Association of Sexual Minorities

[mustang]

abcd

 

[Azrael]

I don't see the connection, to be honest. There are gay people who like tickling, and straight people who do... it's a bit different from one's sexual orientation. That raises hackles, in certain people, on a much more fundamental level. Tickling, at worst, is seen as 'weird,' although by some accounts as many as 85% of people use it romantically on a regular basis with their S/O's. I really wouldn't want some kind of umbrella organization covering people who like tickling sexually, and I certainly wouldn't want to be a member of it.

Gay/Lesbian individuals are regularly persecuted, thrown out of the military, publicly harassed, denied promotions, and in many cases have been tortured and murdered for their sexuality. Religious groups picket their funerals and deface their grave. The comparison of the "situation" that ticklephiles are in, to that, is rather demeaning.

 

[drew70]

I'm unclear as to the nature of the protection you feel we need. So we dig tickling. What's the big deal? There are no laws (that I'm aware of) against it. I've seen no religous groups actively campaigning against tickling. I know of nobody attacked or killed over their interest in tickling. I've never heard of anybody being fired for having an interest in tickling.

The worst I've ever had to endure is a raised eyebrow here and there. Oddly enough, I survived.

We as a community really REALLY need to get over this idea that our interest in tickling ostricizes us from the rest of society. I've found over the years that most of the fear in this regard is mearly perceived or imagined.

 

[Redmage]

Has it occured to any of you folks that we (the tickle/foot fetish community) are in much the same position that gays and lesbians used to be in? Living a double life in the shadows, afraid of being outed and ostracized.

Sorry, I don't see it. Do we risk being fired if our partners drive us to work and kiss us goodbye? Are we forbidden to marry the people we love? When was the last time someone was beaten to death for having a foot fetish?

I don't think we're anywhere close even to where gays are now, let alone where they were 25 or 30 years ago. Our sexual preferences are pretty easy to keep discreet in most public settings (work, school, etc) simply because sexual stuff of any sort is inappropriate there. But someone in a gay or lesbian relationship has a hard time hiding that unless they hide their partner. And the consequences are much more serious for them.

For the most part we have it easy. Even I wouldn't have much sympathy for this interest as a "sexual minority."

 

[Strider]

Er, all due respect, but this sense of living a double life isn't something I exprience on any regular basis. Most of my close friends know what I'm into. So does my immediate family, for that matter.

 

[Strider]

Well, I'm admittedly quite a neophyte in the LA BDSM community, but there are groups down here like Threshold, and while I don't know this for a fact, I'd be quite shocked if they didn't have some sort of individuals who represent them to the mainstream if it's needed.

 

[Redmage]

Well, I'm admittedly quite a neophyte in the LA BDSM community, but there are groups down here like Threshold, and while I don't know this for a fact, I'd be quite shocked if they didn't have some sort of individuals who represent them to the mainstream if it's needed.

They definitely do (speaking as someone who used to be involved with Threshold).

Foot-fetish groups could form for the same purposes, but for the most part they don't. I think part of the reason is smaller numbers (foot fetishism is a narrow and specific interest, while BDSM is more diverse and hence includes more people). But another reason is less need - many people are inclined to view an interest in BDSM as dangerous, whereas foot-fetishes are seen as weird but harmless.

Mustang, I'm really having a hard time seeing your point here. I don't think there's any particular need to be in the closet about an interest in feet. Who all really needs to know about your sex life? Your sex partners definitely do. Your friends can if they want to know and you feel like telling them. Your family probably doesn't want to know. Your co-workers and random strangers almost certainly don't.

So what this comes down to is, find lovers who appreciate your interests. If your friends want to know but can't handle it, then get better friends. In almost any other social setting your sexual interests don't matter because no one else wants to know about them, even if they're "normal" (whatever that means).

Just relax about it, guy. 🙂

 

[drew70]

I had no idea that our culture was intolerant of fetishes. I've never once been "dissed" for an interest in tickling or my other fetish, pantyhose. I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time of things. I sincerely hope things change for the better for you and everybody else who's experiencing intolerance.

 

[milagros317]

I agree with Drew, I've never experienced worse than the equivalent of "You like to eat sushi? Eww, I could never eat raw fish."

 

[Curmudgeon]

Ok, here's my problem with this thread;

With apologies for parroting the already insightful comments I've read;

What mustang is asking/wishing/whining for is childish, self-centered, and downright insipid. Why is it necessary for Mainstream culture to embrace a fetish, just because it makes your dick hard? Why should it have to be their business in the first place? The gay & lesbian analogy is a massive leap in logic, and downright insulting. Gays and lesbians are attracted to the same sex, not only the same sex's feet. They built their own social, political, and economic power bases because they were being discriminated against, like any other minority. Have you lost a job, been denied a place to live, or been beaten, because of your foot fetish?

What kind of freedom are you hoping for, exactly? The right to babble on endlessly to some stranger in public about how pretty her feet are? You think a "leg" man or a "breast" man would be able to do the same thing without being labeled a creep? A 24-hour cable network devoted to foot fetish entertainment? Fine, I got no issue with that, but must it be basic cable?

**News Flash** MOST people (men, generally) have some kind of fetish, some kind of hair-trigger response that stimulates them. (Schoolgirl outfits, maid costumes, Princess Leia's metal bikini.....-ahem- where was I? Oh, right....) They just don't think everyone needs to be aware of it, and embrace it.

No one is suggesting a fetish is a cause for shame and "hiding in the shadows". Don't other people have the right not to have to know about your fetish?

I think it was Trey Parker and Matt Stone who put forth the idea that "Tolerance is not Acceptance" (or something to that effect). No one has the right to "punish" you for having a fetish, unless you deem it necessary to inflict it on them without consent.

Some of my friends know about my interests. Some don't. You know why? Because it's NONE OF THEIR DAMN BUSINESS!!

P.S. Tarentino gets away with slippping various foot-fetish elements in his films because he makes good films with foot fetish elements...not foot-fetish films! Do you get the difference?

 

[Curmudgeon]

That high pitched sound.....

is the point of my post, whizzing over the top of mustang's head....

Curmudgeon, lighten up! I thought that this forum was a safe place for people with like interests to banter about ideas. I didn't mean to get into a heavy trip that was going to ruffle people's feathers. I was just trying to stimulate some ideas on the general topic. Childish, immature, and self-centered...egad, you don't even know me. Talk about a quantum leap...do you carry guns or knives with you with a temper like you have?

Sheesh, passive/aggressive much? You think I'm angry? Dude, mild annoyance is not anger...."Mr McGee, don't make me angry...You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...."

The forum *is* a safe place. Has anyone reached out from the monitor and slapped you? Or are opposing viewpoints physically hurtful, now?

"Stimulating ideas" isn't the same as just saying, "oh, wouldn't it be nice, if..." with no arguments. Other people have differing viewpoints. Or did you expect everyone with a fetish to be just like you?
Y'know, I'd love to see my wife and Angelina Jolie in a ticklefight. If someone tells me it's not going to happen, I'm not going to cry about it. (Not in public, anyway.)

You are correct, I don't know you. I only know what you posted. I didn't comment on you, I commented on what you posted. You used words like "irrational" and "ignorant" to describe mainstream society. I have a lot of friends who aren't into tickling, doesn't make them bad people, or ignorant, or intolerant. How about a little of that shiny, golden, chocolate covered, candy sprinkled tolerance for people who aren't into tickling?

You made the statements. You can either live with them, delete them, or ignore the comments you don't like.

And, yes, I used to carry a gun. I don't anymore. You should sleep more soundly, knowing that.

As always, half of what I say is to be taken with a grain of salt.
The other half is complete B.S.

 

[Bugman]

wouldn't hurt for the mainstream to have a greater realization that there are a lot of sexual minorities with different interests than their own and to learn to be tolerant of them. A more tolerant cultural climate in regard to sexual orientation ( gays as well as others) would be beneficial for all. What's wrong with promoting tolerance and freedom. It would be nice to live in a world that is so free that where a leg-man comments publicly about a nice pair of legs, a foot-man could do the same and no one thinks anything about it. This could happen with proper exposure and education. Why not...it's irrational that beauty should stop at the ankle.

As long as someone is not abusing children or hurting anyone,i dont see that most people care anyway.And those that do will not change their opinion in any case,so why worry about it.

 

[SlaverTickler]

I don't think it would...

...like most groups of that nature they would eventualy become corupt and full of crap.

 

[Curmudgeon]

The award goes to.....

SlaverTickler, for the most keen observation and succintly worded post on this subject. ** Respectful Applause ** Best point made yet.

...like most groups of that nature they would eventualy become corupt and full of crap.