IMO:
You are NOT odd or lame just because you are not into this kind of thing! Your preference, as well as that of others that may have similar feelings, suggests you are aware and well-balanced in your sexuality. I have found all your sharing, questions, and ideas that I am aware of valuable, informative and useful. I look forward to reading you more and support your contributions.
BDSM is a complex psycho-drama. Sometimes it is theater. In its pure form sex is not necessarily a feature. It flourishes in cultures having a love-hate, guilt-shame relationship with sex and often supplants sex. If non-consensual damage occurs it is no longer BDSM, rather it is abuse. Or one is dealing with a bungler. A true Master-Mistress is skilled and fully responsible so that doesn't happen.
Since it has become trendy there are many neophytes claiming to be Masters/Mistresses. In the enviro that D~ is practicing in it is safe, sane and consensual. The vaginal rope burns, non-consensual damages etc. are indications of a careless or inexperienced Dom rather than a true Master.
Be that as it may the Sub has the power. Especially a Brat Sub, which she is. The mere utterance of a safe word and everything either backs off or stops. If you want a deeper understanding go here & scroll down the right column for a 6 - series video explanation by (sexy) Dr. Joy Davidson::
http://joydavidson.com/index.php/the-joy-spot
If you do it may help you or anyone questioning to have more appreciation for what you may witness. Danielle knows what she is doing and I have every confidence she will pull this off artfully and professionally; which is not an easy task.
That being said it is my (not-so-humble, lol) opinion after over 30 years as a practitioner (Dom). I would NOT consider myself a Master of the art. I have had enough experience and exposure with BDSM to not prefer it in its pure form. To me BDSM in it's pure form is a subversion, but not a perversion. In "the life" I would be what is termed a BDSM "pretender" or "Dom" - one who sometimes practices BDSM light with sex - I was a member of a dungeon in San Fran for 16 years and saw much incompetence. I have also been very priviledged to witness true Masters and Mistresses at work.
Real BDSM is more a sophisticated play of power and surrender, pain and pleasure, than some of the violent sex and abuse being portrayed on recent porn sites. Usually on young, attractive women. Audiences have become jaded with porn going mainstream and are seeking ever-more extreme depictions of violence and drama. It is part of the entertainment coherent to a violent, sexually repressed society evident in many mainstream films. It can stimulate an adrenaline rush. If you delve deeper you can find vids of severe beatings laying open flesh. Deeper still are serious tortures, dismemberments and snuff vids.
BDSM has become a missapplied marketing buzz-word on some porn sites. Regardless of what the header may claim much of what is depicted is violence and abuse. Like the song says: "Some of them want to abuse you. Some of them want to be abused" Many go for it thinking it's the new in-thing and it can pay better than what is now considered plain vanilla porn. However intense, typically it is little more than junk sex depicting abduction, rape, hate sex, and forceful subjugation of women. To one whom loves women, as I presume you do, this might quite naturally appear horrific.
You may be wondering why people get into the kind of violence and abuse seen on most kink.com sites. Basically it's for superficial thrills. And of course $$.
When the approach is that sex is the seed, love is the flower, and compassion is the fragrance -- just sex without love and compassion is like going to McDonalds when you are hungry instead of having a gourmet meal at a 5-star restaurant. Many people in this culture lack the experience of the dynamic power and intense ecstasy of sex with love and compassion. So instead they settle for the physical/materialistic rush. Eventually even that becomes blase and they either go deeper into that or - grow into love and compassion. What IS odd, enigma, is how much people fear and avoid love in this culture, carry unnecessary guilt and shame around sex, and see love as the ultimate pain to be avoided at all cost, if not hate the very idea of love itself.
BDSM and love can be combined in even a temporary relationship and it often is. The fact of the matter is that -- "The power of submission lies not in the ability to kneel before another, to give over one's body or in the wearing of a collar. The power of submission can be found only in the heart of one who gives her love to another freely knowing what joy and pain will come from it." ~Rogeur
What is interesting is when this is pointed out, even by a true BDSM Master/Mistress as I have witnessed, some can become angry or despondent.
There are true as well as superficial players at both ends, Sub and Master. Ultimately it is a game; and a drama. Enjoy the show; Danielle is a creative artist and an honest performer. Obviously we all wish her well regardless of personal preferences. I expect this segment to be an excellent addition to her prolific work and expanding personal growth.
Eurythmics Sweet Dreams:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJE_Sc1Wags
Manson's version official vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tm-1...eature=related