Cover (BDSM)
Covers (engl. Cover is in the field - cover protection) BDSM a common term for a "guardian angel" for blind dates . The term is used in a similar context in other, non-BDSM-related online communities used, for example to Flirt - sites or sites for the initiation of heterosexual or homosexual sexual contact .
The subcultural BDSM scene often uses the Internet to communicate with one another and to get to know like-minded people. Many of the real contacts therefore result from initially virtual acquaintances. These first encounters are assessed as not completely harmless within the scene, since the possibility of freeing oneself from a situation that is perceived as unpleasant is not necessarily guaranteed with some sexual practices, for example bondage .
In order to minimize this risk, uninvolved third parties are informed of the place and time of the meeting. Agreements determine whether the cover will be informed about the well-being of the covered person in person , by telephone or by SMS . If there is no feedback or if the covered person uses an agreed code word, the Guardian Angel will initiate help.
In many communities, for example the largest German-speaking BDSM community slave center or the Swiss BDSM aid organization SOS-BDSM, volunteer members are available as covers and offer free protection. Organizations such as the Federal Association of Sadomasochism or the SMJG refer to free or paid online agencies that offer anonymous covers. It should be noted that the risk of sexual abuse can be minimized by a cover, but cannot be eliminated.
literature
- Kathrin Passig , Ira Strübel: The choice of agony: manual for sadomasochists and those who want to become one. Rowohlt Paperback 2004, ISBN 3499616920
- National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs: Safe Dating , section "Silent Alarm" , available as PDF (174 kB)