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This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.

This is the version from 30 Jul 07, 11:25 PM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.

ICcode for "Total Power Exchange"

[b]Total Power Exchange[/b], or [b]TPE[/b] for short, is a derivative 
of the concept of [about=power exchange]power exchange[/about] in a 
[about=Domination and submission]D/s relationship[/about]. The term 
refers to a relationship where the [about=Dominant]dominant[/about] 
has complete authority and influence over the [about=submissive]
submissive's[/about] life, making the majority of decisions. TPE is 
sometimes referred to as [about=24/7]24/7[/about] though these terms 
are often considered to have different definitions.  TPE is also often 
used to mean either the state of being a [about=slave]slave[/about] or 
being [about=Internal Enslavement]internally enslaved[/about].

The phrase Total Power Exchange was coined by Steven S. Davis in the 
newsgroup [about=alt.sex.bondage]alt.sex.bondage[/about] during his 
debates with [about=Jon Jacobs]Jon Jacobs[/about] in the mid 1990's.

In [url=http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=7o79tu%24t23%241%
40links.magenta.com]1997[/url], Davis gave this definition:

: "A TPE (Total Power Exchange) relationship, sometimes described as 
an absolute lifestyle [about=D/s]D/s[/about] relationship (that such 
relationships can 
actually be neither "total" or "absolute" is agreed; these are ideal 
states to be worked towards but which will not be achieved, which is 
why TPE may be better seen as a process or goal than as a state), is a 
relationship in which no impediment to the exercise of the owner's 
power is accepted (some may, of course, exist, and what prudent owners 
do is to avoid direct collisions with these impediments, while working 
to overcome those that can be overcome (since the laws of gravity 
can't be overcome, a sane owner isn't going to ask a slave to fly (w/o 
appropriate equipment, of course), nor will a sensible owner try push 
a slave into things that are hard limits for hir (but the owner might 
push a slave up against what the slave thinks are hard limits but 
which sie can in fact overcome)). Such things as safewords, contracts, 
negotiated limits, and anything else which recognizes / acknowledges / 
formalizes limits on the owner's power are inimical to TPE."

Both TPE and Jacob's preferred term, [b]Absolute Power Exchange[/b], 
or [b]APE[/b] are problematic terms for some people, including many 
who pursue exactly these types of D/s relationship, since the 
relationship is subject to the physical and the emotional limitations 
of the participants and therefore cannot genuinely be total nor 
absolute.

Most adherents to TPE or APE philosophies agree that the 
distinguishing feature is that the limitations are not "chosen" by the 
submissive or slave, and the word [b]enslavement[/b] (especially in [b]
Internal Enslavement[/b]) has become more popular as a term which 
focuses on the submissive's, or slave's, state of mind.


[heading]External Links


[item][url=http://www.albanypowerexchange.com/TPE/tpe_vs_d_s.htm]TPE 
vs. D/s[/url]

[item][url=http://www.totalpowerexchange.com/]TPE Forum[/url] 

[item][url=http://www.enslavement.org.uk/]Internal Enslavement[/url] 


[heading]See Also


[item][about=Internal enslavement]Internal enslavement[/about]

[item][about=Power exchange]Power exchange[/about]

[item][about=Master/Slave]Master/Slave[/about]

[item][about=Slavery]Slavery[/about]




(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the 
[url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Total_Power_Exchan
ge]Total Power Exchange[/url] article in Wipipedia.)

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