Note: I posted this on the forum some time ago, but wanted to add it here. I intend to collect various writings and ideas here over time.
I created this image years ago for myself, but was inspired by my wife and two friends of ours to share with everyone. It is my hope that this symbol comes to represent the tickling fetish and the tickling community. It is highly inspired by the design of the users "subtle_feather" and "-Hari-" (I beleive) on the TMF from about 10-12 years ago. It depicts a simplified neuron with each of its five equidistant branches stretching from the main neuron body outward, eventually bifurcating into two smaller branch ends that make contact with the single surrounding outer ring. A hole is in the center of the body of the neuron.
The main body of the neuron represents each individual in the tickling community. The hole in its center represents the void that is felt within the individual that can only be filled by tickling or being tickled.
The five main branches represent the five fingers and five toes of the human hand and foot. Fingers being one of the most primal and instinctive things one uses to tickle another person, and toes, along with the feet they are attached to, being one of the most primal and instinctive things to tickle. The tight, outstretched look of the branches represent the desperate need to touch and be touched, as well as the effect that one's body being stretched out has on their sensitivity.
The two smaller branch ends found on each of the five main branches represent the 'lee and 'ler roles of tickling, as well as the two main categorical types of tickling: hard and soft.
The outer ring represents the tickling community. It's contact with the branches represents the individuals connection to others in the community and the importance of the interpersonal connections required to have a fulfilled tickling experience.
The symbol follows the typical formula used in most successfully adopted symbols: The color, contrast, and shape are simple and it is very distinguishable from other unrelated symbols. This simple design makes it easy for individuals, organizations, and sub-communities to modify the symbol, or incorporate in in a creative way into their own logo or symbol of identity. For example, someone may use the symbol to identify themselves as part of the tickling comunity, but may choose to use a specific color that's meaningful to them, or overlay the symbol with other symbols that are meaningful to them. It is discreet enough that the subject matter it represents cannot be easily ascertain by the uninitiated, but for those introduced to it, it is easily recognizable.
While other icons and imagery are used and recognized in the tickling community, such as feathers, feet, etc., these were not visually incorporated into this symbol, as they each more represent subsets of the tickling experience. The neuron, from which the image was based, gets to the core of what makes tickling possible.
The "Tickling Community Symbol" by WickedTouch is marked with CC0 1.0
This essentially released the symbol into the public domain.
I created this image years ago for myself, but was inspired by my wife and two friends of ours to share with everyone. It is my hope that this symbol comes to represent the tickling fetish and the tickling community. It is highly inspired by the design of the users "subtle_feather" and "-Hari-" (I beleive) on the TMF from about 10-12 years ago. It depicts a simplified neuron with each of its five equidistant branches stretching from the main neuron body outward, eventually bifurcating into two smaller branch ends that make contact with the single surrounding outer ring. A hole is in the center of the body of the neuron.
The main body of the neuron represents each individual in the tickling community. The hole in its center represents the void that is felt within the individual that can only be filled by tickling or being tickled.
The five main branches represent the five fingers and five toes of the human hand and foot. Fingers being one of the most primal and instinctive things one uses to tickle another person, and toes, along with the feet they are attached to, being one of the most primal and instinctive things to tickle. The tight, outstretched look of the branches represent the desperate need to touch and be touched, as well as the effect that one's body being stretched out has on their sensitivity.
The two smaller branch ends found on each of the five main branches represent the 'lee and 'ler roles of tickling, as well as the two main categorical types of tickling: hard and soft.
The outer ring represents the tickling community. It's contact with the branches represents the individuals connection to others in the community and the importance of the interpersonal connections required to have a fulfilled tickling experience.
The symbol follows the typical formula used in most successfully adopted symbols: The color, contrast, and shape are simple and it is very distinguishable from other unrelated symbols. This simple design makes it easy for individuals, organizations, and sub-communities to modify the symbol, or incorporate in in a creative way into their own logo or symbol of identity. For example, someone may use the symbol to identify themselves as part of the tickling comunity, but may choose to use a specific color that's meaningful to them, or overlay the symbol with other symbols that are meaningful to them. It is discreet enough that the subject matter it represents cannot be easily ascertain by the uninitiated, but for those introduced to it, it is easily recognizable.
While other icons and imagery are used and recognized in the tickling community, such as feathers, feet, etc., these were not visually incorporated into this symbol, as they each more represent subsets of the tickling experience. The neuron, from which the image was based, gets to the core of what makes tickling possible.
The "Tickling Community Symbol" by WickedTouch is marked with CC0 1.0
This essentially released the symbol into the public domain.
