[Edit] The map has been updated since this post was made! The new, improved version is here.
Some time ago, a person named Katharine Gates designed a map of human sexuality. Her Web site appears to be defunct now, but the map has recently gained exposure in other places.
My first impression upon seeing this fetish map was that it was woefully incomplete. About the same time as I became aware of this attempt to map the range of human fetishes and sexual activity, I also saw a conversation on another forum in which a woman was complaining that she wanted to spice up her sex life, but she didn’t want to do too much, because if she did too much too fast then by the time she was 30 she’d have done every sexual act there was to do, and where would she be able to find sexual ideas after that?
That particular conversation, and another with an 18-year-old who claimed to be “bored with sex” because he’d “done it all,” got me to thinking about the range of the human sexual condition (vast beyond all reckoning) and the range of sexual things many people think there is (tiny).
I wanted to try my hand at designing a fetish map that would be a bit more complete than Ms. Gates’, and I thought, why not do it as an actual map? One of the ideas I wanted to convey was how small most folks’ sexual experience is, how small most folks’ conception of the whole range of sexual expression is, and how vast the actual range of sexual expression is. And, I thought, a map of an imaginary world might be a way to do that.
So here it is, the first version of what I’m sure will be many revisions of the Land of Human Sexuality. (Clicky on this map to see a bigger version. A much, much, much, MUCH bigger version.)
The land of most folks’ awareness is the Island of Mundania and the surrounding islands. Across the Straits of Fear is the portion of the continent that folks are generally aware of to some extent (gay sex, threesomes, light bondage, and so on). Beyond the Great Barrier Mountains and the Lesser Barrier Mountains, which demarcate the limits of common knowledge of different fetishes, lie the more exotic forms of sexual expression (natori, shibari, cosplay, fisting, puppy play, and so forth). In the frigid arctic wastes to the far north are those activities which only a very, very tiny percentage even of veteran, seasoned kinksters finds appealing (nullification, erotic cannibalism, necrophilia, and that sort of thing).
There’s no particular meaning to the size or color of the various areas; it’d be an impossible task to try to, for example, figure out how many furries there are compared to how many folks are into TENS units. Likewise, some of the activities listed could reasonably belong to more than one classification, and some things (like “gay sex”) are within the realm of knowledge of most folks but aren’t really activities per se (most sexual activities not requiring physical possession of a penis or a vagina can be done by people of any sex or sexual orientation). Nevertheless, when folks think of “sexual things to do,” gay sex does seem to be considered its own thing, even though it’s not actually an activity by itself, so it’s on the map–right across the Straits of Fear.
Anyway, I’d love to hear feedback and commentary on this map. I’v actually been working on it for quite a long time, and I suspect it’s still a work in progress–I know there are things I’ve forgotten. (It’s hard work trying to remember every form of fetish out there!)
ZOMG I love this… I especially like that it makes me think of Tolkien (in a kinky way). Can you include a picture of a ship sailing off somewhere to reaches heretofore as yet unknown?
*has wanderlust*
And a sea monster (perhaps swimming over by the Angry Dragon).
JMac saw it came up on the computer screen and asked if it was a fantasy map – and I laughed at him.
No wonder the Elves don’t let everyone cross the Sea with them. 😉
As a matter of fact, the revised version does indeed have little pictures of sailing ships on it. 🙂
ZOMG I love this… I especially like that it makes me think of Tolkien (in a kinky way). Can you include a picture of a ship sailing off somewhere to reaches heretofore as yet unknown?
*has wanderlust*
Christ, I’m all over the map!
Christ, I’m all over the map!
And a sea monster (perhaps swimming over by the Angry Dragon).
“gigolo” is misspelled.
Thanks! Fixed now.
“gigolo” is misspelled.
So how exactly are you choosing what goes on the map? If anyone actually admits to doing a thing or just has talked about doing a thing or gotten off talking or thinking about a thing? I ask because having worked for an adult conversation line for the last nine years, I have heard some … uh … things. I hesitate to actually call them interesting things. As a result I recognize way too many of the things on this map. Oddly enough, furries and plushies don’t seem to call our line. EVERYONE else does though. Happily that is no longer my day job, but I still have my hand in, so to speak. (gah! no pun intended)
(and as an aside, I love “literotica bay”, that cracked me up. I’ve been swimming there… *snerk*)
Things generally go on the map if they’re real fetishes engaged in, however infrequently, by real people. (The exception is the Land of Myth, which contains things like gerbilling and snuff films which are part of the popular folklore, but which have never actually been recorded for real.)
So how exactly are you choosing what goes on the map? If anyone actually admits to doing a thing or just has talked about doing a thing or gotten off talking or thinking about a thing? I ask because having worked for an adult conversation line for the last nine years, I have heard some … uh … things. I hesitate to actually call them interesting things. As a result I recognize way too many of the things on this map. Oddly enough, furries and plushies don’t seem to call our line. EVERYONE else does though. Happily that is no longer my day job, but I still have my hand in, so to speak. (gah! no pun intended)
(and as an aside, I love “literotica bay”, that cracked me up. I’ve been swimming there… *snerk*)
That is very interesting, I’m actually surprised at how few I hadn’t heard of. I really thought there would be more. I guess I don’t live as sheltered an existence as I though.
Or we have similar tastes,a nd there’s a lot of stuff out there neither of us has heard of (yet)…
Uhm, from what I’ve read in your journal, we don’t share much 😀 I’m pretty darn vanilla – much to the boyfriend’s dismay (poor felllow). But so many of my friends are kinky I get to learn about lots of “interesting” things. And you are right, there is so much more out there than we know – possibly want to know.
That is very interesting, I’m actually surprised at how few I hadn’t heard of. I really thought there would be more. I guess I don’t live as sheltered an existence as I though.
JMac saw it came up on the computer screen and asked if it was a fantasy map – and I laughed at him.
This is amazing…I love it. I think it’s a lot easier to read than Gates’s map.
I’m a little confused; are the things above or below the Lesser Barrier mountains supposed to be more intense?
Also I believe it’s spelled capsaicin, if you’re talking about the active component of chili pepper.
I got the impression that the region *in between* the lesser and greater barrier mountains (i.e. the region directly across the channel from Mundania, including “Locations”) is intended to be the “less intense” region, with things getting more intense as you cross either mountain range.
Yeah, that’s how it seems to me, as well, though I’d assumed initially that it got progressively weirder the higher you went.
You’re correct on the capsaicin; it’s been fixed now.
The things beyond the Barrier Mountains aren’t necessarily more intense per se, so much as less well-known to average folks. For example, if you walk up to average people on the sterrt and ask them what they know about D/s, many of them would probably have eard of things like chatroom D/s or maledom/femsub, but fewer would likely be aware of utility D/s, so utility D/s is on the other side of the mountains even though it’s not necessarily more “intense.”
Right, I’m just wondering if it increases going up from the bottom, or the “most normal” stuff is in the valley between the mountains?
It’s not necessarily more intense going north (at least til you get to the Impassible mountain range), but yes, the most ‘normal’ stuff is in the valley between the mountain ranges. Or at least that’s the general idea.
This is amazing…I love it. I think it’s a lot easier to read than Gates’s map.
I’m a little confused; are the things above or below the Lesser Barrier mountains supposed to be more intense?
Also I believe it’s spelled capsaicin, if you’re talking about the active component of chili pepper.
Coprophagia, not “corprophagia,” I think.
Hee hee.
Yah, corprophagia is different.
Right you are! It’s been fixed, thanks!
Coprophagia, not “corprophagia,” I think.
This is great, easy to read and even some terms I’m going to have to research. Wonderful.
It does make me want to fold it up and stick it in my glove box for future reference. Or maybe stick it up over my desk and put push pins in the places I’ve been.
Note to self: get more push pins
Heh! ^This I like! 😀
Its an excellent map tho 😀 Tha
Push pins! I *like* that idea.
Maybe I should start making wall-sized printouts and offer them on my Web site. nd include a box of those little flag pin thingies!
I wonder if this could be transposed with a google map so that virtual pins could (easily) be used…
Push pins, that is somewhere around endorphin inlet and permanence bay isn’t it?
This is great, easy to read and even some terms I’m going to have to research. Wonderful.
It does make me want to fold it up and stick it in my glove box for future reference. Or maybe stick it up over my desk and put push pins in the places I’ve been.
Note to self: get more push pins
Holy Crap, this is brilliant. I’ve never seen anything like it and can’t imagine how you’ve done this. But we thank you.
I too was struck by the notion to print it out and spend time reviewing and researching.
I want to go everywhere.
I love the push pin idea!
Um, there were lots of suggestions made.
Are you actually open to those??
Icon love! 🙂 And I’m always open to suggestions.
Holy Crap, this is brilliant. I’ve never seen anything like it and can’t imagine how you’ve done this. But we thank you.
I too was struck by the notion to print it out and spend time reviewing and researching.
I want to go everywhere.
I love the push pin idea!
Um, there were lots of suggestions made.
Are you actually open to those??
I wonder if this map might be used in couples councelling? His and her push pins. His and hers ‘want to go to’ flag pins.
Think too of the possibilities at kinky birthday parties! Pin the kink on the map!
Another thought: this isn’t meant to be comprehensive, right? Where would dacryphilia fall, for instance? Under the ‘Sploshing’ or under the ‘bodily fluids fetish’ or the ‘humiliation’ or even ‘activity fetish’?
Oh, and another thought… there may be an isthmus or a bridge or two between some islands, or even across the Straits (it amused me that it was Straits, and not Straights)
It’s intended to be as comprehensive as possible. Dacryphilia would probably be in its own section (and I need to add it); it’s not necessarily a bodily fluid thing because (at least for me) it’s not the tears themselves so much as the emotional response they signify. It’s also not quite humiliation, but its close.
Hmm.
You know what’s interesting is that now that I have the first version up, I’m already thinking of things I’ve forgotten, and some of them are fetishes of mine! And I somehow neglected to add “sex games,” as well. Oh, the irony.
I wonder if this map might be used in couples councelling? His and her push pins. His and hers ‘want to go to’ flag pins.
Think too of the possibilities at kinky birthday parties! Pin the kink on the map!
Another thought: this isn’t meant to be comprehensive, right? Where would dacryphilia fall, for instance? Under the ‘Sploshing’ or under the ‘bodily fluids fetish’ or the ‘humiliation’ or even ‘activity fetish’?
Oh, and another thought… there may be an isthmus or a bridge or two between some islands, or even across the Straits (it amused me that it was Straits, and not Straights)
A few minor spelling tweaks — “Coprophagia” and “Gigolos” jump out at me right away.
And I’m “LMFAO” about “Urban Dictionary Bay” ;D
Love it — and it’s SO much easier to follow than the other map, although I understand that the other one was meant to illustrate overlaps and connections as well as just being a list of similar types of fetishes and sexual expression.
I’m enjoying the hell out of this! Haven’t gone through everything because K’s ready for bed, but I will tomorrow 😀
— A <3
Seconded on Urban Dictionary Bay!
– ZM
The problem with diagramming all the overlaps or connections between different fetishes is that the diagram tends to run away and become unmanageably complex REAL fast. I can understand what she was trying to accomplish with the Fetish Map, but at the same time, it’s incomplete, and trying to make it more complete would make it even less readable, I think.
I’d originally thought about trying to do something similar, and then abandoned that idea pretty quick. Just trying to map out all the connections in D/s alone is virtually impossible, especially when you consider they can be grouped together by social groups (Old Lether, New Leather, Gorean), by general activity types (utility D/s, sexual D/s, service D/s), by related fetishes (bootblacking, oral service), and then subdivided by sexuality (old leather is primarily gay men, for instance, whereas Gorean D/s is almost exclusively heterosexual). Trying to make meaningful connections on a 2D chart gets absurd really fast.
Engraved Lucite cube? 😉
Out of curiosity, what is “utility D/s”? It’s not a term I’ve heard before.
— A <3
Utility D/s is a specific form of D/s where the submissive acts as a utilitarian object for the dominant. For example, the submissive might kneel on all fours and act as a footrest for the dominant (in fact, there’s an entire subgroup of utility D/s centered around human furniture), or hold a serving tray in his or her mouth and act like a coffee saucer.
It’s distinct from service D/s in that a service submissive might bring the dominant a drink, but the utility submissive might kneel and act as a table to hold the drink.
Ahhh, okay, thanks! I was familiar with the subsets, but not the overarching term 🙂
— A <3
A few minor spelling tweaks — “Coprophagia” and “Gigolos” jump out at me right away.
And I’m “LMFAO” about “Urban Dictionary Bay” ;D
Love it — and it’s SO much easier to follow than the other map, although I understand that the other one was meant to illustrate overlaps and connections as well as just being a list of similar types of fetishes and sexual expression.
I’m enjoying the hell out of this! Haven’t gone through everything because K’s ready for bed, but I will tomorrow 😀
— A <3
Franklin, you’re a sick man, and a brilliant man.
Why, yes. Yes, I am. 🙂 *snerk*
Franklin, you’re a sick man, and a brilliant man.
Neat 🙂
My first known masturbation aid was a highlighter marker. I got off once with my mom’s vibrator, and for some reason was then convinced that I had to have some kind of utensil. It didn’t occur to me to use my fingers until I was 16.
I still kind of have a fondness for highlighters.
Mmm, hilighters. That’s pretty hot.
Neat 🙂
My first known masturbation aid was a highlighter marker. I got off once with my mom’s vibrator, and for some reason was then convinced that I had to have some kind of utensil. It didn’t occur to me to use my fingers until I was 16.
I still kind of have a fondness for highlighters.
Hee hee.
Yah, corprophagia is different.
Love it!
I, too, had vague notions of printing it out. I think I’ll try to come up with some creative uses for a large printout and when you think it’s pretty nearly complete (I understand you might never think it’s actually done), I just might do that.
The Gates map serves a different purpose, which is to illustrate the relation between various fetishes and such, but this one has just that endearing touch of whimsy that is your trademark. You add a sense of fun to the topic and the ability to connect to those who view the map, where the Gates map is far more clinical and disconnected – more like something I would have come up with.
I really, really want to print out a wall-sized poster of this map and hang it up in my room. And I particularly like the push-pin idea above.
Love it!
I, too, had vague notions of printing it out. I think I’ll try to come up with some creative uses for a large printout and when you think it’s pretty nearly complete (I understand you might never think it’s actually done), I just might do that.
The Gates map serves a different purpose, which is to illustrate the relation between various fetishes and such, but this one has just that endearing touch of whimsy that is your trademark. You add a sense of fun to the topic and the ability to connect to those who view the map, where the Gates map is far more clinical and disconnected – more like something I would have come up with.
I got the impression that the region *in between* the lesser and greater barrier mountains (i.e. the region directly across the channel from Mundania, including “Locations”) is intended to be the “less intense” region, with things getting more intense as you cross either mountain range.
I like. There’s a bit of an XKCD aura to it; also, it includes some things that I’d never have thought of as fetishes (the Mile High Club, for example). Makes sense in retrospect, though, at least if you’re using a non-clinical definition of fetishism.
What I’d really like to see, though, is some kind of systematic way to organize this spatially. Yours is an improvement on Gates’ map, largely because you’re organizing by psychological theme rather than object associations, but it’s still kind of scattershot; I wonder if there’d be a way to assign these regions to a proper coordinate system (with X as neophilia and Y as externality, or something of the sort)?
I don’t think that’s possible to do on a 2D chart of any kind; tere are too many relationships and they’re too complex. At some point, the groupings and relationships shown on any chart or map has to become arbitrary; old leather D/s is primarily gay men, Gorean D/s is almost exclusively heterosexual, but they have a lot of commonality of theme: rigid hierarchy, a strong caste system, emphasis on titles and rigidly defined roles. Would they be grouped together spacially (because of the similarities of activities) or apart from each other (because one is almost exclusively gay and one is almost exclusively het)? Would they be close to scene D/s (because of the commonality of power exchange) or far from it (because of the emphasis on power exchange as a part of someone’s identity, rather than a temporary arrangement for the purpose of sexual gratification)?
Seems like the further you go into trying to create a coherent arrangement of fetishes, the more tangled it gets. By the time you’ve added a dozen or more things, either the map’s unreadable or there are so many connections and lines you can’t read it. If there’s a way to solve that problem, I haven’t been able to think of it yet.
A 3D map would help manage some of those problems, but it’d also be harder to create, and likely harder to read.
I like. There’s a bit of an XKCD aura to it; also, it includes some things that I’d never have thought of as fetishes (the Mile High Club, for example). Makes sense in retrospect, though, at least if you’re using a non-clinical definition of fetishism.
What I’d really like to see, though, is some kind of systematic way to organize this spatially. Yours is an improvement on Gates’ map, largely because you’re organizing by psychological theme rather than object associations, but it’s still kind of scattershot; I wonder if there’d be a way to assign these regions to a proper coordinate system (with X as neophilia and Y as externality, or something of the sort)?
Yeah, that’s how it seems to me, as well, though I’d assumed initially that it got progressively weirder the higher you went.
There’s a bit of an XKCD aura to it
Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, as well; it’s reminiscent of the xkcd’s layout of internet sites.
This is exactly what I was thinking. For anyone reading this, especially Franklin, if you won’t read xkcd, you NEED TO.
I love XKCD! Have the XKCD feed in my flist, in fact.
Not only do I have the feed on my flist, I routinely print out the better ones and put them up at the office. In fact, right now my wall has the Map of the Internet, IPv4 space; the chart of Kb vs kb; and the one about googlemaps. I printed the Observable Universe (Log Scale) but it shrank too much to fit on one page to make it look good.
Only, y’know, more perverted. 🙂
There’s a bit of an XKCD aura to it
Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, as well; it’s reminiscent of the xkcd’s layout of internet sites.
Awesome, Franklin, great job!
Some thoughts:
– Shouldn’t interracial be next to racial fetishes?
– I don’t think gay sex should be a land on its own, that’s just a different dimension. All the lands on the map can be traveled by people of different orientations.
– Where are the celebrity fantasies? That one is pretty popular.
– I haven’t noticed resistance play anywhere on the map.
– Why is incest so far away, next to cannibalism? That’s way more common fantasy.
And lastly, I’m afraid that your map doesn’t really convey your point. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great… it’s just that, the real answer to the people who are bored with sex because they’ve “done it all” is: depth over breadth. In the real geographical world also too many people go to organized trips that show them the major cities of Europe in 14 days, or something, and then they think they’ve seen it all. “Germany? Check! Been there, done that. Next!” But in reality they don’t know 1/10 of the great things in their own town!
Same thing with sex. Many people will look at your map with satisfaction and say “Well, actually I really have done it all! (well, almost)”, but the question is: how well?
Greta Christina’s story “Bending” comes to mind:
– Ola
Also: where is the land of Tantric sex?
– Ola
Sacred sexuality–the whole area of sacred sexuality is missing! I’ll need to add it too.
AWESOME Greta Christina quote! She’s one of my favorite bloggers, actually.
Gay is included as a thing on its own because if you ask most folks to list all the different kinds of sex they can think of, I think most people would list “gay sex” as a distinct form of sex, even though as I said before any of these activities not requiring physical possession of a penis or vagina can be explored by folks of any sexual orientation whatsoever.
Resistance play isn’t on the map! That’s an amazing oversight, considering it’s one of my favorite things. Celebrity fetishes need to be added too.
Incest is a common fantasy, but I think it’s a fairly uncommon practice…and the practice does have enough cultural and legal taboo connected to it that it seems to fit up in the Icy North. I may be wrong about how uncommon it is, though; perhaps it should b moved down next to commercial sex, most of which is also illegal?
AWESOME Greta Christina quote! She’s one of my favorite bloggers, actually.
Yeah, mine too. I found her thanks to you!
It’s true that gay sex is a separate thing for most people, but I’m afraid that putting “Gay Sex” as one little separate country will piss off gay people, because it looks inclusive, when in reality it is far from. Besides, you don’t elaborate at all (which is understandable, given the fact that you’re straight…) I think we need some help from gay people here, to add some places names for Gayland. Anyone?
I’m not sure how common incest really is; given the prevalence of fantasies, I have my suspicions. Anyway, you did separate fantasy from reality for other areas (such as rape), so maybe do the same with incest?
– Ola
Awesome, Franklin, great job!
Some thoughts:
– Shouldn’t interracial be next to racial fetishes?
– I don’t think gay sex should be a land on its own, that’s just a different dimension. All the lands on the map can be traveled by people of different orientations.
– Where are the celebrity fantasies? That one is pretty popular.
– I haven’t noticed resistance play anywhere on the map.
– Why is incest so far away, next to cannibalism? That’s way more common fantasy.
And lastly, I’m afraid that your map doesn’t really convey your point. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great… it’s just that, the real answer to the people who are bored with sex because they’ve “done it all” is: depth over breadth. In the real geographical world also too many people go to organized trips that show them the major cities of Europe in 14 days, or something, and then they think they’ve seen it all. “Germany? Check! Been there, done that. Next!” But in reality they don’t know 1/10 of the great things in their own town!
Same thing with sex. Many people will look at your map with satisfaction and say “Well, actually I really have done it all! (well, almost)”, but the question is: how well?
Greta Christina’s story “Bending” comes to mind:
– Ola
Egads Man! I’m going to wear out the letters that spell “define:” on my keyboard. I’ve not heard of half of this stuff.
It is…illuminating…that I’d disagree on the placement of a couple of countries. But that’ll be true of most people, and I’d imagine part of the point.
I suspect so. Any map like this at some point is going to end up being arbitrary and subjective; I don’t know if there’s any way around that. (A rigorous taxonomy of human sexual behaviors sounds like it’d be a fun project, but also the kind of thing that one might sink years into.)
Egads Man! I’m going to wear out the letters that spell “define:” on my keyboard. I’ve not heard of half of this stuff.
It is…illuminating…that I’d disagree on the placement of a couple of countries. But that’ll be true of most people, and I’d imagine part of the point.
Also: where is the land of Tantric sex?
– Ola
Seconded on Urban Dictionary Bay!
– ZM
Heh! ^This I like! 😀
Its an excellent map tho 😀 Tha
Amazing! I hope you’ll be sharing this with lots and lots of folk. 🙂
Amazing! I hope you’ll be sharing this with lots and lots of folk. 🙂
You’re off tweaking this, aren’t you? It will never end, the tweaking…
I find it hilarious that many of these comments are about misspellings. While good proofreading is priceless, it’s hardly more important than what was missed, or seems misaligned, and the like. 🙂 There have been some useful comments made.
As ‘anonymous’ pointed out, it is merely words many of us have touched on but hardly explored thoroughly. I am only the mildest of kink, so I’ll never get to many of the “countries” and am perfectly content about that. But, you know, it is mighty generous of you to share with us a way for us to show interested parties the amazing range of possibilities…
As a matter of fact, right when I was reading your reply, I was working on the map again, so yeah. 🙂
You’re off tweaking this, aren’t you? It will never end, the tweaking…
I find it hilarious that many of these comments are about misspellings. While good proofreading is priceless, it’s hardly more important than what was missed, or seems misaligned, and the like. 🙂 There have been some useful comments made.
As ‘anonymous’ pointed out, it is merely words many of us have touched on but hardly explored thoroughly. I am only the mildest of kink, so I’ll never get to many of the “countries” and am perfectly content about that. But, you know, it is mighty generous of you to share with us a way for us to show interested parties the amazing range of possibilities…
A couple of possible additions…
defloration
lumpkin
You have CFNM listed, but not it’s counterpart, CMNF.
Also, did I miss “tattoos”? It’s not listed in Body Modification.
You have “hairy” listed, but I wonder if that would be considered equivalent to “long hair”?
Somehow, “giving a panel discussion on cryptography at Dragon*Con” should be crammed in there, or maybe it’s just me. 😉 Perhaps some permutation of “High I.Q.”?
Oh, and I love that you included Legend of the Overfiend as it’s own little demon city.
Re: A couple of possible additions…
Hmm. These will have to go into the next rev…
Perhaps this release should have been called “0.1b1”.
Re: A couple of possible additions…
You have “hairy” listed, but I wonder if that would be considered equivalent to “long hair”?
Not even close. Trust me. I speak from personal experience on that one. – ZM
A couple of possible additions…
defloration
lumpkin
You have CFNM listed, but not it’s counterpart, CMNF.
Also, did I miss “tattoos”? It’s not listed in Body Modification.
You have “hairy” listed, but I wonder if that would be considered equivalent to “long hair”?
Somehow, “giving a panel discussion on cryptography at Dragon*Con” should be crammed in there, or maybe it’s just me. 😉 Perhaps some permutation of “High I.Q.”?
Oh, and I love that you included Legend of the Overfiend as it’s own little demon city.
This is exactly what I was thinking. For anyone reading this, especially Franklin, if you won’t read xkcd, you NEED TO.
I’m not gonna say I don’t have some *ahem* slightly nonstandard tastes — leastwise according to that map. I always considered myself mostly mundane. Apparently my view of mundane isn’t the same as yours.
But I don’t like linking the idea of not being into kinky sex as a fear-based thing. Surely there are people who don’t like to be spanked because they don’t tend to link pain sensations to sexual pleasure, right?
I’m not suggesting that everyone who isn’t into kink is afraid of it, certainly, though I do think that American society does have a strong hatred and fear of “deviant” sex1, and that there are many people who do seem quite concerned with remaining in a fairly small sexual space because they’re worried about being perceived as “too weird.” This is, I think, most especially true of sexual orientation, where there is often a great deal of fear of being perceived as “gay.”
The “straits of fear” isn’t a statement that everyone would be kinky if they weren’t scared of it so much as a tongue-in-cheek poke of common social attitudes about sex.
1 And why don’t we use the word “deviant” to describe nuns, anyway? Their sexual behavior unquestionably deviates from the norm…
Using academic classifications, I believe celibacy is considered deviant.
I’m sure it is, but you never hear folks in the common vernacular saying “Man, those cloistered nuns are a bunch of sexual deviants! Culturally, the word “deviant” seems to be attached to value judgements about sex and sexuality; I’ve never actually heard it used in an academic, value-free way.
I’m not gonna say I don’t have some *ahem* slightly nonstandard tastes — leastwise according to that map. I always considered myself mostly mundane. Apparently my view of mundane isn’t the same as yours.
But I don’t like linking the idea of not being into kinky sex as a fear-based thing. Surely there are people who don’t like to be spanked because they don’t tend to link pain sensations to sexual pleasure, right?
Thanks! Fixed now.
Things generally go on the map if they’re real fetishes engaged in, however infrequently, by real people. (The exception is the Land of Myth, which contains things like gerbilling and snuff films which are part of the popular folklore, but which have never actually been recorded for real.)
Or we have similar tastes,a nd there’s a lot of stuff out there neither of us has heard of (yet)…
Yep! Future versions will likely have more embellishments, and more terrain as well. 🙂
Yep! Future versions will likely have more embellishments, and more terrain as well. 🙂
You’re correct on the capsaicin; it’s been fixed now.
The things beyond the Barrier Mountains aren’t necessarily more intense per se, so much as less well-known to average folks. For example, if you walk up to average people on the sterrt and ask them what they know about D/s, many of them would probably have eard of things like chatroom D/s or maledom/femsub, but fewer would likely be aware of utility D/s, so utility D/s is on the other side of the mountains even though it’s not necessarily more “intense.”
Right you are! It’s been fixed, thanks!
Push pins! I *like* that idea.
Maybe I should start making wall-sized printouts and offer them on my Web site. nd include a box of those little flag pin thingies!
Icon love! 🙂 And I’m always open to suggestions.
It’s intended to be as comprehensive as possible. Dacryphilia would probably be in its own section (and I need to add it); it’s not necessarily a bodily fluid thing because (at least for me) it’s not the tears themselves so much as the emotional response they signify. It’s also not quite humiliation, but its close.
Hmm.
You know what’s interesting is that now that I have the first version up, I’m already thinking of things I’ve forgotten, and some of them are fetishes of mine! And I somehow neglected to add “sex games,” as well. Oh, the irony.
Uhm, from what I’ve read in your journal, we don’t share much 😀 I’m pretty darn vanilla – much to the boyfriend’s dismay (poor felllow). But so many of my friends are kinky I get to learn about lots of “interesting” things. And you are right, there is so much more out there than we know – possibly want to know.
The problem with diagramming all the overlaps or connections between different fetishes is that the diagram tends to run away and become unmanageably complex REAL fast. I can understand what she was trying to accomplish with the Fetish Map, but at the same time, it’s incomplete, and trying to make it more complete would make it even less readable, I think.
I’d originally thought about trying to do something similar, and then abandoned that idea pretty quick. Just trying to map out all the connections in D/s alone is virtually impossible, especially when you consider they can be grouped together by social groups (Old Lether, New Leather, Gorean), by general activity types (utility D/s, sexual D/s, service D/s), by related fetishes (bootblacking, oral service), and then subdivided by sexuality (old leather is primarily gay men, for instance, whereas Gorean D/s is almost exclusively heterosexual). Trying to make meaningful connections on a 2D chart gets absurd really fast.
Why, yes. Yes, I am. 🙂 *snerk*
Mmm, hilighters. That’s pretty hot.
I really, really want to print out a wall-sized poster of this map and hang it up in my room. And I particularly like the push-pin idea above.
I don’t think that’s possible to do on a 2D chart of any kind; tere are too many relationships and they’re too complex. At some point, the groupings and relationships shown on any chart or map has to become arbitrary; old leather D/s is primarily gay men, Gorean D/s is almost exclusively heterosexual, but they have a lot of commonality of theme: rigid hierarchy, a strong caste system, emphasis on titles and rigidly defined roles. Would they be grouped together spacially (because of the similarities of activities) or apart from each other (because one is almost exclusively gay and one is almost exclusively het)? Would they be close to scene D/s (because of the commonality of power exchange) or far from it (because of the emphasis on power exchange as a part of someone’s identity, rather than a temporary arrangement for the purpose of sexual gratification)?
Seems like the further you go into trying to create a coherent arrangement of fetishes, the more tangled it gets. By the time you’ve added a dozen or more things, either the map’s unreadable or there are so many connections and lines you can’t read it. If there’s a way to solve that problem, I haven’t been able to think of it yet.
A 3D map would help manage some of those problems, but it’d also be harder to create, and likely harder to read.
I love XKCD! Have the XKCD feed in my flist, in fact.
Engraved Lucite cube? 😉
Out of curiosity, what is “utility D/s”? It’s not a term I’ve heard before.
— A <3
Only, y’know, more perverted. 🙂
Utility D/s is a specific form of D/s where the submissive acts as a utilitarian object for the dominant. For example, the submissive might kneel on all fours and act as a footrest for the dominant (in fact, there’s an entire subgroup of utility D/s centered around human furniture), or hold a serving tray in his or her mouth and act like a coffee saucer.
It’s distinct from service D/s in that a service submissive might bring the dominant a drink, but the utility submissive might kneel and act as a table to hold the drink.
I’m not suggesting that everyone who isn’t into kink is afraid of it, certainly, though I do think that American society does have a strong hatred and fear of “deviant” sex1, and that there are many people who do seem quite concerned with remaining in a fairly small sexual space because they’re worried about being perceived as “too weird.” This is, I think, most especially true of sexual orientation, where there is often a great deal of fear of being perceived as “gay.”
The “straits of fear” isn’t a statement that everyone would be kinky if they weren’t scared of it so much as a tongue-in-cheek poke of common social attitudes about sex.
1 And why don’t we use the word “deviant” to describe nuns, anyway? Their sexual behavior unquestionably deviates from the norm…
Re: A couple of possible additions…
Hmm. These will have to go into the next rev…
Perhaps this release should have been called “0.1b1”.
Using academic classifications, I believe celibacy is considered deviant.
I suspect so. Any map like this at some point is going to end up being arbitrary and subjective; I don’t know if there’s any way around that. (A rigorous taxonomy of human sexual behaviors sounds like it’d be a fun project, but also the kind of thing that one might sink years into.)
AWESOME Greta Christina quote! She’s one of my favorite bloggers, actually.
Gay is included as a thing on its own because if you ask most folks to list all the different kinds of sex they can think of, I think most people would list “gay sex” as a distinct form of sex, even though as I said before any of these activities not requiring physical possession of a penis or vagina can be explored by folks of any sexual orientation whatsoever.
Resistance play isn’t on the map! That’s an amazing oversight, considering it’s one of my favorite things. Celebrity fetishes need to be added too.
Incest is a common fantasy, but I think it’s a fairly uncommon practice…and the practice does have enough cultural and legal taboo connected to it that it seems to fit up in the Icy North. I may be wrong about how uncommon it is, though; perhaps it should b moved down next to commercial sex, most of which is also illegal?
Not only do I have the feed on my flist, I routinely print out the better ones and put them up at the office. In fact, right now my wall has the Map of the Internet, IPv4 space; the chart of Kb vs kb; and the one about googlemaps. I printed the Observable Universe (Log Scale) but it shrank too much to fit on one page to make it look good.
Sacred sexuality–the whole area of sacred sexuality is missing! I’ll need to add it too.
As a matter of fact, right when I was reading your reply, I was working on the map again, so yeah. 🙂
I’m sure it is, but you never hear folks in the common vernacular saying “Man, those cloistered nuns are a bunch of sexual deviants! Culturally, the word “deviant” seems to be attached to value judgements about sex and sexuality; I’ve never actually heard it used in an academic, value-free way.
Ahhh, okay, thanks! I was familiar with the subsets, but not the overarching term 🙂
— A <3
people missing the point
those two folks who think they have/will have “done it all” have forgotten something…the connection with a lover. lots of people have a grand ol’ time for 60 years doin’ nothing more than a handful of positions. because it’s not solely about the activity, it’s about the emotion and the pleasure and the connection and the endorphins and all that other stuff. also i think some of us do a lot and then settle back into a groove of certain favorites and don’t miss the other stuff.
people missing the point
those two folks who think they have/will have “done it all” have forgotten something…the connection with a lover. lots of people have a grand ol’ time for 60 years doin’ nothing more than a handful of positions. because it’s not solely about the activity, it’s about the emotion and the pleasure and the connection and the endorphins and all that other stuff. also i think some of us do a lot and then settle back into a groove of certain favorites and don’t miss the other stuff.
Love the geographical names!
Subsequent versions of the map could find material in the paraphilias. Looking over my self-diagnosed paraphilias, your maps covers aquaphilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, apodysophilia, aretifism, sitophilia, trichophilia, troilism, gynandromorphophilia and xenophilia, which I most identify with. But maybe an Isle of Paraphilias, with a nice little forest for
the dendrophiliacs, and a (long) Peninsula of Pinocchio for the Nasophiliacs
would be apropos. All sorts of amusing possibilities in paraphilia land!
Love the geographical names!
Subsequent versions of the map could find material in the paraphilias. Looking over my self-diagnosed paraphilias, your maps covers aquaphilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, apodysophilia, aretifism, sitophilia, trichophilia, troilism, gynandromorphophilia and xenophilia, which I most identify with. But maybe an Isle of Paraphilias, with a nice little forest for
the dendrophiliacs, and a (long) Peninsula of Pinocchio for the Nasophiliacs
would be apropos. All sorts of amusing possibilities in paraphilia land!
In general, this seems a fantastic thing.
I do, however, wonder a little bit at “Gender Reassignment Surgery” being here; that’s hardly a sexual fetish or practice, but rather a fairly serious treatment for a fairly serious medical condition, which only tangentially has to do with sex.
Sorry for being a downer. 🙂
True dat. There is, however, a fetish for people who like to have sex with transsexual partners, which is what I was getting at, rather than a fetish for being trans. I’m not quite sure how to make that distinction on the map.
“tranny chasers”. Ick, but that’s what they’re called. 🙂
In general, this seems a fantastic thing.
I do, however, wonder a little bit at “Gender Reassignment Surgery” being here; that’s hardly a sexual fetish or practice, but rather a fairly serious treatment for a fairly serious medical condition, which only tangentially has to do with sex.
Sorry for being a downer. 🙂
True dat. There is, however, a fetish for people who like to have sex with transsexual partners, which is what I was getting at, rather than a fetish for being trans. I’m not quite sure how to make that distinction on the map.
“tranny chasers”. Ick, but that’s what they’re called. 🙂
I’m really surprised to find that you put milk and paint and other “sploshing” among the harmless paraphilias, but golden showers off behind a mountain range with activities only “a very, very tiny percentage even of veteran, seasoned kinksters finds appealing…”. Judging by the seasoned kinksters I know, I wouldn’t say that’s accurate at all.
That’s a good point. I do think there’s a qualitative difference between the two, though, in the sense that golden showers tend to evoke a much greater “oh no I never” response in a much larger number of people.
The revised map, which will be finished soon (I hope), relocates golden showers to their own section, separate from the other stuff up in the Arctic North.
I’m really surprised to find that you put milk and paint and other “sploshing” among the harmless paraphilias, but golden showers off behind a mountain range with activities only “a very, very tiny percentage even of veteran, seasoned kinksters finds appealing…”. Judging by the seasoned kinksters I know, I wouldn’t say that’s accurate at all.
I wonder if this could be transposed with a google map so that virtual pins could (easily) be used…
So, gate’s map is of human fetishes, not human sexuality. While one could argue that they are similar, hers is more about how the fetishses interact with each other. So, my balloon fetish friends have crossing interests in rubber/vinyl/fireworks, they dont have a lot in common with those accross the map.
(Which, you would make me happy if you added inflatables to the balloon land 🙂
But, while many people might dabble in some fetish activity, it usually doesnt cross the mind of people looking for something new sexually. At least, people dont think about balloons/beachballs/shoes as sexual objects, in the same way they might fantasize about D/s or prostitution or other “sexualixed” versions of kinky sex.
did you wait until the 69th comment was available? *lol*
So, gate’s map is of human fetishes, not human sexuality. While one could argue that they are similar, hers is more about how the fetishses interact with each other. So, my balloon fetish friends have crossing interests in rubber/vinyl/fireworks, they dont have a lot in common with those accross the map.
(Which, you would make me happy if you added inflatables to the balloon land 🙂
But, while many people might dabble in some fetish activity, it usually doesnt cross the mind of people looking for something new sexually. At least, people dont think about balloons/beachballs/shoes as sexual objects, in the same way they might fantasize about D/s or prostitution or other “sexualixed” versions of kinky sex.
I perused it…. I notice that tattoos aren’t on the body mod list…. any idea why?
‘Cause I forgot ’em. They’ll be on version 1.1. 🙂
I perused it…. I notice that tattoos aren’t on the body mod list…. any idea why?
Where do I get my passport stamped?
Heh heh…. heh heh…. You have to turn around for the stamping. 🙂
Oh, yes sir! *giggles*
Best. Question. EVAR.
Best. Reply. EVAR!!!
*turns around*
Where do I get my passport stamped?
did you wait until the 69th comment was available? *lol*
‘Cause I forgot ’em. They’ll be on version 1.1. 🙂
Heh heh…. heh heh…. You have to turn around for the stamping. 🙂
I am ROFLMAO at the Dread Koosh Flogger and Urban Dictionary Bay. I love your twisted mind.
And I am also tempted to print this out and put pushpins where I’ve been.
I am ROFLMAO at the Dread Koosh Flogger and Urban Dictionary Bay. I love your twisted mind.
And I am also tempted to print this out and put pushpins where I’ve been.
Push pins, that is somewhere around endorphin inlet and permanence bay isn’t it?
I have not read all of your comments, so perhaps someone else has already pointed this out to you, but if not, you simply must see this.
XKCD for teh WIN!
…which, now that I think of it, would make an awesome user pic.
I have not read all of your comments, so perhaps someone else has already pointed this out to you, but if not, you simply must see this.
XKCD for teh WIN!
…which, now that I think of it, would make an awesome user pic.
AWESOME Greta Christina quote! She’s one of my favorite bloggers, actually.
Yeah, mine too. I found her thanks to you!
It’s true that gay sex is a separate thing for most people, but I’m afraid that putting “Gay Sex” as one little separate country will piss off gay people, because it looks inclusive, when in reality it is far from. Besides, you don’t elaborate at all (which is understandable, given the fact that you’re straight…) I think we need some help from gay people here, to add some places names for Gayland. Anyone?
I’m not sure how common incest really is; given the prevalence of fantasies, I have my suspicions. Anyway, you did separate fantasy from reality for other areas (such as rape), so maybe do the same with incest?
– Ola
I love it, but you seem to be conflating “pedophilia” with “child molestation.” Lolicon, age-play, and sexual fantasies are consensual, at least by most definitions I’ve seen. Pet peeve of mine 🙂
Did not expect to run in to stuff I hadn’t heard of here, so congratulations on broadening my horizons a bit. I definitely quite like the idea, and the layout makes a lot of sense. I can’t imagine someone getting “bored” or having “seen it all” given both the width and depth of sexuality out there!
I love it, but you seem to be conflating “pedophilia” with “child molestation.” Lolicon, age-play, and sexual fantasies are consensual, at least by most definitions I’ve seen. Pet peeve of mine 🙂
Did not expect to run in to stuff I hadn’t heard of here, so congratulations on broadening my horizons a bit. I definitely quite like the idea, and the layout makes a lot of sense. I can’t imagine someone getting “bored” or having “seen it all” given both the width and depth of sexuality out there!
Oh, yes sir! *giggles*
First off, I love this dearly. It is amazing and wonderful. Second, two odd additions that I don’t think anyone has brought up:
Competitive sex and platonic sex.
~Duk
Platonic sex is on the revision. Competitive sex? Can you elaborate?
IE couples trying to have more orgasms per hour than each other, or partners trying to get each other to come first. Things like that.
Alternatively, strip/sex scrabble.
~Duk
First off, I love this dearly. It is amazing and wonderful. Second, two odd additions that I don’t think anyone has brought up:
Competitive sex and platonic sex.
~Duk
*G* nifty! Double LOL points for the “dread Koosh floggger” reference. *G*
only one activity got the “WTF is that?” reaction.
(and what does that say about me?)
Can someone Explain “toothing”?
Way keen, i want a poster!
“Toothing” is one of the more interesting sexual practices, which seems to be popular primarily in the UK.
It was originally “invented” as part of a hoax. An editor fo the British gaming magazine Edge, attempting to prove how gullible the Web community could be, sat down and dreamed up the most absurd form of anonymous sex he could think of. He came up with a system whereby a person with a BlueTooth cell phone would publish the cell phone with a single messge (“Toothing”) and the phone’s number, which could be seen by someone else with a BlueTooth cell phone on a BlueTooth device scan. The person who saw the message would then send his own phone number back, the people would call or text each other, and then hook up.
He made a fake online forum dedicated to toothing, and then sent the link to Gizmondo, which (unaware of the hoax) repeated the story as true, and it spread like wildfire form there.
However, fate is not without a sense of humor, and the phenomenon has actually taken off for real. Folks are now using BlueTooth on their phones to look for anonymous sex partners; since BlueTooth has a relatively limited range, any devices that your phone shows will belong to people relatively close to you. In some parts of the UK, it’s reportedly become a real way to meet anonymous partners for sex in crowded public venues like trains and conventions.
*G* nifty! Double LOL points for the “dread Koosh floggger” reference. *G*
only one activity got the “WTF is that?” reaction.
(and what does that say about me?)
Can someone Explain “toothing”?
Way keen, i want a poster!
I was looking over the map. I do not know if anyone mentioned this. I saw no signs of Tantra.
Right you are! It’ll be added to the next version.
I was looking over the map. I do not know if anyone mentioned this. I saw no signs of Tantra.
Right you are! It’ll be added to the next version.
Well!
Nice to know that I can be considered “well traveled”? Guess that makes me a “man of the world”. Or a total pervert, but in the end I suppose both terms are mutually inclusive…
Well!
Nice to know that I can be considered “well traveled”? Guess that makes me a “man of the world”. Or a total pervert, but in the end I suppose both terms are mutually inclusive…
A very minor point, but you have furry as a completely real thing. Sure dressing up in a fursuit and playing with a plush is real, but most furry activity is very much in the “Islands of the Imaginary”.
That’s why it borders on the isles of the imaginary, in fact. 🙂 Most of the furries I know would argue that “being a furry” is a real thing, and there’s certainly a very real furry subculture, with its own jargon and art and so on–but the folks who are furries do often participate in imaginary activities, so to speak.
Still, I get your point. Hmm. Perhaps a river separating the realm of furries from the mainland…
That would be about right. It is a lifestyle, but there are many furries who like to muck and want to get it on with a cartoon character…. and that’s all it is for them. A wonderful kinky fantasy that’s all in their imagination.
The river would make it just about right, or a separate island that’s close to the main land.
That section of the map is getting a significant rework in the new version. 🙂
A very minor point, but you have furry as a completely real thing. Sure dressing up in a fursuit and playing with a plush is real, but most furry activity is very much in the “Islands of the Imaginary”.
Best. Question. EVAR.
Best. Reply. EVAR!!!
*turns around*
A few missing items: figging, scrotum stretching, tattoos.
Chastity belts should probably be next to orgasm denial. Milking probably ought to be adjacent to either forced orgasms or orgasm denial, depending on which variety you intend (continual penis stimulation to cause repeated orgasms vs. direct stimulation of the prostate to release some fluid, considered good for prostate health during long-term orgasm denial).
There’s some duplication: needle play vs. play piercing; knife play vs. cutting.
Soft swing might better be placed in voyeurism.
Does spanking really belong across the Great Barrier Mountains?
Good comments overall. I’m working on version 1.1 of the map, which is a significant overhaul to version 1.0 (and adds about six new territories), and I’ll have to move some things around to account for what you’ve said.
I see “knife play” as distinct from “cutting,” because it’s possible to do knife play without actually cutting. (In fact, most of the knife play I do doesn’t involve cutting; it can be done as a form of sensation play, with a dull knife, or in combination with something like a violet wand–a knife blade used with a body contact probe is very intense, because the spark jumps from the edge of the knife, concentrating it in a very narrow area).
Likewise, needle play isn’t necessarily the same thing as play piercing. When I think “play piercing,” I think of using needles to penetrate an area of the body (like a nipple or under the surface of the skin) entirely, or even using temporary piercing jewelry (many corset piercings are not intended to be permanent, for example). But you can do needle play without piercing; I like to use acupuncture needles, for example, which I don’t think are the same animal as play piercing.
Would knife play that doesn’t involve cutting qualify as SM, then? Without the violet wand, a dull knife shouldn’t cause notable pain. It’s more psychological than physical.
While I can see a distinction between various play involving breaking the skin with needles, I’m not sure that they should be in separate territories. I’ve seen acupuncture needles used for piercings that go in and out, so I may be mistaking your meaning here. That said, there’s a difference between “I’m going to stick this needle into you” and “I’m going to stick this needle into you such that it sticks out again”, but they seem more alike than different – certainly not “different provinces in neighboring kingdoms” different.
Now, if you compare acupuncture style needle play and, say, attaching hooks to one’s chest, tying them to a pole, and dancing while pulling on them until they tear out… those are further apart. Still connected by a continuum, though several qualitative boundaries could be drawn.
I look forward to seeing the new version!
A few missing items: figging, scrotum stretching, tattoos.
Chastity belts should probably be next to orgasm denial. Milking probably ought to be adjacent to either forced orgasms or orgasm denial, depending on which variety you intend (continual penis stimulation to cause repeated orgasms vs. direct stimulation of the prostate to release some fluid, considered good for prostate health during long-term orgasm denial).
There’s some duplication: needle play vs. play piercing; knife play vs. cutting.
Soft swing might better be placed in voyeurism.
Does spanking really belong across the Great Barrier Mountains?
Good comments overall. I’m working on version 1.1 of the map, which is a significant overhaul to version 1.0 (and adds about six new territories), and I’ll have to move some things around to account for what you’ve said.
I see “knife play” as distinct from “cutting,” because it’s possible to do knife play without actually cutting. (In fact, most of the knife play I do doesn’t involve cutting; it can be done as a form of sensation play, with a dull knife, or in combination with something like a violet wand–a knife blade used with a body contact probe is very intense, because the spark jumps from the edge of the knife, concentrating it in a very narrow area).
Likewise, needle play isn’t necessarily the same thing as play piercing. When I think “play piercing,” I think of using needles to penetrate an area of the body (like a nipple or under the surface of the skin) entirely, or even using temporary piercing jewelry (many corset piercings are not intended to be permanent, for example). But you can do needle play without piercing; I like to use acupuncture needles, for example, which I don’t think are the same animal as play piercing.
That’s why it borders on the isles of the imaginary, in fact. 🙂 Most of the furries I know would argue that “being a furry” is a real thing, and there’s certainly a very real furry subculture, with its own jargon and art and so on–but the folks who are furries do often participate in imaginary activities, so to speak.
Still, I get your point. Hmm. Perhaps a river separating the realm of furries from the mainland…
Would knife play that doesn’t involve cutting qualify as SM, then? Without the violet wand, a dull knife shouldn’t cause notable pain. It’s more psychological than physical.
While I can see a distinction between various play involving breaking the skin with needles, I’m not sure that they should be in separate territories. I’ve seen acupuncture needles used for piercings that go in and out, so I may be mistaking your meaning here. That said, there’s a difference between “I’m going to stick this needle into you” and “I’m going to stick this needle into you such that it sticks out again”, but they seem more alike than different – certainly not “different provinces in neighboring kingdoms” different.
Now, if you compare acupuncture style needle play and, say, attaching hooks to one’s chest, tying them to a pole, and dancing while pulling on them until they tear out… those are further apart. Still connected by a continuum, though several qualitative boundaries could be drawn.
I look forward to seeing the new version!
That would be about right. It is a lifestyle, but there are many furries who like to muck and want to get it on with a cartoon character…. and that’s all it is for them. A wonderful kinky fantasy that’s all in their imagination.
The river would make it just about right, or a separate island that’s close to the main land.
This is really cool. I’d move “commercial” to an island off the land of mundania, though, as I’ve seen a lot more people aware of it, and probably similar numbers doing it, as D/s/spanking/bondage/etc.
Excellent idea. The new version of the map is arranged that way.
This is really cool. I’d move “commercial” to an island off the land of mundania, though, as I’ve seen a lot more people aware of it, and probably similar numbers doing it, as D/s/spanking/bondage/etc.
That section of the map is getting a significant rework in the new version. 🙂
Re: A couple of possible additions…
You have “hairy” listed, but I wonder if that would be considered equivalent to “long hair”?
Not even close. Trust me. I speak from personal experience on that one. – ZM
I didn’t want to leave a general comment on the map until I had the time to study it a bit further, and now having done so, I think it’s overall quite well done. I particularly like how hentai, statue fetish (?!!), human dolls, and Real Dolls all meet at a single point [I can see my house from here!].
There is one odd, and fairly strong, suggestion I’d make: I’d outright swap the locations of the Racial Fetishes and Body Modification nations. This serves three purposes:
1) It puts Racial Fetishes across the bay from the Land of Mundania, which – let’s face it – it perhaps should even be a part of. I’m sure that it’s very commonplace, just as members of particular races themselves are very commonplace (even though they’re called “minorities”, surely they outnumber many of the other fetish categories), and I’m fairly sure that most people know it’s commonplace, which is apparently the criteria used for placing them in the first place.
2) Body Modification should be a LOT closer to Body Type Fetishes. I think it’s fairly safe to say that many body-mod desires stem from an unsatisfied (or unsatisfiable!) body-type desire. They should definitely be distinct nations (those who are into the act of the modifying clearly belong to the north; those who only care for the results probably belong further south), but they should probably share a border; it’s easy to visualize emigration. In fact, it’s easy to visualize border disputes as science progresses!
3) Body Modification desperately begs to border the Islands of the Imaginary, and perhaps should even have an outlying island or two in the archipelago. It’s amazing what fantastical lengths some published imaginations [I just made that phrase up, and I like it… a LOT] go to: I’ve seen games and stories (and the occasional image) themed around “medical” or “magical” enhancement that result in the like of breasts with greater mass than the rest of their possessors’ bodies, detachable heads with penis/vagina couplings for necks, mouths (and even eyes) replaced with vaginas… the list goes on. (Please don’t ask me for links – it’s one of those cases where you should be careful what you ask for, lest you get it.)
I’m trying to picture some of the suggested changes as continental drift, and man, that would be one messed up planet. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were an incontinent-al drift fault line somewhere… sorry, couldn’t resist.
Oh, and one last thing I just thought of: just south of The Impassable Reaches, there could be a small territory containing “Rule 34 Researchers” and “Rule 35 Enforcers”. – ZM, thoroughly enjoying his current research into agalmatophilia prompted by looking up “statue fetish”
I didn’t want to leave a general comment on the map until I had the time to study it a bit further, and now having done so, I think it’s overall quite well done. I particularly like how hentai, statue fetish (?!!), human dolls, and Real Dolls all meet at a single point [I can see my house from here!].
There is one odd, and fairly strong, suggestion I’d make: I’d outright swap the locations of the Racial Fetishes and Body Modification nations. This serves three purposes:
1) It puts Racial Fetishes across the bay from the Land of Mundania, which – let’s face it – it perhaps should even be a part of. I’m sure that it’s very commonplace, just as members of particular races themselves are very commonplace (even though they’re called “minorities”, surely they outnumber many of the other fetish categories), and I’m fairly sure that most people know it’s commonplace, which is apparently the criteria used for placing them in the first place.
2) Body Modification should be a LOT closer to Body Type Fetishes. I think it’s fairly safe to say that many body-mod desires stem from an unsatisfied (or unsatisfiable!) body-type desire. They should definitely be distinct nations (those who are into the act of the modifying clearly belong to the north; those who only care for the results probably belong further south), but they should probably share a border; it’s easy to visualize emigration. In fact, it’s easy to visualize border disputes as science progresses!
3) Body Modification desperately begs to border the Islands of the Imaginary, and perhaps should even have an outlying island or two in the archipelago. It’s amazing what fantastical lengths some published imaginations [I just made that phrase up, and I like it… a LOT] go to: I’ve seen games and stories (and the occasional image) themed around “medical” or “magical” enhancement that result in the like of breasts with greater mass than the rest of their possessors’ bodies, detachable heads with penis/vagina couplings for necks, mouths (and even eyes) replaced with vaginas… the list goes on. (Please don’t ask me for links – it’s one of those cases where you should be careful what you ask for, lest you get it.)
I’m trying to picture some of the suggested changes as continental drift, and man, that would be one messed up planet. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were an incontinent-al drift fault line somewhere… sorry, couldn’t resist.
Oh, and one last thing I just thought of: just south of The Impassable Reaches, there could be a small territory containing “Rule 34 Researchers” and “Rule 35 Enforcers”. – ZM, thoroughly enjoying his current research into agalmatophilia prompted by looking up “statue fetish”
I got your map via the Boffery blog and loved it on sight. On impulse, and since I had nothing particularly compelling to do that morning, I called up my friend Atherton Bartelby and we filled out the maps as they relate to us. We linked the final product via Twitter and have since received a number of requests for blank copies from others who want to do it. I think you may have created a meme!
Thank you for taking the time. Really, really excellent work.
Thanks! I’m working on version 1.1, which is a significant change to the current version; I’ve been inundated with suggestions and additions, so the new one will have a lot of stuff on it not on the current version. I like the idea of making a blank version, too.
Someone should make a program so you can take a survey and get a digital, colored version of the map based on your preferences.
I’m still getting requests for blank maps to fill out. If you get a surge of strangers in here telling you that you’re god, they probably came from my end. It’s only appropriate to pay tribute to the brains behind the masterful work. 😉
I got your map via the Boffery blog and loved it on sight. On impulse, and since I had nothing particularly compelling to do that morning, I called up my friend Atherton Bartelby and we filled out the maps as they relate to us. We linked the final product via Twitter and have since received a number of requests for blank copies from others who want to do it. I think you may have created a meme!
Thank you for taking the time. Really, really excellent work.
Thanks! I’m working on version 1.1, which is a significant change to the current version; I’ve been inundated with suggestions and additions, so the new one will have a lot of stuff on it not on the current version. I like the idea of making a blank version, too.
This should be made into a random generator “old leather gorean chastity belts”
This should be made into a random generator “old leather gorean chastity belts”
Clown fetishes! Damn right. Being raped and killed by John Wayne Gacy is one of my favourite fantasies.
Well, that certainly does make MY fantasies look rather pedestrian… 🙂
Well, I can’t deny that it is an interesting one!
Clown fetishes! Damn right. Being raped and killed by John Wayne Gacy is one of my favourite fantasies.
maps
how cool, wandered onto the site, i like sex and i like maps
maps
how cool, wandered onto the site, i like sex and i like maps
This proved very, very entertaining for my IRC channel last night. Thank you.
Hee! Glad to be of service!
This proved very, very entertaining for my IRC channel last night. Thank you.
Someone should make a program so you can take a survey and get a digital, colored version of the map based on your preferences.
I’m still getting requests for blank maps to fill out. If you get a surge of strangers in here telling you that you’re god, they probably came from my end. It’s only appropriate to pay tribute to the brains behind the masterful work. 😉
No wonder the Elves don’t let everyone cross the Sea with them. 😉
As a matter of fact, the revised version does indeed have little pictures of sailing ships on it. 🙂
That’s a good point. I do think there’s a qualitative difference between the two, though, in the sense that golden showers tend to evoke a much greater “oh no I never” response in a much larger number of people.
The revised map, which will be finished soon (I hope), relocates golden showers to their own section, separate from the other stuff up in the Arctic North.
Platonic sex is on the revision. Competitive sex? Can you elaborate?
“Toothing” is one of the more interesting sexual practices, which seems to be popular primarily in the UK.
It was originally “invented” as part of a hoax. An editor fo the British gaming magazine Edge, attempting to prove how gullible the Web community could be, sat down and dreamed up the most absurd form of anonymous sex he could think of. He came up with a system whereby a person with a BlueTooth cell phone would publish the cell phone with a single messge (“Toothing”) and the phone’s number, which could be seen by someone else with a BlueTooth cell phone on a BlueTooth device scan. The person who saw the message would then send his own phone number back, the people would call or text each other, and then hook up.
He made a fake online forum dedicated to toothing, and then sent the link to Gizmondo, which (unaware of the hoax) repeated the story as true, and it spread like wildfire form there.
However, fate is not without a sense of humor, and the phenomenon has actually taken off for real. Folks are now using BlueTooth on their phones to look for anonymous sex partners; since BlueTooth has a relatively limited range, any devices that your phone shows will belong to people relatively close to you. In some parts of the UK, it’s reportedly become a real way to meet anonymous partners for sex in crowded public venues like trains and conventions.
Excellent idea. The new version of the map is arranged that way.
Well, that certainly does make MY fantasies look rather pedestrian… 🙂
IE couples trying to have more orgasms per hour than each other, or partners trying to get each other to come first. Things like that.
Alternatively, strip/sex scrabble.
~Duk
Hee! Glad to be of service!
LARP?
This is just the thing for my LARP group.
I haven’t been so excited about a map since Greyhawk!!!
LARP?
This is just the thing for my LARP group.
I haven’t been so excited about a map since Greyhawk!!!
Right, I’m just wondering if it increases going up from the bottom, or the “most normal” stuff is in the valley between the mountains?
It’s not necessarily more intense going north (at least til you get to the Impassible mountain range), but yes, the most ‘normal’ stuff is in the valley between the mountain ranges. Or at least that’s the general idea.
map of only the minimally socially acceptable sexual variations?
I don’t see pedophilia, rape, nonconsensual frotteurism, child molestation, etc. I can guess you were trying to follow a moral guide here, and I agree with the impulse, but if you’re trying to somehow map all human sexual behavior, leaving out the clearly horrible is a pretty significant omission. Those things would make some large nations.
Re: map of only the minimally socially acceptable sexual variations?
These things are on the map; look in the Island of Non-Consent, south of Mundania.
Re: map of only the minimally socially acceptable sexual variations?
d’oh! my bad. It is small, but it’s there. Maybe it should be small. I certainly wish it were in real life.
map of only the minimally socially acceptable sexual variations?
I don’t see pedophilia, rape, nonconsensual frotteurism, child molestation, etc. I can guess you were trying to follow a moral guide here, and I agree with the impulse, but if you’re trying to somehow map all human sexual behavior, leaving out the clearly horrible is a pretty significant omission. Those things would make some large nations.
Re: map of only the minimally socially acceptable sexual variations?
These things are on the map; look in the Island of Non-Consent, south of Mundania.
Re: map of only the minimally socially acceptable sexual variations?
d’oh! my bad. It is small, but it’s there. Maybe it should be small. I certainly wish it were in real life.
Well, I can’t deny that it is an interesting one!
needs breast fetish added
You should probably mention boobs- under body parts….
needs breast fetish added
You should probably mention boobs- under body parts….
LOL! That’s simply wonderful
Very imaginative and clever. You’ve warmed the cockles of a dirty old man’s heart.
LOL! That’s simply wonderful
Very imaginative and clever. You’ve warmed the cockles of a dirty old man’s heart.
That Map Looks Like Northern Italy!
It should be surrounded by the AGING SEA.
Am I the first one to think of that angle?
-SkyBrett
That Map Looks Like Northern Italy!
It should be surrounded by the AGING SEA.
Am I the first one to think of that angle?
-SkyBrett