As practitioners of BDSM, which is an acronym for the sexual practices of bondage and discipline, domination and submission, as well as sadism and masochism, people Accused of witchcraft during the Salem witchcraft trials were considered sinners and were viewed with reproach. I decided to write about kinksters, who are people who engage in unusual sexual behavior, because of the unwarranted criticism they face. It's comparable to being gay in that people with kinks may feel the need to hide that part of themselves from family and friends because they're afraid of being judged. People should not have to hide a fundamental part of their identity from those close to them due to widespread misinformation and misconceptions. Every person should be able to share the whole of themselves with those close to them without fear of being judged. BDSM and the Salem witch trials have a number of parallels, including that there is much more to them than what appears on the surface. Additionally, both groups were inclined to lie about their situations for fear of retaliation. Additionally, BDSM is considered sinful behavior and people accused of witchcraft were considered to have committed a biblical sin. Much like the practice of BDSM, the Salem witch trials were not what they seemed. The initial perception of what the two are like doesn't leave a good impression, but there is an invisible depth in each of them in their own respects. When people think of the Salem witch trials, they see the myth that people were executed en masse and on a whim, for no reason other than fear of the devil. However, this is far from the truth. Only a relatively small number of 19 people were executed during the trials; however, it is true that much more... middle of paper ...... that people perceived what was done as wrong had consequences for those involved. For the accused “witches” in The Crucible, the consequences ranged from loss of reputation to a death sentence. For BDSM practitioners, the consequences could range from low self-esteem to a life of self-denial. Works Cited Miller, A. The Crucible. (Penguin Classics, New York: 2003). Reich, Ashley. "Want to Improve Your Marriage? Erotica Author Suggests BDSM." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, December 4, 2013. Web. January 1, 2014. .Lumpkin, Jincey. “50 Shades of Submission: An Interview with Real Submissive, Madison Young.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, March 30, 2012. Web. November 1. 2014. .