H. L. Menken's quote applies. "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
It really isn't that simple.
Coming at it from the one direction. A variety of conditions from Stockholm syndrome to battered housewife syndrome will cause people to believe that they want and enjoy abusive dynamics. It is speculated that these are tied to evolutionary adaptations to allow us to adapt sudden changes of life circumstances, such as becoming enslaved.
Coming at it from the other direction. People who are into BDSM often trigger these or related dynamics. This is done, on purpose, for pleasure. Search for "maintenance beatings" to verify. Once triggered, it is easy to wind up with those syndromes.
Now if you're looking at these two couples, how do you tell the difference? Their lives are the same. Thanks to the way we rewrite history, their memories are indistinguishable. And, even if it was once consensual, sometimes people change. How can anyone, including them, know if this is what they would freely choose any more if the abuse dynamic were removed?
While you think about it, go read up on battered housewife syndrome. Then listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2odlGAxuwQ. Is that written from the point of view of a victim of domestic abuse, or a women who simply likes it rough and got what she wanted?
It really isn't that simple.
Coming at it from the one direction. A variety of conditions from Stockholm syndrome to battered housewife syndrome will cause people to believe that they want and enjoy abusive dynamics. It is speculated that these are tied to evolutionary adaptations to allow us to adapt sudden changes of life circumstances, such as becoming enslaved.
Coming at it from the other direction. People who are into BDSM often trigger these or related dynamics. This is done, on purpose, for pleasure. Search for "maintenance beatings" to verify. Once triggered, it is easy to wind up with those syndromes.
Now if you're looking at these two couples, how do you tell the difference? Their lives are the same. Thanks to the way we rewrite history, their memories are indistinguishable. And, even if it was once consensual, sometimes people change. How can anyone, including them, know if this is what they would freely choose any more if the abuse dynamic were removed?
While you think about it, go read up on battered housewife syndrome. Then listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2odlGAxuwQ. Is that written from the point of view of a victim of domestic abuse, or a women who simply likes it rough and got what she wanted?