PREFACE
"The World is full of apparent contradictions, and every highest truth is the union of opposites." - HAVELOCK ELLIS
The fantasies people create in their imaginations know no bounds. Those things that two or more consenting adults do are no longer limited by arbitrary and often cruel rules based on religious beliefs. Nevertheless, there remain two immensely important constraints on human sexual behavior. First, one human being should not coerce another into sexual activities. In particular, older individuals must never use their physical or emotional power over children and adolescents, either to obtain sexual services, or to initiate habits which, although pleasurable, may diminish a young person's personal freedom of choice later in life. Second, people must not be led by their sexual drives to dangerous or mutilating practices that they subsequently regret. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNUSUAL SEX PRACTICES documents a wide range of sexual activities. Many are behaviors which are enjoyed by the vast majority of individuals while others have been associated with injury or death. It is the aim of the encyclopedia to provide objective information about how human beings behave; where you draw the line must be your own informed choice.
I have attempted to write without bias. Believing that individuals and groups engaging in certain activities are entitled to explain their own conduct, I have consulted or quoted from the practitioners themselves wherever possible. I next sought to corroborate the information I received from the practitioners with input by respected sexologists, psychologists, physicians, biochemists, anthropologists, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel.
Given the diverse backgrounds of my sources and editorial board, there were several obstacles to gaining a consensus of opinion. The medical community views unusual sex practices from a health standpoint, psychologists view paraphilias as compulsives, and many in the S/M community don't feel they fall into either category since they only engage in activities for experimentation. You the reader will need to keep in mind that almost any activity in this book can be engaged in for reasons that vary from coercion from a partner, religious ritual, experimentation, supplementing penis/vagina sex, building self-esteem, reducing stress, revenge, or it may be an exclusive act which the person feels unable to control.
The information contained within THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNUSUAL SEX PRACTICES is only as accurate as its sources. These include other authors and practitioners, individuals whose lectures I have attended, sometimes with demonstrations by people whom I have interviewed. I have not knowingly included any false information.
A major dilemma has been how much detailed instruction to include in the text. Knowing people's tendency towards experimentation, I have felt that it is my obligation to provide enough safety precautions to forestall unnecessary injury. At the same time, it is not my intent to write a user's manual, or to endorse experimentation or specific sex groups. My purpose is to educate readers, and to do so without censorship.
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I have used the acronyms B.C.E. (before common era) and C.E. (common era) instead of B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini-in the year of the Lord of the Christian era) purposefully. My book has been written for a world audience of all religions and I prefer not to offend my non-Christian readers with Christian dates. I have also used poems on a few occasions because poems express the intensity of experiences and emotions in a way that I cannot in my writing. I would like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in giving me their comments or sharing their experiences for a possible revised edition and videotaped slide show to do so by writing me care of my publisher, Barricade Books, Inc., 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003. USA. Fax: +1 (212) 627 7028 Brenda Love |
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© 1992-1998 Brenda Love,
The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices; www.odd-sex.com
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