In the world of animals, pain serves an equivocal role. Parental nips and swipes are common tools in upbringing. And socially, pain is sometimes used to maintain hierarchies of dominance. But this animal use of...

Given involuntarily, and in an atmosphere of distrust, pain is torture, whatever the motive,” suggests David. “But given consensually, between equals, pain can be a most incredible form of love.

The world of tricky-tacky boxes, defined social behaviour, untrammeled egotism, sexism and material acquisitiveness, all powered by insecurity that passes for security, is rarely cajoled, least of all questioned. Much of the magic of of...

The leather community is largely anarchistic and shares a healthy distrust of power and arrogance.