How Long Have You Been Wondering About Bondage? Is it something that you have fantasized about for ages? Or a new thought brought on by the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon? BDSM (bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadomasochism) has been around for ages. Literally. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have played with the idea of power and pain in the world of sex. Bondage is one of the great beginner BDSM activities, because it doesn’t have to be about domination and submission, or pain play at all. It can be about beauty, sensation, or practical body manipulation without ever delving into the deeper, darker edges of the BDSM scene.