Iam actually on both sides of the fence in regard to this issue, and while Iam not trying to be "Switzerland" so to say, and remain neutral, I can truly see it from both sides.
Viper: I can completely see your point of feeling "left out" In your view, for lack of a better word, you feel that guys are being segregated, and not allowed to attend this particular gathering. While I understand your discomfort and viewpoint on this, pal, I also must look at the other side.
"The Other Side" being this. Although this isnt the same instance, an analogy is appropriate here I feel. Although I was not in a frat in college, I had many friends who were, so I used to hang out with some frat crowds on a regular basis. While we often had many girls at our parties and gatherings, I can recall times on certain sports nights, like during World Series, Super Bowl, or other times, where we would just be a group of guys gathering at a house, to hang out, and watch games, and the brothers would say that girls werent allowed for that night, because it was a "guy night". Weird for a frat, I know, but sometimes, the guys just wanted to hang out without pressures of girlfriends, sex, or certain behavior expectations. If we wanted to drink, curse, scream, etc, and such behavior wasnt usually exhibited around girls.
While I realize that a tickling gathering is far different than a frat sports night, in my view, the intent is the same, and, therefore, I find myself in agreement with Jeff's point. What is wrong with a group of girls getting together for a few hours one night, a sleepover, or even a weekend without guys around? We all know that if guys were there, the "theme" of the party, or the "expectations", might and most likely would be different. Iam certain that all of us, as I did with some of those frat parties, went off with our same sex platonic friends for a few hours on certain occasions without our girlfriends or girls with us all the time. I did this often, to baseball games, outings to Atlantic City, and even clubs. My father did it when my parents were married, and my friends fathers do it.
So to summize: Feelings of "left out" as Viper says, I can understand his feelings. Is there anything "wrong" with an all girls night? In my view, no. I think sometimes all genders, even when the genders are romantically interested in the opposite sex, need time to themselves. To me, it can enhance relationships with their romantic partners, and provide same sex "bonding" time, as is said, so I see nothing wrong with it. I understand and sympathize with Viper's point, but I also see the other side, as I myself have gone through it with ex girlfriends, and, honestly, I see nothing wrong with the type of party talked about in this thread.
Mitch