RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink) and SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual) are two guiding principles used within the BDSM community to establish safety and consent in practices. While both prioritize consensual and responsible behavior, they differ in focus and approach.

SSC emphasizes that activities should be safe, minimizing risks wherever possible; sane, involving rational and sound decision-making; and consensual, requiring explicit agreement from all parties. This framework is often used to reassure newcomers or outsiders about the ethical nature of BDSM practices, highlighting responsibility and care.

RACK, on the other hand, acknowledges that certain BDSM activities inherently involve risks. It shifts the focus to participants being fully aware of these risks, openly discussing them, and providing informed consent to proceed. RACK allows for greater flexibility and realism, especially for experienced practitioners who engage in higher-risk or more extreme activities.

The primary difference lies in the framing: SSC emphasizes minimizing risks to adhere to broader societal norms of safety, while RACK focuses on personal responsibility and informed choices within the BDSM context. Both frameworks promote consent, communication, and respect, catering to different comfort levels and experiences.