Who's a service top?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_top
Service top

Within a BDSM context, a Service Top is a partner who is the active participant,
applying the activities or techniques of BDSM "play" upon (a) bottom partner(s),
but who does not dominate the bottom, and instead acts upon the wishes and
desires of the bottom. The application of various BDSM techniques may be
requested, or even directed, by the bottom partners(s) who have de facto control
of the context.

Most professional Dominatrices and Masters are considered Service Tops.[citation
needed] Many non-professional kink players enjoy offering Service Topping for
the enjoyment of the bottom(s), as well as for their own pleasure and
satisfaction.

Service tops are considered by some devotees of BDSM to be failing at
maintaining a "proper" BDSM relationship dynamic, as the stereotypical archetype
of the Top within some kink communities is typically the Dominant-Top. There is
not, however, "one true way" to maintain a BDSM relationship dynamic, and a
mutually negotiated Top/bottom power exchange that varies from the stereotypical
is just as valid as power exchanges that are arguably more traditional.

One niche that a Service Top could fill would be assisting in the punishment or
training of a sub by a Dom or Domme. However, they can also act as free agents,
negotiating with consenting bottoms and catering/customizing activities and/or
intensity to the tastes of the bottom(s). Since not all bottoms are submissives,
the partially or fully inverted power dynamic can meet the needs of both the
service-oriented Top and the non-submissive, sensory-seeking bottom.

Regardless of how much creative control is transferred to the bottom, it is the
Service Top's responsibility to monitor, maintain and ensure the safety of the
bottom during play. This could include declining a request by the bottom should
the Service Top feel it is not safe or not in the best interest of the bottom.
Some bottoms elect passivity during scenes and may prefer not to verbally
communicate once a scene has begun. A successful Service Top will be able to
intuit if a bottom is in non-negotiated distress, through reading body language,
periodic "check ins," and other means of gauging the bottom's emotional, mental
and physical state. Other bottoms may enjoy (and in fact require) the freedom to
communicate at will, and even be bossy in some cases. Both professional and
non-professional Service Tops are responsible for establishing their own
boundaries and expectations with regard to the specifics of the power exchange
(or power balance) during pre-play negotiation.

As far as training or service incidences outside the BDSM community go, a
professional Service Top can serve as an extremely useful member of society,
indeed. Especially when the alternative is ignorant- and therefore dangerous-
application of BDSM principles.


http://leatherandgrace.wordpress.com/bdsm-basics-for-uus/glossary-of-terms/
SERVICE TOP – A top who engages in play at the direction of the bottom. See
also submissive sadist.

SUBMISSIVE SADIST – A top who enjoys delivering erotic pain or other intense
sensation at the direction of the bottom. See also bottoming from the top,
dominant masochist, service top.

BOTTOMING FROM THE TOP – Practice of assuming a top or dominant role, but at the
direction of the bottom or submissive. See dominant masochist, service top,
submissive sadist, uppity bottom.

DOMINANT MASOCHIST – A bottom who enjoys directing a top to deliver erotic pain
or other intense sensation. See also submissive sadist, topping from the
bottom, uppity bottom.

TOPPING FROM THE BOTTOM – Practice of assuming a bottom or submissive role, but
directing the top or dominant. Once seen negatively, but now recognized as a
legitimate form of play in some circumstances, such as when a seasoned bottom
guides a novice top. See also dominant masochist, service top, submissive
sadist, uppity bottom.