My idea of a dominant person is neither 'punishing people like animals' nor forceful. I believe in full, 100% consenting relationships. I view dominance as something more along the lines of being a leader, knowing what they want, knowing how to get what they want, and keeping the other person secure. For example in a maid and master relationship, the master is often providing her money and a place to stay, entertainment, clothes, uniforms, etc. Meanwhile the maid does all of the things like cooking, cleaning, repairing or fixing things around the house, tending the garden, assisting the guests and keeping things organized/scheduled. Over all it's a balanced relationship. BDSM and the idea of master/slave or dom/sub adds sex and some more unusual quirks to that relationship, such as a skimpier uniforms and a... More exciting form of 'payback' whenever the maid does something like breaking a vase. :P
I absolutely do not like the idea of humiliation, abuse, or looking down on others. I enjoy spanking and light flogging cause it's kinda fun in an inexplicable way, but if the intent is to purposefully hurt, I would not partake.
So with that said, MY idea of a dominant man has kind of died out. Now I come across a lot of guys who don't know what they want, they prefer to be protected rather than do the protecting, they prefer to be told what to do, they prefer the housewife life style, they don't want to take initiative, and they prefer for the other person in the relationship to have that leader-like personality.