How do mainstream people react to tickling?

[melbournianguy]

I am interested in this little phenomena. I don't know if it just me or what but do you think that people in general (apart from us tickle nuts) have issues with the concept of "tickling" or indeed the word.

When I watch the behaviour of others when a real life tickling happens, maybe just a playful tickle in the ribs or if the word is mentioned...SOME people seem uncomfortable. Almost like it's a taboo.

I know that if I ever mention the word in passing, SOME people don't engage on the word or ignore that it was mentioned. People rarely talk about it and because it is such a cute little human behaviour which even the strongest submit to in laughter you'd think more people would find it funny or interesting. The very fact that we have threads based around real life tickling events and people savour the story so much indicates just how rare it really is in everyday life.

For example, yesterday I was talking about the questionnaire website "tickle.com" which has nothing to do with tickling like we know it, but simply just a website devoted to finding out what personality you have and some pretty dodgy pycho-analysis. The girl I was talking to about it could not even mention the word in the conversation and I notice subtle awkwardness when I mention the word. Now don't get me wrong, I am not hitting on her, nor do I go around mentioning the word "tickle" non-stop, I very rarely do. So there was no basis to the reaction. I know this is not a great example but I've seen this happen hundreds of times.

It's just that some people appear uncomfortable at the mention of the word. Especially if you see it happening. Obviously not ALL people react this way, just some. Which makes me wonder if more people see it as sexual than what we think. Maybe this unconfortableness extends to why we rarely see it in movies. I don't know if I am reading to much into it but do others here notice this little sociological quirk?

Aussietickler

 

[leenotler]

It's fun, it's intimate, no one taxes it, so it's forbidden. 🙂

I don't know. Here's some random guesses:
Maybe it's just seen as a childish vulerability and most don't want to admit or invite that. I saw a tickle clip from a movie where a young adult quoted a book that said tickling is a form of child abuse, (just as she was tickled by her mother). I guess that implies sexual content or at least coercion. Touching to cause an involuntary reaction could be considered assault.
I think people see it as too intimate or potentially embarrassing for polite conversation, like masturbation, sex, or nose picking. Tickling could be seen as an invasion of personal space to cause someone to look foolish or even disable them temporarily. Most want to at least appear to have self control, and tickling takes that away.

 

[GEORGIATKLER]

Ve Will Tickle Da Vanilla Out Of Ya...................

With Laughter, Maybe? 🙂 I Think It Has To Do With Childhood Experiences. If People Were Tickle "tortured" Or Abused By Parents, Siblings Etc.,they Developed A Hate For Any Tickling. "playful" Tickling Would Not Cause Such An Aversion, Unless The Person Was Extremely Ticklish. I Would Not Recommend Tickling A Stranger. I Can't See The Harm In Talking About Tickling Though. Interesting Topic. Thanks For The Thread.

 

[crydun]

I don't get it either. Built in stress-relief from God and no one wants to use it.

As for mentioning the word, I CAN relate to this. I am the type of person that if "tickle" gets mentioned out loud in front of me, my face gets really red and I might even start giggling. Now, part of this is due to my kink. However, I have trouble saying "the T word"

 

[johnjo2]

i get the impression that most people probably find the subject fascinating and are in denial and that is why they do not know how to react when it is in their face.

 

[Solesbrusher]

Maybe it's just seen as a childish vulerability and most don't want to admit or invite that.

i get the impression that most people probably find the subject fascinating and are in denial and that is why they do not know how to react when it is in their face.

You're right. Adult people often seem to feel uncomfortable and ashamed when getting tickled or even when one talks to them about tickling: I noticed the simple fact of evoking tickling could very often be considered as childish and incongruous. I think many people inhibit sensations, games, memories, "weaknesses" they arbitrarily relate to childhood and don't wanna be talked about anymore. In several cases, I discovered that adult people having this kind of attitude were very very ticklish...

 

[melbournianguy]

Control?

Wow, such intelligent answers - thankyou all. It's great to read these and ponder further on them. Maybe it is also to do with control. Most people like to be in control, or have control over others in some way. If that person is tickled they immediately lose that control, and perhaps it is more embarrassing as it links them to something childish and exposes a socially deemed 'childish' weakness. I wonder, are people who hate tickling generally people who like to be in control eg, in their lives, workplace or other?

 

[TKLVR181]

I don't get it either. Built in stress-relief from God and no one wants to use it.

As for mentioning the word, I CAN relate to this. I am the type of person that if "tickle" gets mentioned out loud in front of me, my face gets really red and I might even start giggling. Now, part of this is due to my kink. However, I have trouble saying "the T word"

Same here! I've had that problem since I was little, waaaay before I knew what the word "fetish" meant. I used to wonder what was wrong with me, too. I always avoided tickling/being tickled for that reason. I'm glad I found you guys! :happy:

 

[LonelyKimiko]

I notice there are a lot of people, myself included, that get that awkward reaction to the word "tickle" too. Personally I'd say these are people that have an idle curiosity of tickling, maybe not to the degree that we have coming onto a forum about it, but it's there none the less.

Of course, you cant speak for everyone, but I think there are a lot more people that like tickling, be it in a sexsual or playful way, than we might think.

 

[Sockstickler]

I think you're right there. I've seen a few people that, even though they don't post on forums like these, take joy in tickling, even within my own family. Case in point, I've seen both my father and my brother tickling their significant others, so it's definitely a lot more widespread than we might imagine.
And yeah, I'll admit to being another one of those peeps who always has a funny reaction to hearing the word spoken or seeing it written down somewhere. I always catch myself smirking or maybe blushing a bit, though I'd hope it's not noticed.

 

[indivision]

I sometimes get a little uncomfortable when tickling is mentioned, mainly because of my own fetish with it. I've always been a little embarrassed by my tickle fetish. I probably shouldn't be that way, since it IS a part of who I am. I still can't completely shake it, though. Who knows, maybe some of the other people who seem to get uncomfortable when tickling is metioned are closet tickle fetishists, too.

 

[Sockstickler]

I sometimes get a little uncomfortable when tickling is mentioned, mainly because of my own fetish with it. I've always been a little embarrassed by my tickle fetish. I probably shouldn't be that way, since it IS a part of who I am. I still can't completely shake it, though. Who knows, maybe some of the other people who seem to get uncomfortable when tickling is metioned are closet tickle fetishists, too.

That could be it too. They could think they're weird for liking tickling, but they're really not. At least, they're no weirder than anyone else. Neither are you, don't worry.

 

[DarthGrinn]

Personally, I've never noticed any awckwardness from "mainstream" people at all with regards to tickling.

It rarely ever gets mentioned tho; I guess I don't hang out with a group of touchy/feely people, but when it does, I get a playful/teasing/friendly vibe.

I guess it just depends on the person. You have those "mainstream" that get nervous around tickling topics; then you have "mainstream" that will give you a friendly rib tickle, or even go all out on you if you don't give them their pen back when they ask for it... >_>

Some are more comfortable with physical play than others; we all have our reasons.

 

[melbournianguy]

I know what you are saying rtl and I and I agree, but when you say it depends on the person and that some "mainstream" people get nervous around tickling topics...they're the people I find most interesting....I wonder....are they hiding something....a secret tickle fetish or at least a low level one.

 

[DarthGrinn]

Maybe... maybe not.

Let's say the idea of dripping hot candle wax gets me squeamish (which it does); and somebody brings it up in a conversation. Now I'll be uncomfortable about it because I find the idea strange, and painful.

But to the person discussing, he or she may find it normal and sexy (and even belongs to lovely forum @ www.hotwaxtheater.com).

That person could be having this very same conversation right now "How do mainstream people react to hot wax", and wonder if I have a hidden fetish for hot wax...

I can definitely say that I don't (at the moment anyway), and the idea makes me uncomfortable simply because I just don't "get" it, and don't find it appealing. That doesn't make that person, who likes hot wax, a freak or anything; he/she could even be uncomfortable with the idea of being tickled into hysterics...

Y'never know...

My ex didn't get tickling. She didn't really understand how tickling could be sexy, and would get a lil "weird" around me if I brought it up or play-tickled her; and wasn't even ticklish. Yet she got off on BDSM; bondage, spanking, even that extreme Japanese bondage... things that I didn't get at the time...

You never know what inner-freak (note how this one word can have both a positive and negative meaning, dependin' on how u flip it) these so-called "mainstream people" hide within them, until you really get to know them. My ex looked totally "mainstream" on the outside, and the way she acted about tickling, you could easily have confused her for "one of those people"...

Sometimes I find myself totally floored when I find out that a girl who I thought was "sweet" and "innocent" turned out to be "somethin' else". I learned to just not have any preconceptions about people. That cute lil book worm with the huge nerd-glasses could be a dom-chick; while the goth/punk lady standin next to her could end up being a vanilla poser... ya dig?