Real laughter should be honest, not provoked or forced out of a person by harrassment and torture. So when I saw this on Pinterest the other day, of course I laughed out loud and pinned it on my Truths board.
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| Pinterest Link |
When I looked at my pin boards today and saw it again, I remembered a tickle incident at the Officers Club at Wurtsmith AFB in 1991 or 1992. George's aircraft commander, call sign Lex Luthor, snuck up behind me at the bar and tickled my sides. I whipped around, pointed a finger in his face, and through slitted eyes said, "Do that again and I will break your finger."
Lex had some issues with inappropriate touching of other people's wives, and this wasn't the first time he'd touched me. I was done with him.
He was, needless to say, taken aback, and glanced at George for back-up. George shrugged. "I'd listen to her if I were you."
He never touched me again.
What are your feelings about being tickled? How would you have reacted to someone like Lex tickling you? Am I completely humorless or completely justified?
I detest tickling. Absolutely. Detest. It. I think I would have probably broken Lex's fingers, as well as raised his voice to Soprano. You are much nicer than I am! Thanks for another great post.
ReplyDeleteI dislike being tickled anywhere on my body (well, ahem, cough, unless it's my Johnny Boy doing it gently *blushing*). As far as the guy that did that to you - GOOD for you. Even though I would like to have been like that, I'm quite weak in standing up for myself in that kind of a situation. Glad my daughters are not like me - you DON'T mess with them!!! My defense is usually a very nervous laugh. As a Church Secretary, I had one parishioner "accidentally" touch me inappropriately. After that, I made sure there was something in between me and him or anyone else - like an open drawer. And my Pastor would not let me work alone after that if he knew that person was going to be around.
ReplyDeleteI'm a faithful follower/stalker/daily reader of your blogs, but rarely post a comment. Today, you hit a nerve, and I seriously just had flashbacks to my childhood and my step-father tickling me. I. CANNOT. TELL. YOU. HOW. MUCH. I. HATE. TICKLERS. Oh, my goodness...I rarely use the word "hate"...in this case, it is justified. My step-father (who came into my life when I was 12 years old) used to tickle me mercilessly. He would tickle with such force, that I would often have bruises on my sides and legs. He thought it was funny, my mom thought it was funny...I did not think it was funny. Of course, I laughed...but nothing about it was funny. I'm not squeemish if someone tickles or touches me in a friendly and brief way...but straight-up, non-stop, forceful tickling...NO WAY! Oh, my...it's been over 30 years and the subject of tickling still gets me riled up. I think it's time for a glass of wine...
ReplyDeleteWow, Tina! Bruises? You should have called CPS in! Enjoy that glass of wine, and I'm so sorry to have brought back the memory for you.
ReplyDeletePatti, he was my husband's superior officer, immediate in his chain of command. The soprano thing would have been fun, though!
Sue, bad touching in CHURCH?!?!?! Yikes. So glad your pastor watched out for you.
Clearly I have struck a nerve....
I really really dislike being tickled. It seems like a total loss of control. I hate wrestling...where someone holds you down... I also hate being "scared"....jumped out at....snuck up on. I tend to react violently....smack the person...It all might be a reflex from my childhood, but in any case....not a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you in all aspects of this post. Had a good giggle at the Pinterest graphic. I hate tickling for all the reasons you said, just didn't know how to put it into words, and the only way to stop it is with threatened violence. George is a diamond, backed you completely without being all bluff and bluster.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend in high school that if you snuck up behind her and tickled her, she'd throw up. Talk about stupid human tricks! We all who'd grown up with her knew it but there was this new kid once who thought it would be funny to scare her.....well let's just say he was the one who got the surprise.
ReplyDeleteReally, some sorts of tickling border on abuse. A little is fun, too much can really hurt. I guess its like everything in life....
Hate being tickled mainly because the person doing the tickling doesn't know when stop. There are always injuries if anyone is daft enough to tickle me. Inappropriate touching is different again - many years ago having a drink with my DH and friends in a pub a man (who stood with his back to me the whole time!) started caressing my leg so I accidentally-on-purpose burnt the palm of his hand with the cigarette I was holding. I exclaimed in a false apologetic manner and he got the message. Hubby thought it was very funny how I stopped that man!
ReplyDeleteIf I was married (well, I am, but you know what I mean) and some other man tickled me - I'd be unhappy about it. I think he was lucky you warned him instead of just breaking the stinkin' thing.
ReplyDeleteLuckily it is different with kids. My sons LOVE to be tickled. I'll grab one and tickle him and another will run over and try to taunt me. Good fun all around.