Doubtful thoughts of a tickle-fiction writer

[Haltickling]

As the first story in my story archive has hit 1000 views, I'm trying to analyze the numbers.

Top scorer is my story "Lara" with 1006 views, probably due to the fact that I mentioned it in a Tickle Discussion thread recently.

But as a whole, it seems that stories with titles hinting at severe, non-consensual torture are much more popular than others: KGB Tickle Torture (996) and The Inquisition (929) scored about three times more views than e.g. "A touch of Romance: The Diary" (305). The losers are my science fiction stories ("Space Ticklers" 299, "Eating Laughter" 303).

My question: Does that say something about the people here? A definitely cruel streak prevailing over romance? Or do I read too much in those numbers?

Please, a doubtful writer's mind needs to know your opinion on that question.

BTW: You'll find my story archive here: http://www.ticklingforum.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=132

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I think that's one of the interesting things about this fetish that all the visiters here share--there's a wide divergence in tickling tastes. With upwards of 10G membership, I'm not about to speak for anybody but ME, and in my case, the interest is definately geared towards the extreme/cruel/torture aspects of tickling, both as ler and lee. I'm curious to find out just what the limit of this fetish IS. What's the worst that could concievably happen to me in a bondage/tickling scenario? Passing out? Heart attack? Death? I dunno...

 

[milagros317]

I don't have an answer to your question, Hal, but here are the observations from my own story archive:

Least read story is science fiction, and that can be seen from the title, "Holodeck Pixies", 365 views.

My other SF/fantasy story, not so obvious from the title, "Commitment", is fourth from the bottom at 522 views.

My two most read stories are both nonfiction: "The Provocation" with 3,473 views and "Double Trouble" with 1,805 views.

I conclude that the readers like my nonfiction most and SF least.

I had a session with Mistress Zara on Wednesday, which I am writing up as a nonfiction story. I expect it will be done by the end of the holiday weekend.

 

[Double T]

A cruel streak?

In fantasy, perhaps. We all have a "Dark side" or id, or whatever you want to call it. But, as a society of ticklers/lees, we do think about such things, and a constructive way of expressing these feelings is to write them out. As for reading them, amost none of the readers would actually DO these things (Unless specifically requested by their partner), but we think about it, and the stories are an outlet. I try to write only "fun" tickle stories, myself. ("Space" gets few views? Even my Taratainia series? ). Anyhoo, I don't think it's anything worth worrying about. So, relax, and read stories by U.N. Owen, or critterlord, or me!😉

 

[njjen3953]

Hal,
The fact that one of the most controversial topics on TMF has been non-consensual tickling should answer that question for you. I would bet that if you put non-consensual in a search you would get as many hits as putting in tickling. 😛

 

[tklr5150]

Frame of mind can have a lot to do with it. I'm willing to bet that people who are indulging in fetish material when they're alone may be frustrated some times, and prefer to read about darker expressions of their fetish than about loving couples that they themselves are not presently a part of. Okay, maybe I'm speaking from occassional experience. But I don't know that it necessarily reflects overall preferences.

 

[sceej56]

Interesting question - I suspect it's difficult or impossibel to answer. Seems to me (and I have to be careful about generalizing) that there are people who only like the hard nonconsensual stuff (including me), people who only like the softer consensual material, and peopel who like both. My own guess is that the hard non-consensual tickle torture stuff is preferred by a substantial majority. My reasoning is not completely scientific but if you loo at number of hits (as you did) it seems to bear this out. Perhaps more importantly, look at all the professional and semi-professional art (BAC, Redder, Saudelli), videos , stories - the overwhelming majority involve non-consensual tickling - occasionally in a humorous vain but non-consensual none the less. Similarly, it appears (and I'm NOT saying this is everyone) that there is a decided preference for F/F tickling. Again, these are just my opinions and observations. Getting into why this is the case is probably too hot a topic, I think.

 

[njjen3953]

I'm willing to bet that people who are indulging in fetish material when they're alone may be frustrated some times, and prefer to read about darker expressions of their fetish than about loving couples that they themselves are not presently a part of.

I think you are on to something I have always thought when it comes to this topic.

 

[Neutron]

Most Likely..

It's because it's a sort of tickling that most here will never be part of either for moral grounds or lack of opportunity.

Tron

 

[Phineas]

from my observations, we get a *lot* of spillover from the BDSM communities in here. witness all of the people calling themselves doms, subs, masters, mistresses, etc, and of course, using all that terminology. are people who dig dominance, spanking, bastinado, etc. really going to come searching for a light, fluffy, romantic tickling story, or something involving a rack and pillory?

'course, I could be wrong. if I am, kindly set me straight as I don't want to generalize about a community I know nothing about.

 

[Ayla ny]

we read fiction to take us to places we will never be. I think that’s pretty much what it boils down to. ...whether or not that’s even a place we would want to be in reality... is another story.

I happen to really enjoy both the romantic, realistic, ‘could happen to me’ stories, as well as the ‘kidnap and tickle her into insanity’ stories.

what I want in my day-to-day life isn’t always where I want a good story to take my mind. but sometimes it is 🙂

(if that didn’t make any sense at all... I blame friends, cards and mudslides 🙂 )

cool question, Hal.

 

[Haltickling]

Very interesting thoughts, folks, which gave me completely new angles to look at the issue.

Milagros: Your observations seem to confirm my own: Least popular is Sci-Fi. As for the true stories: I wrote two of them, one was the top scorer (with BDSM dungeon in the title), the other one ranked in the middle (8 of 15). So again, the "dark side" in the title probably was the clincher. However, I'm thinking about writing down another of my own experiences with a more torture-oriented background.

Thanks to all of you for all the valuable input so far. Keep it coming, maybe there are some other aspects there which we haven't thought of yet! 😎

 

[Dave2112]

Perhaps it's also what fans come to expect from a certain writer. My "Jedi Apprentice" story is one of my most-read ones in my own Archive, so I don't think sci-fi has much to do with it. However, I do agree that most of the titles that hint at what you mentioned seem to get more hits.

Interesting topic, Hal.

Odd Note: My comedy stories have done well, which is unusual. Perhaps I'm losing my mind and people are fascinated with wathcing a person mentally deteriorate? 😀

 

[tklr5150]

Perhaps I'm losing my mind and people are fascinated with wathcing a person mentally deteriorate? 😀

Can you think of a better way to take one's mind off one's own psychological erosion? 😀