Tickling?

Question: Is tickling permitted as a punishment or as a form of torture under Code d' Odalisque? 

Tickling is a perfectly fine form of punishment or torture in odalisque slave play and there are no objections to it under the rules of the Code. There are many people who find tickling unbearable and for whom it is indeed a genuine mode of torture, but it does not violate the principles of the slave code. In particular, it does not present any danger of causing temporary or permanent damage to the *skin* of the slavewoman. This is an important parameter and should always be kept in mind. The skin of the slavewoman is treasured as an asset of her essential beauty. For this reason she spends so much time looking after her skin. In the aesthetic values implicit in odalisque slavery a woman is prized for the clarity and beauty of her skin. Accordingly, any form of punishment or torment to which her Master subjects her (for whatever reason) must be calculated so as not to cause any injury to her skin. Tickling in no way exceeds this parameter.

Nor must punishment or torment inflict pain. It might be argued that tickling is painful for some, but in fact it is a type of excruciating pleasure. This is where we become aware of the similarities of pleasure and pain. Just as some forms of pain in some contexts can be experienced as pleasure (the famous case is in ancient philosophy where Socrates in jail takes off his leg-irons and observes that the pain of it actually feels very good) so too some forms of pleasure can be so acute and intense that it hurts. Arguably, even orgasm is a borderland between pleasure and pain: it makes us scream and moan as if in real agony. Tickling is best considered a type of pleasure that agonizes and torments. But it is not painful in the sadomasochistic sense. It is not violent. So it does not exceed this parameter either.

There is no reason why it cannot be part of creative non-violent slave play. That is, unless the slavewoman is so ticklish, finds it so excruciating, that it causes her to be distressed or threatens her well-being, for example by causing her to hyperventilate or to suffer an asthma attack, or similar. That would only be in extreme cases, and then her Master must exercise his duty of care for her. Normally, though, it is a safe and enjoyable activity to include in slave play. In fact, as a mode of torture, it is a very effective instrument of breaking down a slavewoman's structures of resistance and can be used as a very useful adjunct to other methods.