-
If you would like to get your account Verified, read this thread -
The TMF is sponsored by Clips4sale - By supporting them, you're supporting us. -
>>> If you cannot get into your account email me at [email protected] <<<
Don't forget to include your username
Did the tickling community blow it? ;)
- Thread starter quinn65
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2001
- Messages
- 29,792
- Points
- 113
I think that's a good point, but there's no way it could have actually happened. A fetish is gonna fetish.
It would be like saying "If Quentin Tarrantino had been able to keep feet out of his movies..."
Yes, nobody would know he had a foot fetish, but he also wouldn't be Tarrantino.
It would be like saying "If Quentin Tarrantino had been able to keep feet out of his movies..."
Yes, nobody would know he had a foot fetish, but he also wouldn't be Tarrantino.
quinn65
3rd Level Red Feather
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2001
- Messages
- 1,505
- Points
- 83
Fully agree. The thought just occurred to me after doing that little Modern Family fan fiction piece in the stories forum, which seemed like it could have been a legitimately viable storyline in a world where the writers didn't say, "Yeah that would be funny but...fetish."
C4urself85
TMF Poster
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2017
- Messages
- 91
- Points
- 18
I would imagine we might have gotten some more mainstream stuff. Less second guessing from writers who might say "Hey, isn't this someone's fetish? Maybe we shouldn't have the heroine interrogated with tickling."
And I think if the fetish had stayed truly niche, we'd have more girl next door types doing videos. Videos being available on tube sites grew the visibility, but killed who's willing to participate.
And I think if the fetish had stayed truly niche, we'd have more girl next door types doing videos. Videos being available on tube sites grew the visibility, but killed who's willing to participate.
To the dismay of many a millennial, mainstream tickling scenes did NOT originate with TMNJ and April O'neil. Loads of animated scenes and even a few Looney Tunes shorts where tickling was a main element to the plot. In fact, tickling was featured enough to the point where it's impossible to imagine a number of the writers weren't ticklephiles who were having a hard time NOT making it too obvious*. And if you think about how much more media and media platforms there are now as opposed to the 50s - 80s...
Hell you can go on YT now and find hundreds and hundreds of scenes of mainstream tickling on game shows, sitcoms, reality shows... and you can't possibly count the #of "tickle challenge" type things there. Why? Because YTers follow trends for views and if one "tickle prank" or "tickle challenge" video gets 700k views, they all start doing it and hardly any of them are "ticklephiles". There's more mainstream tickling to be seen now than ever.
Tickling scenes in mainstream aren't "rare", just more rare than you want them to be. More common on sitcoms than in feature movies, yes. But people with major spanking or sneezing fetishes would easily argue they've seen way more tickling scenes in their life than spanking (fiction, that is).
*Think about it. Every time you see a tickle scene on a scripted show, it means some writer put it in there. It means that writer also has to be presenting that scene to the other writers, the director(s), and possibly the producer(s) (and finally, the talent). So imagine being the one who put in the script "And then Mr. Loudrock traps Fred's bare feet under a heavy stone wall and Fred begs him not to tickle his feet. But then the neighbor tickles and tickles and tickles and Fred screams and begs for mercy laughing until adrenaline kicks in and he is able to yank himself free! What do you guys think?"
Yes, youngsters, that was 1964, 25 years before you were "sparked" by Don Turtelli. ;-)
Not to mention that literally more episodes than not featured a scene of Dino pouncing on Fred Flintstone and tickling him with joyous licks until Wilma or someone else called Dino off or Dino just stopped.
Hell you can go on YT now and find hundreds and hundreds of scenes of mainstream tickling on game shows, sitcoms, reality shows... and you can't possibly count the #of "tickle challenge" type things there. Why? Because YTers follow trends for views and if one "tickle prank" or "tickle challenge" video gets 700k views, they all start doing it and hardly any of them are "ticklephiles". There's more mainstream tickling to be seen now than ever.
Tickling scenes in mainstream aren't "rare", just more rare than you want them to be. More common on sitcoms than in feature movies, yes. But people with major spanking or sneezing fetishes would easily argue they've seen way more tickling scenes in their life than spanking (fiction, that is).
*Think about it. Every time you see a tickle scene on a scripted show, it means some writer put it in there. It means that writer also has to be presenting that scene to the other writers, the director(s), and possibly the producer(s) (and finally, the talent). So imagine being the one who put in the script "And then Mr. Loudrock traps Fred's bare feet under a heavy stone wall and Fred begs him not to tickle his feet. But then the neighbor tickles and tickles and tickles and Fred screams and begs for mercy laughing until adrenaline kicks in and he is able to yank himself free! What do you guys think?"
Yes, youngsters, that was 1964, 25 years before you were "sparked" by Don Turtelli. ;-)
Not to mention that literally more episodes than not featured a scene of Dino pouncing on Fred Flintstone and tickling him with joyous licks until Wilma or someone else called Dino off or Dino just stopped.
Last edited:
This is true when it comes to feet and foot fetishes, but not when it comes to tickling.
Has the tickling fetish profile risen in the last several years compared to where it was over a decade ago? Yes, but it's still pretty niche. There's still a lot of people who don't know it's a fetish.
Has the tickling fetish profile risen in the last several years compared to where it was over a decade ago? Yes, but it's still pretty niche. There's still a lot of people who don't know it's a fetish.
duderino84
3rd Level Orange Feather
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2013
- Messages
- 2,506
- Points
- 63
I don't buy into this perspective. There's one thing I've learned after years of trying to sway people to "like" tickling.... as Rachel Zegler says, "It's WEIRD? Weird? WEIRD."
People are not going to be drawn to it and there will be a niche crowd who likes how overwhelming it is. A few news reports of strange ticklefuckers trying to tickle feet of strangers will stand out to US, but it's really not that common, so it's marked "mental health issue" and dismissed.
Edit: the thing about the nature of people, is people like "straightforward". They don't like complication. They don't like any more complexity.
Even mainstream it's a bit weird, but then to take that and state you consider it like "sex", is an entire math of ideas people generally aren't interested in.
I remember I met someone who I'd consider a "5" (not to be mathematical, but plainly average). I mentioned tickling, she just went "I'd rather just be treated like a dude". My translation? Just sit around and knock back beers.
Last edited:
I feel tickling community did "blow it."
The community has pigeon-holed itself, presenting tickling as a sexual thing and generally disregards just general love of tickling without sexuality attached. I think this is entirely wrong, and that it is actually an early-accepted label applied by the "community" itself - and by that I mean the presentation of tickling content, and that this all falls back to the original community websites, and was just embraced and carried forward.
Occasionally there are posts here about meeting someone who loves tickling but had no idea about the community, or post made outside community about someone obsessed with tickling. To them, they just love tickling, nothing more. But when the community reaches them, suddenly its conflated to sexuality.
To begin with, its referred (labeled) as tickling "Fetish" and people completely overlook that fetish does not need to mean sexual. It has different meanings and that includes an intense liking, idolizing, fascination with it. This was my original understanding of the word, and i embraced it - for that meaning. But I have since disavowed this terminology, outside of this usage, because people hear it and automatically associate sexual - and for me it is not this way. Fetish is often used colloquially to describe obsession with things - bag fetish, shoe fetish, purse fetish, etc. they are not describing sexual excitement but rather their intense love of that thing. Other people could say they have a "hobby"...
My theory is that even most of those who consider it a true sexual thing are misguided. They are;
1) accepting a misguiding label ( above ), and
2) conflated desires - where their sexual desire, that is person and situation specific (and expectation of sexual intimacy), is then conflated with love of tickling, even though outside of that sexually intimate relationship tickling would be a purely platonic, non-sexual, thing. ( it is not tickling, it is the person and situation) To say otherwise is to say that cuddling is a purely sexual thing...
Tickling can be (is) fun, bonding, a stress-relieving.
I see zero reason why this it cannot be simply viewed for this.
Why cant people just love tickling or being tickled, from playfully to very intensely, without it being "sexual"?
People seek joy in all manner of things, from mundane to extreme. They enjoy violently fighting in rings, jumping from planes bridges and buildings, racing at dangerous speeds, climbing dangerous cliffs, fighting for balls in games, being pampered and massaged in spas, etc. but for some reason, they cannot enjoy being tickled, especially while tied up, because? (labeling)?
Conflation with Bondage.
Bondage is suited for tickling, as tickling often results in reflexive and escape responses, even if the person being tickled does not really want to escape.
It is in effect simply a tool to enjoy the activity. Being bound and tickled / tickling should not have to equal sexual. This is more labeling.
People clearly love the public renfair performances where they can ( or are led to ) participate in the stocks and tickled to the entertainment of their friends family and onlookers. But for "community" members it has to be different...
Visual, Auditory
Why cant it just be enjoyable to watch tickling content for visual aesthetic, and for auditory enjoyment? Its nice to hear a pleasant laugh, and entertaining to see someone tickled.
Aesthetics
With my love for tickling, I also have strong desire for aesthetic, creation, and expression. I enjoy the tickling content in this regard, and have desire to create and express in my own aesthetic way. Unfortunately, community "blowing it" has created situation where its not good to share; simply for sharing, or for profit ( because it take time and effort). Bondage can also part of the aesthetic.
In the earlier 2000's tickling content, at least from what I seen available, was generally on a more wholesome level. There were some sexual content, but most was clothed or bathing suit being tickled. It seems about a decade later the content became more sexualized (orgasming, etc). At the same time, piracy was ( and is ) rampant. All content was being taken without permission and distributed on all various porn sites.
If this (the rampant piracy and posting) was not present, I think people would be far more inclined to create or share content. I personally would be unwilling, knowing how things have changed / have been the past decade +.
Conclusion
I do not feel tickling "fetish" is a sexual fetish, but rather is an intense like of tickling, that there should be no issue in enjoying it in non-sexual way, and that community blew it by pigeon holing itself with labeling and rampant piracy
The community has pigeon-holed itself, presenting tickling as a sexual thing and generally disregards just general love of tickling without sexuality attached. I think this is entirely wrong, and that it is actually an early-accepted label applied by the "community" itself - and by that I mean the presentation of tickling content, and that this all falls back to the original community websites, and was just embraced and carried forward.
Occasionally there are posts here about meeting someone who loves tickling but had no idea about the community, or post made outside community about someone obsessed with tickling. To them, they just love tickling, nothing more. But when the community reaches them, suddenly its conflated to sexuality.
To begin with, its referred (labeled) as tickling "Fetish" and people completely overlook that fetish does not need to mean sexual. It has different meanings and that includes an intense liking, idolizing, fascination with it. This was my original understanding of the word, and i embraced it - for that meaning. But I have since disavowed this terminology, outside of this usage, because people hear it and automatically associate sexual - and for me it is not this way. Fetish is often used colloquially to describe obsession with things - bag fetish, shoe fetish, purse fetish, etc. they are not describing sexual excitement but rather their intense love of that thing. Other people could say they have a "hobby"...
My theory is that even most of those who consider it a true sexual thing are misguided. They are;
1) accepting a misguiding label ( above ), and
2) conflated desires - where their sexual desire, that is person and situation specific (and expectation of sexual intimacy), is then conflated with love of tickling, even though outside of that sexually intimate relationship tickling would be a purely platonic, non-sexual, thing. ( it is not tickling, it is the person and situation) To say otherwise is to say that cuddling is a purely sexual thing...
Tickling can be (is) fun, bonding, a stress-relieving.
I see zero reason why this it cannot be simply viewed for this.
Why cant people just love tickling or being tickled, from playfully to very intensely, without it being "sexual"?
People seek joy in all manner of things, from mundane to extreme. They enjoy violently fighting in rings, jumping from planes bridges and buildings, racing at dangerous speeds, climbing dangerous cliffs, fighting for balls in games, being pampered and massaged in spas, etc. but for some reason, they cannot enjoy being tickled, especially while tied up, because? (labeling)?
Conflation with Bondage.
Bondage is suited for tickling, as tickling often results in reflexive and escape responses, even if the person being tickled does not really want to escape.
It is in effect simply a tool to enjoy the activity. Being bound and tickled / tickling should not have to equal sexual. This is more labeling.
People clearly love the public renfair performances where they can ( or are led to ) participate in the stocks and tickled to the entertainment of their friends family and onlookers. But for "community" members it has to be different...
Visual, Auditory
Why cant it just be enjoyable to watch tickling content for visual aesthetic, and for auditory enjoyment? Its nice to hear a pleasant laugh, and entertaining to see someone tickled.
Aesthetics
With my love for tickling, I also have strong desire for aesthetic, creation, and expression. I enjoy the tickling content in this regard, and have desire to create and express in my own aesthetic way. Unfortunately, community "blowing it" has created situation where its not good to share; simply for sharing, or for profit ( because it take time and effort). Bondage can also part of the aesthetic.
In the earlier 2000's tickling content, at least from what I seen available, was generally on a more wholesome level. There were some sexual content, but most was clothed or bathing suit being tickled. It seems about a decade later the content became more sexualized (orgasming, etc). At the same time, piracy was ( and is ) rampant. All content was being taken without permission and distributed on all various porn sites.
If this (the rampant piracy and posting) was not present, I think people would be far more inclined to create or share content. I personally would be unwilling, knowing how things have changed / have been the past decade +.
Conclusion
I do not feel tickling "fetish" is a sexual fetish, but rather is an intense like of tickling, that there should be no issue in enjoying it in non-sexual way, and that community blew it by pigeon holing itself with labeling and rampant piracy
Last edited:
sensitivesara02
Registered User
- Joined
- May 25, 2025
- Messages
- 18
- Points
- 13
I personally dont think lower profile past 25 - 30 yrs would’ve brought mainstream tickling content close. From what I know kinks as tickling are still stigmatized despite their current visibilities. But because of our active nature, tickle kinksters have become niche communities, one that largely prioritizes consent, trust, safety. Thanks for all you've done @TMF Jeff .
Vellication86
TMF Poster
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2024
- Messages
- 79
- Points
- 33
I kinda agree. Whenever I post clips that I find through YouTube, tiktok etc, I try to scrub the users info from it so we don't "make it hot"
Cloudbusting
Verified
- Joined
- May 30, 2025
- Messages
- 102
- Points
- 28
I think there's more mainstream content now than ever before.
quinn65
3rd Level Red Feather
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2001
- Messages
- 1,505
- Points
- 83
Agreed, but there is also more content overall now by orders of magnitude, and it's growing exponentially. I bet that without the fetish stigma, we'd see a lot more A-tier mainstream tickling. Modern Family did have a foot- (or I guess shoe-) related subplot in one episode, but it generated a fair amount of snark. Then again, maybe I saw the snark because I was looking for it when I researched the fan fic piece.
Beyond Modern Family, think Community, Parks & Rec, Veep...I don't know, dozens of others. Imagine a version of Quentin Tarantino leaning hard into blockbuster movie tickling scenes. Imagine commercials for panty hose, "so sheer that..."
No big deal, and I'm certainly not throwing shade at responsible forums like this one that have done so much for the community over the decades. If I could magically choose, I'd probably take the "state of tickling" as it is over an alternate universe where the community was quieter and we had a handful more knockout series episodes, movies, commercials, etc.
Just a passing thought... 🙂
Back in the mid 00's when video uploading on the likes of MySpace etc was in its infancy along with YouTube there was a naivety on the Internet. The people uploading mainstream videos of friends being tickled etc thought it was just a funny moment for their friends to see. They had no idea that those videos would end up being widely shared and the most important point, they didn't know tickling was a fetish. They learnt pretty quickly though when they'd be bombarded with the usual replies such as the classic "Do another video, but get their bare feet next time!!!!"
People are more aware of fetish stuff now than they were 20 years ago and much more conscious of what they are posting online. Also habits have changed too. If some people have a tickle fight at a party for example, it's not going on youtube, it'll be shared on a WhatsApp group or a Snapchat.
But I do think the creepier elements of the tickling community has been a factor no doubt.
I definitely think there's much less mainstream tickling content as a result.
People are more aware of fetish stuff now than they were 20 years ago and much more conscious of what they are posting online. Also habits have changed too. If some people have a tickle fight at a party for example, it's not going on youtube, it'll be shared on a WhatsApp group or a Snapchat.
But I do think the creepier elements of the tickling community has been a factor no doubt.
I definitely think there's much less mainstream tickling content as a result.
Cloudbusting
Verified
- Joined
- May 30, 2025
- Messages
- 102
- Points
- 28
man. i'm just sitting here waiting for the day that Tarantino goes and applies tickling. HOPING FOR THE DAY. 😭
ManInDistress
TMF Regular
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2012
- Messages
- 231
- Points
- 18
I think there very well could be more mainstream content if the tickling fetish wasn't as well known as it is, but I'm not sure it was fetishist who pulled it into the purview of the modern internet zeitgeist. This is only my personal experience, but I hear non fetishist mentioning the documentry "Tickled" when discussing tickling fetishism.
I not long watched a video of someone referring to tickling scenes in cartoons as "problematic." When someone in the comments section asked what was so problematic about tickling, the video's creator responded (and I'm paraphrasing) "There are people online too 'fascinated' with tickling. It was documented in the film 'tickled'"
Although the film doesn't appear to be trying to cast tickle fetishist in a poor light, it seemed to do so unintentionally.
With that being said, I can see why some folks may see tickling especially in a torture scenario, as disturbing due to what are perceived as perverts getting aroused by it.
I not long watched a video of someone referring to tickling scenes in cartoons as "problematic." When someone in the comments section asked what was so problematic about tickling, the video's creator responded (and I'm paraphrasing) "There are people online too 'fascinated' with tickling. It was documented in the film 'tickled'"
Although the film doesn't appear to be trying to cast tickle fetishist in a poor light, it seemed to do so unintentionally.
With that being said, I can see why some folks may see tickling especially in a torture scenario, as disturbing due to what are perceived as perverts getting aroused by it.
duderino84
3rd Level Orange Feather
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2013
- Messages
- 2,506
- Points
- 63
Yea I guess, but I don't think for a second that D'Amato is the mascot for tickling....
It's just a very unique story about a fucked up ordeal that was facilitated by money.
I tend to think that if the tickling fixation hadn't been treated like some dark and ugly secret, we could see and enjoy a lot more of it in many venues.
I know many ppl both in and not into the fixation itself treat / regard tickling as always 100% sexual ....and that is simply not true. There is nothing wrong with tickling as foreplay or part of sexual escapades, but we dont make the point enough that there are plenty of Ler and Lees that are into the fixation for simply the power exchange btw LER and LEE, or the enjoyment of giving and receiving the tickle sensations . One doesn't have to mix tickling with. sex automatically...
but w've let that happen and now to get tickling out of the dark shadows and an acceptable form of touch/play therapy...we are working very much uphill.
tickling should be able to be discussed like any other attractive characteristic ....like nice legs, nice smile, nice figure, etc
I know a lot has to do with the intimacy of tickling but still.. we should be able as adults to recognize tickling as jsut another avenue for relaxation and satisfying touch play. ...ie like massage....I have given massages to my wife without one modicum of sexual expectation or return of the favors...we should be able to do that with tickling as well...
I know many ppl both in and not into the fixation itself treat / regard tickling as always 100% sexual ....and that is simply not true. There is nothing wrong with tickling as foreplay or part of sexual escapades, but we dont make the point enough that there are plenty of Ler and Lees that are into the fixation for simply the power exchange btw LER and LEE, or the enjoyment of giving and receiving the tickle sensations . One doesn't have to mix tickling with. sex automatically...
but w've let that happen and now to get tickling out of the dark shadows and an acceptable form of touch/play therapy...we are working very much uphill.
tickling should be able to be discussed like any other attractive characteristic ....like nice legs, nice smile, nice figure, etc
I know a lot has to do with the intimacy of tickling but still.. we should be able as adults to recognize tickling as jsut another avenue for relaxation and satisfying touch play. ...ie like massage....I have given massages to my wife without one modicum of sexual expectation or return of the favors...we should be able to do that with tickling as well...
ManInDistress
TMF Regular
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2012
- Messages
- 231
- Points
- 18
Although I would agree he isn't a mascot, he was the subject of a film that introduced many people to the fetish.
If your introduction to tickling as a fetish was a film about a disturbed man who exploited people for his own sexual pleasure, then it's possible that you'd see tickle enthusiasts in a negative light, even if you knew rationally that they can't all be like that.
jamesatgmail
TMF Poster
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2018
- Messages
- 128
- Points
- 28
Thankfully it hasn’t grown to the point where it’s that mainstream, basically every woman that I’ve ever encountered hasn’t heard of it
jamesatgmail
TMF Poster
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2018
- Messages
- 128
- Points
- 28
I’m not sure I understand that last paragraph
South_Atmo
3rd Level Red Feather
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,625
- Points
- 63
Hmmm... What are you defining as mainstream?
I still see a bunch of tickle challenges and stuff on YouTube where people tie up and tickle their significant other or friend. There's tickle pranks and the like all over social media. You watch one, on purpose or not, and then the all-mighty algorithm will feed you hundreds more. Lol. They haven't seemed to have slowed down.
If you're referring to strictly Hollywood films and broadcast/cable TV and/or major streaming services... I, personally, but I also don't consume that type of media anymore, but when I did, I don't know if I really noticed a dip in tickling scenes. To me, they were always very rare.
If it is happening and people are avoiding making those scenes anymore because they don't want to accidentally feed a fetish fantasies, we also have to remember that things happen in Hollyweird... How likely is it that wild person from our community got into Hollywood and did some wild stuff behind the scenes?
Wasn't there that one guy who snuck into college dorm rooms and was tickling people's feet some years ago? The majority of us saw that story and rejected that guy because that's not how we operate, but the masses don't hang out here on the TMF. They don't see our conversations. They will see things differently. Isn't there always some female celebrity getting weirded out by request for feet pics? Isn't there always some female streamer getting chat requests to show her feet? (I'm not referring to the women who get on twitch for that reason, or the ones who get on with the intent to thirst trap, I'm referring to the ones who literally just get on to game).
I say that to say we could keep our heads down all we want to because... let's be real, that's what most of us do that anyway. There's still going to be those wild ones who can't control themselves, there's still going to be the ones who can't separate fantasy from reality, and we can't really do anything about them. Plus, at the rate information travels, and with how a lot of media generally likes to form narratives around stories that may not even be there, people are going to see the bad side of us long before they see any of the good.
duderino84
3rd Level Orange Feather
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2013
- Messages
- 2,506
- Points
- 63
My point is....a lot of people are not sensationalist to enjoy tickling.
Modern sex is like golf. Put the ball in the hole and most people are happy. Tickle them and a lot go "what the heck are you doing!?".
duderino84
3rd Level Orange Feather
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2013
- Messages
- 2,506
- Points
- 63
I'd chuck a thumb drive full of a couple Cal Star era tickling videos (or some of the longer variety) and call it a day.
The documentary is not a good way to describe this thing. Just like watching generic blowjob films on pornhub isn't always a way to learn about it.
It isn't devoid of information, but it comes from a perspective that isn't very positive, that frames tickling as "the problem".
Exactly. D'Amato was known to be a menace in the tickling "community" way back in the days of usenet.
ManInDistress
TMF Regular
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2012
- Messages
- 231
- Points
- 18
Agreed. That's my point.
