Australia

Confidential, cross-sectional online surveys were conducted with 4702 Australians aged 18–35 years. [...] A total of 57% reported ever being sexually strangled (61% women, 43% men, 79% trans or gender diverse) and 51% reported ever strangling a partner (40% women, 59% men, 74% trans or gender diverse).

There's no way I could guess the number would be that high. It's very unintuitive.

If I'm reading that chart correctly (disclaimer: im tired) then of the 57% who reported being strangled, the last time it happened, 25% of them didn't consent, and of the 51% reporting they strangled a partner, 16% report their partner didn't consent.

I just can't empathise with that. How are that many people convinced it's ok to just spontaneously strangle a person. I'm always shocked by how common SA is because it's just not talked about as much as it happens.

Listen all you freaks, I do not consent!

In related news, a study was surprised by results that suggested people did not like being shot or stabbed by someone. Consent did not seem to be a factor in these cases either.

Here's the actual study (should be free to read): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-024-02937-y

ignore it, the study design is very dodgy and NOT representative of the general population

the headlines are clickbait lies

This article is feeling kind of clickbaitish, as the sources are ... odd.

However, restricting blood flow to the brain can also have serious health implications.

While not all pressure on the neck will be fatal, research shows even relatively low pressure can cause death by strangulation.

The first source is a medical journal describing the physiology of the arteries in the neck, and does not seem to include anything about restricting blood flow (never mind temporarily) having serious health consequences.

The second source is a book from 1991 about autoerotic asphyxiation with the quote:

autoerotic asphyxia denotes death resulting from failure of a release mechanism of the device, apparatus or prop designed to attain cerebral hypoxia for heightened arousal.

Which is ... not the same as doing this with someone, and doesn't address the risks of a partner who releases pressure immediately after a loss of consciousness.

The issues around consent are troubling indeed, consent should always be paramount.

I also found it amusing that the beginning of the article said

Although rare, strangulation is the leading cause of death in consensual BDSM play.

Which links to a study that found a total of 16 cases that included strangulation between 1982 and 2020. Rare indeed.

My husband and I dabble in breath play, so I was curious and read a few studies myself. It seems that every case study I could find included atypical circumstances. Things like accidental hanging, or asphyxiation due to bags etc being over the head.

This paper includes a 50 year review of cases for anyone interested. https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TOFORSJ/TOFORSJ-1-1.pdf

It is also worth noting that loss of consciousness due to cutting off blood flow to the brain (cerebral hypoxia) is not dissimilar to the hypoxia experienced by pilots, who even train with repeated exposure to hypoxia in hyperbaric chambers.

I would be curious to know if there were any studies of the long term effects of this on pilots. (My dive into the rabbit hole is done for the day, lol.)

Jesus fucking christ.

I’ve never had a partner that wants me to actually choke her for fuck’s sake. A lot of women are just turned on by the fantasy and like sex a little rough. Apply a little pressure on their neck and humor them if they’re into it.

first thought was "man we've all been there!" but I was thinking choking as having a bad root.

They used to warn us about the dangers of choking the chicken.