Counting

I see "AHH! Five; may I have another.... AGHH Six; may I have another..." type counting to be an exercise in domination rather than being really connected with spanking. The Top is making the Bottom count, adding to the experience.

My view is, counting could be seen as the spanker exerting more control of the spankee, there is a added element of not just being able to focus on managing to get through the strokes, there is a interactive element that the spankee is required to engage in with the spanker, a physical and cognitive mix.

A story that has a well written interaction between spanker and spankee adds much to most stories for me, and for me counting can be one of those interactions.

Great point about interaction Rosie. Counting to me is juvenile however Scolding would be so much interactive than counting . As an otk fan, the spanking should end when he, or she makes the determination. Not the number. Regards.

Making the spankee count really add's to the punishment. Also having to do it properly or the punishment will be started over. Knowing that a mistake will lead to all the swats taking so far will be for nothing and having to go though it again is devastating news... Improperly counting swat 10 of a 12 swat punishment and going back to number 1. All the while it could happen again and again.....

If we take the cp to a more 'intense' stage (i realise such a stage puts off many) then the verbal interaction between Disciplinarian and the one being disciplined prevents subspace occuring (which others have alluded to or actually mentioned about on this thread).
If subspace does occur the Disciplinarian gets feedback that it is happening, when the adrenaline, endorphins and other such hormones kick in, pain can be virtually ignored/not felt, and indeed ability to actually speak greatly reduced for the spankee, so if a story involves 'intense' cp, other than judicial cp or such, then dialogue between both parties is essential if we are keeping it real.

There are of course many forms of dialogue that can be maintained during cp, counting puts some readers off yet is enjoyed by others, as is the case for a range of interactions/scenarios in stories.

I myself have things that authors put in stories that make me prefer not to read them, however my view is, all the authors of the stories here on LSF, write what they like, what they want in stories, it is their fiction that they give their time to writing for our pleasure, so i would never wish to express a negative about any content, what i love others don't and vice versa, LSF provides us readers with a selection box of spanking content, all flavour preferences are catered for.

As you mention intense cp puts me off Count me in for spanking, not beatings. Your subspace argument has no value to me.. I do agree that LSF provides a great forum for all. Nice talking to you. Regards.

Counting, or asking for each stroke, has always struck me as a more intense form of submission. Squirming and struggling to get away while being soundly spanked gives the spankee agency, even if thwarted. Being required to lie still, keeping your hands from reflexively flying back, requires compliance, but still passive suffering through the experience. Having actively to cooperate in your own painful spanking is a new level of suborning the will to discipline. That's pushing what I like, when reading about parental discipline - it might (IRL I don't think so) be appropriate to deliver a painful punishment to teach a lesson, but requiring active participation in such a setting seems cruel.

Between adults, though, there's an added element of willingly surrendering all control that has a decided frisson.

Thanks for your input. Your conclusion regarding cruelty is true, and I agree. Finally, thanks for teaching a new word. frisson. Regards. Donald.

Counting aloud or even being forced to say "thank you" after each swat/stroke prevents the recipient from gritting their teeth and remaining silent. It is very difficult to verbally respond to pain without the emotions coming through at the same time.

I really like and find making the spanker count enjoyable and useful. I like it in real life, videos and stories. It is more suitable for some implements such as cane and paddle over otk spankings with hand, hairbrush or slipper. Although in real life I sometimes use it for otk.

Commenters have already said how you can determine the effect of the spanking by the tone of the spankee's voice, so as to know whether to increase or decrease the strength of strokes.
It is difficult for the spanker to concentrate on the counting during a punishment, given the amount of mistakes that are made. It provides amusement to the spanker and any witnesses when the spankee double counts a stroke.

I can't see how it gives any power to the spankee as it the spanker who controls how fast the strokes proceed. If the spankee counts too slow the spankee just gets an extra uncounted stroke.
It is the spanker who decides when mistakes have been made even when it is spanker has counted wrong whether on purpose or not.
For instance the spankee may count "aaaah...six thank you sir". It may really be six, but the spanker may say "No that was five, we'll have that again plus a penalty stroke". If the spankee object the punishment might start again from one with increased strokes.