What's the difference between the BDSM and Fetish categories?

[WoolyWorm]

I'm writing a story that probably fits into one of the above two categories, but I haven't actually read much in either category, so I don't have a good feel for them.

There would seem to be a significant overlap in subject matter covered by the two categories. But maybe there are differences in culture, reader expectations, etc.?

My superficial impression is that BDSM readers mostly want stories about submissive females/dominant males and that femdom stories generally score poorly. Meanwhile, Fetish is a catch-all category for everything else vaguely kinky, including maybe femdom (and excluding gay and incest). Is this correct?

 

[LupusDei]

There will be people better qualified to respond, but BDSM is well, all that, it's a specific lifestyle and all that. And, they're rather big on explicit consent, and may react hostility to any non-consent. So while there technically quite a bit of overlap between BDSM and non-consent on first, unscrupulous glance, that's a decisive difference. And what you say about not accepting femdom is rather artifact of non-consent category than BDSM to my understanding.

Fetish... I actually have no idea. The few I have read in that category was following authors out from Exhibitionist&Voyer, who decided pieces set in free-to-all-sex in all-nude world rathet belongs there (as nudity fetishism), nothing at all to do with BDSM. I suppose water sports and the like goes there, feet licking as main course, and things I probably never imagined (like, do you know what 'sounding' is in that context?).

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm writing a story that probably fits into one of the above two categories, but I haven't actually read much in either category, so I don't have a good feel for them.

There would seem to be a significant overlap in subject matter covered by the two categories. But maybe there are differences in culture, reader expectations, etc.?

My superficial impression is that BDSM readers mostly want stories about submissive females/dominant males and that femdom stories generally score poorly. Meanwhile, Fetish is a catch-all category for everything else vaguely kinky, including maybe femdom (and excluding gay and incest). Is this correct?

BDSM is bondage/dominance-submission/sadomasochism.

Fetish could be anything where something is the subject of an unusual degree of erotic/sexual fascination: feet, legs, panties, food, pee, that sort of thing.

Gay and incest are not "fetish" for Literotica purposes. Neither is femdom, which I think would fit under BDSM.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Fuzzy lines, fuzzy lines. You think you are ‘safely’ in one but look around and are in the other.

As regards your story, if it worries you, add an intro saying it has elements of _______. Otherwise, don’t fret about it.

 

[Hypoxia]

I'm no fetish expert *BUT* I read the definition as being "sexual obsession with inanimate or non-genital stuff" which excludes many kinks. I posted as 'fetish' a story of brain-tumor sex because I saw head-fucking as non-genital. But BDSM, LGBT, incest, interracial, and other kinks aren't really fetishes. An author should maybe read a category's high-rated pieces to get an idea of what works there.

 

[ausfet]

I have a bi male story that includes a female dominant in BDSM that (currently) rates 4.58 and a straight femdom story in the same category that rates 4.7. I have a story in E&V that includes a domme, and that rates 4.51. I tend to write gentle femdom, though. I think anything with extreme humiliation or pain is more divisive. Trussing a bloke up like a turkey and having your wicked way with him is more acceptable than forcing him into panties and yelling him that he's a small dicked loser.

 

[ttvttp]

There are a lot of men who go to a dominatrix and experience bdsm first hand and that is femdom. I really don't know where you are coming from what that statement.

 

[Pocketshaver]

BDSM and FETISH are completely different, but FETISH is a core component of BDSM that keeps the car running.

Its like this, BDSM is bondage, domination, submission/sadism, masochism.

Fetish is simply a word that means "a person needs this item/thing/act in order to get sexual stimulation"

A fetish for example is someone cant get sexually aroused unless their partner leads them around the house wearing nothing but a leash and collar. Or a person cant get an erection unless their partner wears high heels and thigh highs.

BDSM is merely a controlled use of a persons fetish interests in order to create a more enjoyable experience for everyone. As not only do you find a person who NEEDS to be tied up to enjoy sex, your going to find someone who NEEDS to have their partner tied up for various reasons.

If you need more help please send me a PM.

 

[AfterDusk]

BDSM and FETISH are completely different, but FETISH is a core component of BDSM that keeps the car running.

Its like this, BDSM is bondage, domination, submission/sadism, masochism.

Fetish is simply a word that means "a person needs this item/thing/act in order to get sexual stimulation"

This. A fetish is specific, BDSM is a wider net. I’d suggest you read a few of the top ranked stories in each to get an idea.

My superficial impression is that BDSM readers mostly want stories about submissive females/dominant males and that femdom stories generally score poorly. Meanwhile, Fetish is a catch-all category for everything else vaguely kinky, including maybe femdom (and excluding gay and incest). Is this correct?

I would say no, your impression is wrong. I have a series in BDSM that short of transvestites and cross dressers has pretty much everything else; it centers on a female dominant, there’s gay male sex, lesbian sex, group sex, all of the BDSM aspects as well as other bits. It did just fine.

I think it is all in how you sell it.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Looking at it another way, BDSM is using a feather. Fetish is the whole chicken.

 

[Hypoxia]

Looking at it another way, BDSM is using a feather. Fetish is the whole chicken.

Q: Why did the punk rocker cross the road?
A: She was stapled to the chicken.

But I'd flip it. Fetish is general -- a non-genital-oid that gets you off. BDSM, and shoes, armpits, pee, etc, are the specific fetishes. Goose quills are better than crow feathers BTW.

 

[RejectReality]

Femdom will do as well in the BDSM category as it's going to do anywhere else. Either the group of people who hate dominant women will find it, and send out the clarion call so everyone can have a hate party, or they won't.

If it's BDSM, that's the category it belongs in. Male or female in the dominant position doesn't change that.

The exception would be if it's mild, casual, etc. elements, but not from people in the lifestyle or moving that way. People with a spanking kink, or maybe just a couple having some handcuff fun, etc. That doesn't really have the vibe the BDSM readership is looking for, and may be better suited to fetish.

Doesn't sound as if you're talking about casuals to me, so that's BDSM.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Looking at it another way, BDSM is using a feather. Fetish is the whole chicken.

Penny, Penny, Penny, what are we going to do with you? You just had to go the whole chicken thang, didn't you!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Penny, Penny, Penny, what are we going to do with you? You just had to go the whole chicken thang, didn't you!

I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist.

 

[Ddale56]

Panties

I have a fetish for dirty painties the smell of pussy and pee turns me on.I got caught with my sister in law to be panties in my mouth she came around the corner but never said a word. Till the next day. Are there anyone else that loves wet painties.