I do like the acronym RACK - nice bit of wordplay. And I also like the fact that it begins by acknowledging that there are risks.
The author makes a compelling argument that "Safe" in SSC is perhaps disingenuous; that the things that we do can never be made absolutely safe...at least not if we want to enjoy pushing our limits. In some respects this is similar to the semantic argument over "safe-sex" vs. "safer sex".
Since safety, sanity and even consensuality can never be absolute. In the interests of absolute accuracy then, SSC should be rephrased to Safer, Saner and more Consensual.
However, I'm not in complete agreement with the author.
Firstly, RACK and SSC don't really fill the same niche as terms within BDSM.
The former is a description of what it is that we do - the latter describes the philosophy with which we approach it.
Thus, I engage in Risk Aware Consensual Kink - and try to keep it as Safe, Sane and Consensual as possible.
Admittedly, there is some overlap in usage. So, I'll continue.
My other issue with usage is that while RACK talks about "Risk Awareness" - It doesn't acknowledge a responsibility to ameliorate that risk. Mountain climbers (to use the author's analogy) would not describe their activity as inherently safe - But then, neither would most kinksters. In both cases, however there's a comittment to making the activity as safe as possible. There is obsessive attention to good equipment, good training, good lines of communication, exit plan in case of an incident, medical supplies ... the list goes on and on. In fact, the higher the risk of the activity involved - the greater attention is paid to safety.
Indeed, I think that anyone engaged in a high risk activity would find the SSC mantra a useful benchmark of their behavior.
The author argues that ""sane" part of SSC is very subjective" - Quite so. But then, so too is "Risk Aware" - (How aware? How well informed is the awareness? Have the risks been evaluated by an outside and independent source?)
So the argument that the subjective nature of "sane" renders it useless - is flawed.
Furthermore, the word "sane" means far more than just "not crazy". Additionally, it has the sense of possessing, proceeding from, or exhibiting good judgment and prudence. So sane contains the essence of risk awareness and good judgement.
The question is asked - who is to judge what is sane or insane? The answer: The participants. That's why both terms contain the notion of consensuality.
The absence of the term "sane" troubles me deeply. Of all the risks inherent in what we do, the physical risks are easiest to identify, easiest to ameliorate...and easiest to fix after a short hospital stay. For those of us who play in the ultimate kinky sandbox - the mind - we rarely leave visible bruises. The damage that we can do to the mind and spirit of others can be far more profound and far more difficult to heal.
For me, the benchmark for my own conduct must include a distinctly defined awareness of the mental and spiritual risks - Which, we paraphrase as, "Sane".
There's room in the scene for both terms. Each says something that the other does not - and if you need to combine the best elements of both terms? Well here's yet another acronym - RISSCK.
Risk Informed Safe Sane Consensual Kink
Respectfully,
Lady Nichola
Related article: Still Safe, Still Sane, Still Consenting by abi