BDSM capitalization is the practice of capitalizing or using all lower-case pronouns to denote the role or status of BDSM participants. According to BDSM capitalization rules, proper nouns and pronouns related to a dominant individual or master are capitalized. Those related to a submissive individual or slave are lower case.
BDSM capitalization is also sometimes called Slavese or Slave-Pidgin.
BDSM capitalization is also sometimes called Slavese or Slave-Pidgin.
More About BDSM Capitalization
BDSM capitalization can be applied to first, second, or third-person pronouns in their singular and plural forms. As an example, first-person singular pronouns referring to a dominant would be I, Me, My, Mine, and Myself, while those referring to a submissive are i, me, my, mine, and myself.
Some sources believe that BDSM capitalization came into practice with Old Guard Leather guidelines which insisted submissives use only the third-person to refer to themselves. Another theory is that the practice sprung from chatrooms where the capitalization helped convey participants’ roles to the online community.
Fans of BDSM capitalization feel that the practice shows respect for the dominant partner and that it reinforces the roles in BDSM relationships. However, BDSM capitalization has come under fire from some members of the BDSM community who feel that the rules of standard English grammar should always apply. They argue that respect for individuals, or the BDSM community as a whole, is about more than the capitalization of letters or the ability to use a shift key. In addition, they feel that any dom/sub relationship should be strong enough that it doesn’t need to flout existing grammar conventions to strengthen it.
Some sources believe that BDSM capitalization came into practice with Old Guard Leather guidelines which insisted submissives use only the third-person to refer to themselves. Another theory is that the practice sprung from chatrooms where the capitalization helped convey participants’ roles to the online community.
Fans of BDSM capitalization feel that the practice shows respect for the dominant partner and that it reinforces the roles in BDSM relationships. However, BDSM capitalization has come under fire from some members of the BDSM community who feel that the rules of standard English grammar should always apply. They argue that respect for individuals, or the BDSM community as a whole, is about more than the capitalization of letters or the ability to use a shift key. In addition, they feel that any dom/sub relationship should be strong enough that it doesn’t need to flout existing grammar conventions to strengthen it.
