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

This is the version from 26 Jul 06, 6:02 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 was 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.

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

: "A TPE (Total Power Exchange) relationship, sometimes described as an absolute lifestyle d&s 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 focusses 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_Exchange]Total Power Exchange[/url] article in Wipipedia.)

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