Is snuff considered part of the BDSM spectrum?

Question

Like a form of extreme blood game?

Answer 1

I would say that "snuff" would fall under the heading of "BDSM gone wrong." The segment of BDSM that corresponds to Dominance and submission allows for exchange of power, and there are some parts of D/s where exchange of power is considered total. This is called consensual slavery. Under these conditions, there is agreed upon, though not legally binding, ownership of one person by another. Some of the more extreme dogmas believe that the person is owned totally, giving the Master control over the slave's very life. I'll be the first one to say that this is mostly fantasy, and is not transferred to real life slavery.

More likely, though, this would grow from a need to be Dominant over a person's very life, and would be related to the "edgeplay" known as breathplay, where the Dominant cuts off the submissive's flow of oxygen for short periods of time. However, many in the BDSM community look down upon breathplay as unsafe (and rightfully so), and do their part to educate others to not take part in this dangerous form of play. Similarly, snuff is not a recognized part of the BDSM community, and more like a bastard child that we want no part of.

Most BDSM players subscribe to the motto of SSC, or "safe, sane, and consensual," meaning that they promote play that can be done safely if all precautions are taken, minimizing risk to all participants. Another, less used motto, however, is RACK, or "risk aware consensual kink," meaning that all parties know and accept the risk of what they do. Edgeplayers would fall under RACK, but not SSC, because they only acknowledge the risks, and don't try to limit themselves to those practices known to be safe if practiced right.

Snuff, however, would not fall under either of these headings, because they both include "consensual" as a basic tenet. A person doesn't consent to being killed unless they are suicidal to begin with, and mental duress would be enough to negate consent. The BDSM community will never recognize snuff as a legitimate kink, because snuff is murder, plain and simple.

Answer 2

No, it is in a paraphilia of it's own. BDSM is about exchange of power. Snuff is about complete ownership, as it were.