This question randomly popped into my head some time ago. I haven’t really found anything on Wikipedia relating to masochism outside of sex, but since sadism can be non-sexual, why could masochism be too?

  • Chozo
    link
    fedilink
    283 months ago

    Absolutely. It could be argued that religious self-flagellation would fall under this category of non-sexual masochism.

    • @[email protected]OP
      link
      fedilink
      43 months ago

      Isn’t that more like a ritual? I mean, I don’t think those people really enjoy the pain itself.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        7
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        CW: self-harm

        I enjoyed self-harming and feeling pain when I was dissociating a lot, I think there are clearly examples where people inflict pain on themselves for non-sexual and non-religious (i.e. not for punitive / atoning) reasons. Besides some kinds of self-harm, eating spicy food seems like a clear example of this. Pain releases endorphins, you can get high on pain. For what it’s worth, I also have enjoyed every physical trauma I have experienced (being hit by a car, being thrown over the handlebars of my bicycle at speed and my face hitting the asphalt first, etc.).

      • @essell
        link
        33 months ago

        If they’re enjoying the ritual, is that a meaningful distinction between that and enjoying the pain? 🤔

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    26
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    I´m sure, that Linux memers here would tell you, that Windows users are such masochists.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      203 months ago

      As a Linux user (btw) let me tell you, if anyone is masochistic it’s us. The amount of times I’ve gotten sidetracked for an hour fixing a problem that would be a non-issue on Windows is kind of depressing when assessed as a whole

      • Rikudou_Sage
        link
        fedilink
        103 months ago

        I check out Windows from time to time and don’t worry, it’s mutual. Windows has as many issues as Linux, they’re just usually a very different kind of issues.

        • @InternetCitizen2
          link
          103 months ago

          Masochism in windows is largely learning to enjoy the taste of corporate boot; then it sails smoother.

          • Rikudou_Sage
            link
            fedilink
            03 months ago

            Not really, the system gets slower over time no matter what you do, drivers fail all the time and so on.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    193 months ago

    I would say that the pain and follow-up soreness from working hard at the gym feels amazing in a non-sexual way.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      33 months ago

      I get your point but I hate the fact that my legs hurt so bad today. thinking of taking car today instead of a bike commute :D

      • @Anticorp
        link
        English
        13 months ago

        Progress more slowly.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      23 months ago

      Exactly. There are some asexual kinksters as well as those kinksters who play with people who they are not sexually attracted too.

  • @Acamon
    link
    113 months ago

    Lots of folks seem to have hobbies or put themselves through challenges that from the outside seem pretty masochistic. They generally claim they like the challenge, want to prove themselves or some other thing, but people who run the Marathon de Sable or swallow a Cessna light aircraft sure seem to gain pleasure from putting themselves through pain…

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      I’m not endurance sportsman but I kind of feel like when I push myself beyond the comfort zone and it gets really hard, is when the activity gets the best. It stops being just a boring hike or whatever, and becomes more interesting and involved.

      But it’s not the pain I’m enjoying, but overcoming it, enduring through it. I’d think masochist would enjoy the pain itself?

  • hendrik
    link
    fedilink
    English
    43 months ago

    Fitness studio… Abstinence… Victim mentality…

  • scops
    link
    fedilink
    English
    43 months ago

    Okay, as someone who has been to a number of kink events, I’ll ask, what would you consider sexual? I’ve seen people go heavy into sub space with zero genital stimulation. The subs I see generally play naked, but it’s more about the psychological aspect of being exposed/removing barriers rather than tittilation.

    Whether those subs would argue their experience was sexual or not? I think that really depends on the sub.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      13 months ago

      Are you… arguing that something is only sexual if there’s genital stimulation? I could give a shit what consenting adults do, but if you’re at a “kink event”, that’s probably sexual.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        33 months ago

        A lot of people do

        Hell, I’ve heard plenty people say that oral sex isn’t sex

        I don’t think the person is arguing that, they are saying that it depends on your definition of sexual

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          13 months ago

          Yeah, I’ve heard people be wrong too! But seriously, I feel like you’re getting us even further into the weeds. We’re not referring to sex, but “sexual”:

          *adjective

          relating to the instincts, physiological processes, and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals.

          And I know this isn’t your point, but “it depends on your definition of sexual” is nonsense. It’s not my definition, it’s the definition. That’s like saying “it depends on your definition of light”. Light is light. Sure, there are levels of illumination, but it all is still light-related…

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            23 months ago

            Well, here’s another question then, is cuddling sexual? Most people would say no, though it fits that definition

            In addition, for me one of the sexual activities I enjoy the most is basically described as “horny cuddling”, but that’s also something people have different perceptions of

            It’s really not as straightforward to define and put down an all-encompassing definition as you might think. Especially when you want to include different people’s preferences, experiences, and opinions