Artificial Intelligence on Spanking
Is it okay for adults to spank each other?
The world of tech made headlines this month when another AI toy, ChatGPT, went viral. It explains itself as a language model that uses Artificial Intelligence to understand what you’re asking and give you relevant answers. In other words, there’s finally an artificial someone out there who hears you and understands you. Someone who really gets you.
Sort of.
The AI learns from previous questions, so you can build a series of inquiries that lead the bot toward the answers you seek, instead of asking one specific question to get there. So it’s more like a conversation than a Google search query.
Always eager to try out a new pervertable, I gave my kinky fingers a flex and started asking questions of my own. I was curious to see how progressive or conservative the bot would be in its views on BDSM. I started out slowly, as any good Top who’s not familiar with the limitations of a new bottom would do. Just the basics. Just to test the waters without giving it too many context clues before the basics were established.
Is it okay for adult to spank each other?
The bot didn’t think so and boldly stated,
No, it is not okay for adults to spank each other.
It warned of physical and psychological harm and the need for adults to communicate in non-violent ways. Hrm. Well, what if the spankings were consensual?
🥺 but what if consent tho?
Nope!
It maintained that communication and conflicts should not be resolved through consensual physical punishment. I tend to agree in most cases. BDSM is built on the foundation of consent, communication, and trust. Spanking is a completely inadequate substitute for communication and conflict resolution.
But in the context of a healthy BDSM relationship, spanking can be a huge catalyst for growth, not only personally but for the relationship as well. A ritual punishment scene, coupled with boundaires, consent, and communication can strengthen a power exchange between players, blow off steam and pent-up emotional energy, and become a conduit for absolving one from guilt.
So what does, the AI think of impact play if it believes that consensual spanking between adults is a no go? In a consent heavy reply, the AI defined impact play as a type of BDSM activiity done for sexual gratification. It goes on to explain:
If all parties are consenting and take appropriate safety precautions, impact play can be a consensual and enjoyable form of sexual activity.
Another consent heavy sentence, this is a snippet of the AI’s full reply which emphasized some key components embraced by the general BDSM community:
Full consent
Prenegotiations
Safety precautions
Open communication
Learning from experienced players
All good advice for any impact player, though I will interject that impact play isn’t always done for “sexual gratification”.
It begs the question, if consensual adult spanking is inappropriate but impact play is permissable,
what’s the difference?
The Chat seemed to forget we were talking about adults - and called spanking a form of punishment used as a disciplinary measure, especially for children. I’ll say, it is broadly believed within the spanking community that spanking children is a form of abuse. Kids can’t give consent. But that’s not what we’re discussing here.
In a facepalming explanation, the Chat continues to explain that spanking is done with the hand while impact play involves implements like whips and paddles.
Absolute poppycock.
There are numerous stories out there from Adult Survivors of Childhood Spankings who were subjected to the “spare the rod, spoil the child” philosophy. Plenty of folks remember the dread of being sent to the woodshed, or picking their own switch from the willow tree for punishment. Not to mention dad’s belt or mom’s wooden spoon. All of which would be considered spanking.
The bot continues to explain that impact play “on the other hand” is consensual, mutually enjoyable, and done for sexual gratification.
Let me climb up on my soapbox.
BDSM doesn’t have to include a sexual component. People participate in impact play for a host of reasons. It’s highly individualistic and varies greatly on the type of scene and person you’re playing with, not to mention a myriad of other factors.
It grinds my gears to hear this from people outside the kink community. The general public (and a HUGE percentage of folx on Fetlife) believe that kink is all about sex. Sometimes, oftentimes, it’s not!
It’s done for catharsis, self-awareness, to push your limits, embrace your shadow or just practice your skills as a percussion impact player! I’ll say it again, it’s not always about sex.
Is it always for sexual gratification?
Apparently it is…and it isn’t?
BDSM is a term that refers to a variety of sexual activities...
I love the way the bot defines the terms before going into its answer. It adds clarity of thought to make sure we’re on the same page. Clearly, we’re not and it’s tuning its responses to gain relevancy.
In a more palatable answer, the Chat goes on to say that BDSM can involve sexual activity but it’s not always for sexual gratification. The implication being that there are nonsexual activities in the BDSM realm.
I’ll take it.