BDSM is bondage/dominantion, dominance/submission, and sado-masochism. BDSM is not about force. It is about safe, sane and consensual pleasure giving. Sometimes it is about lifestyles. Often it is about play. The mono section exists to give the monochrome BDSM community its own space and freedom - a sort of adult community centre, if you will. Interested parties also have a space where topics related to BDSM may be discussed, without having to access a closed section. For more information, see the uk.people.bdsm FAQ , or here for a list of regional resources which may be of interest.