Office Tickles...

[Frowg]

O.K. so we have this new temp at my office, and in conversation, she has found out about my love for tickling... since, she has taken every opportunity to jab my ribs, stroke my neck, and tickle me whenever possible... I told her If she kept it up, I would have to tickle back, as she knows what it does to me, but I still haven't because,
1. It may be inappropriate office behavior...
2. She has a good relationship with a longtime boyfriend...
3. I don't think she understands exactly what I mean when I say I like tickling.

While I would love to tickle her back, I'm just not sure,
Am I a wuss?
Should I make good on my warning?
I'm such a dork... any thoughts would be much appreciated....
thanks all... 😕

 

[amk714]

Tickle her, Frowg! If she objects, stop; if she doesn't, keep on doing it! She doesn't sound like the type who'd sue you 🙂

 

[TickleCrazy]

If I were you, I'd invite her out to lunch. If she accepts, while out of the office I would show her a sample of how it feels to be the 'lee. She might really like it and go share a newfound passion with her boyfriend while remaining your friend. Or she might think you're a much more interesting guy... I mean, why isn't she married yet, right? If she hates being tickled she'll probably quit tickling you, unless she's a bitch... there are harrassment policies for that. Good luck with it!

 

[amk714]

Even better!

Sounds like a plan to me! 🙂

 

[Phineas]

I'm with the peanut gallery on this one.

while I normally would scream RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! when it comes to workplace antics of this nature, in this case I agree with the previous posters. the inherent risk in this sort of thing is that it's usually you (the tickle-person) taking a gamble on someone else's reaction to your doin's. in this case, the gamble has been taken by someone else, on you instead, and she's lucked out by picking someone who doesn't mind. so go right ahead and make her wet 'em.

far as the boyfriend goes, big deal. do you know the guy? do you know what kind of relationship she's got with him? she's already dictated her own limits and morality regarding this sort of "play" with other people; it's not up to you to restrain yourself for "her own good", as it were.

...that's probably a far longer answer than you expected. sue me.😛

 

[starfires]

If I were in your shoes, I would simply ask her if she wants me to tickle her. If you will not do that, I say give her a couple test pokes before going all-out -- if she reacts badly, you will need less damage control.

 

[coolman]

go for it! if you're sure she won't get bitchy, then youve got nothing to lose (remember that she started it)

good luck!

 

[sovietblackstar]

Just watch yourself. Take all your assumptions about her antics and dump them and start on Monday from zero again. Be more strident in your warnings, more forceful and step up the threat in response to her messing around over a few occasions. You can watch her reaction while ultimately taking things a step further each time until you feel on more certain ground and are more sure about what to do. If nothing else it'll build the tension if she hears the warnings get stronger. If she persists after the warnings then i think you are on safer ground.

 

[Frowg]

wow

I'm glad to see so many willing to aid me in my plight, thanks for the addvice all!😀

 

[toneus79]

Frowg - Look just grab her, tie her to the nearest PC or wordprocessor, and Tickle her into screaming hysterics. If your boss or any of your co-workers demand to know what is going, just say that this is a First Aid drill, and that you are practising resuscitation techniques.

Sorry Sorry, I have just got out of bed .............

 

[coolman]

Sorry Sorry, I have just got out of bed .............

looks like you better go and take a cold shower then! 🙂

 

[magic fingers]

No, you're not a wuss, or a dork. You're just the latest victim of the nationwide disease called Political Correctness. She's already tickled you several times. I say tickle her back. She sounds like a possible ticklefile, herself (for all we know, she could be a member of the forum). Once she initiates the tickling, she's fair game for a retaliatory tickle. Just make sure it's not too prolonged, not during a meeting or conference, and that none of the company execs ,or her boyfriend,(if he works with you guys) are present.
I wish something like that would happen to me at my office!

 

[Maria_Rose]

Yeah, I'd like to work in a place like that too. Or at least with a person like that. I'd say you're safe from any legal allegations or sexual harassment claims, because she is already "guilty" of doing the same thing you are thinking of. Granted you wouldn't want to go too far uninvited, but to retaliate when she has tickled you first is by no means harassment, even in the eyes of the law. As long as it's just tickling and nothing else that could be taken sexually, it should be fine. You're not a wuss though, it takes a lot of nerve and confidence to be able to do that. And the fact that you asked about it on here shows that you are simply a considerate person who respects other people 😎

 

[TickleCrazy]

I can't wait to hear back from Frowg what's happening!

 

[dvnc]

I'm another for TickleCrazy's notion. It beats getting fired for harrassment, sexual harrassment, inappropriate behavior in the office, etc. Politically correct or not, those laws are easily broken by simple body contact. Something as intimate as a deliberate touch with intent to show an involuntary response could be bad.

Why? Why would this happen when SHE seems to invite it? Well, consider - what happens if someone WATCHING is offended? That's harrassin' them in the officeplace.

Now, no one can cry shenanigans at a lunch. It's lunch. No lunch rules beyond the general law, and the boundaries are loose enough for you to ASK to tickle her. After all, a guy needed embark on the long discussion of tickling prior to actually DOING so. You just gotta ask, or do it playfully and casually, and be ready to apologize if you misread her.

Mind ya, if she's got a beau, she may be a bit shy about lunch, so do clue her that you're just bein' sociable, 'cause you figure she's friendly, bein' that "no one tickles ya without they wanna be friends".

My $0.02,

dvnc

 

[execmail77]

Scary topic, people!

Even if you're away from the office at lunch, this could come back to bite you. Many office romances, that are pursued outside the office and then go sour, could have later repercussions IN the office that you can't imagine! This would be no different.

The point made here, too, about "offending others" is not only very valid, but also must be considered if those "others" are also at lunch with you outside the office. Where the tickling occurs "geographically" carries no weight if the "work relationship" then gets impacted, in any way, back at the office.

If you still insist on trying this, your final line not to cross is the old "no means no" axiom. If you tickle her back, and at time she ever says "no," "stop," or anything similar, do not EVER do it again. Even if you're SURE she was just joking. Legally, I believe, if "no" has been said even just once, and you EVER do it again, both she, and your company can hang you out to dry, based on that alone...

 

[Frowg]

update

ok, upon being tickled back, we have discovered that the subject is receptive, however, not ticklish on her sides, she guards her belly... she says she is invincible (in a somewhat daring and flirtacious manner), but somedays she wears these shoes that may leave her open for an attack on her soles... I will continue to exact 'revenge, as long as she continues the 'instigation' she has thus far shown no apprehension, so I think it's cool, but I think I'll continue on slowly...

 

[TickleCrazy]

Frowg, did you tickle her inside or outside? (the office!) Temps are temporary, so get her phone number!