tickle me elmo?

[new2sceenbob]

To all,

For me, even as a child, tickling always evoked very powerful feelings. I now firmly believe that tickling is definitely a type of BDSM activity(of course that is a matter for another discussion). So I severely question whether young children should be introduced to it in such a cavalier matter as with tickle me Elmo dolls! I am very curious as to your opinion on this matter...

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[The Untickled 1]

Elmo Ahhhh

lol sorry this isnt a reply to your question but Elmo, Ronald Mc Donald, and Barney freak me out man

 

[Majestic]

Well Bob, just my opinion but as a child growing up I was never tickled much by adults. My brother-in-law used to attempt it but I didnt like him therefore it was more "torture" for me. My nephew, who was the same age as me, used to tickle me but I took it as a dominant ploy on his part. I was a tomboy and I felt that was a "girlie" thing and I hated it. I have two children and I tickled them as babies and still get a poke or two in now. I didnt realize my "powerful feelings" about tickling until about 6yrs ago but, as a parent I can separate the feelings. Anyway...back to the question. I feel if I had a toy like Tickle Me Elmo as a child I would have realized that tickling is fun and playful. I have always loved being able to make people laugh. Laughter is contagious. Having a doll who's laughter is contagious would probably have made me realize, as a child, that tickling is healthy and, if done by a loved one, is a form of affection and not a form of torture. Even today, if I had a child young enough to appreciate it, I would buy them TME's. Heck, the laugh is so happy and contagious I might even snag one for myself.

 

[new2sceenbob]

I don't agree, but thank you

Well Bob, just my opinion but as a child growing up I was never tickled much by adults. My brother-in-law used to attempt it but I didnt like him therefore it was more "torture" for me. My nephew, who was the same age as me, used to tickle me but I took it as a dominant ploy on his part. I was a tomboy and I felt that was a "girlie" thing and I hated it. I have two children and I tickled them as babies and still get a poke or two in now. I didnt realize my "powerful feelings" about tickling until about 6yrs ago but, as a parent I can separate the feelings. Anyway...back to the question. I feel if I had a toy like Tickle Me Elmo as a child I would have realized that tickling is fun and playful. I have always loved being able to make people laugh. Laughter is contagious. Having a doll who's laughter is contagious would probably have made me realize, as a child, that tickling is healthy and, if done by a loved one, is a form of affection and not a form of torture. Even today, if I had a child young enough to appreciate it, I would buy them TME's. Heck, the laugh is so happy and contagious I might even snag one for myself.

I don't agree with you on that! While tickling certainly is healthy fun for lees, to others it is a form of torture! It certainly has been employed as torture by people who knew what they were doing(like the ancient Chinese).
However, I started this thread in order to get opinions, and I'm very grateful that you took the time and trouble to give me yours...

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[Amanda]

To all,

For me, even as a child, tickling always evoked very powerful feelings. I now firmly believe that tickling is definitely a type of BDSM activity(of course that is a matter for another discussion). So I severely question whether young children should be introduced to it in such a cavalier matter as with tickle me Elmo dolls! I am very curious as to your opinion on this matter...

Sincerely,
Bob

Tickling is a part of nature.

Look at lion cubs, puppies, chimps, any animal young (yes, including humans), they are all "play fighting." Less..."advanced"...animals, such as the cubs or puppies gently bite and tackle eachother. Tickling for humans is just the same...a "mock attack", it is sometimes defined.

Shame on you for proposing taking away a child's right to play! They shouldn't be allowed to hug or kiss their parents either, then, right? If they don't adapt to those types of things, they are going to be very touchy, nervous, uncomfortable people. shame!

 

[isabeau]

Tickling is a part of nature.

Look at lion cubs, puppies, chimps, any animal young (yes, including humans), they are all "play fighting." Less..."advanced"...animals, such as the cubs or puppies gently bite and tackle eachother. Tickling for humans is just the same...a "mock attack", it is sometimes defined.

Shame on you for proposing taking away a child's right to play! They shouldn't be allowed to hug or kiss their parents either, then, right? If they don't adapt to those types of things, they are going to be very touchy, nervous, uncomfortable people. shame!

that is what i was going to say..you said it so eloquently..tickling can definitely not be sexual in nature, but playful only..to suggest taking away the tickling emo doll..which btw i think is adorable, is very silly and plain wrong..there are some people who get off on water sports..golden showers so to speak..shall we take away the dolls that wet their pants? because it might be sexual in nature? tickling with children is playful only, if it happens at all..i was never tickled as a child, but if i had been, it would have been a playful, fun event..

there are far more dangerous toys on the market that promote violence..i would be more worried about that myself than a tickling doll..

 

[new2sceenbob]

thank you

I really do want to thank everyone for sharing your interesting insights on this matter with me. I appreciate it...

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[TickledToDeath]

By the By

Not to hi jack the thread but there is a new Tickle me Elmo coming out soon for the holidays...I think it is called Elmo TXE or something like that and as stated on the radio it standes for Tickle Extreme. The Elmo giggles laughs laughs hysterically rolls around and pounds fists on the floor!


TTD

 

[animatedgifman]

*** Top-Secret "TMX" (Tickle Me Extreme) Elmo Revealed!

Not to hi jack the thread but there is a new Tickle me Elmo coming out soon for the holidays...I think it is called Elmo TXE or something like that and as stated on the radio it standes for Tickle Extreme. The Elmo giggles laughs laughs hysterically rolls around and pounds fists on the floor!

TTD

http://shopping.aol.com/pages/Top-Secret-Elmo-Revealed/20215

Top-Secret TMX Elmo Revealed
by: Parija B. Kavilanz NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) --
The much-anticipated top-secret 10th-anniversary Elmo, code-named
"T.M.X. Elmo" is finally here -- and it's the hysterically laughing, belly-clutching, floor-thumping Elmo.

Fisher-Price, a division of No. 1 toymaker Mattel, unveiled the new T.M.X. Elmo to the world Tuesday.

"T.M.X." stands for two things - "Tickle Me Extreme" or "Tickle Me 10," representing the toy's 10-year milestone.

Click here to see the Gallery of Elmo through the years:
http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/consumer/elmo/frameset.exclude.html

Elmo fans should grab the new toy while they can because industry analysts are already anticipating a shortage of Elmo T.M.X. over the holiday shopping season.

Some quick-thinking consumers hoping to make a juicy profit already put up their Elmo T.M.X. for sale on eBay at double the price.

Fisher-Price has been extremely tight-lipped about the special Elmo. Only a handful of company executives and a few toy industry analysts had seen the toy.

This new Elmo reacts to a "tickling" as soon as you turn it on. Its arms flap, it falls to the floor, rolls around and simply can't stop laughing.

T.M.X. Elmo has three tickle spots on his chin, tummy or foot. When you tickle Elmo once on any of the tickle spots, he starts to laugh and slap his leg twice, then falls down into a sitting position and rocks himself back up to standing while laughing.

When they tickle him a second time, he repeats the pattern, then sits down again and falls backwards, kicking his feet while laughing even harder. And on the third tickle he rolls over onto his tummy, thumping his hand on the floor in laughter and then stands back up again.

The new doll is priced at $39.99.

According to the Toy Industry Association (TIA), total annual toy sales last year totaled $21.9 billion, down 0.2 percent from the previous year.

So can the furry red monster single-handedly turn things around for the industry this year?

Some industry watchers speculate that it will take more than a brilliant marketing ploy from Fisher-Price to maneuver that.

Indeed, toymakers like Mattel and Hasbro are fighting hard to expand their market share at a time when many more kids are shunning traditional toys in favor of consumer electronics like Apple's iPod and portable gaming platforms like Sony's PSP.

Tough to get?
Jim Silver, editor of Toy Wishes magazine, said Elmo T.M.X. has the potential of being one of the blockbuster toys of the year, especially in the pre-school category.

However, the new Elmo could very well become "extremely" hard to find.

"Because the technology is so complicated, it's taking longer to make the new Elmo. Fisher-Price is only making between 50 to 60 percent of the full-year production of the new Elmo," Silver said, adding that Fisher-Price typically produces a million and a half units of Elmo for the holidays.

"There's going to be a shortage for T.M.X.," he said.

If Fisher-Price scores a hit with Elmo, then a shortage could work in the company's favor by boosting demand for product. On the contrary, Silver said no toymaker wants to lose sales of an extra 500,000 units during the key November and December period that accounts for as much as 50 percent of toymaker's profits and sales.

Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price Brands, said he's confident the company can meet this year's demand target as long as Elmo sells at the levels the company has anticipated for it.

"If T.M.X. becomes a runaway hit then we may have to chase the demand with extra production," he told CNNMoney.com.

Friedman said Fisher-Price worked 18 months to develop the technologically advanced T.M.X.

"Our job is to be innovative," he said. "We'll use technology where we feel it can enhance out toy product and not just for technology's sake."

There will be yet another new Elmo next year, "That's all we're saying about that. Stay tuned," Friedman said

In the meantime, Wal-Mart, KB Toys and Toys "R" Us are keen to exploit the Elmo buzz to boost sales at their stores. These retailers already offered their customers preorders of T.M.X. without listing any of the product details.

Wal-Mart and other toy sellers also plan to hold special Elmo events Tuesday at some locations to coincide with the launch

Click here to see the Gallery of Elmo through the years:
http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/consumer/elmo/frameset.exclude.html

 

[TickleMePleeze]

My Elmo is on his way home

I preordered my Elmo TMX quite a while ago. According to UPS he left Atlanta on Tuesday and is now in Doraville, Georgia and should be making his way home to San Diego on Monday. Yippppeeeeeee!

 

[911]

It's Just A Toy.

A CHILD PUSHES ON A DOLLS TUMMY AND IT LAUGHS, I DON'T SEE THAT AS SEXUAL AT ALL. KIDS WON'T BECOME SEXUALLY EXCITED BY A DOLL. IT'S JUST A TOY IT'S NOT LIKE ELMO'S WACKIN OFF OR SOMETHING, THOUGH THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING SIGHT TO SEE.

 

[maniactickler]

To all,

For me, even as a child, tickling always evoked very powerful feelings. I now firmly believe that tickling is definitely a type of BDSM activity(of course that is a matter for another discussion). So I severely question whether young children should be introduced to it in such a cavalier matter as with tickle me Elmo dolls! I am very curious as to your opinion on this matter...

Sincerely,
Bob

You need to lighten up a bit.

 

[lergirl69]

I want an Elmo! Not the doll....just an insanely ticklish guy named Elmo. 😀


Anyway, the majority of people on this planet do not think tickling is BDSM activity. Most people don't even know a tickling fetish exists. It's different for us because we are sexually attracted to it. But even among us, tickling isn't sexual all the time as there is playful tickling (the kind between family members and children) and sexual tickling (the kind among a love interest). There are very clear lines between those two. It's like kissing. Kissing is sexual when it's from a lover, but it's not sexual when your Great Aunt Hillda kisses you on the cheek.

That said, I do think the TMX is hilarious. I want one!

 

[seanc130]

Tickling is a part of nature.

The most eloquent proof of this is with those non-human apes who have learned to communicate through sign language, like Koko the gorilla.

If there's any one thing everyone who talks about these animals points out, it's that they're always saying 'Tickle me! Tickle me!' It seems to be the equivalent of what dogs get from both treats and petting combined: a reward and a display of affection.

Look at lion cubs, puppies, chimps, any animal young (yes, including humans), they are all "play fighting." Less..."advanced"...animals, such as the cubs or puppies gently bite and tackle eachother. Tickling for humans is just the same...a "mock attack", it is sometimes defined.

I never really thought of it that way before. Of course 'play fighting' is common and necessary for many animals. I never made the connection between that and tickling, though. It probably should have been pretty obvious, but sometimes the obvious is the hardest to see. It all makes sense--an evolutionary reason for the activity to develop!

 

[new2sceenbob]

I want an Elmo! Not the doll....just an insanely ticklish guy named Elmo. 😀


Anyway, the majority of people on this planet do not think tickling is BDSM activity. Most people don't even know a tickling fetish exists. It's different for us because we are sexually attracted to it. But even among us, tickling isn't sexual all the time as there is playful tickling (the kind between family members and children) and sexual tickling (the kind among a love interest). There are very clear lines between those two. It's like kissing. Kissing is sexual when it's from a lover, but it's not sexual when your Great Aunt Hillda kisses you on the cheek.

That said, I do think the TMX is hilarious. I want one!

Thank you for your comments. At least you addressed something that I actually said, which was that I consider tickling to be a type of BDSM activity. So many people blasted me for things that I never said at all, like that I wanted to take children's toys away from them, stop them from playing with certain toys, or that my concern was that this is exposing a child to something sexual in nature(please look over everything that I said in this thread and you will see that I never mentioned the words "sex" or "sexual" until right now)! I only raised what I said was a concern, and a point for dialog and discussion.

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[tickledorange]

IT'S NOT LIKE ELMO'S WACKIN OFF OR SOMETHING

It kinda looks like it, the way he waves his arm like that. Then, he bends over. I thought that was teh funny.

 

[Kira]

My son received the new Tickle Me Elmo for his birthday. It's absolutely adorable and you can't help but laugh when you watch it.

I certainly am alright with him having this doll. Tickling with kids can be fun, you just have to be careful not to take it too far.

 

[new2sceenbob]

finally

My son received the new Tickle Me Elmo for his birthday. It's absolutely adorable and you can't help but laugh when you watch it.

I certainly am alright with him having this doll. Tickling with kids can be fun, you just have to be careful not to take it too far.

It's so nice to finally hear someone share a calm opinion on the matter without blasting me! I was beginning to wonder where all of the nice people went! Thank you...

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[911]

Thank you for your comments. At least you addressed something that I actually said, which was that I consider tickling to be a type of BDSM activity. So many people blasted me for things that I never said at all, like that I wanted to take children's toys away from them, stop them from playing with certain toys, or that my concern was that this is exposing a child to something sexual in nature(please look over everything that I said in this thread and you will see that I never mentioned the words "sex" or "sexual" until right now)! I only raised what I said was a concern, and a point for dialog and discussion.

Sincerely,
Bob

Hey Bob sorry that I misunderstood your post. But you say that your concern was not that tickle me elmo was of sexual nature, but if that's not your concern about the toy then what is?

 

[kis123]

Bob:

I don't know much about BDSM, but I was always under the impression that many in that scene consider tickling a hard limit and don't like it. I could be wrong, but.....

As far as the Elmo doll is concerned, I don't see anything about it being sexual but wouldn't buy it for my kids. I'm so glad my kids are too old to have it. I'm not crazy about the toy-he seems annoying at best and wouldn't buy it for my kids at all. It's my money and I'll spend it how I like, not on the latest greatest thing some toy company advertises.

I thought buying toys that would expand my children's minds was more important than buying the next popular thing. I cared more about what my kids needed than what they wanted-I left that to their father and he never toy shopped.

It reminds me of the old Teddy Ruxpin dolls back in the day. My sister bought one for my son. It repeated everything you said and it was the most annoying toy in the world! I was glad when he finally broke it!

And maybe some folks should lighten up a bit. He merely stated an opinon and asked a question that I see nothing wrong about it. I thought that's what this forum was for-to put our questions, issues, and opinions on the table without beating anyone up about it.

 

[new2sceenbob]

an answer to your question...

Hey Bob sorry that I misunderstood your post. But you say that your concern was not that tickle me elmo was of sexual nature, but if that's not your concern about the toy then what is?

That's O.K, I too have misunderstood many things at times! To answer your question, my concern is that I believe tickling to be a type of BDSM activity and is very intense! It is a wonderful activity for consenting adults, but I'm just not sure if very young children should be exposed to it in the manner in which the tickle me elmo dolls does. To me, it would be no different if a child were given a doll that is meant to be flogged!

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[50greg]

Bob:

I don't know much about BDSM, but I was always under the impression that many in that scene consider tickling a hard limit and don't like it. I could be wrong, but.....

As far as the Elmo doll is concerned, I don't see anything about it being sexual but wouldn't buy it for my kids. I'm so glad my kids are too old to have it. I'm not crazy about the toy-he seems annoying at best and wouldn't buy it for my kids at all. It's my money and I'll spend it how I like, not on the latest greatest thing some toy company advertises.

I thought buying toys that would expand my children's minds was more important than buying the next popular thing. I cared more about what my kids needed than what they wanted-I left that to their father and he never toy shopped.

It reminds me of the old Teddy Ruxpin dolls back in the day. My sister bought one for my son. It repeated everything you said and it was the most annoying toy in the world! I was glad when he finally broke it!

And maybe some folks should lighten up a bit. He merely stated an opinon and asked a question that I see nothing wrong about it. I thought that's what this forum was for-to put our questions, issues, and opinions on the table without beating anyone up about it.

I have a good online buddy into BDSM, and she would take heavy pain over being tickled any day.

 

[steph]

Oh my God. Teddy f'ing Ruxpin. We took the original chatter out and replaced it with Queensryche songs. We'd drive around like morons and hold it out the window and play it for the car next to us at stoplights. People would laugh hysterically~completely blindsided. Thanks for bringing back a fun memory!

XOXO

 

[new2sceenbob]

thank you so much!

Bob:

I don't know much about BDSM, but I was always under the impression that many in that scene consider tickling a hard limit and don't like it. I could be wrong, but.....

As far as the Elmo doll is concerned, I don't see anything about it being sexual but wouldn't buy it for my kids. I'm so glad my kids are too old to have it. I'm not crazy about the toy-he seems annoying at best and wouldn't buy it for my kids at all. It's my money and I'll spend it how I like, not on the latest greatest thing some toy company advertises.

I thought buying toys that would expand my children's minds was more important than buying the next popular thing. I cared more about what my kids needed than what they wanted-I left that to their father and he never toy shopped.

It reminds me of the old Teddy Ruxpin dolls back in the day. My sister bought one for my son. It repeated everything you said and it was the most annoying toy in the world! I was glad when he finally broke it!

And maybe some folks should lighten up a bit. He merely stated an opinon and asked a question that I see nothing wrong about it. I thought that's what this forum was for-to put our questions, issues, and opinions on the table without beating anyone up about it.

Yes, what you say it true, and I thank you so very much for saying it! There aren't many people within the BDSM scene that will tolerate tickling! That's a fact that brings home two major points! First, that they consider it a BDSM activity in the first place, or they wouldn't reference it in order to set a hard limit against it. Second, and well most importantly, that fact that so many hardened BDSM fans, who can tolerate so much, and yet won't tolerate tickling, tells me that tickling is indeed extremely intense!!! So I ask again, is this something that we should just so cavalierly introduce to young children by means of tickle me elmo dolls?

Sincerely,
Bob

 

[kis123]

Yes, what you say it true, and I thank you so very much for saying it! There aren't many people within the BDSM scene that will tolerate tickling! That's a fact that brings home two major points! First, that they consider it a BDSM activity in the first place, or they wouldn't reference it in order to set a hard limit against it. Second, and well most importantly, that fact that so many hardened BDSM fans, who can tolerate so much, and yet won't tolerate tickling, tells me that tickling is indeed extremely intense!!! So I ask again, is this something that we should just so cavalierly introduce to young children by means of tickle me elmo dolls?

Sincerely,
Bob

Well Bob, children in general love to be tickled within reason. They like the laughter, the loss of control, and the close attention. That is when it's done within reason.

Always being a marshmallow of a chick, I was the recipient of more tickle attacks than I ever wanted. I'm actually surprised that I ended up being a ticklephile because I hated it as a kid. It was usually abusive in nature or to settle someone's pathetic curiosity (is the fat kid really ticklish?). I was finally introduced to it in a way that was gentle, fun, private, and even sensual (without it being sexual). I was paid special attention, just the two of us without public displays that were usually embarrassing. Needless to say, I learned to find it fun and enjoyable; it was introduced to me many years before I discovered the sexual aspects.

So in answer to your initial question, I don't think the Elmo doll has any negative connotation to it with the exception that it's just an annoying toy to me.