God, how I wish I could get rid of mine...
What is so interesting about the myriad of information on the subjects of fetishism, tickling, and the like is that, like all findings having to do with social science, the research performed has proven ultimately inconclusive and, for that reason, terribly frustrating.
This, of course, is not to say that the more "concrete disciplines" have provided better explanations. In fact, the laughter that often accompanies tickling has never been fully explained in physiological terms to date. And, come on, the erogenous tactile stimulation being blamed for what may be easily reduced to a plethora of knee-jerk reflex-arcs? Monumental insights there...
As far as the excitement-factor which often accompanies the act of tickling, the best information the public has been presented with to date has been due to a "joining of the forces", as it were; with behaviorists who believe that the act possesses something of a "mock-attack" quality. Unfortunately, the two branches of research invariably fall short when it comes to what is so sought after... why we love it, what it means, and can it be controlled?
Looking at tickling from a sociological point of view, however, though we may not be able to directly answer any of the aforementioned queries, still we are able to glean some insight into how one harboring such tendencies may often feel at odds with their inclinations.
Perhaps to flesh things out a bit, first an interesting fact. Until fairly recently, and the most recent numerical incarnation of itself, the DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual) considered homosexuality to be a psychological malady. Referred to by many a professional in the field as a veritable guidebook by which to recognize, diagnose, and treat aberrant behavior on an individual, case-by-case basis, the DSM has been reputed to be "the book" of the profession. However, the shifting of same-sex preference from deviant to near-commonplace in contemporary thought has shown that, even to those supposed "pillars of insight" to whom we the masses turn in order to better understand ourselves and the world are, themselves, also victims of social constructivism and norm-based notion-establishment.
In effect, with the women's and civil rights movements, occurring midway through this past century, those headlining the fights for freedom and equality could not possibly expect to affect social reform on the level they sought, were they, themselves, to exclude others who were also oppressed by the moral majority. Essentially, when women and minorities were pushed into the social sectors more thoroughly, and "accepted" in turn, so too was the deviancy which defined homosexuality demanded to be seen in a better light.
As such, though we would altruistically like to think that there were some few great minds in the annals of psychological history who incited the extrication of homosexual behavior from standardized text, such is really not the case. This, I propose, is the manner in which we, as the representatives of our own faction of deviancy should seek to understand who we are and what and why it makes one question if such behavior is a valid outlet or not.
I would be lying if I asserted that, since I realized I was a tickling enthusiast and foot fetishist, things have gone my way. In all actuality, I've found that, unlike those not victimized by such compulsions, the only blessing that my deviancy has imbued is that, I am sated seasonally, with the invariable passing of the inclement weather. Simply put, when sandal-season is open, I'm at the ready; unlike those who may only "get off" when the T, the A, or the other nether-regions happen to make themselves present.
For every silver lining, sadly, there is the gray cloud one is faced with. What I mean by this is that, because of the seemingly innate connection betwixt my lifestyle, libido, and leanings, there is no way for me to be able to exist outside of paradigm that defines my identity. I am a tickler, I love feet, and, as such, this sets me apart from those who are not.
I do not consider this a fatalistic point of view, however, as fetishes and those who carry them are perpetually wont to desire findings that any change of social consideration in their favor may eventually come about. Class consciousness is a fickle phenomenon, however, and in lieu of desiring that one's particular interests are to be seen universally as something which can be seen as "okay", perhaps one's time would better be spent in wondering just how important the rest of the world's opinion of oneself really may be.
In the end, we are all social animals who exist simultaneously within the constructs of both our minds and the minds of those around us. Ironically, I began writing this piece as a brief response to a post about controlling one's tickling fetish. Initially I was simply going to lament about how I have often, both in the past and today, wished that I could just get rid of my own so that I might, in turn, find myself with a greater cache of perspective mates in the future. Oddly enough, however, in musing about how one's particular tastes may be resultant both from the interventions of the self and the world, I've come to realize that, with the minutiae of roadblocks on my way to eventual happiness in life, worrying about whether or not my future mate loves tickling as much as do I, it's hardly bestiality, bloodletting, or scientology we're talking about. Even if they don't like to be tickled, that makes it more fun (evil smile), and should they turn out to not be ticklish, well... I'll just be praying that they have a nice pair (of feet, come on!!!).
Footnote 1: If anyone takes offense to my using the term "deviancy", please feel free to look up the term. Though commonly understood to mean bad or unacceptable, the actual definition, and my intention with using it here, was to denote how said behavior is out of the norm.
Footnote 2: I've got nothing against scientology. Hopefully there are some people who read this who are able to recognize my attempt at cynicism here with what it was grouped with.
Footnote 3: Yeah, yeah... "foot"-note, Ha Ha...
