All of my close male friends, and the girls I've dated too, have known about my fetishes. I don't hide them, from friends, or girls, because, I like to be honest.
Since I have three distinct, what I like to call "interests". A female foot "interest", a tickling "interest", and an interest of seeing a girl stand barefoot on a ladder, these are my thoughts:
I could not honestly see telling a girl I was dating about my interests on the first date. It would seem I would have to get to know her first, before "spilling the beans", so to say.
I'm hopeful of meeting a girl who will be accomodating to my interests. That having been said, here is how I view things.
Foot fetish: If I met a girl who said: "Mitch, you can never smell, kiss, or touch my feet, ever". Deal breaker, right there. Feet is a fetish I've had since I was five years old. My reply would be: "Why can I touch your breasts, or your vagina, but not your feet?". Such would not be the girl for me.
Tickle fetish: If I met someone who said "Mitch, I really dont like being tickled". I would try to negotiate tickling, in small doses, sometimes, to at least be able to get some tickling action. If she had all the other personality qualities, the level or amount of tickling, could, to me, be modified greatly, as long as she didn't completely say I could never, ever tickle her at any time.
Ladder interest: If I met someone who said "Mitch, I'm afraid of heights, I really dont want to stand barefoot on a ladder for you". I might try to ask if she would mind standing on a stepstool. If she really didnt want to do it, I could probably live with it, if she had all the personality qualities I desired, and didn't completely deprive me of the other fetishes.
I dont have a problem telling male friends about my fetishes, because, they dont have to participate in such, as I'm straight. Girls are a different story. I'm hopeful that when I meet "The One", whoever she is, that she will be at least open minded enough to listen, consider, and try to accomodate. I'm an open minded person, and would try to do so for a girl, if she came to me and told me she had fetishes. My belief is that one should try to be understanding about their partner's sexual needs, both fetish wise, and other wise, so long as it isn't hurting anyone. A person who couldn't do that, and would completely close down, would not be the one for me.
Mitch