One-line definition
Rules are the negotiated standards of conduct, limits, and daily requirements within a D/s dynamic.
Full definition
Rules are the working parts of a protocol: bedtime, forms of address, what gets reported and when, what needs permission. The ones that work tend to share a few things. They were agreed rather than handed down, they are specific enough to actually follow, and they get looked at again when circumstances change. A rule that causes constant stress is one to renegotiate, not one to grit your teeth through.
Related terms
- Protocol
- Permission
- Contract
- Punishment
- Reward