>I don't know. It seems like something like a consensual compromise
>was offered (though not accepted by the judge): a once-a-week
>beating. The notion that a manly man secures respect by beating his
>wife; the notion that a woman is truly loved if her husband bothers
>to beat her....these are still commonplaces in many parts of the
>world and consensually practiced. I'm from Romania; it's not all
>that uncommon there.
>
>A repressed, commie prude might argue that there's something "wrong"
>here, but well, here we go again.
Call me a prude, but I'm going to confess that I also find this example of S&M a bit icky, despite it apparently taking place between consenting adults. But I see that Brian has qualified the test of what is acceptable, mere "consent" is not now sufficient. *Informed* consent is now the test.
Still, I can't help but think that Maryam, the Iranian wife in the story, is probably as "informed" about her options as can be reasonably expected. The problem isn't information, the problem is that her options aren't especially good. So bad in fact that a weekly beating is apparently something worth fighting for.
As for coercion, well coercion-free relationships are few and far between under our economic system. Only the ruling class are in a position to claim any freedom from coercive relationships, so any qualification of that sort would effectively result in one rule for the working class and another for the ruling class in matters of sexual preference. (Nothing new there either.)
How often can we be certain that all those who apparently "consent" to "kinky" sex are doing so quite free from any issues of coercion? It is hard to be sure, in the context of the economic system we live under and perhaps that justifies some constraints on the sort of things people can be coerced into "consenting" to. Just to be on the safe side.
Ignoring social context in this debate (pretending that we are all completely free to say yes or no to the demands of others) seems to be what what is missing from this whole discussion. Contrary to Chuck's assertion that it is me that is being silly by alluding to it, I say he is silly to pretend it isn't an issue.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas