Sub vs Slave

Contributor: Cowgirl-Cutie Cowgirl-Cutie
Which are you? If either that is...
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Sub
23  (34%)
Slave
9  (13%)
Neither
24  (36%)
Other--please explain
11  (16%)
Total votes: 67
Poll is closed
12/30/2012
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Contributor: novanilla novanilla
I'm a switch, but I said sub because that is what I am now with this partner. I'm a bratty sub.
12/30/2012
Contributor: amazon amazon
Not our thing, so definitely neither
12/30/2012
Contributor: MissMori MissMori
Voted "Other".
I often describe myself as "Sub", but I have acted as a sub in the past without the depth and commitment I have with my current partner.
"Slave" doesn't work for us for various reasons, but that's closer to my actual position.
Given all that, we had a discussion about it when we made our relationship more formal, and He gave me the title "Concubine". I don't often get called that (as in "Dad, I'd like you to meet my concubine." or "Concubine, pass the salt.") but it works for us, since it sums up the service aspect of my position, His ownership, and my sexual submission to Him alone.
12/30/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
We're not into that, we're equals.
12/30/2012
Contributor: dks210 dks210
I'm naturally a sub, but I'll occasionally dominate my partner if he wants me to.
12/30/2012
Contributor: TheirPet TheirPet
I'm a sub but I'm service oriented as well.
12/30/2012
Contributor: WhoopieDoo WhoopieDoo
I'm a sub :3
12/30/2012
Contributor: Falsepast Falsepast
Definite sub
12/30/2012
Contributor: tunacan75 tunacan75
I actually don't know what the difference is, I thought slave was just an old school term for sub
12/31/2012
Contributor: MissMori MissMori
Quote:
Originally posted by tunacan75
I actually don't know what the difference is, I thought slave was just an old school term for sub
I think that usually "Sub" describes more of a general kink orientation, but "slave" is more of a relationship designation.
For example, I have been a sub to partners that I only played with one time and never had any real connection to. Once the scene was over, my submission to them ended. "Slave" seems to apply more to people in serious ongoing situations where there's a 24/7 power exchange (or something close to that) and the submission goes beyond what happens in a scene or in bed.

But as with everything, I think most people have personal meanings and find their own comfort levels as far as definitions go.
12/31/2012
Contributor: Hallmar82 Hallmar82
My wife and I both switch so neither would be used outside of roleplaying.
12/31/2012
Contributor: Sweet-n-Playful Sweet-n-Playful
Quote:
Originally posted by Cowgirl-Cutie
Which are you? If either that is...
usually sub but sometimes domme
12/31/2012
Contributor: phoenixfire phoenixfire
I'm a switch, but when I am submissive, I am a sub. I refuse to be a slave to anyone--guess I have too much Domme in me to ever accept the title of slave.
12/31/2012
Contributor: SiNn SiNn
Quote:
Originally posted by Cowgirl-Cutie
Which are you? If either that is...
i would say im a bit of both sub and slave yet his equal in everyway its hard to explain
12/31/2012
Contributor: joiedejouets joiedejouets
Bratty sub :3
01/02/2013
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by Cowgirl-Cutie
Which are you? If either that is...
I'm a sub.
01/02/2013
Contributor: IvyFayette IvyFayette
I'm a switch with my current partner. He likes to dominate usually and on the occasion be dominated.
01/02/2013
Contributor: Gracefire Gracefire
Ooooooh, this is fun one.

In my mind, there is huuuuge difference between "sub" and "slave". My definitions may not fit for everyone, but since you asked...

I actually like the words "bottom" and "submissive" better for this comparison, but it's the same idea for "sub" vs. "slave".

When I bottom some one, I will follow their orders, let them tie me up, let them hurt me, but once the scene is over, we are back to whatever we were doing before the scene. There is a huge emotional connection missing.

In contrast, when I submit to some one, they have my mind and heart as well as my body. With my last Dom, if I we were not playing, I was sitting at their feet, waiting to be told what I could do to please them. I did it because I didn't just want to please them sexually, but because I loved them so deeply, that I wanted to serve them in every aspect of my life.

Same idea with "sub" and "slave". I see "slave" as just a deeper level of submission.

Of course, other people may have different definitions and that is okay, too!
01/03/2013
Contributor: GirlOnGirl GirlOnGirl
Neither
01/03/2013
Contributor: Kitten has left the site Kitten has left the site
I prefer being the slave
01/03/2013
Contributor: Thumper Logic Thumper Logic
Sub, I would make a bad slave...
01/04/2013
Contributor: Rraine Rraine
Neither. I'm not very good with following orders. I'm too disobedient.
01/04/2013
Contributor: RavenInChains RavenInChains
I consider myself a slave. To me slave encompasses more than just sexual submission and rough play. Slave includes more service oriented things. To me I would "sub" to someone in a scene but I'm the slave of only one person.
01/04/2013
Contributor: Sima-pusya Sima-pusya
Neither
01/04/2013
Contributor: tunacan75 tunacan75
Don't know what the difference is to be honest, we interchange the words!
01/04/2013
Contributor: fizzygato fizzygato
I guess you could say I'm sub-y, but I wouldn't say I'm a sub.

I'm definitely not a slave and don't think I could ever be one, both because I don't like to take orders, and I lack means of being able to serve (i.e. no car, not a lot of time, etc.) I feel like being a slave (to the extent that I've seen it played out) requires some paradoxical degree of privilege
01/06/2013
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
I'm a switch, and so is my partner. We are both sometimes subs for each other and occasionally use "slave" as an in-scene term, but it doesn't translate into any kind of long-term, consistent Master/slave relationship dynamic.
With my play buddy I would never use the term slave because a) it's a charged word to use in terms of the amount of commitment it suggests and b) it has racial connotations that would make him very uncomfortable, with good reason, even if it wasn't being used towards him.
01/08/2013
Contributor: subbieforHer subbieforHer
I'm a slave, and I love it!
01/08/2013
Contributor: A Good Girl A Good Girl
Quote:
Originally posted by Cowgirl-Cutie
Which are you? If either that is...
I'm not really a sub or a slave, but I do consider myself a "Bottom"
02/04/2013