AlterEgo11111
Registered User
- Joined
- May 22, 2003
- Messages
- 2
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As I've glanced over this site and other similar ones, I occasionally read postings from folks who enjoy tickling and can't seem to grasp why the rest of our culture doesn't share our interest. I, too, enjoy tickling from time to time, but have never felt comfortable mentioning it as a mainstream topic of discussion. Most people simply don't view it as more than a temporary and spontaneous diversion.
I think that it's rather telling that the majority of tickling websites either run afoul of "parental control" software or are the sorts of sites that in a public library setting, for example, would, while not being blocked (due to 1st Amendment considerations), likely be deemed inappropriate for viewing in a public setting due to "graphic content unsuitable for minors". [note that even those who are over 18 would likely be reprimanded for viewing the content in such a public place] Why should this be the case if, as many of you folks have said, "tickling is fun and innocent"?
Without passing judgment on anyone here, I refer you to a great number of the clips, pictures and art that are posted both on this site and on similar ones. The vast majority feature women as the ticklees, and often feature no males at all, and display such marginal cultural content as bondage, bared breast or genitals, gags, and so forth. Quite apart from tickling, most of this stuff (barring the gags and some of the bondage, I suppose) would be generally considered pornographic. Also, I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the "models" featured in the various tickling media (including pictures) were paid to participate in the tickling--not exactly the spontaneous sort of thing most people do when they engage in tickling.
So, what's my point? Recognize that our behavior as tickling enthusiasts is what will shape other people's perception of us and tickling as a pastime or "hobby". If the material people are exposed to when they come upon these tickling websites tends to be rather sexually suggestive in nature, people will justifiably think of tickling enthusiasts as being more into unusual sexual practices than into tickling, per se. For example, they'll see the half- or fully-naked body first, and perhaps the tickling some time after they've recovered from the shock of the nudity. Perhaps a good gauge of the "acceptability" of our enjoyment of tickling is how afraid we might be of being caught viewing this or other websites by our unsuspecting friends, co-workers, or even random passersby.
We can stand to be honest about the nature of our interest--is it primarily tickling in and of itself, or in tickling largely as a means of sexual gratification? The former is something that current non-enthusiasts might eventually consider reasonably "normal" or mainstream, but the tickling experiences, stories, pictures, and media based upon the latter are likely to continue to be considered pornographic, deviant, even "sick and twisted" by some.
I truly hope that this hasn't come across as too preachy or "in your face"--I certainly didn't intend that. I do hope to help make us a bit more honest and accountable to each other and to those folks who don't sympathize with our fascination with tickling. Their perception of us will continue to be shaped by how we present ourselves and our interest in tickling.
Sorry for the length of this, my first post. I hope that I've provided some food for thought and frank discussion.
Sincerely, and unfortunately anonymously (for reasons mentioned above),
AlterEgo1111
I think that it's rather telling that the majority of tickling websites either run afoul of "parental control" software or are the sorts of sites that in a public library setting, for example, would, while not being blocked (due to 1st Amendment considerations), likely be deemed inappropriate for viewing in a public setting due to "graphic content unsuitable for minors". [note that even those who are over 18 would likely be reprimanded for viewing the content in such a public place] Why should this be the case if, as many of you folks have said, "tickling is fun and innocent"?
Without passing judgment on anyone here, I refer you to a great number of the clips, pictures and art that are posted both on this site and on similar ones. The vast majority feature women as the ticklees, and often feature no males at all, and display such marginal cultural content as bondage, bared breast or genitals, gags, and so forth. Quite apart from tickling, most of this stuff (barring the gags and some of the bondage, I suppose) would be generally considered pornographic. Also, I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the "models" featured in the various tickling media (including pictures) were paid to participate in the tickling--not exactly the spontaneous sort of thing most people do when they engage in tickling.
So, what's my point? Recognize that our behavior as tickling enthusiasts is what will shape other people's perception of us and tickling as a pastime or "hobby". If the material people are exposed to when they come upon these tickling websites tends to be rather sexually suggestive in nature, people will justifiably think of tickling enthusiasts as being more into unusual sexual practices than into tickling, per se. For example, they'll see the half- or fully-naked body first, and perhaps the tickling some time after they've recovered from the shock of the nudity. Perhaps a good gauge of the "acceptability" of our enjoyment of tickling is how afraid we might be of being caught viewing this or other websites by our unsuspecting friends, co-workers, or even random passersby.
We can stand to be honest about the nature of our interest--is it primarily tickling in and of itself, or in tickling largely as a means of sexual gratification? The former is something that current non-enthusiasts might eventually consider reasonably "normal" or mainstream, but the tickling experiences, stories, pictures, and media based upon the latter are likely to continue to be considered pornographic, deviant, even "sick and twisted" by some.
I truly hope that this hasn't come across as too preachy or "in your face"--I certainly didn't intend that. I do hope to help make us a bit more honest and accountable to each other and to those folks who don't sympathize with our fascination with tickling. Their perception of us will continue to be shaped by how we present ourselves and our interest in tickling.
Sorry for the length of this, my first post. I hope that I've provided some food for thought and frank discussion.
Sincerely, and unfortunately anonymously (for reasons mentioned above),
AlterEgo1111
