Well who decides what's in and whats out, sounds very cult/religion like to me. Often her when things go wrong that those were not real doms.
You mention higher levels, who decides what qualifies as a higher level?
BDSM does attract a fair number of arseholes and idiots. Especially now with the in thing being a slave not a submissive. Subs set hard and soft limits, whereas slaves aren't supposed to have limits, but supposed to do whatever their Master/Mistress wants. Which obviously leads to problems.
It also used to be the view that you should "put in your time". Try the other side a least once, so you had an idea of what you were asking of the other. Watch professionals/take classes to learn how to use tools and equipment properly.
Or newbies trying to jump straight to high levels and messing things up. I've straight up grabbed tools out of baby Doms hands because they've gone to strike my joints/small of my back/stomach - all agreed don't hit areas in the scene for how much injury you can cause.
Levels are determined by how common it is, how risky it is, how extreme it is. To give an idea:
Hand spanking - low level: fairly common, not risky, not extreme.
Crop - mid level: reasonably common, risk of minor injury if not done right, not that extreme.
Caning - high level: not that common, high risk of injury if done wrong, viewed as reasonably extreme.
Bull whip/single tail - Top level: very rare, extreme risk of injury, very extreme.
Then there's also the end result, no colouration<pink/red skin<bruises<welts<broken skin.
Breath play is a more interesting one, that's always high level, the risk of causing brain damage/killing someone is very real. Especially as a lot of people don't realise you're not supposed to compress the windpipe, but do carotid compression or smothering (cover mouth and nose). The latter is the safest because it's easiest to break the seal, and you don't risk damaging any of the delicate structures in the neck. But it's still bloody dangerous.
I mean, even when you know everything and are experienced and skilful, fuck ups do still happen. It's just a matter of weighing and minimising risk, while upping reward. And not doing the high and top level kinks you like too often.
