R.A.C.K. stands for…
…Risk Aware Consensual Kink, and it is one of the two guiding philosophies for BDSM relationships and activities. RACK emerged as an alternative to the SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual) principle, as many BDSM practitioners did not fully identify with SSC. Because it is historically younger, RACK is less widely adopted than SSC.
Both principles serve as models and foundations for the practice of sadomasochistic activities and the differentiation from criminally relevant violence.
Risk…
…stands for the risk that every BDSM activity entails.
Aware…
…means that all participants are well informed about the potential risks associated with every proposed activity.
Consensual…
stands for “consensual” and means that all participants have given their prior consent while in a clear state of mind before engaging in any activity. Additionally, all participants have the ability to revoke their consent at any time, for example, through a pre-agreed safeword or signal.
Kink…
…generally means that the activities discussed are classified as a form of alternative sex. “Kink” can also be understood as a broader term that encompasses additional aspects diverging from the thoughts, feelings, actions, and habits of the majority of the population.
What role does R.A.C.K. play?
The R.A.C.K. concept cannot be considered without the SSC philosophy, as it questions the principles of the latter. SSC emphasizes the objectively ambiguous term “safety.” In contrast, R.A.C.K. highlights the self-responsibility and personal risk assessment of the participants.
Because why should BDSM practitioners refrain from certain actions that may not appear completely safe, if all parties involved are aware of the risks and still wish to proceed?
The same applies to actions that may seem unreasonable, which in most cases are linked to safety concerns. R.A.C.K. therefore promotes a perspective that generally allows for certain risky sexual behaviors, as long as the participants are fully aware of the risks and consent to them voluntarily. “I acknowledge the risk and willingly accept it.”
The aspect of consent is non-negotiable in both philosophies, but in the R.A.C.K. principle, it is further emphasized through the linkage with individual risk assessment.
What to consider with R.A.C.K.:
At first glance, it may seem that R.A.C.K. games are more dangerous and less sensible compared to those based on SSC, where all practices are allowed as long as all participants are aware of both foreseeable and unforeseeable risks. However, this oversimplifies the situation.
The R.A.C.K. philosophy states that it is simply impossible to completely eliminate every risk, as every game involves certain physical and psychological risks. These risks depend on the individual participants, their mindset and experience, the practices involved, the context of the play itself, potential external factors, and numerous other variables.
By highlighting these risks and appealing to awareness of them, a realistic understanding of BDSM emerges instead of a false sense of security.
Nevertheless, the R.A.C.K. principle also relies on subjective judgment. How aware is aware enough? Here too, the advice holds: Inform yourselves as thoroughly as possible about all potential concrete and unforeseeable risks, and try to minimize them as much as possible before consenting to actions.
Which BDSM practices are R.A.C.K.?
According to R.A.C.K. proponents, essentially all BDSM practices are included. Specifically, notable mentions go to Edge play practices such as needle play, cuttings, suspensions, breath play or breath control, rape play, and tunnel games like figging.
SSC or RACK?
As mentioned earlier, the more defensive SSC principle is older and more widespread than R.A.C.K., which appears to promise more freedom. The common denominator of both philosophies is consent, the foundation of all actions in BDSM. As long as this is respected, it is up to each individual to decide which concept they prefer. Or why not opt for a mixture of both?
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