User:Bblakesmith/sandbox

About me

 * Brin Blakesmith
 * 24y old Senior at Bowling Green State University
 * Liberal Studies Major with a Focus in Human Sexuality
 * POLS 4000 Topics in Political Science: Sexuality Politics
 * Fun Fact: I Like Space. I fancy myself a amateur astronomer

'Educate. Advocate. Grow'

Notes and Edit Cheat Sheet:
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Leaving a Signature


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Article Evaluation (2/6/2019)
Social Science


 * Content
 * I would disagree that psychology is a social science, as much psychology is rooted in neuroscience and has more to do with an individuals functioning than how they deal with others. Mental health in a society would be covered in sociology but that is not directly linked to psychology as a discipline. Reading the Talk page and it appears as if some agree with me.
 * In general the topic is extensive and provides many disciplines that could be considered a social science, however there are a few i disagree with. As i don't think they belong under this category.
 * visual aids throughout the article. Mostly of relevant figures in each field.
 * All of the different disciplines explained on the page is distracting and cluttered.


 * Tone
 * Tone appears to be unbiased and presents information objectively with a little information into the history of each discipline.
 * There doesn't seem to be any viewpoints presented
 * objective explanation on the topic at hand
 * nothing naturally controversial
 * Source
 * Extensive source list
 * includes scholarly articles
 * bibliography to site other texts
 * appears to be creditable.

Potential Article Topics

 * Conjugal love
 * This one really strikes my interest as something that i can elaborate on.
 * Currently has no one on the talk page
 * Only a few minor edits
 * Found as a stub from Categories, human activities


 * Transgender rights in the United States
 * Considered doing this one. Really wanted to see the information and if it had been updated. It appears if they already had a similar info graphic to the one i wanted to add on a different page. Its possible that they need linked together.
 * INCEL
 * It appears as this already is well formulated and complete
 * TERF
 * Included in Feminist views on transgender topics
 * Sex and the Law
 * Needs verification edits
 * Possible updates as to the legal status of homosexuality
 * Link exists to INCELs and gender terrorism, however there is only a little paragraph explaining what it is. Could it be a place to add more?
 * URGE
 * Needs multiple updates, currently written like an advertisement
 * **Content GAPS**
 * BDSM Law
 * -- Personal note: Look into March 2016, Doe v. George Mason University,  Federal District court of east Virginia --
 * Pan sexual Pride Flag- Stub
 * Queerty- online publication- stub
 * Friend Zone- Stub
 * Conjugal love
 * Currently reads as a dictionary definition. Can definitely be elaborated upon

New article ideas


 * Love languages
 * Types of love (Eros, Mania, Agape, Storge,etc)

BDSM and the law: First Draft and Sources
Influential Court Cases

People v Samuels (1967)

The Defendant, Identified as Samuels, was convicted in 1967 on the counts of conspiracy to produce and distribute obscene matter, two accounts of assault by means of force, and a final count of sodomy. Samuals was acquitted of the sodomy charge but was found guilty of conspiracy and one case of aggravated and one of simple assault, the latter of which was dismissed. He was sentenced to probation of 10 years and a fine of $3,000.

Commonwealth v. Appleby (1978)

The defendant, Appleby, claims to have been in a consensual sadomasochistic relationship with a man by the name of Cromer. This relationship lasted approximately two years, until the nature of the relationship became more violent than what Cromer had consented to. Appleby was indicted with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and sentenced to 8-10 years in Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Walpole. This case set precedent on the nature of consent to bodily harm. A victim's consent to assault and battery is not grounds for innocence of the crime.

State v. Collier

The Defendant, Collier, ran a modeling agency where the victim, Steel, was employed. After a night with friends in which she claims to have been doing drugs, Collier became angry and detained Steel in the room. As punishment, Steel was subjected to various BDSM and sexual acts. The result of this punishment lead to various physical injuries visible on the body and face. This case however, focuses less on the consent of the issue, and more on the statute of assault and the foundations of "Social Activity." The defendant testified about Steel's Interest in Sadomasochistic activities through books and used the information for his defense under Iowa state code Section 708.1 - which outlines assault statutes.

Iowa State Code Section 708.1 "2. A person commits an assault when, without justification, the person does any of the following:""a. Any act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact which will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.""b. Any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting, or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.""c. Intentionally points any firearm toward another, or displays in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another.""3. An act described in subsection 2 shall not be an assault under the following circumstances:""a. If the person doing any of the enumerated acts, and such other person, are voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal, and such act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity, and does not create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or breach of the peace."Collier attempted to use Steels interest in BDSM as a gateway to the defense that the actions were not assault, but a social activity. This defense did not hold up in court and was convicted of Assault resulting in severe bodily injury and possession of a firearm by a felon. The assault charges were upheld in the appellate court.

People V. Jovanovic (1997)

This case, deals heavily with the consent defense. A Columbia University Student exchanged email communications with the defendant, Jovanovic, where they extensively discussed sadomasochistic interests and a potential relationship. The emails were submitted to the court for review where they determined that the defendant already had ample access to them and would not be presented to the defense, as they were not the party to bring them forth as evidence. Upon appeal, the higher courts decided that the evidence was improperly handled under the state of New York's Rape Shield Law. The defendant won the appeal and the conviction for kidnapping, sexual abuse and assault- were overturned.

State v. Van (2004)

Van and the victim JGC agreed to enter a Master/ Slave relationship with “No limits”. The nature and context of the relationship between JGC and Van were outlined in emails exchanged between the two men. The beginning of the physical aspect of this relationship began with JGC staging his own abduction and making contact with another male submissive of Van’s. After a day or so in service to Van, JGC was instructed to write everything he had done wrong in his life. JGC testified before a jury of his peers, that the activity was “Cathartic” and made him want to return to his home in Texas. Van denied JGC plea to return home, as stated in the emails- JGC was to be kept there by Van, despite protest. After a length of time, the other submissive assisted JGC escape back home where a police report was filed. Van was convicted of sexual assault in the first degree, assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, first degree false imprisonment, and terrorist threats.

State V Gaspar (2009)

Litigation in the courts tot determine the line between consensual sexual activity and sexual assault with excessive force. In 2003, a woman using an online chart room met the defendant Gaspar. They began to engage in a casual sexual relationship. However, the testimonies of the victim and the defendant differ as to the events leading up to the night of Nov 8th 2003. Gaspar claims that he and the victim had discussed her sadomasochistic activities while traveling. She claims there was no such conversation. The defendant claims that the two conversed online and in person about her interests in the activity, and then during a meeting in the victims apartment, the events in question took place. Gaspar testified to a consensual encounter, where the victim describes a sexual assault. The Victim, then contacted authorities and complied with their investigations. The Victim received medical attention at the local Women and Children's Hospital, where the nurse equated her injures to that of child birth. Due to improper permitted testimony, the decision of the lower court was overturned and the charges of five accounts of sexual assault were dropped.

Other Related Cases

One Inc. V Oleson (1958)

Decided that the distribution of homosexual publications and content through the US Postal Service, is not illegal on the grounds of obscenity.

Lawrence V. Texas (2003)

Supreme Court of the United States Declares anti- sodomy laws unconstitutional. Influential in further cases defining consensual sexual activity in the eyes of the law.