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Partner mentioned an interest in sadism and I feel uneasy

245 replies

Cabiwoca · 25/05/2026 20:10

Relatively new relationship (3 months). I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so happy although I have some problems that I am still working through, which he is aware of and agreed to give me space for. Maybe not the point but I didn’t want to drip feed.

He mentioned an interest in sadism this weekend, which I honestly cannot comprehend at all and which I am not happy to engage with. He seemed fine with it and said that he just hadn’t wanted to keep this hidden. We obviously talked about it for a bit but I’m still thinking that it’s pretty messed up and that no sane person would be interested in anything like this but maybe I’m being judgemental.

Is this something that people just talk about, because to me this is not a “normal” thing to be interested in and it worries me a bit. I understand that people have kinks and I never thought I’d mind but i immediately felt so uneasy.

OP posts:
TenTenTenAgain · Yesterday 09:30

@LeebLeefuhLurve I thanked you for your post because you worded your points perfectly.

The danger with these kinds of threads is that there will be people that see them as a green light to overshare about their sex lives. And that's missing the point spectacularly because the op feels uncomfortable about the man she's dating. That's it , that's the key point. And what's more worrying is that she seems to be seeking permission to disagree with his perspective. I hope that op knows that she can end a relationship for any reason she pleases , she doesn't owe anyone her time.

somanychristmaslights · Yesterday 09:30

What did he actually say?

Eyesopenwideawake · Yesterday 09:31

howfascinatingforyou · Yesterday 09:21

Yeah I posted about this earlier in the thread. This has nothing whatsoever to do with judgement about how anyone chooses to have sex but if people are going to engage in it, they should at least be mature enough to recognise the health risks instead of acting like it’s no big deal.

The popularity of choking/strangulation is down to mainstream porn, not BDSM.

It's seen as a bit...vulgar.

BunnyLake · Yesterday 10:03

So he wants to inflict pain on someone else for his kicks? That would take me less than a millisecond to leave and not look back,

TheBloomingDahlia · Yesterday 10:07

If you’re not into it then you’re not into it and the relationship won’t work unless he just has a passing interest that he’s happy to only daydream about. But as he’s mentioned it and said he didn’t want to hide it then it sounds like it’s something he wants to do with a partner. I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, I have known very respectful, sweet, non-abusive people who are into fully consensual things that I find extreme and wouldn’t like at all. But it doesn’t matter how nice or gentle he is if you’re just not sexually compatible

TheThirteenthFairy · Yesterday 10:14

Did he actually use the word 'sadism'? This would cause me concern.

PrawnofthePatriarchy · Yesterday 10:16

I was with my late DH for 17 years. His chief joy* *was in giving me pleasure. Find a man like that.

ByGraptharsHammer · Yesterday 10:24

TheThirteenthFairy · Yesterday 10:14

Did he actually use the word 'sadism'? This would cause me concern.

Yes. It is a very particular word, with particular connotations, and extreme.

Cabiwoca · Yesterday 10:29

I have been reading the comments and will speak to him later. I agree that if we aren’t compatible there will be no point in pursuing this but it would make me sad.
Thank you all for your kind words 💙

OP posts:
Cabiwoca · Yesterday 10:30

TheThirteenthFairy · Yesterday 10:14

Did he actually use the word 'sadism'? This would cause me concern.

Yes. He didn’t say bdsm but this specifically

OP posts:
throwawayimplantchat · Yesterday 10:37

Cabiwoca · Yesterday 10:29

I have been reading the comments and will speak to him later. I agree that if we aren’t compatible there will be no point in pursuing this but it would make me sad.
Thank you all for your kind words 💙

But you know already you aren’t compatible @Cabiwoca

Because he has told you he is sexually aroused by inflicting pain on women.

And you know you are not a woman sexually aroused by being hurt by men.

I think personally him using the word ‘sadism’ specially is deeply concerning.

“Sadism is the tendency to derive pleasure, whether physical, psychological, or sexual, from the suffering, pain, or humiliation of others.”

Want more for yourself than this OP Flowers

ByGraptharsHammer · Yesterday 10:39

God. Don’t you ever feel sorry for this man, or feel sad on his account. That way, you give up all the freedom you have. Once you fall for the sob story, the rest of it all falls and so do you

Feis123 · Yesterday 10:47

Jane143 · Yesterday 07:37

Lots will. And shame anyone normal into enjoying vanilla

I think the least we can do is to say 'fucking perverts'. I posted on here before, that people are afraid to call out perverts, I don't know what they are scared of?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · Yesterday 10:48

If any man told me they were into this and I wasn’t (which I’m not) I’d end the relationship if they wanted to do this with me. If he can’t live without this in his sex life then that’s that really. I’m lucky in that my boyfriend of 8 months has no interest in this whatsoever (I’ve asked him). It turns him off.

TheThirteenthFairy · Yesterday 10:49

ByGraptharsHammer · Yesterday 10:24

Yes. It is a very particular word, with particular connotations, and extreme.

BDSM can be fun - just because someone's tied up doesn't mean there'll be pain involved; you can 'inflict' pleasure on them.

But he's talking about sadism. This is heavy - and some of it can be bending someone to your will. Have an educational look online and see how easy it is to find like-minded people who are gagging to do this. Be aware that he didn't want that, he wanted someone who had never done it before. I believe this man to be very dangerous; please have nothing more to do with him. I don't want to read about another poor woman dead at the hands of a man who swore she 'liked it rough' and wonder if it's you. Best wishes.

pimplebum · Yesterday 10:55

Cabiwoca · 25/05/2026 20:10

Relatively new relationship (3 months). I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so happy although I have some problems that I am still working through, which he is aware of and agreed to give me space for. Maybe not the point but I didn’t want to drip feed.

He mentioned an interest in sadism this weekend, which I honestly cannot comprehend at all and which I am not happy to engage with. He seemed fine with it and said that he just hadn’t wanted to keep this hidden. We obviously talked about it for a bit but I’m still thinking that it’s pretty messed up and that no sane person would be interested in anything like this but maybe I’m being judgemental.

Is this something that people just talk about, because to me this is not a “normal” thing to be interested in and it worries me a bit. I understand that people have kinks and I never thought I’d mind but i immediately felt so uneasy.

Of course its normal to talk about

you need to know if its a bit of light spanking, or inflicting pain , full gimp in a box situation

get him to show you the most extreme thing hed actually like to do and then you have some clarity

ask if he is happy just wanking off to it ? How much of a need is it ? Is it a stress relief or full blown addiction? Can he make vanilla love or can he not get an erection unless he does …

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · Yesterday 10:57

Cabiwoca · 25/05/2026 22:39

I really don’t think that I have painted him that way, or at least it hadn’t been my intention.
Im not sure what to do with the information I was given but I somehow don’t think that this thread will help me.
He is one of the most gentle people I ever met.

He may be gentle and you may be happy but I think he’ll try to win you round to this, push your boundaries. If that’s what you’d like to do or be open to it then fine, but if you don’t like it and he sees this as essential in his life then there’ll be issues later on.

I’ve met a couple of guys into non vanilla sex (I actually don’t mind things like bondage and spanking). One luckily was just a hook up. Into lots of things including sexual sadism. The other I’d started to date him for 2-3 months but I realised pretty soon I wasn’t happy with what he wanted (more BDSM) so ended it (that wasn’t the only reason though). The emotional degradation or physical degradation I personally couldn’t deal with so didn’t do it. If that makes me vanilla so be it.

rainbowunicorn22 · Yesterday 11:01

probably get blasted for this but wanted an example. Ian brady aka Moors Murderer was sadistic and when he met Myra Hindley it has been shown he groomed her as she was so besotted with him she followed his lead.
My point? dump him a sadist will try to get you to join him and wont let it go. his words he said are useless
when you have sex he will no doubt be pushing for things and may even just do things regardless of your feelings

ByGraptharsHammer · Yesterday 11:01

I am sorry but some of this stuff is really naive. Well adjusted people who are respectful do not need to get their needs met with vulnerable people. The whole thing suggests something exploitative, and manipulative. It is the opposite of what people claim is proper consent.

I am also limitlessly unimpressed by posters who are using this thread to talk about their own proclivities. If you are as grown up as you claim, you will understand that someone who is experiencing emotional confusion needs to think it through, and not be given an instruction manual. You all protest too much.

Upstartled · Yesterday 11:03

Any man who can hold an erection while hurting his partner is not to be trusted.

mumumental · Yesterday 11:05

I don’t think so either.

cannynotsay · Yesterday 11:05

Psychologist here. Please walk away for your safety.

workshy46 · Yesterday 11:14

Cabiwoca · Yesterday 10:30

Yes. He didn’t say bdsm but this specifically

Of course he’s nice now .. he has to reel you in and make you think he’s a great guy so you are less likely to bolt when he slowly starts introducing things into sex. I also believe people who are into these things tend to be heavy users of extreme porn and have other issues - this won’t be the only link. Run .. you also shouldn’t tell men you barely know about personal issues you have , it makes you vulnerable to thee types of things. No guy would ever get the impression from me that sadism was something that was ok with me. Men like this are very adept at figuring out which women they can push boundaries with

LeebLeefuhLurve · Yesterday 11:22

OP, you already know you're not compatible. My worry for you is that he will now try and wrangle his way out of this, "I didn't mean it / I was only curious / I can forget about it" in order to maintain the relationship with you so that he can bring it up at a later time when you're more emotionally attached and he knows even more of your vulnerabilities*. As I said, paraphilias and fetishes can't be switched off.

*I've even seen sick narratives of BDSM being used as a means to treat trauma. (possibly even on this thread, but I glossed over anything that turns my stomach). As PP mentioned, I'm concerned this guy is trying to groom you.

RS1987 · Yesterday 11:23

Men aren’t very good at not having their desires met - whatever those desires are. He wants to hurt you. I’d personally run.