ALT.SEX.MASTURBATION the FAQ This is Part Two of the FAQ ALT.SEX.MASTURBATION the FAQ Contents of the whole FAQ are found with PART ONE PART TWO 0.0 This FAQ: FAQ stands for "Frequently Asked Questions." Most newsgroups have FAQs. As implied, a FAQ contains the questions most frequently asked in the newsgroup and basic information about the newsgroup and the subject of the newsqroup. Material in a FAQ is not the final word on any subject, but it does contain summaries of issues that have been discussed time and again. Please learn to spell "masturbation" correctly. Some news accounts which view the existence of this group with horror claim that we think the name of is "alt.sex.masterbation." Don't encourage these yellow journalists. There is, however, a group called alt.sex.masterbation . If your server has it and you have the right kind of newsreader, you can use alt.sex.masterbation to filter out a lot of the garbage and spam. Subscribe to both alt.sex.masturbation and alt.sex.masterbation . Before reading alt.sex.masturbation , mark all the messages in alt.sex.masterbation as "read." In many newsreaders this will eliminate a lot of junk posts that are crossposted between alt.sex.masturbation and alt.sex.masterbation. 0.0.1. Summary of Changes As usual the FAQ has been edited to tighten up language and correct spelling and grammar. ANNEXES to this FAQ pertaining to killfiles have been added. Logically this information would belong to part FOUR of the FAQ, but have been removed to keep the parts from becoming unweildy. Please contribute. 0.0.2. Who maintains it? Who contributed to it? Lars Eighner ( eighner@io.com ) has volunteered to assemble this FAQ. Contributors should indicate whether they want to be credited for specific parts, in general, or not at all. This FAQ is not archived anywhere yet. This is FAQ is loosely based on anonymously posted FAQs from the past, one version of which is available at ftp://ftp.u.washington.edu/public/sfpse/sex/masturba and somewhat later versions in my personal archives. The keeper of the original FAQ has been heard from. He wishes to remain anonymous and wishes the present effort well. 0.0.2.1 Where to find this FAQ The most current complete version of this FAQ can be found at: http://www.io.com/~eighner/FAQs or by anonymous ftp at ftp.io.com/pub/usr/eighner where the files are asmfaqp?.cur and ? is the part number 1, 2, 3, or 4. The killfile annexes are also available at the above sites. The ftp version is usually updated a day or two after the new version of the FAQ is posted. and http://www.neosoft.com/~mick/auto.html . or by anonymous FTP at ftp://www.neosoft.com/pub/users/m/mick/faq.txt . The FAQ has not yet been archived at one of the major archives, and anyone with information on how to get it archived is invited to contect to maintainer: eighner@io.com . The FAQ is posted monthly in alt.sex.masturbation . The FAQ is currently posted in four parts because it is a large document ( >100k ). There is currently no automatic way to obtain the FAQ by e-mail. Please do not ask the maintainer to mail parts. 0.0.3. Disclaimers Nothing in this FAQ should be construed as professional advice. The FAQ represents the distilled opinions of contributors to the FAQ and to alt.sex.masturbation who generally are not doctors, lawyers, psychologists, or any other kind of expert. While the maintainer strives to keep the factual information as accurate as possible, those with particular problems or concerns should consult an appropriate professional. 0.0.4. Abbreviations and terms in this FAQ and glossary of terms used on alt.sex.masturbation . a.s.m.: alt.sex.masturbation . binaries: binary computer files which must be encoded as text to be posted; usually means pictures in discussions on a.s.m. Binaries are not appropriate posts to discussion groups like a.s.m. circle jerk: masturbation in a group, may or may not include "mutual masturbation" (=manual contact with others) dork: person who sends wannafucks FAQ: Frequently asked questions. FTP: File transfer protocol; a way of downloading files from remote servers. HIV: human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS. http: HyperText Transmission Protocol, the protocol used for the transmission of web pages. ISP: Internet service provider Jacks: name for various clubs for group masturbation which may or may not include mutual masturbation. Usually these clubs are for men only. Jacks & Jills: like Jacks, but for people of both sexes. JO: jacking off (and/or jilling off), i.e. masturbation lube: substance used to reduce friction and enhance masturbation precum: preseminal fluid. STD: sexually transmitted disease. wanking: British word for jacking off wannafucks: inappropriate email responses to newsgroup postings WWW: World Wide Web 1.0 What is alt.sex.masturbation? 1.1.0. What is on-topic? Newsgroups have topics because people's interests vary. With more than 13,000 newsgroups on the net, almost anything that can be posted is "on-topic" in some newsgroup. The reason "off-topic" postings are discouraged in all newsgroups is to make it easier for people to find posts on the topics they are interested in. Discussions of masturbation and certain discussions relating to housekeeping of the newsqroup are on-topic in alt.sex.masturbation. For purposes of this newsgroup "masturbation" has historically included, besides sexual self-stimulation of all kinds, mutual masturbation (which probably ought to be called "manual sex") and group masturbation (aka "circle jerks," "jacks clubs," "jack and jill clubs"). But it does not include other kinds of sex that people may fantasize about when they masturbate. That is, oral self-stimulation is on-topic, but oral sex with a partner or fantasies about oral sex with a partner are not. Commercial phone-sex ads and binaries (pictures) are definitely off-topic, and so are responses to them. A "me-too" is off-topic. Sometimes people make posts offering lists of sexy sites or something of the sort. Another person responds and this is followed by many other posts that include the words "me-too." Usually there is no list, or the list is so dated as to be useless when you get it. Generally these are schemes to collect email addresses so that advertisements can be sent to those addresses. If you really think there is a list and you want on someone's bulk email list, SEND EMAIL to the poster. When you post "me too" to the newsgroup not only do you annoy other users and waste their time and money, but you probably will not get on the list you want to get on. If you don't see the original message offering whatever it is and it has scrolled off your ISP, whatever it is you want is probably no longer available or is too old to be of any value. Lists of web sites, in particular, are generally out of date by the time they are offered. Now that there are powerful search engines that are easily available there certainly is no reason to rely on someone else's list of "hot sites." Since there are personal ads groups, sexy personal ads groups, and telephone sex groups, personal-type ads looking for masturbation partners should seldom (or never) appear in a.s.m. (Check X1. A partial listing of personal ad groups, found in PART FOUR of this FAQ.) Generally persons looking for masturbation partners are looking for them in some very limited geographic area, and asking people all over the world to read these posts when there is a more appropriate place for them is asking a little too much. Certainly ads requesting partners for activities other than masturbation are off topic. In any event, if your post is significant to only a limited geographic area, please indicate that area as the first thing in the subject header and (because some newsreaders do not show subject headers well) at the top of your post. Also be sure that geographic references are clear and unambiguous--many cities refer to them selves as "River City." A common way of indicating geographic areas in North America is by telephone Area Codes. Please be aware that some people who post these ads have ulterior motives which may range from making money, to law enforcement, to leading people into situations that may involve unwanted sexual activities or physical harm. While many posters here are sincere and are accurate in describing themselves, their interests, and their situations, some are attracted to the net precisely because they can disguise essential facts about themselves. Although warnings about police entrapment follow, there are reasons other than entrapment to be skeptical of USENET postings. If, for example, you see something that seems to be too good to be true, it probably is not true. Few people will really post their personal phone number -- no amateur could possibly want that many sex calls. So the odds are either the phone call will cost you or the number was posted by a vindictive ex-boyfriend or ex-spouse. If someone says he is "straight," why is he looking for a male sex partner? If another person describes him- or herself with all kinds of desirable attributes, why is that person placing an ad on the net to meet someone? Yes, yes, there are many reasons the personal ads might be real and accurate, but you ought to consider the possibility that the personal ad is neither real nor accurate. The person may not even accurately report his or her sex. You can have fun corresponding with someone and in many ways it does not matter if that person's self-description is accurate. But obviously, you shouldn't count on it in any important way. 1.1.0.0.1 Warning: Police Entrapment ************* WARNING ************* A common law-enforcement entrapment technique is to try to get you to write about things you think are fantasies, but which law-enforcement officers will try to prove were *plans* for illegal acts. E-mail and posts have been used as evidence of conspiracies that participants considered to be only fantasies. People are doing real time in cases in which juries could not tell the difference between fantasies and reality. If you correspond with people about fantasies of illicit sexual activity be sure your fantasies are clearly labeled as such and be especially cautious if a correspondent wants you to do anything that would seem to indicate you were actually planning to make fantasies of illicit activities come true. Police want to entrap as many people as possible in a USENET sting. Be especially cautious if you are asked to recruit more people into what you think is a fantasy exchange. Police have been known to try to portray themselves as having mob connections and may try to intimidate a person into staying with a fantasy discussion that the person really is not interested in. Don't play with people who are constantly trying to blur the line between reality and fantasy or who try to pressure you into doing things you don't want to do or who insist that you have promised to do something you haven't promised to do. Also beware of people who want you to send pictures by e-mail (or regular mail). Anyone who can decode e-mail pictures can select pictures he or she wants from the alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.* groups. Always ask yourself, if this person is who he/she says he/she is, why does he/she need me? If the person you are writing really is an adult, why can't he or she get adult access to an ISP that carries the erotica pictures groups? If this person really is a powerful mob boss, why does he need you to help put together a porno video? See Laura Kipnis's BOUND AND GAGGED (Grove Press, 1996) for an actual case history of entrapment using USENET and more information regarding how to reconize police entrapment ploys. 1.1.0.1 Why don't more women post here? A frequently asked question is why more women do not post to this newsgroup. One reason women are reluctant to post to the newsgroup is that when they do, they often receive inappropriate email known as "wannafucks." As the name implies, these are usually fairly crude sexual invitations, usually completely unrelated to the topic of a post. Some dickheads and other pathetic loser types seem to believe that any woman who mentions that she ever masturbated must really be desperate for sex with anyone. This is, of course, completely untrue. If you want more women to share their experiences, observations, and opinions on this newsgroup, do not respond to their posts as if anything they write indicates an urgent sexual interest in you personally. Many more women do read this newsgroup than post to it, and you might get email from some of them if you don't act like a dork. 1.1.1. What are the groups for related interests? The alt.sex hierarchy contains newsgroups for virtually all sexual tastes. In addition, there are many binary groups which carry pictures for virtually every sexual interest. Local hierarchies often contain newsqroups for "personals" in which greater or lesser degrees of explicitness are permitted for sexual ads. See part FOUR of this FAQ (X1-X3) for the names of some sex-related, pictures, and personals groups. Listings of newsgroups can be found through most newsreaders. These patterns may be helpful alt.sex.* The * matches anything. This pattern should give you a listing of all the alt.sex groups. There are a few binary (picture) groups in the alt.sex hierarchy. Look for the word "pictures" in the newsgroup name. alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.* This pattern should lead you to a listing of the erotic picture groups. .* For example ba.* should give you the regional groups in the Bay Area (i.e. San Francisco and surrounding areas). These are not generally sex groups, so feel free to ask your provider for the abbreviation for your region, if there is one. Regions will vary as to whether they have personal ads groups and the groups will vary in how explicit posts should be. Read the group before posting and ask if there is a FAQ. Please not that aus is the abbreviation for Australia, and not Austin, Tx, which uses the austin.* hierarchy. Some newsgroups that may be of interest: alt.sex.stories -- stories about sex and sexual fantasies alt.sex.stories.d -- discussions about alt.sex.stories alt.sex.stories.gay -- like a.s.s. but of special interest to gay people. alt.sex.pictures.* -- binaries (pictures) about sex, except that any group ending with .d is a discussion group Do not take these definitions as final, but read the group and consult its FAQ to determine if the group is appropriate for your post. 1.1.2. Why are binaries (pictures) off topic? Mostly because they are huge. Some people cannot skip over articles they don't want, but have to download the whole newsgroup to read any articles in it. Even a small picture may take 30,000 bytes which is the equivalent of ten fairly long text posts. Many pictures are much larger. Because a.s.m. is supposed to be a discussion group, providers who are short on disk space may not allocate a lot of space to a.s.m. Pictures may crowd off text posts too quickly, and some providers will be less willing to carry a.s.m. Many of the binaries posted to a.s.m. are off-topic anyway because they are not pictures ABOUT masturbation but are pictures FOR masturbation. And generally they are ads for phone-sex services, and particularly those which involve excessive charges that you will not know about until your phone bill is delivered by forklift. People have various ideas of what is sexy in a picture. When you look for pictures in the alt.biniaries.pictures.erotica.* group, you can select groups of interest to you and you will find pictures that don't have ugly phone numbers plastered across them. 1.1.3. Where should I look for pictures? Look at the alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.* and alt.sex.pictures.* groups to find pictures according to your taste. See PART FOUR of this FAQ for a selected list of picture groups. 2.0 Bibliography (In the old anonymous FAQ credit for compiling the bibliography is given to Richard Lovel. As will be seen most of the entries are dated. Contributions are requested.) 2.0.1 Books 2.0.1.1. Books--Scientific / Scholarly "Human Autoerotic Practices", ed. Manfred F. DeMartino (Human Sciences Press, New York, 1979). Excellent collection as above. "Masturbation from Infancy to Senescence", ed. Irwin M. Marcus (International Universities Press, New York, 1975). Yet another collection, more psychology-oriented. "Sexual Excitement, Sexual Peace", Suzanne & Irving Sarnoff (M. Evans, New York, 1979). Good overall study of masturbation. Reissued as "Masturbation and Adult Sexuality" Sexual Self-Stimulation", ed. R. E. L. Masters (Sherbourne Press, Los Angeles, 1967). Excellent collection of psychological, sociological and historical essays. Includes good review of the "treatment" of masturbators in earlier times. "Studies in the psychology of sex", Havelock Ellis. See especially the case-histories in the appendices. 2.0.1.2. Books--Literary / Historical "The Secret Vice Exposed!", ed Charles Rosenberg, in series "Sex, Marriage and Society" (Arno Press, New York, 1974). Reprints of historical anti-masturbation tracts and medical writings. Includes writings by Tissot, the originator of the 19th century medical hysteria over masturbation. "The Other Victorians", Steven Marcus (Meridian, New York, 1977) Study of pornography in Victorian England, many references to masturbation. "The Durable Fig Leaf", Mark Strage (William Morrow, New York, 1980). Historical and literary study of the penis, with several references to masturbation. "Confessions", Jean J. Rousseau. Rousseau was perhaps history's most famous masturbator after Onan, and his "Confessions" relates several incidents. 2.0.1.3 Books-- Current / Popular "The Fermata," Nicholson Baker (Vintage/Random House, 1994) A guy who can stop time at will avails himself of the opportunity to spy on women, particularlywhen they masturbate. "Men in Love", Nancy Friday (Delacorte Press, New York, 1980). Anthology of male sexual fantasies, many relating to masturbation. Men Loving Themselves", Jack Morin (Down There Press, P.O. Box 2086, Burlingame, CA 94010, 1980). Photo and word essays on male masturbation. Personal experiences. "Portnoy's Complaint," Philip Roth. Novel about a man either obsessed with masturbation or obsessed with being obsessed about it. "Singular Pleasures" by Harry Matthews. (Turnaround). "An extraordinary miniaturist epic, detailing 61 acts of masturbation- one to a page - dotted across the world, a single-handed global tour of male & female, young & old, from Zaire to Seoul, Glasgow to Zizanga, Paris to Perth. The tools change - a dildo, of course, but also a rugby ball, a turkey-baster, a municipal transit-launch, a hole in the snow, a dentist's drill. Stubbornly constant, though, is the flesh on which the objects & passions work, &, compellingly, the tolerant, humorous, unshockable gaze of the narrator. Shocking, innocent, & bizarrely likable in its lucid acceptance of human need." "Thy Neighbor's Wife", Gay Talese (Doubleday, New York, 1980). Essay on contemporary American sexual mores; ch. 16 covers massage parlor masturbation. "Vox" by Nicholson Baker (1992, Random House) A man and a woman, strangers, exchange fantasies over and adult party line in this rather lewdly graphic novel. Sexually explicit and quite literate, the fact is that if phone sex were ever really this good, we d never leave the house. 2.0.1.4 Books-- How-To / Self-Help "Any Man Can" by DR. William Hartman and Marilyn Fithian (St. Martin's Press). Chapters V through IX cover aspects of masturbation. "The Art of Marathon Masturbation", Karl Adams (Helios Publication, Chatsworth, CA 91311, 1979). Mostly pornographic, in a "sex-manual" style. "ESO: How You and Your Lover Can Give Each Other Hours of Extended Sexual Orgasm" by Alan P. Brauer, M.D., and Donna J. Brauer (Warner Books). Chapter III has some good masturbation Techniques. "For Yourself", Lonnie Barbach (Doubleday, New York, 1975) Women's guide to orgasm, using masturbation as therapy. "Good Vibrations", Joani Blank (Down There Press, 1982). Guide to selection and use of vibrators. "Joys of Masturbation", Hans Richter (Merchandise for Mailers, Palm Springs, CA, 1982). Half factual, half pornographic. Lots of photos, erotic content. Both male and female subjects. "Liberating Masturbation", Betty Dodson (Bodysex Designs, New York, 1974). Personal experiences of a masturbation advocate. "Masturbation, Tantra, and Self Love", Margo Woods (Mho and Mho Works, Box 33135 San Diego, CA 92103, 1981). Guidebook on masturbation as meditation. "Selflove and Orgasm", Betty Dodson (Betty Dodson, PO Box 1933, Murray Hill Station, New York, NY 10156, 1983). Updated version of the same. "Sex for One", Betty Dodson (Harmony Books, 225 Park Ave. South, 60 New York, NY 10003, 1987). Most recently updated version of the same. Recommended highly! "Solo Sex: Advanced Techniques", by Dr. Harold Litten (1990, Factor Press, 6920 Airport Boulevard, Box 117-100, Mobile, Alabama 36608) "A scientific, 'devotional' text by the world's leading apostle of autoeroticism" ... "Written for any man who would like to become the true sex connoisseur". 2.0.1.5 Erotica "The Governess", Miles Underwood (Collectors Publications, Covina, CA and also Grove Press). Modern fiction in Victorian style about a young habitual masturbator placed in the charge of a strict governess. Well written and entertaining. Probably no longer in print. "Solo Flights - the pleasures of masturbation", (Arlington House, 225 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003, 1986). Slick, high- production value photo book of women in the act of masturbation. B. B. Publications, P.O. Box 1033, Grover City, CA 93433. Publishes series of spanking-related short story anthologies. A trilogy from the author Brian Aldiss: The hand-reared boy. 1970 soldier erect; or further confessions of the hand reared boy. 1971. A rude awakening. 1978 2.0.2 Film and Video 2.0.2.1 Masturbation depicted in films BODY DOUBLE (1982) Melanie Griffith as Holly Body, porn actress famous for her masturbation scenes. DANGEROUS OBSESSION (1989) (Italian) [no description] FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1983) Judge Reinhold strokes away on the toilet as he fantasizes about his sister's best friend, played by Phoebe Cates. A topless scene by Cates accompanies. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS. Protagonist masturbates while his girlfriend, visiting him in prison, exposes her breasts. Also several male-male nude scenes which in the movie do not become sexual (but in the book they do). Not explicit. 9 1/2 WEEKS (1986) Kim Bassinger watches a slide show. 1900 (mid-1970) Italian made. Robert DeNiro and Gerard Depardieu, a prostitute who gives them simultaneous handjobs in bed, at one point DeNiro grabs Depardieu's cock to try and get him hard! Explicit. REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. Brando is seen apparently masturbating to a postcard of Michealangelo's "David." Not explicit. THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA (1976) Sarah Miles does it while her son secretly watches. SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE: James Spader masturbating to video. TATTOO (1981) Maud Adams is locked in a room after Bruce Dern tattoos her body (near the end of the movie). A fair amount of nudity from Ms. Adams. 2.0.2.2 Porn videos and films entirely devoted to masturbation (male models) Backstrokes, Video 10, Directed by John Summers, Written by Lars Eighner. Nine males solos involving mostly white-bread surfer type models on a tasteful set. Voice over written by current compiler of this FAQ. Most of John Summers' flicks are of this type, featuring elaborate sets and muscular models. Masturbation: Four Men, Edan Programs. "Old Reliable". Series of video tapes of men masturbating. Aimed at gay audience. Usually employs street-hustler type models in someone's living room. 2.0.2.3 Porn videos and films entirely devoted to masturbation (female models) Betty Dodson / Self Loving: Video portrait of a women's sexuality seminar." Documents one of Betty Dodson's famous seminars. Excellent, authentic. Quotes from the jacket: "We are ten women ... interacting in the nude ... engaging in pleasure ritual designed to enhance sexual self knowledge ... experiment with different sexual positions ... using electric vibrators ... a celebration of self loving filled with authentic orgasms." Masturbation: Five Women, Edan Programs 2.0.2.4 Porn videos and films entirely devoted to masturbation (male and female models) "Joys of Masturbation - the video", video tape. (MFM Video). Shares title only with Hans Richter book. Solo and mutual masturbation by women and men. 2.0.3 Audio 2.0.3.1 Masturbation references in popular songs. Aerosmith. "Blind Man" DOOKIE, Green Day. A song alternately called "Masturbation" or "All By Myself" occurs about 1:40 after the end of the last listed track on the CD. Def Lepoard. "Pour Some Sugar On Me" 2.0.4 WWW and FTP