why not kinky and BDSM.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:40:57 PM

cuddleheart50

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I also heard that unibrow is in there too.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:42:15 PM

SusanofO

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Wow, thank you Padriag! That is very interesting. It seems to be a substantial number of folks.

Only 12% of females had an erotic response to an SM story though? To each his/her own, but -

This reminds me, for some reason, of another thing about "polls", studies, etc. - people can and and do lie - (especially if their "vanilla" partner is in the room when they are answering the questions).

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 7/8/2006 2:44:44 PM >

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:42:48 PM

gooddogbenji

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I don't think a dictionary could define BDSM properly. Granted, it could say Bondage, Discipline, D/s, S&M, and define those terms, but since everyone draws the line somewhere else, it would be a very subjective decision.

And even if defined, the number would not tell me how many women want to beat my ass.

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benji

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:47:06 PM

Level

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Imagine how high the numbers would be if you could read people's minds.... I believe a very larger number of human beings have some kink in them, but for whatever reason have buried it deep inside.... some to the point of not even realizing it's there.

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RE: number of people into bdsm? - 7/8/2006 2:50:31 PM

SusanofO

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I kind of wonder why the participation level decreases 18% between the "middle-age" ranges. That's quite a bit (in my opinion). Maybe they are 'resting up' or 'recovering' from beatings (or doing beatings) or something...hopefully, they are not "going vanilla" . Not that vanilla is wrong, of course, but - where did they go?

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 7/8/2006 3:02:33 PM >

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