1. It doesn’t have to involve sex, but it sometimes can.
Most people assume BDSM is always associated with sex, and while it can be for some people, others draw a hard line between the two. Both are bodily experiences that are very intense and sensual and cause a lot of very strong feelings in people who practice them, but they're not the same thing. Just because a lady dresses sexy, doesn't mean she wants to have sex with men. Just because a lady live in a luxurious house, doesn't mean she wants burglars to break in. It's kind of similar with BDSM; it's a matter of personal and sexual preference.
2. It can be as simple or technical as you like.
Maybe the thought of being tied up excites you, or you enjoy being pegged or spanked. Or maybe you're more interested in leather highheels, nipple clamps and hot wax. All of that (and obviously a lot more) is within the realm of BDSM. Basically, you can still be into kink without actually ever going to a fully equipped dungeon.
3. There is nothing wrong with people if they’re into it.
This is one of the most common and frustrating misunderstanding about BDSM. BDSM isn't something that is originated from abuse or domestic violence, and engaging in it does not mean that you enjoy abuse or abusing. Instead, enjoying BDSM is just one facet of someone's sexuality and lifestyle. It's just regular people who happen to get off that way. It's regular people who have a need for that to be their intimate dynamic.
4. Kinksters are just as stable as people who prefer vanilla sex.
In my experience, it's easier for people to get into BDSM if they don't have a history of abuse, people who are in a more stable place in their lives. A 2008 study found that people who had engaged in BDSM in the past year were no more likely to have been coerced into sexual activity and were no more likely to be unhappy or anxious than those who didn't do BDSM. And actually, people who engaged in BDSM had lower scores of psychological distress than other people. Kinksters do not judge people who aren't into it. The term "vanilla" isn't meant to be derogatory, just to refer to non-BDSM sexual acts or people who aren't interested in kink.
5. Kinksters don't have to follow any certain pattern in BDSM.
People don't practice BDSM probably think leather uniforms, masks and whips are the typical pattern of BDSM, which is absolutely cringeworthy. There is a variety of practices in BDSM such as pegging, foot worship, servitude, golden shower, edge play and so on. Both parties only have to agree to what they practice based on respecting each others' limits.
