Uncross your legs, boys!

Phone sex operator Lipstick Explosion encounters many unusual interests in her professional life, however until recently, she'd never been exposed to the world of crush.

In her blog, she describes her first experience with this interest when a caller rang to arrange an in-person session. As she ran through a checklist of his needs, he mentioned he had a crush fetish. She writes:

"I asked if that aligned with his interest in CBT. “No,” he explained, “I’m interested in seeing you crush insects.” “Like roaches?” I asked. I admit I was perplexed—when he said “crush,” I envisioned crushing his balls with my feet or heels. “Yes, and other things. If I brought something like a crab, could you crush it?” “You mean step on it?” “Yes, until you crush it.”
I took a deep breath. “No, no, I couldn’t do that.” I kindly explained that I was happy to indulge his other fetishes, but that I couldn’t bring myself to step on a crab. I tried to be the consummate professional, and not judge him while clearly delineating my limits. "

After googling "crush fetish", she writes: " I don’t recommend doing this unless you have a strong stomach. I don’t recommend doing this late at night—I find that if I look up anything that creeps me out past 10pm, I have trouble sleeping. And this definitely creeped me out."

Why is it when we are warned not to look, we can't resist the urge to? Why couldn't I just leave it at reading a blog? Like Pandora with her husband's locked box, I couldn't ...and even worse, Google didn't try to stop me.

Ask most people what a 'crush fetish' is and chances are that they'll think it's a type of sub/dom game. Putting this to the test, I emailed twenty acquaintances last night asking them to define it without the help of the net. While six romantics replied it was a fixation on unrequited love and two affectionate ones replied it was a hug fetish, the majority, 12, thought, like Lipstick Explosion, that it was a fetish involving the crushing of testicles.

While some men do enjoy having their balls stamped by a stiletto as part of BDSM play, crush fetish is an entirely different type of domination game. Jeremy Biles, who teaches Media Aesthetics at the University of Chicago, has researched the virtually unexplored world of the 'crush freak'. In his paper, “I, Insect, or Bataille and the Crush Freaks” he writes: "At the cutting edge of the edgy world of sexual fetishistic practices, the crush freaks are notorious for their enthusiasm for witnessing the crushing death of insects and other, usually invertebrate animals, such as arachnids, crustaceans and worms. More specifically, crush freaks are sexually aroused by the sight of an insect exploded beneath the pressure of a human foot - usually but not necessarily, a relatively large but beautiful female foot."

While most are hesitant to squash a bug or spider for reasons of cruelty or mess, crush freaks are aroused from watching a woman stamp on objects ranging from food to insects to mobile phones. For some, seeing a delicate heel crush a tomato will suffice, however for others crustaceans are popular as they are aurally pleasing - making a loud noise when smashed.

Many experts believe that crush is a subset fetish. However, what it's a subset of is not definite. Perhaps it's necrophilia theme or draws upon BDSM. Katherine Gates, author of Deviant Desires: Incredibly Strange Sex , views the crush fetish as drawing upon the giantess theme of macrophilia and foot fetishism. Jeremy Biles suggests that the use of technology as a sexualised object draws upon technophilia or arousal from technology.

Perhaps only the "crush freak" knows for sure. Alan discovered his passion as a child. The 29-year-old said: "I was out in the back yard with my older brother one morning after a night of rain and we found loads of snails. Seeing my brother crush them awoke something in me. Perhaps it was the sound of the shell cracking or seeing the snails soft body crushed in contrast to the cracked shell, but I just wanted to see him do it again and again." Bachelor Alan, who requested anonymity, has had girlfriends but never been able to express this desire. He admits to telling one ex he was petrified of bugs just to see her forced to crush them. He said: "Seeing her so disgusted yet powerful at those times was a truly erotic experience. I wanted to be that cockroach under her foot and feel the weight of her body on me." While Alan considers himself sexually open and dabbles in BDSM play and foot worship, for him there is no greated buzz to be found than to catch a woman crushing an insect in a white patent-leather heel.

Jeff "The Bug Vilencia", as publisher of The American Journal of Crush Freaks, is considered by many to the be the foremost spokesman on crush fetishism. In an interview with G.A. Pearson for Cultural Entemology Digest, Vilencia describes the crush fetish as a variant of giantessophilism: "The feeling is that of letting go, powerless, helpless, tiny, small, and
buglike. Wanting to see a female crush something with her foot, longing to be a
helpless insect as you squirm around under her foot sole as she squishes your
body into grease."

In a separate interview, "The Bug" describes his ecstasy at the point of orgasm as: "... in my mind all of my guts are being squished out. My eyeballs are popping out, my brain comes shooting out the top of my head, all my blood squirts everywhere...What a release, that imagery really gets me off! Seeing that foot coming down on me, coming into my stomach and pressing all that weight onto me till I burst! Wow!"

With approximately 500 subscribers, The American Journal of Crush Freaks caters to men who find sexual pleasure in the misfortunes of the small, but the net is the primary supplier of crush-related videos. Films such as Vilencia's "Smush" have even gained cult status. Some suggest there are as many 2,000 titles available for this global market as well as websites featuring chat rooms and crush clips.

The popularity of crush videos, which some refer to as "Animal Snuff Films"continues to rise dramatically despite passage of a U.S. federal law in 1999 banning the creation, sale or possession of films featuring crushing or stomping of animals. Organisations such as In Defence of Animals and individuals such as John Schiff have encouraged net vigilance to put an end to crushing of life.

On his website's FAQ's, John draws a line between safe and unsafe crushing. He writes: "In this more tame form that involves only consenting adults and a tube of toothpaste, it's not necessarily a bad thing. There are many websites devoted to non-destructive trampling, foot fetishes, and "giantess worship", and although it may seem odd to those who don't share those particular fascinations, there's nothing inherently unsafe about it. However, when extreme fetishists grow tired of inanimate objects, they may move on to live animals. Once the fetishist resorts to killing living things, he or she has crossed the line into unacceptable (and criminal) behavior."

In extreme fetishism, of whatever type, a line is crossed - however, it is important to bear in mind that fetish runs on a spectrum. While the majority will be satisfied at the crushing of a juicy tomato in some WAM play, a slim minority will move onto living creatures. As G.A. Pearson points out in his article: "Clearly, I just don't get the whole crush predilection. However, there seems to be very few crush freaks, so I don't think the invertebrate world is in great
danger. Crush fetishists represent a fascinating example of the human ability to eroticize just about any activity: in this case, one of interest to entomologists."

Cover your eyes, Bambi!

In a bit of necrophilia meets beastiality news, we have one of those annual news events - the man caught having sex with a dead deer story.

The Hartford Courant relays the disturbing tale of Bryan James Hathaway who received probation after being convicted of having sex with a deer corpse.

As part of the 20-year-old's sentence, he is to be evaluated as a sex offender and treated at the Institute for Psychological and Sexual Health in Duluth, Minnesota.

Hathaway pleaded no contest earlier this month to misdemeanor mistreatment of an animal for the incident involving the deer. He was sentenced Tuesday in Douglas County Circuit Court.

Judge Michael Lucci said: "The type of behavior is disturbing. It's disturbing to the public. It's disturbing to the court."

Hathaway's probation will be served at the same time as a nine-month jail sentence he received in February for violating his extended supervision.

In April 2005, he was found guilty of felony mistreatment of an animal after he killed a horse with the intention of having sex with it. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and two years of extended supervision on that charge as well as six years of probation for taking and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Surely after killing a horse to be used as a vehicle for sexual gratification, one would suspect that this individual could do with some evaluation. While I'm relieved he's been sentenced to treatment, I'm just a bit dismayed that it took a romp with Bambi's mother for him to get it!

The Bumper-Humper!

Chatting with a friends last night, the topic turned to sex al fresco. While it's not quite the right weather for sex on a beach, it's a warming thought, now, isn't it? Conversation moved onto one of those wine-induced discussions of the most unusual place for engaging in a bit of nookie. While I raised a few eyebrows with my responses, mentioning that I never had sex in a car left them speechless. Yes, I confess, my names is Karen and I am a car virgin!

Amomaxia, or sex in parked cars, is frequently practised. UK newspaper The Sun reports that half the UK population like to sizzle in the driver's seat. It is so popular that there's even a version of the Kama Sutra on the net specifically for cars...illustrated, of course!

Perhaps it's the throttle or even the phallic shape, but for some speed isn't the only thrill to be had from all that horsepower. Years ago, an ex relayed tales of a previous girlfriend's excitement in cars - whether it was to pop my car cherry I will never know - but apparently, she loved nothing better than to pleasure herself in the passenger seat as the spedometer cruised at 100mph. Of course, in a low-lying convertible, she also had an exhibitionist buzz from lorry drivers watching her.

There's much more fun to be had from cars than merely having sex in them. On the bonnet too would be nice! Sexual activities, such as dogging or carping, require cars not only for transportation to remote spots, but as places which to exhibit and demonstrate your arousal.

However, I wouldn't really call any of this a fetish and certainly not a paraphilia - it's all a bit too vanilla and 'date at the drive-in' for that. But, I must confess that my mind wandered down its sordid path - wondering just how deep the phallic car's attraction goes.

Earlier this month, The Sun reported of mechanic Chris who gives new meaning to a man who loves cars. He claims to have had sex with more than 30 different models in 20 years, plus two motorboats and a pal’s jetski.

Chris, who lives in the West Country, explained his passion: “A nice car for me is a feast for the senses. It’s about smells, feelings and tastes. If I see a gorgeous Mercedes I know I’d love to jump into bed with it.”

The mechanic, who allows visitors to his garage to video him enjoying a muffler shuffle while pleasuring themselves, has owned a string of cars including a black 2.5litre Jaguar X-Type with cream leather upholstery.

The mechanic adds: “It’s all about imagination and creativity. There’s more to car love than exhaust pipes. Stroking the body panels and delicate touching makes excellent foreplay.”

On his website, Chris explains “auto-eroticism” and has even written a manual called "How To Make Love To A Car". Advice includes: "The tailpipe isn't the only option! If it interests you, get hold of a silicon sleeve from Clone Zone or some other tool to make life easier on your tool" and "Roleplay involving the car is another spice. Needless to say solo roleplay requires vivid imagination and the ability to suspend rational thought." So, the car pretends it's dead? Sorry...still got necrophilia haunting me from yesterday!

The mechanic isn't alone in what he calls his 'auto-eroticism'. Other manuals are available on the internet, such as Dekhyr Dragon's definitive "Guide to Sex with Cars (for males)". Dekhyr's top tip? Although, I'm a novice to all this car sex, it has to be: " Never fuck a car hot. I did, once. Once."

So, am I sold on cars and ready to pop that cherry? Erm, no... Maybe it was seeing too much Kitt in the 80's or perhaps even the BJ scene in The World According to Garp but cars, sex and me just don't mix!

Some stiffies are stiffer than others!

While many men I've encountered (and some women too I daresay) are attracted to anyone with a pulse, it seems for necrophiliacs, not even that is required.

Working in the public sector some years ago, I discovered this illegal fetish for the dead is not quite as uncommon as many would hope. While I am unsure of whether there was actual sexual contact with the dead, I am aware that there was an unstoppable lust and fetish for lifeless bodies as vessels for carnal pleasure.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist, Stephen HuckerMB, BS, FRCP(C), FRCPsych of the University of Toronto explains necrophilia simply as: "sexual arousal stimulated by a dead body. The stimulation can be either in the form of fantasies or actual physical sexual contact with the corpse."

For many necrophilia is a fetish for men who dig up corpses for sexual thrills. When one is not available, there is a belief that they will kill to fuifil their urge. This would not appear to differ greatly from a 1988 study by Rosman and Resnick. Professor Hucker writes: "Although the act of murder itself may generate the subsequent sexual frenzy, research has determined an alarming rate of homicide in order to obtain a body for subsequent sexual violation. Rosman and Resnick (1988) found that 42% of their study sample of necrophiles had murdered in order to obtain a body. Researchers have determined, however, that sadism itself is not usually an intrinsic characteristic of true necrophilia."

Serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and convicted necrophile Karen Greenlee have done little to dispel this. In an interview with Jim Morton, Greenlee said: "For a while I found myself thinking, "Yeah, this isn't normal. Why can't I be like other people. Why doesn't the same pair of shoes fit me just right?" I went through all that personal hell and finally I accepted myself and realized that's just me. That's my nature and I might as well enjoy it."

Kraft-Ebing research from 1896 backs Greenlee up to some extent. They found that among necrophiles, there was sexual preference for a corpse rather than a living woman. When no damage or cruelty is done to the corpse, they found it likely that lifeless condition itself, stimulates. Professor Hucker suggests: "It is possible that the corpse - a human form absolutely without will - satisfies an abnormal desire, in that the object of desire is seen to be capable of absolute subjugation, without possibility of resistance."

While necrophilia will never be a mainstream sexual lifestyle choice, according to webmaster Rob who runs the Rob's Necrophilia Fantasy site the public's perception of the fetish is far from the full truth. He writes: "Partly because digging people up is extraodinarliy difficult this day and age (for most parts of the country) given the depth of the grave, heavy metal caskets, and caskets being placed in heavier concrete vaults (to prevent grave collapse). Partly also because those interested in necrophilia, like with any fetish, are interested in various aspects. Some like a little rot (which they would be hard pressed to find any bodies like that which aren't already buried), some like the bodies freshly dead, and some simply like the bones.

"Another reason that blows away the typical stereotype, and this is a major reason, is that a passive or obessive necrophile may not have a desire to kill. In fact, necrophilia, in a more pure form, could be described as another variation of 'making love' rather than 'fucking' for lust and thusly the desire to take a life is non-existant, or in the least, not part of the necro-love process."

Although necrophiles tend to be male, there is a female community that engage in this fetish. Rob notes that: "What is a bit interesting is that those folks that I have had contact with who have had a real life experience in having sex with a dead person I would say an easy 50% were female... either having had mortician boyfriends who allowed them to play, in a morgue occupation themselves, or female morticians and funeral home employees."

Female necrophiles like a member who goes by the name LoreleiVonRichthofen are active members of Rob's board who share their fantasies and experiences freely. She writes of her fantasy : "Ideally to travel back in time and visit the corpses lying on the WW2 beaches of Normandy. It wouldn't be the same if I wasn't smeared in my lover's blood."

Considered socially immoral and in the courts, illegal, what is a necrophiliac to do? Sites such as Rob's forum allow for an open-minded and honest discussion of necro pursuits as well as related fetishes, such as somnophilia (arousal to those sleeping) and pseudonecrophilia.

Pseudonecrophiles engage in role play where one partner plays dead. It may involve a partner lying still powdered among the paraphanilia of death such as a casket or on a slab. Brenda Love's The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices tells of the case of a man in Oregon who, she writes: "would call ahead to the bordello and request that a woman lie still waiting for his arrival and remain motionless through intercourse until he departed. The client was a mortician."

While this role play is popular and legal, I should add, that for some however, it will never send the heart into a frenzy like the lack of a pulse will. Randy, a member of Rob's forum writes: "My girlfriend is into playing dead. Just roleplaying is inadequate for us though. A safe sedation would be best for both of us but we haven't worked the details out yet."