Masturbation: The Wanker Effect

People will admit to all kinds of indignities, from throwing up after drinking too much, to a dose of diarrhoea after eating the wrong food. But mention masturbation, and you get the kind of look as if you'd accused them of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.

I'm sure it's partly embarrassment. But I think it's more to do with not wanting to admit to something which might compare infavourably with others.

What? You masturbate how often! You can only masturbate with your eyes closed! You do what with your bottom! Whose underwear?!

It's no surprise that if you ask a group of people if they masturbate, and you'd be lucky to get any responses at all. No-one want to make the first move and be singled out as the group wanker.

But ask the same group of people, "Who doesn't masturbate?", instantly equalises everyone, and I'd bet you'd get smiles all round.

I'd guess you'd call this the "Wanker Effect". No-one wants to be a wanker, and it's difficult to explain that I'm in a loving meaningful relationship with myself.