JediDefender.com Forums
Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: Matt on August 11, 2004, 02:04 PM
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Cuddle parties let strangers get touchy-feely (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/bizarre/2726280)
NEW YORK - It's not about sex. It's all about the touchy-feely experience of snuggling up to perfect strangers wearing pajamas.
The grab fests are called cuddle parties, and since they started in New York in February, hundreds of people have paid $30 each to touch and embrace others in intimate gatherings.
Everyone needs to be cuddled, especially in lonely New York, say creators Reid Mihalko and Marcia Baczynski who say it's a good way to meet new and interesting people.
But the rules are clear. The PJs stay on the whole time and participants are reminded of Rule No. 7: "No dry humping!"
In case things get too steamy, a small chime is kept on hand. Before the cuddling begins, the chime is struck several times so everyone gets the message.
"We've never used it," said Mihalko, who said sexual arousal does occur, and that participants shouldn't be turned off or scared by erections. "They happen."
The idea for cuddle parties loosely came about after Mihalko, a 14-year masseur, began giving massages to other masseurs who never got the chance to receive them.
Signs that people need to be touched were brought home one day when Mihalko said he noticed a woman bawling from the emotional release that a massage provided her at an outdoor stand in midtown Manhattan.
"It started out as a joke," said Baczynski. "Now we talk about cuddling all the time. It's just been amazing."
Curiosity is a big driver for people who attend cuddle parties, and it is a better way to meet people than going to a bar, getting drunk and spending the night with someone just because of the need for some affection, she said.
A cuddle party is really about communication and not therapy, say the organizers.
Before any touching begins, participants gather in a circle to hear the rules and voice any questions or concerns. The first rule is that the event is not clothing optional, pajamas must stay on and sex is not permitted.
Participants team up into pairs and to ensure the boundaries of what is permissible are clear, they practice saying "no" to the question, "May I kiss you?"
An introduction to cuddling ensues, first by hugging three people. People then get in a circle on their hands and knees, rub shoulders and moo like cows. After a bit of swaying, everyone falls to their side, which puts them into an easy cuddling position.
Cuddle parties are intended for people who are emotionally sound. People in therapy or who are seeing a mental health professional are asked to consult their doctor before signing up for a party and to tell organizers of their situation.
'PLAYING THE DOZENS'
One group on an overcast Sunday drew a mix of mostly single people in their 30s and a smattering of older people.
A repeat customer who called herself a born-again Christian said it was good to cuddle up to another person, albeit a perfect stranger, after a hectic week.
"I felt good. I had a particularly stressful week," said the woman, who did not wish to be named.
Friends had warned her that the parties would be nothing more than thinly disguised preludes to sex, but she dismissed those worries as alarmist and unfounded, saying, "It's not about sex."
Like others, the chance to meet someone was a consideration in attending a cuddle party.
"People in a way are looking for a connection," said Fernando. "It's weird, but not unusual."
A man named Dwayne H., who described himself as introverted, said he thought the parties would help him relax before strangers and help him express his feelings.
"I have a problem showing emotion," he said.
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I'm trying to think of something funny here, perhaps involving OCB or jjks, or both--or perhaps something on even a larger scale, like between JD and Rebelscum, but I think that perhaps it's best not to say anything at all.
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**** C3, I'm going to the Cuddle Convention. :-*
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I thought you were offering...
:(
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I do think a cuddle party would be much more interesting than Celebration 3, actually. . .
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Cuddle Convention! (http://www.telusplanet.net/public/djustus/woohoo.gif)
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Cuddle Convention! (http://www.telusplanet.net/public/djustus/woohoo.gif)
Yeah.
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Yeah, I can see the chicks digging a cuddle convention with a bunch of fat, middle aged toy collectors. What's not to love?
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Cuddle C3 Convention! (http://www.telusplanet.net/public/djustus/woohoo.gif)
Matt in just a Bulky Sweater! :D ;D
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Yeah, I can see the chicks digging a cuddle convention with a bunch of fat, middle aged toy collectors. What's not to love?
Who you callin' a fat, middle aged, toy collector, you fat, middle aged, toy collector?! >:(
I've got a few extra lbs and a baggy sweater or two, I'm a very youthful 34 now, and I collect collectibles, not toys! Get it right, Canucklehead!
And no way am I cuddling up with jjks after the "Spooning Incident" at his hotel during SDCC... >:(
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The Cuddle Revolution Will Not Be Televised!
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Yeah, I can see the chicks digging a cuddle convention with a bunch of fat, middle aged toy collectors. What's not to love?
I'm 23. Sign me up.
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I think I'd be "up" (so to speak) for a private, one-on-one cuddle party with jjks--only if he agrees to abide by the rules:
- The PJs stay on the whole time
- "No dry humping!"
- the event is not clothing optional
- sex is not permitted
One exception: He has to pay me the thirty bucks.
May I kiss you?
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I think I'd be "up" (so to speak) for a private, one-on-one cuddle party with jjks--only if he agrees to abide by the rules:
- The PJs stay on the whole time
- "No dry humping!"
- the event is not clothing optional
- sex is not permitted
One exception: He has to pay me the thirty bucks.
May I kiss you?
I think you need to lay down some clear ground-rules concerning shoes, socks, and/or slippers.
It could save you an akward moment or three.
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I think you need to lay down some clear ground-rules concerning shoes, socks, and/or slippers.
Flip-flops?
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OK....
Time to back out of this thread nice and slow and pretend I never read it.
:-\
Jeff
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OK....
Time to back out of this thread nice and slow and pretend I never read it.
:-\
Jeff
That's funny--you know, I deleted it the first time I put it up, earlier today, and I tried to delete it again, just a few minutes ago, but it wouldn't let me.
Oh well.
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I think you need to lay down some clear ground-rules concerning shoes, socks, and/or slippers.
Flip-flops?
Hmmm... I was going to say that, but then I figured...who the hell wears flip-flops to a cuddle-party? Maybe if you had some nice new ones though... who knows?
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V, you can cuddle with me any time you want. Granted, I get a reach around now and again.
Remeber, I'm legal now. And I'm not middle aged like Morgbug!
Kevin
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In reply to your signature, you, my chubby man, will be going down.
Hmmm, going down may not have been the best choice of words for this thread...
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Neither is chubby. :-X
Kevin
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They need to make one for teenagers.
*Lightbulb appears over my head*
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In reply to your signature, you, my chubby man, will be going down.
Hmmm, going down may not have been the best choice of words for this thread...
Neither is chubby. :-X
this thread is spiraling out of control very quickly...
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No control from the start I think.
Mihalko, who said sexual arousal does occur, and that participants shouldn't be turned off or scared by erections. "They happen."
Ya know... I use this one a LOT, but nobody buys "They happen.", even if they just do happen.
Oh well... Win some... Lose some... Scare some away with your manhood. Such is life.
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Wouldn't it be better to scare someone off with your manhood than not scare someone off?
this thread is spiraling out of control very quickly...
I'll buy that for a dollar.
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I'm still mulling over the stipulations, but need to know whether the slippers will be present before making any final decisions.
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Wouldn't it be better to scare someone off with your manhood than not scare someone off?
True...
The worst is when someone sees it and goes, "awwwww... It's like a little baby Jesus". (Dave Attel joke)
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Man, that chime would be going off all the damn time if I went to one of those things.
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First thing that popped into my head was that episode of CSI where the people dressed up as animals and did that same kinda thing.
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First thing that popped into my head was that episode of CSI where the people dressed up as animals and did that same kinda thing.
Yeah, that is weird.
. . .
(http://www.jedidefender.com/spearson/IMG_2227.jpg)
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Hey, I want (http://threads.rebelscum.com/images/icons/mad.gif)you to wear that okay? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/images/icons/mad.gif)
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I have to admit that I wondered if Virex scents his bear costume like they do on the CSI Program