My opinion is that hard limits are exactly that and as long as a submissive considers an activity to be a hard limit, it should not be broached. As someone else mentioned, limits sometimes change which I think very well illustrates the need for constant dialogue and meaningful communication. With the passage of time trust deepens between a submissive and Dominant and activities that the submissive might have once considered hard limits become areas that they may choose to explore, but again I would say that is the submissive’s choice to make. At that point, it is no longer a hard limit and I think it is entirely ethical to push the limit at that point to help the submissive experience growth. But again, the importance of good communication cannot be overstated. Personally, I want a submissive to choose to explore areas that they may find intimidating or even a bit scary for their own reasons and not out of a desire to please me by engaging in something that they truly don’t find meaningful for their own reasons.

Platonicus