For the Lees who call it "torture"

[matt62]

The word "torture" is used by some people in association with the experience of being tickled.

I would like to dig a bit deeper into why we would use this word to describe something that is also often described as intensely pleasurable - the very opposite of pain or torture.

Is it primarily a particular physical sensation?

Or is it a psychological effect, for example the experience of having your nervous system thoroughly invaded and controlled by another person?

 

[chicago]

It's both. Fun scary can quickly turn to panic scary

 

[CapturedDoll]

I think I use it because that's the word I have heard constantly growing up, and throughout my entire life. The accompanying mainstream, cartoon scenes, porn, artwork have usually always been depicted as torture. And being born in 1978: War movies and scenes in cartoons... interrogation was just that: torture. So I put 2 and 2 together.

I find it is for me "Pleasurable torture".

I use to be able to be whipped for hours. Now... I can't stand it. (The harder whippings anyways... haven't had it done in years.) So THAT to me is torture now. But... I still use the word in association with Tickling because I like to think of it that way. It's a turn on. So.. it is more of a psychological effect. A way to turn me on... whether giving or receiving.

 

[Sensualswitch10]

I'm thinking the phrase "tickle torture" sprung from alliteration.

 

[Bradhadair]

Pleasure can be a form of torture. It's a loss of control of one's bodily responses. Tickling is the same. And the aspect if being helpless to stop the response. That's why I call it torture. Plus it is pretty great for interrogation!

 

[Get'emgood]

I always figured it was just that tickling is something intense, done TO someone, and the 'victim' often behaves much like it were pain minus the laughter. Many enjoy it immensely for what reason but that doesn't change its nature. So, given all this plus the remarkable plasticity of language, the phrase "tickle torture" comes about. Other reasons I didn't bother to mention may also have played a part.

 

[matt62]

All helpful answers so far. Thank you.

It looks as if the loss of control aspect is a very significant part of it.

 

[Wade]

It's hard for me to articulate. The sensation of being tickled is so overwhelming and so intense; it overrides one's body with involuntary reactions (laughter, physical movements). And it's accompanied by an instantaneous, urgent and irresistible need to make it stop. It's not painful, but my every instinct is to get away or make it stop. I can't say why.

 

[lioclips]

The idea or notion of tickling being employed to "torture", makes the tickling itself more exciting to some lees.

 

[alex]

Some people hate being tickled. If you tickle such people for any length of time, it's genuine torture for them. Others are turned on by the IDEA of torturing or being tortured by tickling, much as those into traditional S/M are turned on by the idea of inflicting or experiencing pain.

 

[Amanda Cortez]

And I still wouldn't call it torture. For me torture is physical pain and not something like tickling, even though it can also be hard to stand.