Knismolagniac symbol???

[-Hari-]

Hmm...I'd rather that we can actually draw meaning from the symbol rather than just say "this means tickling cause we say it does." But that's just me - maybe I'm looking too much into it 😛

I think it should be abit of both really, keep it our own and add our meaning, but have a base idea that it has SOMEthing to do with what it means

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

Okay - I'm gonna do some totally random rambling about what tickling is to me personally. Maybe it'll spark an idea in somebody. Of course, tickling is different things for different people, so anybody who wants to follow suit and explain what their fetish is about for them, feel free 🙂

For me, tickling is about two things - playfulness and power exchange. It's a somewhat intimate form of affection, in that you likely wouldn't engage in it with a perfect stranger. It also represents alot of vulnerability, especially when bondage is part of it, but even when it's not. I feel extremely vulnerable when I'm being tickled, not only because of the physical vulnerability, but because I'm letting someone into my personal space, and I have little to no control over my reactions. For that reason, trust is a big part of being a lee. I have to assume that the ler is going to stop when I want/need him to, and that they're not going to use the control they have over me to do anything inappropriate or create a negative experience for me.

Part of what I love about tickling is the power exchange. I'm a very assertive person in every day life, so having that snatched away from me via tickling is what makes it so appealing. It's a chance to escape the person I have to be every day, and let somebody else take the reins.

Someone mentioned before that it's a fetish of opposites - and that's so true. Lee/Ler. The Love/Hate feeling we get when we're tickled. The fact that even though the ler is physically "in charge" of the session, and the lee is traditionally at the mercy (or lack thereof 😛) of the ler, the lee has the final say in what goes on, and has the ultimate power to stop the session with a safeword.

That's all I have for now - hopefully it'll spark an idea in someone 😛

Any lers care to share? It'd be interesting to get a take on the flip side of the coin.

 

[holydick]

ingenuity at its finest!!!!
awesome thread, i've been doing some sketching, now that this post has had quite a reaction, and ill try to get them on in the next couple of weeks.

wutever the symbol is, ill definitely be getting it tattooed, along with all the other hardcore ticklers/lees on here!!!!

I see it really on a roll now. I have all entries saved and added the artist name to the name of the symbol. I had an Idea tell me what you think. if you rotate the 1 symbol 90 degrees clockwise it looks like a cup make the cup a tad smaller and add hari's tree in it so it looks like its growing out of the cup also symbolizing the growing of this community. Just a Thought you could also add one of the feathery ones inside the center circle of the tree

 

[Capnmad]

I think it should be abit of both really, keep it our own and add our meaning, but have a base idea that it has SOMEthing to do with what it means

Tell you what -- I'll try to make it a laughing eye. It's a feature only present in a "true smile". That's meaningful to me in the context of tickling -- getting a genuine reaction... So-called "false smiles" don't reach or effect the eyes. May need to incorporate an eyebrow...

 

[-Hari-]

Tell you what -- I'll try to make it a laughing eye. It's a feature only present in a "true smile". That's meaningful to me in the context of tickling -- getting a genuine reaction... So-called "false smiles" don't reach or effect the eyes. May need to incorporate an eyebrow...

How would you make a laughing eye?

 

[Capnmad]

How would you make a laughing eye?

Dunno. Might fail. That's the challenge of art, eh? We'll see.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Tell you what -- I'll try to make it a laughing eye. It's a feature only present in a "true smile". That's meaningful to me in the context of tickling -- getting a genuine reaction... So-called "false smiles" don't reach or effect the eyes. May need to incorporate an eyebrow...

I believe the BBC broadcasted an experiment with that once. Might pop up in google/youtube.

 

[Libertine]

Firstly may I congratulate Capnmad on his interpretation of the symbol. I prefer the BDSM variation because, as Skipadeedoodah has pointed out, the Activity does represent an exchange of power, and this is the basis of BDSM- NOT whips'n'chains.

For general information about the BDSM symbol itself, I've copied the following from The Emblem Project http://emblemproject.sagcs.net


What does the BDSM Emblem mean?

'The BDSM emblem has no "obvious" symbolism because it was created to be enigmatic. To the vanilla observer who would be put off by BDSM, it is merely an attractive piece of jewelry. Thus, we can wear it freely as a friendly salute, nod, and wink to other BDSMers we should happen to pass on the sidewalks and in the hallways of our daily lives.

To the insider, however, the Emblem is full of meaning.

The three divisions represent the various threesomes of BDSM. First of all, the three divisions of BDSM itself: Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission, and Sadism & Masochism. Secondly, the three-way creed of BDSM behavior: Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Thirdly, the three divisions of our community: Tops, Bottoms, and Switches.

It is this third symbolism that gives meaning to the holes in each unit. Since BDSM is at the very least a play style and at its greatest a love style, the holes represent the incompleteness of any individual within the BDSM context. However "together" and "whole" individuals may be, there remains a void within them that can only be filled by a complimentary other. BDSM cannot be done alone.

The resemblance to a three-way variation on the Yin-Yang symbol is not accidental. As the curved outline of Yin and Yang represent the hazy border between where one ends and the other begins, so do the curved borders here represent the indistinct divisions between B&D, D&S, and S&M.

The metal and metallic color of the medallion represents the chains or irons of BDSM servitude/ownership. The three inner fields are black, representing a celebration of the controlled dark side of BDSM sexuality.

The curved lines themselves can be seen as a stylized depiction of a lash as it swings, or even an arm in motion to deliver an erotic spanking. The all-embracing circle, of course, represents the overlying unity of it all and the oneness of a community that protects its own.'


I very much look forward to seeing your final design, Capnmad.

 

[♡AimLEE♡]

Alright.
I'm gonna try to explain this the best way I know how.

[I think the hand should be either optional or not .. and I used picnik to create this so I dunno if that is illegal ... ]

The "burst" in the middle represents "bursts of laughter".
The faded background represents the endorphins you get from after tickling.
The spiral, more loose lines coming out of the "burst" represents feathers or fingers or anything that gives you shivers of excitement when you think about tickling.

And the reaching hand is optional .. dunno if it would look better with or without it 😕

Yeah well there is my idea ... ah dunno. I'll think of something better eventually.

 

[Capnmad]

Dunno. Might fail. That's the challenge of art, eh? We'll see.

...aaaannd indeed I failed. Tried a couple of variations, and none of them worth posting. It has to be extremely simple in order to properly complement the iconic nature of the neuron, and sometimes you just can't convey expression and keep it iconic enough...

Nearest thing I could manage to fit was iconic happy eyes -- upturned crescents like moons... Which makes it look a little like a rejected Pokémon (below).

I've got to shower and rush to work, alas, but thanks, Libertine, and I'll be in touch soon to work on a proper final version of your piece.

"Obsceuron" #3:

 

[Heather Feather]

...For me, tickling is about two things - playfulness and power exchange. It's a somewhat intimate form of affection, in that you likely wouldn't engage in it with a perfect stranger. It also represents alot of vulnerability, especially when bondage is part of it, but even when it's not. I feel extremely vulnerable when I'm being tickled, not only because of the physical vulnerability, but because I'm letting someone into my personal space, and I have little to no control over my reactions. For that reason, trust is a big part of being a lee. I have to assume that the ler is going to stop when I want/need him to, and that they're not going to use the control they have over me to do anything inappropriate or create a negative experience for me.

Part of what I love about tickling is the power exchange. I'm a very assertive person in every day life, so having that snatched away from me via tickling is what makes it so appealing. It's a chance to escape the person I have to be every day, and let somebody else take the reins.

Someone mentioned before that it's a fetish of opposites - and that's so true. Lee/Ler. The Love/Hate feeling we get when we're tickled. The fact that even though the ler is physically "in charge" of the session, and the lee is traditionally at the mercy (or lack thereof 😛) of the ler, the lee has the final say in what goes on, and has the ultimate power to stop the session with a safeword...

Skip, your post, followed by the copied explanation of the meanings behind the "3"-focused BDSM emblem lead me to wonder if the feather yin-yang design would be more complete in a "2"/yin-yang style variation. I really agree with the way you've described tickling, I myself find it in this two-fold context.

Perhaps, to better brainstorm new ideas or variations of the neuron/feather options, we all need to pick apart what tickling means to us.

 

[-Hari-]

...aaaannd indeed I failed. Tried a couple of variations, and none of them worth posting. It has to be extremely simple in order to properly complement the iconic nature of the neuron, and sometimes you just can't convey expression and keep it iconic enough...

Nearest thing I could manage to fit was iconic happy eyes -- upturned crescents like moons... Which makes it look a little like a rejected Pokémon (below).

I've got to shower and rush to work, alas, but thanks, Libertine, and I'll be in touch soon to work on a proper final version of your piece.

"Obsceuron" #3:

hehe, that does look like a pretty freaky creature! 😀

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

...rejected Pokémon

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

Skip, your post, followed by the copied explanation of the meanings behind the "3"-focused BDSM emblem lead me to wonder if the feather yin-yang design would be more complete in a "2"/yin-yang style variation. I really agree with the way you've described tickling, I myself find it in this two-fold context.

Maybe a "lock and key" type of thing? Like a circle with two halves, that only fit eachother, but instead of the curvey line of the yin yang, maybe an indent in one half of the circle in the shape of a key, and an extension off the other half in the same shape.

The two halves could symbolize the various opposites/two-sidedness of our fetish, while also expressing the fact that, like Libertine said about BDSM, tickling can't be done alone. You can't have lees without lers and vice versa. It also could symbolize the potential eroticism of tickling if you look at the key as a phallic symbol.

The lock & key could also symbolize the bondage aspect the fetish, but doesn't have to for those who don't prefer it.

I also think that, for the folks who like the idea of the TK symbol somewhat mimicking the BDSM symbol, this idea, or some variation thereof, could satisfy them as well.

I actually really like this idea the more I think of it, because I feel like it has alot of possible explanations/interpretations without symbolizing something that not everyone in the TK community feels a connection with (like the feather, or a more obvious variation the BDSM symbol). The symbolism can be really powerful without locking 🙂facepalm: no pun intended, honest) someone into a symbol to which they don't feel connected.

It also allows for alot of room to personalize it. If someone *is* into tickling with feathers, they can, perhaps, make the teeth of the key look like feathers. The colors and feel of the key and keyhole can be altered to fit just about anything. It can be made to look goth or girly...the colors can be changed...it has a ton of possibility.

 

[MasterPaladin]

I like that mammers and it inspired me though I can't draw to save my life I can do photography pretty well and use psp half assed so here is what I came up with. the hands can be in any position you like as it is actually a photograph of my hands. This to me symbolizes the lobster claw type tickling but to a vanilla I don't think they would make that connection.

 

[MasterPaladin]

lets try this one with one hand. now you don't need all the busyness around the hand thats there just because it's a photo that was enhanced in both that I have put up here all the background behind the hand or hands can be removed.

 

[-Hari-]

Im really loving the ideas, they look really good and send a strong message, however I maintain that we should keep it simpler.

If we`r not feeling the neuron tree sends the message well enuf than we need to think of a something that does rather than add more and more to it and make it complicated.

 

[Knot Amewzed]

lets try this one with one hand. now you don't need all the busyness around the hand thats there just because it's a photo that was enhanced in both that I have put up here all the background behind the hand or hands can be removed.

I think that this emblem would work best without any background. Let's keep it simple to facilitate tatooing processes and representation. Too much going on in the background clouts identification.

 

[MasterPaladin]

so what your saying is this is it and it would be up to each person if they wanted some sort of background to it.
to me it looks good but for some reason lacking something to make it attractive

 

[-Hari-]

so what your saying is this is it and it would be up to each person if they wanted some sort of background to it.
to me it looks good but for some reason lacking something to make it attractive

no and yes

no thats not it, it doesnt have to be that, but whatever it is, it needs to be as simple as that.

Adding backgrounds kinda leave it as something other than a symbol, which is something people could do afterwards individually to represent theyre own needs,perhaps wrapping the symbol in chains the show that they are into bondage, or on a background of roses to show its a romantic and sensual part of them.

But the symbol itself should be simple and have room for people to view it in theyre own way.

I had this talk over on tickletheater breifly, the onyl think I think this symbol should represent is sensation as its the ONLY thing that is valid to all of us within tickling.

A side thought tho, another thing that is valid to all of us, is the fact that we need another to share it, in the Neuron tree that is perhaps the circle in the middle, its incased within sensation, a nice lee/ler transistion.

 

[MasterPaladin]

Totally disregarding what you just said lmao I came up with a mirror image of the real neuron to show 2 involved and the symbol over it. Now it is both symbolic and colorful.

 

[-Hari-]

Totally disregarding what you just said lmao I came up with a mirror image of the real neuron to show 2 involved and the symbol over it. Now it is both symbolic and colorful.

and its lovely 😀

its nice that so much can be done with this symbol, but I still say that it, and any other ideas should remain simple and in symbol form rather than pretty poster form 😛

 

[MasterPaladin]

when it comes to being a thick head I think I met my match with you

 

[Capnmad]

'Couple other feather-inspired ideas: The first reminds me of a Hoplite shield, and the second is a flaming feather, where the feather meaning is understood, and flame represents passion and intensity.

As a staunch proponent of feather symbolism, let me also say to those who are concerned that the association will be too obvious that it isn't necessarily obvious at all. Quills are the most frequent symbol of writers, and who doesn't call themselves a writer these days? If people really want to know the symbolism behind a feather image, and you really don't want to tell them it's about tickling, say you're part of a writer's group. After all, by virtue of posting on the Forum, you are in the most liberal sense -- all who post are writing, and therefore writers.

More later.

Keep the ideas coming, folks! Cavum, thanks for starting such an awesome thread!

And neat take on it, Mammers -- reminds me of back when I polled for an abstract representation of tickling... Didn't get much of a response then, but you seem to be striking on it quite well... What colors would you choose, if you were to render in color?

 

[Tiger.Lily]

its nice that so much can be done with this symbol, but I still say that it, and any other ideas should remain simple and in symbol form rather than pretty poster form 😛

Agreed.