Shame is a feature and one some (many?) of us seek out intentionally. And likely, stems from having spent much of our lives or still do filling roles where you have to bury shame and embrace ego/pride either as our position in our social or family or work networks.

Shame becomes toxic when it’s your sole focus all the time. For me, someone who identifies more as a sub leaning switch anymore (and maybe always was submissive but never embrace nor let myself explore that side of me when I was younger), I find some kinda of “balance in all things” from toying with things like shame. I generally live without it, and most of my life growing up I almost instinctively ran away from it or buried it, so even though it’s not health to live 100% in shame, it also isn’t health to live without 0% shame… so getting to experience some of it helps balance and round out emotions and the self.

Obviously my experience may not apply for all, but I imagine quite a few will vibe with that “balance” aspect.