This question randomly popped into my head some time ago. I haven’t really found anything on Wikipedia relating to masochism outside of sex, but since sadism can be non-sexual, why could masochism be too?
Spicy food.
Absolutely. It could be argued that religious self-flagellation would fall under this category of non-sexual masochism.
Isn’t that more like a ritual? I mean, I don’t think those people really enjoy the pain itself.
CW: self-harm
I enjoyed self-harming and feeling pain when I was dissociating a lot, I think there are clearly examples where people inflict pain on themselves for non-sexual and non-religious (i.e. not for punitive / atoning) reasons. Besides some kinds of self-harm, eating spicy food seems like a clear example of this. Pain releases endorphins, you can get high on pain. For what it’s worth, I also have enjoyed every physical trauma I have experienced (being hit by a car, being thrown over the handlebars of my bicycle at speed and my face hitting the asphalt first, etc.).
If they’re enjoying the ritual, is that a meaningful distinction between that and enjoying the pain? 🤔
Loving Jesus a little too hard right there
I´m sure, that Linux memers here would tell you, that Windows users are such masochists.
As a Linux user (btw) let me tell you, if anyone is masochistic it’s us. The amount of times I’ve gotten sidetracked for an hour fixing a problem that would be a non-issue on Windows is kind of depressing when assessed as a whole
I check out Windows from time to time and don’t worry, it’s mutual. Windows has as many issues as Linux, they’re just usually a very different kind of issues.
Masochism in windows is largely learning to enjoy the taste of corporate boot; then it sails smoother.
Not really, the system gets slower over time no matter what you do, drivers fail all the time and so on.
I would say that the pain and follow-up soreness from working hard at the gym feels amazing in a non-sexual way.
I get your point but I hate the fact that my legs hurt so bad today. thinking of taking car today instead of a bike commute :D
Progress more slowly.
Kink and sex are different things, though often intertwined
Exactly. There are some asexual kinksters as well as those kinksters who play with people who they are not sexually attracted too.
Yes, some of them even get a PhD.
Lots of folks seem to have hobbies or put themselves through challenges that from the outside seem pretty masochistic. They generally claim they like the challenge, want to prove themselves or some other thing, but people who run the Marathon de Sable or swallow a Cessna light aircraft sure seem to gain pleasure from putting themselves through pain…
I’m not endurance sportsman but I kind of feel like when I push myself beyond the comfort zone and it gets really hard, is when the activity gets the best. It stops being just a boring hike or whatever, and becomes more interesting and involved.
But it’s not the pain I’m enjoying, but overcoming it, enduring through it. I’d think masochist would enjoy the pain itself?
Okay, as someone who has been to a number of kink events, I’ll ask, what would you consider sexual? I’ve seen people go heavy into sub space with zero genital stimulation. The subs I see generally play naked, but it’s more about the psychological aspect of being exposed/removing barriers rather than tittilation.
Whether those subs would argue their experience was sexual or not? I think that really depends on the sub.
Are you… arguing that something is only sexual if there’s genital stimulation? I could give a shit what consenting adults do, but if you’re at a “kink event”, that’s probably sexual.
A lot of people do
Hell, I’ve heard plenty people say that oral sex isn’t sex
I don’t think the person is arguing that, they are saying that it depends on your definition of sexual
Yeah, I’ve heard people be wrong too! But seriously, I feel like you’re getting us even further into the weeds. We’re not referring to sex, but “sexual”:
*adjective
relating to the instincts, physiological processes, and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals.
And I know this isn’t your point, but “it depends on your definition of sexual” is nonsense. It’s not my definition, it’s the definition. That’s like saying “it depends on your definition of light”. Light is light. Sure, there are levels of illumination, but it all is still light-related…
Well, here’s another question then, is cuddling sexual? Most people would say no, though it fits that definition
In addition, for me one of the sexual activities I enjoy the most is basically described as “horny cuddling”, but that’s also something people have different perceptions of
It’s really not as straightforward to define and put down an all-encompassing definition as you might think. Especially when you want to include different people’s preferences, experiences, and opinions
Fitness studio… Abstinence… Victim mentality…
Yes. There are people harming themselves for fun…
