Tickling is NOT Weird

[sapphireglimmer]

I found this article on Wikipedia. I am posting this in response of an old thread here that discussed the tickling fetish as "weird."

Tickling as a fetish is perhaps one of the most common human behaviors known, in that studies indicate nearly 85 percent of adults in some way or another enjoy tickling others, being tickled themselves, or watching others be tickled.

Eighty five percent of adults. That's a lot of people. While some people definately enjoy tickling more than others (and while I will agree the difference between liking tickling and the fetish is the sexual arousal caused by it), I will go to the grave believing that tickling is not as weird as a fetish as some believe to be.

Fetishes are odd to most people period. I've looked at other fetishes and have been mind-boggled by them. "How on God's green earth does that turn someone on?" In my heart, I believe people like to believe that they're "normal;" that is, they believe that their sexual desires are just like their buddy next door. But, in my heart, I think this is false. I think we all enjoy one thing a little more than the other and other people may think, "Whoa. Back up." But that doesn't matter. Whatever your sexual experience is, whatever lights your fire, that is something to cherish, because you know what it is, and hell, if it works, enjoy it.

I discovered my tickling fetish when I was 16. I had a horrible fear of it for a long time, until the sensation changed for me and felt pleasurable. For three years, I hid my desires. I denied I had it. I tried to ignore it. I pretended it wasn't there. I went through a year period where I thought I was sick (I was very Christian at the time and thought I was sinning for having a fetish. Thank God I got over that). At nineteen, I finally broke down and told my boyfriend (now fiance) about it. He helped me explore it. He encouraged me to find communities, to talk about it, to explore it, instead of being afraid to express it. We learned together what kind of tickling I liked, where it was the best for me and he fell in love with my laugh. So when I read and see the concern of others: those who are fearful of letting those their closest to know or when they call tickling a "weird" fetish, I just have to come out and say what I've said.

So this goes to everyone who ever thought they were weird. Quit doing that and start tickling. 🙂

/endspeech

 

[Budweiserbob!]

Yep! I brought that up in the forum not too long ago! ^^

 

[Timewarp]

Nah, it's still weird and we should all be ashamed.

(I'm a downer, am I?)

 

[Budweiserbob!]

*gives a 100ml cup filled with 50 ml of liquid*

Tell me, Timewarp, is this cup half full or half empty...

 

[Yet_One_More_Idiot]

It is neither half-full nor half-empty; it is merely half a cup... 😛 (top that! LOL)

 

[sole seeker1]

Well said, SapphireGlimmer! Well written and straight from the heart.

Terrific post!

 

[Timewarp]

cup?

*gives a 100ml cup filled with 50 ml of liquid*

Tell me, Timewarp, is this cup half full or half empty...

Where people see glory i see selfishness, where others see innocence I see hypocrocy. Where there is whatever it is I see the opposite end of the spectrum.....I'm starting to freak myself out. (Shudder)

 

[flightless_me]

Where people see glory i see selfishness, where others see innocence I see hypocrocy. Where there is whatever it is I see the opposite end of the spectrum.....I'm starting to freak myself out. (Shudder)

ya me too....your freaking me out stop that!

 

[morgandee]

weirdo

 

[asutickler1]

Sorry, but Wikipedia is virtually worthless as a reliable reference in situations like this: Anyone can edit a Wikipedia article... And this one looks like it was written up/edited by one of our fellow fetishists...

 

[Black Hat]

THAT is a downer.

 

[-Kunoke-]

I still say it's only as weird as one makes it. What's weird to one person could not be to another, and vice versa.

But I don't see how the subject of tickling being weird or not is anything we should worry ourselves about, because all of us here like it in one form or another.

 

[sapphireglimmer]

Sorry, but Wikipedia is virtually worthless as a reliable reference in situations like this: Anyone can edit a Wikipedia article... And this one looks like it was written up/edited by one of our fellow fetishists...

You completely and utterly missed my point, as I spent all of TWO sentences on the Wikipedia part. I was using it to get my discussion going.

This post was something personal and passionate from me. That was it. If you still want to look down on the fetish, go ahead. I just felt a burst of emotion in regards to it so I wrote it down. Take it as you will, but do not pick it apart as that was not it's intention to be anything but helpful.

 

[morgandee]

weirdos^2

 

[cinnabar]

Sorry, but Wikipedia is virtually worthless as a reliable reference in situations like this: Anyone can edit a Wikipedia article... And this one looks like it was written up/edited by one of our fellow fetishists...

But just think - if someone new to the idea (perhaps a friend you tell) of 'tickling fetish' pulls up this article on Wikipedia, then they will think that this percentage is completely accurate and you will have a good case for it being very common.

 

[Budweiserbob!]

>_>

 

[MistressValerie1]

Based on my own observations, I'd say that the percentage of adults who use tickling as a form of romantic flirtation is quite high, probably 50% overall and considerably higher in some subcultures. I don't think that ticklephiles are "weird"; the main difference between t-philes and vanillas is only a matter of degree.

I don't think that any paraphilia should be considered "weird" unless it is harmful to someone or causes severe interpersonal strain with romantic partners. Organised psychiatry labels anything much beyond conventional intercourse as "abnormal" because of the influences of Freudian psychology, organised religion, and the legal system.

 

[alchemy1]

Wikipedia? Um, is that like..writen by Vikings or something..cause, you know..

Hey, tickling is not weird. It was created by the Lord Jesus Chirst for our amusement. 😀 :weird:

 

[morgandee]

all the weirdos are speaking sanctimonious poopy kok

sage for lack of indifference

 

[Tickler Bart]

Perhaps the 85 percent is from whoemever they surveyed.
NOT 85 percent of the population.
85 percent of MAYBE 100 people or something like that.
Hey, if God didn't want us to enjoy tickling He/She/It would NOT have made us ticklish at all.

 

[waddleman1]

It is neither half-full nor half-empty; it is merely half a cup... 😛 (top that! LOL)

FINALLY, somone who gets it! Anyway, I don't really care if it's wierd, cuz....I kinda AM, a lot.

 

[melbournianguy]

Look, weird or not it doesn't matter. Society will see it as weird for a long time to come.
Personally, I thing the rest of society has some major hang-ups. Why should we persecute ourselves over something which is really completely harmless. As long as it is consenting it hurts no one. We're honest with each other on this forum, and that is such a positive thing, just be thankful that we have it. Imagine if felt like we were the only person in the world with it. I came to a realisation that I loved tickling at a very young age, maybe as young as 5. In my teens I had no idea that anyone else in the world would like it. I was so depressed. I only found out that others were into it when I got on the net about 6 years back! The net enables us to be honest with each other as we can hide our identities. The more people get on the net, the more this will grow, as will the community, and public acceptance. Patience....I think in the long run we will find we are all quite normal.

 

[-Kunoke-]

Look, weird or not it doesn't matter. Society will see it as weird for a long time to come.
Personally, I thing the rest of society has some major hang-ups. Why should we persecute ourselves over something which is really completely harmless. As long as it is consenting it hurts no one. We're honest with each other on this forum, and that is such a positive thing, just be thankful that we have it. Imagine if felt like we were the only person in the world with it. I came to a realisation that I loved tickling at a very young age, maybe as young as 5. In my teens I had no idea that anyone else in the world would like it. I was so depressed. I only found out that others were into it when I got on the net about 6 years back! The net enables us to be honest with each other as we can hide our identities. The more people get on the net, the more this will grow, as will the community, and public acceptance. Patience....I think in the long run we will find we are all quite normal.

We are "normal" indeed. A fetish is nothing more than a sexual preference, essentially. And tickling is considered among one of the LEAST weird, generally. 🙂 At least, everyone I've talked to about it said it was nothing, and that there are tons of fetishes that are really creepy. Tickling isn't among them really, depending on the person of course, but lots of people enjoy tickling a little at least. It's a common form of flirtation after all.