Risk Aware Consensual Kink (RACK) is one of the two guiding philosophies for BDSM relationships and activities. RACK was created as an alternative to the SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual) principle , as many BDSM followers could not sufficiently identify with the latter. Because it is more recent in terms of genesis, it is less common than SSC.
Risk
Risk represents the risk involved in any BDSM activity.
Aware
Aware means that all participants are well informed about the potential risks associated with each proposed activity.
Consensual
Consensual stands for “consensual” and means that all parties involved in their right mind have given their prior consent before participating in an activity . In addition, it is possible for all parties involved to revoke their consent at any time. For example, with a previously agreed safe word or character .
Kink
Kink generally means that the activities discussed are classified as a form of alternative sex. However, “ kink ” can also be understood as a broader term that covers additional aspects that deviate from the thinking, feeling, acting and habits of the majority of the population.
What role does Risk Aware Consensual Kink (RACK) play?
The Risk Aware Consensual Kink concept cannot be considered without the SSC philosophy as it challenges the principles of the latter. SSC focuses on the objectively vague concept of security. On the other hand, RACK emphasizes the personal responsibility and personal risk assessment of those involved.
After all, why should BDSM practitioners not engage in certain acts that don’t seem perfectly safe when everyone involved is aware of it and still desires it?
The same applies to actions that seem unreasonable, which in most cases is linked to safety. RACK thus conveys a view that certain risky sexual behaviors are generally permitted, as long as those involved are fully aware of the risks and freely consent to them. “I know the risk and take it consciously”.
The aspect of consensus is non-negotiable in both philosophies, but is emphasized even more in the RACK principle through the link with the individual risk assessment.
What to look out for with RACK?
At first glance it seems that RACK games are more dangerous and less sane than those based on SSC and all practices are allowed as long as all participants are aware of the foreseeable and equally unforeseeable risks. However, this does not go far enough.
The Risk Aware Consensual Kink philosophy states that it is simply impossible to completely eliminate every risk, as every game involves certain physical and psychological risks. These depend on the individual participants, their mindset and their experience , the practices they practice, the game context itself, possible external factors and numerous other factors.
By pointing out these risks and appealing to awareness about them, a realistic view of BDSM is created rather than a false sense of security.
Nevertheless: The RACK principle is also based on a subjective assessment. How conscious is conscious enough? The same applies here: Find out as much as possible about all possible concrete and unforeseeable risks and try to minimize them as much as possible before agreeing to any actions.
What types of BDSM fall under RACK?
If you follow the argumentation of RACK fans, actually all of them. In particular, however, the so-called edgeplay practices should be mentioned, such as needle games , cuttings, suspensions, breathplay or breath control , rapeplay or so-called tunnel games such as figging .
SSC or RACK?
As mentioned at the beginning, the more defensive SSC principle is older and more widespread than RACK, which seems to promise more freedom. The common denominator of both philosophies is consensus, the basis of every action in BDSM. As long as this is observed, each person is free to choose which concept he or she chooses. Or why not a mix of both?
