I know very little about this particular topic, and the other mods would rather have it deadpooled until its viability as a meme can be confirmed, so please apply for editorship if you think you can help. Thanks. ---Particle Mare
About
BDSM, an initialism for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and submission and Sadism and masochism is a variety of erotic practices involving dominance, submission and roleplaying.
History
The term BDSM dates back to 1920s-1960s (disputed), but the origin of the term is unclear and has been believed to have been formed by joining the term B&D (bondage and discipline) with S&M ( sadomasochism). The BDSM community can consist of cross-dressers, extreme body modders, animal players, latex or rubber fetishists and more.
One of the oldest proofs of sadomasochistic activities is found in the Tomb of the Whipping which dates back to 5th century BC. Inside the tomb there is a fresco which portrays two men whipping a woman with a cane.
Online Origin
In the late 1980s a usenet group alt.sex.bondage was created. When that group became too cluttered with spam the community moved to soc.subculture.bondage-bdsm in 1990. In addition to online sex shopping, there has also been a growth of online adult toy companies that specialized in leather/latex/BDSM gear.
The internet nowadays has a large community of BDSM fetishists and those who are interested in the subject. These groups often offer comprehensive background and health related information (NSFW) for people who are interested in the fetish.
Spread
BDSM and fetish items have spread into some odd places, such as avant-garde fashion, heavy metal, goth culture and some science fiction TV series. While it was mainly confined to the punk and BDSM subcultures in 1990s, it has since spread into the wider parts of society.
Sadomasochism
Sadism and Masochism, sometimes shortened into the portmanteau Sadomasochism, is the pleasure in causing and receiving pain, respectively. Although similar in name, the phrases have different meanings than their psychological counterparts due to the former usually being performed with consent.
The terms Sadism and Masochism stem from the authors Marquis de Sade, who featured sexual violence in his novels, and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch,a masochist himself. Psychologist Sigmund Freud described the paraphernalia as diseases caused by a ubpar upbringing. In modern times, the practice of sadism or masochism frequently falls under the category of BDSM.
Reception
W.I.P