S&M, D/s, BDSM safety & sanity

An old friend of mine confessed not long ago that she'd discovered that she liked the idea of dominating and torturing men. Consensually of course. But as she talked I feared not necessarily safely or sanely. At first I was kind of startled, usually it is the masochists and slaves who get exaggerated ideas of what can reasonably be done to even the most willing body.

The kinky people I used to know often attended seminars and demonstrations before taking violet wand in hand or trying to bind someone in layers of rope.

I realized she was getting her BDSM education from those online forums where men talk as casually about cracked ribs as I would a stubbed toe (then again considering how sensitive my toes are much more casually).

So I fished about to find sites that gather together a fair amount of S&M safety. If you aren't experienced and often wondered what it would be like to have a flogger in your hand (or someone else's) you should acquaint yourself with the essentials lest your play lead to a hospital visit.

Sexuality.org's BDSM Index

Leather and Roses' General BDSM & Sex Information and their overall Resource Sections

The English Palace's BDSM Information

Erotic BDSM's Lifestyle Resource Links

Gloria Brame has a selection of some of her miscellaneous writings

I'm sure there are many worthwhile sites I've missed (and I couldn't find a gay specific site) and I'd appreciate it if you'd post links you think worthwhile in a comment (with the warning I'll delete anything that I find questionable. )