Explicit consent is the cornerstone of trust in our community. Keep your hands to yourself until you ask for and receive explicit permission.

A few examples of doing this well:

• “Oh! That rope looks sooo silky! What kind is it? May I touch it?” “Help yourself!”
• “I’ve never seen carabiners like that before, how do they work?” “Sure, let me show you.”
• “OMG, that paddle is amazing? Did you make it?” “I did, yes! Fun Project. Feel free to pick it up and feel its heft if you want to.”
• (After negotiation) “Okay, we planned to do a Shinju and turn that into a Box Tie. This is going to be just practicing the technique and seeing how it feels to both of us. We are not going to be doing this as a ‘scene,’ agreed?” “Yes.” “Great! Are you ready? May I put rope on you?” “Absolutely!” Enthusiastic, authentic consent … more on this in Consent.