One-line definition
A tally is a structured way of recording mistakes, rewards, tasks, or punishment points within a D/s relationship.
Full definition
A tally can be a gamified system of discipline or one part of a wider protocol. It is used to accumulate points toward later rewards and punishments, to track how tasks are completed, and to reinforce the dynamic over time. For a tally to work, the rules and the standards behind them have to be clear to both people and agreed on by both. A tally that gets used to humiliate, manipulate, or pressure someone past what they can bear has stopped being healthy interaction.
How the term is used
- Managing rules and tasks in a D/s dynamic.
- Training, punishment, or reward systems.
- As one component of a protocol or set of household rules.
Related terms
- Protocol
- Discipline
- D/s
- Consent