Hi Wilson. Great topic, and one to which I've devoted a lifetime of study. You might even say, "hands on" training! haha! You get it? "HANDS ON!" heheh...ahem....
...okay, moving right along, let me say first that I've tried all the strategies you mentioned at one point or another, but others included:
5) Purposely wearing a T-shirt with a hole in the armpit. (Girls in school couldn't seem to resist sticking their finger in there)
6) Saying things like "Whatever you do,
DON'T tickle me!" while I'm in some kind of compromising position.
7) Declaring I'm "not ticklish in the slightest."
8) Getting ticklers to enlist the aid of others to help
9) Telling women (truthfully) that I enjoy being tickled.
Oddly this last strategy generally brings about the least amount of results unless you can get them to tickle you first, before you tell them. If you wait until
after they've tickled you to tell them you like it, it accomplishes 2 things: First, it lends more credence to your claim. Most people have a hard time believing somebody could actually enjoy being tickled. They are far more likely to believe you actually like it when they've just seen you endure it. Otherwise, they think you're just messing with them. Second, it's a more appropriate time to disclose this information. It makes it seem less weird than just suddenly bringing it up out of the blue. (..."What do you like?...Oh, cool!....Me?...I like being tickled!...Yes, that's what I said....being tickled...Hello?....HELLO??"...)
As an adult in the working environment, I finally found the perfect strategy for me and I've stuck with it for 20 years, but the environment must afford some amount of privacy. It helps to be working second or third shift, when the office is considerably less populated. First, I develop a friendship or comradarie with her. As this friendship progresses into discussions of a personal nature, I pick a moment and start massaging her neck and shoulders. I'm told I'm pretty good at this, so I have a fair amount of confidence, yet I remain ever alert for any kind of negative reaction. I'll ask her if it feels good, or if I'm doing it right, and depending on her answer, I'll continue.
After a couple of times of doing this, I'll ask her to either massage me, or if she has long nails, to scratch my back. Once she's doing one or the other, I tell her how nice if feels, and could she just work her way out toward my sides. She does, and I start squirming and laughing.
Notice that I've gotten her to tickle me without even mentioning the word. This is crucial. At this point, she might say, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tickle." I'll say, "No, it's okay. I actually like being tickled. By all means, continue." She hesitantly tries again and sees you laughing and squirming, but still enjoying it nonetheless. She becomes more comfortable with it and actually begins to enjoy tickling me. She's delighted because she's never been able to tickle somebody without a negative reaction. For the first time, tickling is associated with fun and laughter, rather than unpleasantness.
(By the way, great post, TTD!)
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I am looking forward to your e-mail more than ever 🙂
