ticklee-research-in-progress

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

✨On Hiatus!✨

I still plan on doing some celebrations for follower milestones as well as answering questions - but I'll be operating on a more relaxed schedule.

Thank you for all the sweet messages checking in on me. I'll get back to posting more frequently when things in my personal life have calmed down

Thank you! 💕

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Let's say, hypothetically, I was a ler in need of a lee

What would be the best way to go about finding one?

The short answer:

Use sites like FetLife, TMF (Tickling Media Forum), r/tickling on Reddit, or here within the tumblr tickling community to talk with others who want to meet up for tickle sessions! There are usually dedicated chats and forums solely for people looking for sessions - and there are a surprising amount of events on FetLife for tickling meetups! There's also NEST, the North East Society for Ticklephiles, a convention held annually.

The long answer:

I do not want to encourage ticklers to befriend and interact with ticklees ONLY because they want to enter a Lee/Ler relationship with them. Not all ticklees are actively looking for ticklers to play with, and not all tickees are comfortable with tickle-talk and teasing.

There are people who are actively looking to play and have tickling sessions. And those people should be best sought out in spaces dedicated to that (event meetups, the NEST tickling convention, tickle session chat rooms, etc.).

But here on tumblr, having a tickle kink or tickle blog does not automatically mean you are looking for tickles IRL. So if you are interacting only because you want tickles, whether you are a tickler or ticklee, then consider forums and chats that are dedicated to that.

Make friends. Get to know people as people beyond the roles of tickler and ticklee. And, with time, if the other person is comfortable and desires it - then you can discuss committing to a Lee/Ler relationship.

Thanks for the ask, nonnie, and best of luck to you! 💕

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Detecting ticklishness would be very similar to determining tactile sensitivity. So while I think there are very few instruments that could measure ticklishness without touch, you can predict if someone is ticklish with very careful observation!

The next time you're trying to figure out someone's ticklishness, ask yourself the following questions:

Does the subject avoid certain textures? (i.e. Won't walk through a field of tall grass in shorts because it "feels weird," etc.)

Is the subject jumpy when given minimal, platonic touch like a hand to the shoulder or a tap on the arm?

Does the subject enjoy showing exposed skin? And if so, do they protect those areas with their body language from being touched (not just from people, but also by things in the environment).

Does the subject enjoy physical affection?

If the answer is yes to these questions, the person you're observing could be ticklish! (And a bigger reaction to other touches could hint at a higher level of ticklishness, of course.) However, not all ticklish people react outwardly, so really there's a lot of mystery in figuring out just how ticklish a person is.

If such an instrument/skill existed, I would personally refrain from using one. I think that the best part of tickling is the surprise and mystery involved! It's so much more fun to discover that someone is ticklish by "accident."

With that being said, I would want to own that kind of instrument... Just to measure my own ticklishness. 😋

What a fun question! Thanks for the asks, nonnies!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Do you think you’ll ever come back to this blog and your just on a break or is it more permanent that your not coming on? I hope your ok and I want you to know this blog and you are appreciated

Hi!

The sudden influx of questions in my inbox has left me very busy with writing. And between many other personal projects, as well as just enjoying being on tumblr to chat with new friends, I've taken a short break from posting. Upkeep of this blog should be fun to avoid seeing tickle research as "work" - so I'm taking things slowly.

However, I am still preparing answers for questions and replying to messages when I can! ✨

Thank you for checking up on me. 💕 Keep sending your questions for future research!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Crossed 400 followers without even realizing it!

✨ Any suggestions for what I should do to celebrate the upcoming 500 Follower milestone? ✨

Send an ask, reblog, or reply with what you want to see! It's a pretty significant milestone, so let's celebrate BIG! 💕

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

how do i ask my long distance partner (who knows that i like to be tickled, but isn't exactly a ler himself) to tease me without feeling as embarrassed? i always chicken out of asking :(

also, are there any ways to get him more into tickling me, since it isn't an interest/kink of his?

Generally, I would mostly use the same strategies as in my previous posts regarding telling loved ones/friends about having a tickle kink. 

You can take a look at the post “How do I talk about tickling to friends/close people without making it sound like something weird?” in the Tickling and Relationships section of my pinned library! 

You could also take a look at ”What’s the best way to get tickled by someone without asking?“ for more subtle, nonverbal cues to be tickled. 

But since I have a feeling you’re looking for something more specific - I’ll give you advice based on my own personal experience. 

...And just for you, I’ll sprinkle in a few words from a very special guest to give you some more perspective as well. 

My love is not a Tickler. 

We’re also long distance! And even though we have been dating for almost two years, to this day it is still difficult for me to ask for any kind of tickly attention. 

But after many, many conversations about what makes us happy, what lights the fire in us, and what we need to ensure our relationship can continue to thrive... 

We both have an understanding that tickling brings me to my happiest. 

When we talk about it, my love often mentions that they don’t have a “drive” for tickling - while my brain is constantly thinking of tickles. And that’s okay. 

I don’t need to instill a tickling kink in their mind to make our relationship work or to feel fully satisfied. 

It’s not a matter of making my Princess have tickling on the mind like I always do. Instead, it’s a matter of both of us recognizing why I crave tickling from them specifically so badly: 

I want their touch. 

I want them to make me happy. 

And I want their touch to be the reason for my happiness. 

Understanding that is the foundation we use to start a conversation about how we can work tickling into our relationship in a way that isn’t forced or unnatural for either of us.

Teasing without that “drive” isn’t easy. 

I’ll admit that we are still working on exactly how they can tease from a tickler perspective without having a passion for tickling...

What I do know is that is up to me as the ticklee to initiate.

I’ve given my love lists of phrases to refer to when I ask for verbal teasing. 

I’ve shared GIFs and videos of tickling that put me in a lee mood for them to learn from.

I’ve shared my experiences participating in tickling sessions - what I liked and didn’t like, what worked well and what didn’t, etc. - so that they know exactly what I enjoyed. 

I’ve asked for voice messages and described what I wanted to hear. 

I’ve asked for them to send me videos of their fingertips wiggling a certain way or mimicking tickling a specific spot. 

I’ve asked them to describe what they remember from tickling me in the past, or to tell me that they enjoyed tickling me. 

I’ve defined tickling terminology and taught them basic anatomy to give logical reasoning for the reactions I have to tickling.

I’ve incorporated tickling into our Dom/Sub dynamic so that both of us can gain satisfaction from it. 

I’ve asked for validation that my laugh is a sound they enjoy hearing. 

I’ve guided them while tickling me, like how to better adjust their grip on my ribcage, or how light touches work better on my underarms than heavy tickling, or how kissing my stomach gives me butterflies...

I made this blog for my love. I wanted a place where I could teach them how I see tickling and how to tickle me better. 

I don’t ever expect tickles - but I do ask for them when needed and hope it is something my love wants to provide. Not matter how greatly I crave tickling, I would never force my partner to do anything they didn’t want to. And by talking about how important it is to me, we find ways for tickling to be a new way they show their love for me. 

If you take away the “drive,” you’re left with a script, a process, and a very sensitive, reactive body. If your boyfriend can learn what you like to hear, what you’d like him to do, and how you’d like to feel, I think that will make it easier to incorporate tickling into your relationship. 

It will still be your responsibility to initiate. But the goal through talking and teaching is to create an understanding - not a drive. 

Let’s wrap this up by allowing my love to share some thoughts on how they’ve felt through this process:

Did your perspective of me change when I told you that I had a tickle kink?

I don't think it did. Your demeanor and laugh made me feel there was no great contrast with you and tickling.

What stuck with you the most from our conversations about tickling and why I like it so much? 

Your motivations for enjoying tickling were very innocent. Kink and platonic intentions don't usually play together in my head so it was confusing at first to understand tickling from a purely ace position. It makes more sense to say that it was fascinating to me that your motivations for being tickled were so simple and pure.

Has incorporating tickling into our relationship been difficult for you?

No, it hasn't been difficult. While tickling is not something that I am naturally driven to (as I am to other kinks), it isn't something I am repulsed or weirded out by. It still involves touch and strong reactions which I enjoy. I tend to be obsessed with the "why" of kink moreso than the sensations alone. This causes me to sometimes desire context over understanding the want for the sensation. But it isn't a wide disconnection. Just something I have been adapting to over time!

What has been the most helpful way to teach you how to tickle better? 

I know that most Lers are dominants and most Lees are submissives. But I also know that you do not see tickling through that binary as most do. The best way I have learned how to incorporate tickling into our relationship so far is being trained to do so from a submissive's perspective. It becomes more natural to me when I do it as something I already am and not something that contradicts that.

How do you feel when tickling me?

I think because I am still learning how to tickle, there is often times uncertainty. I've learned that tickling can be very technical, has a lot of history, and is supported by a huge community. Becoming more comfortable with tickling is sometimes as intuitive as any other kink I like and sometimes intimidating when trying to line it up with our power dynamic. But it all becomes less complicated when I touch in a way that makes you laugh or move. It is instant positive reinforcement for me to see those reactions and that makes me happy.

How has your perspective on tickling changed due to me having a tickle kink?

Tickling was something I knew very little about prior to meeting you! So a lot has changed since our many talks and play sessions. Learning about the depth of tickling techniques and the community has been a fun journey so far and watching you become more comfortable in a more..unorthodox position on how you like to be tickled..has been fun as well.

I hope that helps! Thanks for the ask, nonnie!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Hi! Do you think you could make a post explaining how to tickle? Like techniques and motions and stuff? Your blog is wonderful, thank you so much for running it! Have a great day! ☺️

Hello lovely nonnie!

This sounds like the start of a SERIES, since trying to teach how to tickle would be a very, very, VERY long post!

I will start a Tickling Technique series soon to talk about the specific motions and techniques to better assist the Tickler audience!

Thanks for the ask!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

just read all your boar bristle brush stuff and video and I just ordered 2 so they should come in 3-7 days! and I thought about trying them with really really soapy water to double brush each soaped up bare foot in turn and see how he reacts to that— thoughts?

Wow! I'm so happy that my product review inspired you! 💕

Keep in mind that every brush will have different textures! The Boar's Bristle Hairbrush my friend uses for his hair (bought at Walmart) is a LOT stiffer and scratchier than the one I bought (from 7-Eleven) despite them being the same type.

Let me know what you think! 💕 I'm excited to hear your thoughts on its effectiveness.

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

how and when did you first discover the sheer tickle power of the hairbrush for bare soles? and same question for oil with the hairbrush?

Controversial opinion here...

...I'm not a big fan of traditional hairbrushes as tickle tools. Even with oil. 😅

I have been tickled on my soles with them! Both with and without oil. And it did tickle. But that tickling sensation was overwhelmed by the painful texture of hard, nylon bristles. Personally, even if the reaction I exhibited was intense, my discomfort outweighed the effectiveness of the tool.

I require a softer touch. Hence, I prefer a Boar's Bristle Hairbrush due to their softer, more flexible bristles! I wrote a product review on it, "Why You Should Ditch Your Traditional Hairbrush and Use Boar's Bristle Instead."

Thanks for the ask, nonnie!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Turning a Touch Into a Tickle: Knismesis and Gargalesis Series

Where do we draw the line between ticklishness and sensitivity? At what point does something transform from scratching an itch into a giggle-inducing tickle? And for those who are less ticklish, or aren't ticklish at all, why do side squeezes and skittering fingertips not make them burst into laughter?

Let's define a "tickle" together using one of my favorite scientific terms: Knismesis.

You've most likely seen me use these terms, Knismesis and Gargalesis, throughout my posts. For a quick review of their formal definitions, take a look over here:

Now then, let's focus on Knismesis. What makes this term unique is that, despite it being one of the two subsets of tickling, it is defined formally as non-laughter-inducing.

But don't all tickles induce laughter?

Not quite. We have to split Knismesis in half.

On one side, there are sensations that are tickly. This is where phrases like "I've got a tickle in my my throat" come into play. When you feel a tickle, like a fly landing on your arm, usually you'll flinch and reflexively scratch at the offending area. This is still a tickle, but not the laughing kind.

On the other side of Knismesis is a kind of tickling we're more aware of: Light, feathery, scratchy tickling. For Ticklees who are especially sensitive, not only can this be giggle-inducing - but it can cause heavy, uncontrollable laughter.

So where do we draw the line between a tickly sensation and a true tickle?

The best answer is that it depends on your level of ticklishness!

From a psychology standpoint, your brain could discern even a "true" tickle as a sensation rather than tickling - thus leading to a lower ticklishness. The same logic can be applied for Gargalesis. If your nerves register side squeezes as nothing more than pressure and weight, then it won't tickle!

My theory is that non-ticklish people register tickling in their brain as either the first subset of Knismesis, a tickly sensation but not a laugh-inducing tickle, or maybe as nothing more than pressure and touch.

Ultimately, the line between touch and tickle can only be drawn by the Ticklee!

When utilizing Knismesis, there are ways to trick the brain into registering even the lightest of sensations as a tickle rather than a sensation (see my How to Increase Your Ticklishness post for more info)!

Next up is an in-depth analysis of Gargalesis! Stay tuned!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

oh believe me I am going to become the worlds top tickling and ticklishness expert I actually study so hard at school purely for this ambition and I already know quite a lot as I study everything I can find on it

YESSS! Go for it! 💕 Feel free to reach out to me with any interesting information. It'd be fun to do a tickly collaboration!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

🖤💛

🖤: Death spots?

Ribs, ears, navel, and shoulders!

💛: Favorite spots?

Ribs, RIBS, ribs... but also hips, thighs, back, and ears!

Take a look at Feather-Dusted's "Emoji Tickle Asks" for more questions to send to my inbox!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

✨ Happy 300+ Followers!✨

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

Thank you for your post about asexuality! I'm also an ace tickle fanatic, and ever since I started looking at the ticklish side of Tumblr, I noticed a lot of aces. Actually, your whole blog is awesome, I hope you keep getting ideas and making posts for a long time to come!

I've also noticed there's lots of Aces in the Tickling Community! That's part of the reason I always felt at home here. 💕

Most of my posts are answers to questions sent by you guys! So really it's your ideas that I'm excited to hear about. ☺️ So keep sending questions! Thanks for the ask, nonnie!

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for your recent post about asexuality + tickling because you managed to voice something I’ve been trying to express for years and it’s so nice to finally see it in words/know that my experiences make sense to others too <3

Thank you. 

I’ll admit that it was a question I’ve been nervous to answer - both because I formerly identified as a sex-repulsed Asexual, and because that post involves sexuality on a blog where I hope to welcome and educate people of all ages. 

This is the beginning of a very important conversation we need to have within the Tickling Community. And I hope that my research and information can act as a foundation for positive growth moving forward. 

I’m so, so happy that my writing made you feel acknowledged. That’s all I could ever ask for. Thank YOU, @achilleean, for making me feel like my research is worthwhile.

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

What are some of the best resources available online for the scientific study of tickling? I am thinking of studying psychology or physiology at college as I one day want to specialize in either in depth research or practice of tickling.

Honestly, most of my resources online have been through vigorous searching on Google Scholar and perusing many, many, many medical journals and psychological case studies. 

There is a surprisingly large amount of scientific information on tickling and laughter online! But because studies still are highly subjective and often inconclusive, especially as to why we tickle and are ticklish in the first place, I have yet to find any psychologists who specialize in tickling. 

With that being said, I hope you become the first! I’d love to be able to cite a true “Tickling Expert,” haha! Thanks for the ask, nonnie! 

[ticklee-research-in-progress]

congrats on 200+ !! (no pressure to answer <3)

Thank you so much! 

I’m very close to hitting 300 followers already and couldn’t be happier with how much this research has been appreciated. 

Thank you for your support, @oreos-at-4am!