Fetish: Edge Play
Associated Fetishes: Breath Play, Cutting, Gun Play, Age Play, (Too Many to List)
Technical Term: None Noted

Let me first start by explaining that for the purposes of this fetish analysis “edge play” is being defined as pushing someone to the edge, testing their limits, and seeing how close to the edge your can take them. Edge play is also sometimes categorized as “blade play” or “knife play” however it is not what I consider to be the legitimate use of the term.

According the Steel-Door Edge Play is “The action of offering new challenges to the edges of play you and your submissive are already familiar with. Every physical challenge is equally as mentally challenging as it is asking your submissive to reach beyond where they think they can for you, and for them. It may be as simple as progressing from one set of clamps to another, from spanking to the introduction of the crop and it may be as complex as sensory deprivation and trust play.”

Edge Play is most commonly defined by lifestyle BDSMers as any type of play that is considered “edgy” or pushing the edge of the commonly practiced, or skirting the limits of the traditional safe, sane and consensual creed. It is very important to note two things regarding edge play.

1. Some forms of edge play may involve illegal activity that legal consent may not be a viable defense to if any serious injuries are incurred. It is also important to note that there are many non-physical injuries that can be included in the definition of grievous bodily harm. If you have concerns about the type of play you are interested in from a legal standpoint you should consult a kink friendly professional before participating.

2. Many Activities and Fetishes that fall under the umbrella of Edge Play are considered dangerous, and many lifestylers will advise you that one should not play in such areas at all, and at the minimum should not participate in or attempt these types of play without proper training, education, supervision and any and all possible safety precautions in place.

Wikipedia lists possible scenarios involved in edge play as:
Branding, Body Modification, Breath Play, Gun Play, Cuttings, Blood Play, Humiliation, Incest Fantasies, Age Play, Scat Fetishism, Racial Slurs, Total Power Exchange, Rape and Abduction Scenes and Zoophilia.

There is a ton of controversy when it comes to Edge Play. Mainly in my opinion because so many things fall under the umbrella of “Edge Play” that it becomes next to impossible to make any sort of positive statement about it because there are too many negative possibilities. I also think that the definition of Edge Play is an ever evolving term. What constitutes Edge Play this year may not necessarily constitute Edge Play next year. It seems each year our horizons broaden a bit. Just last year at ‘Kink Fest’ in Portland Oregon there were entire seminars held on Gun Play and Role Plays that involved Racial Slurs. That tells me that those two topics are a bit more widely accepted and considered less edgy than there were a few years ago perhaps. Wikipedia gives another good example when it mentions that in the mid 1990’s the Living in Leather Convention did not have panels on age play or scat because they were too edgy, however since the year 2000 they have been a regularly featured part of their list programming.

Dirty Girl Analysis: Well first let me begin by saying that I’m all for freedom of sexual expression and freedom of sexual play as long as that play does not permanently harm or damage anyone either mentally physically or emotionally. I also firmly believe that what goes on sexually between two or more consenting adults is nobody’s business but theirs. That is of course unless they give cause for it to be. Role-playing and fantasy in my mind is a harmless act that can be very fulfilling and I think that with almost every thing there are varying degrees to such behavior and that if done in the right manner can be utterly harmless. Take gun play for example. If I have a fantasy about being held and fucked at gun point, it would be very easy to fulfill that fantasy with either an unloaded gun or a toy gun. After all the biggest sex organ is your mind and if my partner can convince me with is actions in the midst of the role-play that the gun is real, then it makes little or no difference whether it is in fact real or not. Age Play is another classic example. Perhaps I have a naughty school girl fantasy. I do not see anything wrong with dressing up as a Catholic School girl and pretending for the evening to let my partner have his way with me, take my virginity or spank my naughty bottom. I mean lets be honest here, I lost my virginity when I was fourteen years old and nobody involved was ever accused of being a nasty pervert. So if my partner and I want to role play for the evening that I’m fourteen again and that he’s the one taking my virginity instead of the dorky guy I gave it up too way back when, why not? Rape and Abduction fantasies are another great example. If in the back of my mind I have fantasies related to these things and my play partner and I want to pretend that we do not know each other for the evening and that he has kidnapped me, locked me in his dungeon and is holding me hostage in order to have his way with me sexually, who care? We aren’t doing anything Hollywood actors and actress don’t do on a regular basis in movies that we sit in theaters and watch each and every day. The only factor I see of any significance importance here is that nobody is involved that doesn’t wish to be involved, and that nobody is injured, and by injured I’m not talking about a bruise you got from a spanking I’m talking about an injury that takes you to the hospital or emergency room because somebody did something stupid and careless. I think with all things there are limits and lines that get cross and the moment any of type of Edge Play becomes more than a role-play or fantasy that is meticulously planned, arranged and played out with the utmost attention to safety taken into consideration then it has become more than a sexual pass time to enhance the erotic play between two people and to me, is no longer even something one would consider a Fetish. It is now an obsession and an unhealthy one that and you may want to consider seeing a therapist before you find yourself acting on your urges and seriously hurting someone. So long as we’re talking safe sane and consensual I think Edge Play can be a wonderful thing and while there are certain aspects of it that I personally would never have an interest in, there are others that I would, for example breath play is something I find extremely erotic and hot.

Overall Assessment: I’m going to say that with the provisions mentioned above and taking into consideration that there are many forms of Edge Play, some I find erotic and hot and some I don’t that. I would definitely categorize this as a dangerous fetish, seeing as though so much of it requires education, training and proper safety precautions from both a physical and mental standpoint. However at the same time Edge Play would definitely make the dirty girl list of favorites as well as involved some things that I haven’t yet experienced but would put on my list of things to do. Just remember, any type of kink or sexual fetish should in the end be rewarding and safe for all parties involved, if it’s not, then it’s not hot.