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SSC has been the BDSM slogan for many years. It is the catch phrase that a lot of people use in the Community.
You will often hear it said that the first and most important Rule in BDSM is that all things we do with each other must be "Safe, Sane, and Consensual".
What does this mean?
Ask any set of experienced players and you'll get a different set of answers.

Safe
01. Free from harm or risk, UNHURT
02. Attempts should be made to identify and prevent risks to health.

Sane
01. Proceeding from a sound mind, RATIONAL
02. Mentally sound; especially able to anticipate and appraise the effect of one's actions.

Consensual
01. Involving (or, based on) mutual consent, CONSENSUAL ACTS
02. Existing (or, made by mutual consent) without an act of writing (i.e., "Consensual Contract").

Lets Break Down The Acronyms ....

Safe ~
Free from harm.
All necessary precautions that can be taken for a particular activity have been. Sounds good.
Now, define "safe" for yourself. So far - so good.
Define "safe" for everyone else that engages in BDSM. There-in lies the catch with "Safe", it's impossible to come up with an even close, satisfactory "universal definition" that covers anyone other than you.
What one person considers "safe" another may think is not only "unsafe" as it applies to them, but damn close to insane as well.
Single Tails, Cutting, Needle Play and Brandings are just a few of the activities that some of us engage in, that many others find beyond their Limits and thus "unsafe" for themselves.
"Safe" on the other hand, is one of the reasons that SSC is such a wonderful marketing tool for some of the best political activist groups that we have, and thank goodness for them, such as the NCSF (National Coalition of Sexual Freedom) who is working very hard to get and keep the government out of your bedroom.
"Safe" is a comforting word to those of us that practice BDSM and that the NCSF is working with us in the Community to get laws changed and passed.

Sane ~
This is another tough one to define.
"Sane" to most of us means that we have clear mental facilities at the time that we are engaging in any BDSM activity, that we are neither high, drunk nor unbalanced mentally in any way. Sounds good.
"Sane" is rarely applied to any activity; so unlike "Safe", "Sane" is left to the individual. What you consider to be a "sane" activity I may think is completely crazy.
"Sane" is another comfort word that's wonderful in selling what it is that we do. The media often portrays anyone into S&M as being a deranged serial killer at worst and usually criminal to some lesser degree at best, so its nice to be able to convey the fact that the majority of the people who engage in BDSM, including S&M, are level-headed sane people who just like to spice up their sex lives with the additions of whips and chains.

Consensual ~
This is the one that we all seem to agree on.
If the person you are playing with has not fully consented to whatever it is that is taking place .... it's wrong, it's assault and it's abusive.
"Consent" in what we do is the very fine line that divides us from criminals and abusers. Informed "Consent" that is given while NOT under duress can be applied to those that engage in BDSM Play and able to be understood by those that do not.
It seems to be the most honest of the three of SSC.

There are no entrance exams to pass to get into the BDSM Community and personal judgments vary. Anyone who has been around for more than a little while has likely heard about someone who is reputed to be unsafe, emotionally unstable, or who doesn't respect Limits.
You should take these warnings seriously, but remember that such judgments are necessarily subjective.
Get second and third opinions if you can.

Safe ~
"Safe" means that we take care of each other as best we can, that no matter how we want our Scene/Session to be, however gentle or rough, we do them in ways that do not injure our partners.
"Safe" means that we take the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases seriously and use our best efforts to minimize those dangers.

What can you do?
Educate yourself.
Learn as much as you can so that you can do "Safe" Scenes.
That means read books, take classes, and ask others about specific techniques that interest you.
Want to learn to use a Cane?
Ask an expert.
Want to swing a Flogger?
Practice first on a pillow.

Whether you're driving a car or tying somebody up, safety should always come first. It's especially important to not let your desire rule your good sense, so think about the specifics of your Scene/Session outside of the box.
Don't think with your groin!!!

Sane ~
Power Exchange is about trust - trust that the person who has the power in a Scene/Session will use it responsibly.
If you are the Top, then it is up to you to use the power your bottom has granted you in a respectful and "Sane" way.
Your bottom has given you a GIFT OF TRUST, and you are honor-bound to repay it with good judgment.

If, as the Top you are so involved in your Scene/Session that you can't make good judgments, then you are not in control of yourself, and you have no business being in control of someone else.
Sanity is about control, and self-control comes first.

Consensual ~
Everything that happens in a Scene/Session between people must be acceptable to all concerned. If you aren't sure that your partner has consented (has said, "yes") .... then, you need to talk until you are sure.

The best way to get to a "yes" is to make sure that "no" is an equally acceptable answer.
This holds true in every situation, whether asking someone for a phone number or negotiating a Scene/Session. The less pressure you apply, the more likely that a "yes" will come and will be a sincere answer.

It's dangerous to Play with someone who has said "yes" for the wrong reasons.
You can quickly end up in a situation that is neither "Safe, Sane, nor Consensual". To protect against this, refrain from pressuring anyone, and if you feel you are being pressured, set Limits and stand by them.
You should always feel free to say "no".

"Consensual" means that you are doing a "Scene/Session because you want to, with someone who wants to, that everyone involved is willing to go ahead with the Scene/Session.
If you are in the least bit unsure, stop and talk.

The time to clarify consent is BEFORE a Scene/Session .... not afterwards!!!

And, if you find yourself in the position of wanting to warn others about a player ~ whether they be Dom/me, submissive, Master or slave ~ that you feel is unsafe .... be as objective as you can; and, give facts whenever possible.

Let's take care of each other.

BDSM has existed for many years.
You can trace it back to Victorian times when games like this were played among the aristocracy.
The "father" of BDSM (or, more accurately Sadism and masochism) is said to be Marquis De Sade. He got his jollies torturing young women without their consent and died in disgrace after being arrested for this curious streak of madness he had.
Since then, Sadists have recognized their need to hurt someone and masochists recognized that they like to be hurt.
The two were brought together and a leg of BDSM started to thrive.

It was still considered a mental illness though and people afflicted with this were not exactly broadcasting their deviant desires. Later still these practices were accepted as sane provided that the participants did not stop functioning effectively in society.
With the advent of the Internet, BDSM exploded, or it just became more accessible. In order to convince a general populace that we are not out to kill each other or hurt each for life, the term SSC was coined.

SSC is an acronym for, "Safe, Sane and Consensual".
It is the basis of good practice in BDSM and the first thing anyone entering the Lifestyle is taught.
It is also our "brand". We might be using whips and chains, but we do it safely, sanely and we all consent to it. I do not think that the masses have bought this yet, but still we live by this code.
I know that I will not be involved with anyone who does not consent to an activity, knowing full well what they are getting into.
Safe, Sane and Consensual has three legs:

01. The first element of it is to ensure that a risky activity is made as safe as possible by preparing for any eventualities that might lead to injury.
02. The second part of it is to make sure that the activity is not one that would lead to death or serious injury or even a mental breakdown. Activities are monitored for the sanity of doing so. This has always been interesting to me, because we all do not agree on what sanity means. I think it is insane to jump out of a plane in mid-air, yet I also think there is nothing wrong with a paddling.
03. The third element is the most important - CONSENT.

A responsible Scene/Session is set up when the Dominant and submissive discuss what is going to happen, what all the risks are, what precautions have been taken and what should happen when things go wrong and then establish consent after that discussion.
Consent means nothing if someone has no clue what flogging means and blindly gives their permission.

Not all Members of the BDSM Community adhere to one principle to the exclusion of the other.
Some people subscribe to both mottos, using SSC as a description of the activities to any member of the general public, while using RACK as a description of the activities within Members of a BDSM Community.
Still others define their own terms, the term "PRICK" (Personal Responsibility, Informed Consensual Kink) in particular, emphasizes the concept of taking personal responsibility for your actions, as well as an informed analysis of the "Risks".
In some "old-guard" circles, the term "Committed Compassionate Consensual" is circulated.