Hey Armpitz,
I am one of the (probably few) people who has disclosed their feelings for tickling with a lot of people in their life over the years. If I had to guess how many, I'd say around 45 throughout the past 10 years. The people I have told range from complete strangers to romantic partners. The majority of the people I have told have been either romantic interests/partners or close friends. Like you, my feelings about tickling are not sexual, but are instead an intense, platonically-based experience. For me, tickling is largely how I show and receive affection from others. I crave tickling. I absolutely need it in my life. I adore being tickled, and, though I'm mostly a 'lee, I do very much enjoy tickling others as well.
Primarily, reactions from people have been overwhelmingly positive. Even from strangers/acquaintances. I remember once in college, I was at a bar with two of my friends and about 5 of their friends who I didn't know. I was asked to tell the group something about myself that I don't usually tell people I don't know. I was tipsy, and I had a crush on one my friends I was with, so I disclosed to the group that I absolutely loved being tickled. I was really embarrassed about it, but it went really well, actually. What was the reaction, you ask? The girl I had a crush on started beaming and began asking me questions, like, "So, if I tickled you, it'd drive you crazy?" Then she continued her questions and started tickling me right there in front of everyone! It made her laugh to see me all flustered like that. Little did I know, she had a crush on me too, at the time (we talked about it months after). Another person who was there, a boy, saw how embarrassed I was to admit how much I loved tickling. He turned to me and said in the kindest way, "Don't be embarrassed, you aren't alone. I like being tickled too. Probably not to the extent that you do, it sounds, but I enjoy it and it's not weird. It's great that you are expressing yourself." It was so sweet. I didn't know him but he made me feel really comfortable about my buzzed confession.
In terms of people I know more intimately, almost everyone I have dated in the past 10 years has known about it (guys, girls, and non-binary partners alike). Almost universally, they have embraced it, and tickling became a staple of my relationships with them. Sometimes it took a while to explain my need and adoration for being tickled, but once they started doing it, they really enjoyed it. Likely, in large part, because they saw how happy it made me. I have had similar experiences with good friends. Most of my close friends today know about it and often tickle me. My partner does as well.
That being said, I have had negative experiences. These are largely outliers, but they happened. I've had people (primarily male friends I wasn't dating) use tickling to touch me inappropriately. I have also had an ex-boyfriend use it to blackmail and manipulate me. Don't want to dissuade you from expressing yourself, just want to be honest.
All and all, my quality of life is much better in being open about my love/need for being tickled. I have been surprised and touched by how accepting and embracing people have been about it. I have been shown a lot of kindness with it. I would encourage you to tell people that you are close with, if you feel that not being open about it is preventing you from fully experiencing your genuine feelings/care/affection/needs in your personal relationships---whether they be platonic or romantic relationships.
I wanted to give a general overview, of my experience, so I'll stop there, but I'm happy to answer any further questions either here or via DMs.
-BlueFlame
