Pet: someone I own, but whose role is closer to friend and toy than to slave. This is a serious committment, yes... but it's still a part-time one. A pet has vacations, breaks... when a pet has a bad day and just can't stand being submissive, that's ok. However, a pet is expected to cooperate unless it really IS a bad day for them. Pets get used sexually, teased and played with, and almost always satisfied.

Submissive: a sub, to me, is someone who is submissive, someone who honestly wants and desires nothing more than to please. I rarely lay claim to a sub, although I might call one 'my' sub... I don't have the time or the resources to take care of these. A sub always considers others first, and would serve anyone, not just me.

Slave: the deepest committment of the four. A slave is a pet who never stops being a pet, a submissive who serves only myself and the people I tell him or her to serve, someone who I can play with, fuck with, fuck over, fuck up, hurt, heal, cuddle, kick, whatever... someone who wants to be used as an object, but who specifically wants to be used by ME.

I don't take a slave, a true Slave, unless I care for that person considerably.

I don't take a pet unless I am certain that person wants to be used.

I don't take a playmate unless I am certain that the person will not be expecting some deeper bond.

I don't take a sub unless I am certain that person knows that I am staking my claim and that for them to serve others without my permission would bother me and lead me to send them away.

Sometimes I treat these terms as interchangable... but in general, MOST of the time, this is what they mean to me.

Just thought I'd clear that up.