Psychological/Philosophical Implications of Using an Aneros

Over the past hour I've periodicly checked for responses. 13 people have read this and not one response?

This has profoundly affected your lives. Have you not explored these thoughts? Can anyone direct me to reading material that might give me some information regarding my thoughts?

It's late so I'm going to type this post quickly, and it may be a bit disorganized... but I have a lot to say...

First of all, I am completely straight. I was when I started my journey, and nothing about that has ever changed. I am probably as straight as they come. I have nothing against gay people, but the whole idea of messing with another man does disgust me. It's just the way I am, and I wouldn't want to change that ever.

1) How has it changed me... wow, I could probably write lot about this. It has made me realize that things beyond what we normally see as being possible really can happen. My whole reality was a bit shaken honestly when I first discovered just what I could feel. I was a bit scared of the whole "addictiveness" thing at first, especially after the first few major sessions.

Honestly, it felt so good that I was scared that I might be getting into something like heroin. It just seemed so weird how there was no information anywhere other than these forums. It seems like the whole world outside of this website and the people here are not even aware of any of this stuff. And here I was having experienced it first hand. I was in a bit of shock, and a bit scared at what I might be getting into.

After having used the aneros for about a year and a half now, those concerns have mostly faded. I was able to completely abstain for about 2 months earlier this year. I kind of did that as a test for myself, I wanted to know for sure that I "do" have control. I don't ever have any "uncontrollable" cravings, and all sessions are entirely voluntary. I can understand it becoming addictive for some, but for me, the aneros is not an addiction.

As far as psychological changes. If anything, I feel like I have more compassion for others. If using the aneros has done anything to me in this area, it has probably made me more of a pacifist. I want to spread peace, love, and all that stuff. I am not more feminine in any way however. I think a man can be strong, manly, peaceful and loving.

2) I absolutely do not regret any of this. It has been life changing, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

3) huh? Honestly, I don't know how to answer this. I am not *stranger* in any way. If anything it has enhanced my understanding and compassion toward others around me. If there is any change about me in a social context, I think it has been for the better.

4) I think I covered this in the response to 1 and 3 above.

5) I'm not going to lie when I say that this is a whole can of worms to be opening up. Personally, after having experienced this, this is something I want everyone to feel. I am still single, and wanting to find that special girl. I believe more than anything that using the aneros has _really_ prepared me for that in ways that nothing else would. While I don't consider myself "feminine," I think I have a much greater appreciation for what they feel. And, I think I understand love in a way that I didn't before. At the same time, I am really a bit concerned that the girl I do find will be too weirded out by my aneros habits to want to have anything to do with me. I think it will take a really special girl to be understanding.

It's entirely up to on whether you want to do this or not. I hope what I have written will help you decide.

binaryfellow

I haven't made the decision to get one of these, but damn, is it tempting. All the stories I've read...who wouldn't want to experience what this has to offer? However, I've never been one to just 'jump into' anything big without putting a significant amount of thought into it - something that has been a blessing as well as a curse at times.

I'm a straight male and I have some concern. Particularly in terms of it turning me gay. I'm sure you all have heard this question before, but my question isn't JUST whether it will make me gay, but whether this "re-wiring" will give me feminine tendencies that many gay men tend to display.

The decision to allow this into my life is huge! I have a life, with goals, dreams, a girlfriend, hobbies, and work. Ontop of that, I have historically had an addictive nature. I can't afford to have my life consumed... but hey, it doesn't have to be that way, right? Right?

So here are my questions:

1) How has starting this journey changed you? How are you different? For better for worse.

2) Do you regret starting this journey? Would you take it back if you could? If so, why? If not, why?

3) Do you feel that people are able to sense a certain peculiarity in you after using this/having been 're-wired'?

4) How has this benefited your life other than provide you lots of pleasure in the short-term?

5) What would you tell someone who has philosophical and psychological concerns about doing something like this?

I think that about sums it up for now.

Appreciate your input.

Oh please for god sakes spare us the homophobic ramble, this thing will not turn you gay just because a straight man gets some pleasure out of sticking a piece of plastic up his bum it does not prove he is gay or will make him have sudden sexual urges to to have sex with other gay men, you are born a certain way gay straight or bi sexual and nothing will change your sexual preferences we are hardwired to be a certain way, just try turning a gay man into a straight man and i bet you no matter what you do to him or how much you try and bribe him you will never get
him to feel sexually attracted to females because his genes make him sexually attracted to males and that is that, same goes for you my friend if you thought sticking this piece of plastic up your bum was turning you gay would not you stop using it all together? There simple if you are afraid of sticking a silly piece of plastic up your bum for the totally unrealistic fear of it turning you gay dont do it then simple.

But i do hope you end up purchasing one of the aneros products, and end up discovering that you are not turning into gay man and are not all of a sudden developing feminine qualities and you end up enjoying orgasm after orgasm after orgasm which will completely and absolutely leave you blown out of your mind and wanting more and more, trust me you wont regret ever using this wondeful piece of plastic once you discover what it is truly capable of, so be a real man and buy an aneros, im sure you girlfriend will think no less of you and will probably be quiet interested in what you are doing she may even be fascinated by it and what you are hoping to achieve, she may not even care be bothered by the fact that you want to get enjoyment out of sticking a piece of plastic
up your bum, but just make sure she does not get jeleous of what you are doing she might feel like she is missing out on something or being left out of the fun, just talk to her about it first to make sure she is ok with you using it.

And keep us updated as to what your girlfriend thinks of you using it and whether or not you want to go ahead with buying it, i suggest if you wish to go ahead and make a purchase start with buying the aneros helix model as it is perfect for new users and you may even want to consider buying your girlfriend the peridise set if it is ok with her so she is not getting left out of the fun.

jason-

based on the questions you are asking, i suspect that you may not be ready for this alternative pursuit. they show signs of a need for personal growth in you, and indicate that you might have emotional or obsessive problems surrounding the use of the aneros.

darwin

Jason,

I doubt the aneros or anything similiar can turn one gay. I myself am bi, but predominately hetro. I was that way before beginning with the aneros a couple of years ago and don't think my preferences have changed significantly since.

This is a great tool to bring pleasure and improve your sex life. Give it a try with no worries about turning gay. And if it did bring out your gay or bi side, if that so bad?

Catchemup

I haven't made the decision to get one of these, but damn, is it tempting. All the stories I've read...who wouldn't want to experience what this has to offer? However, I've never been one to just 'jump into' anything big without putting a significant amount of thought into it - something that has been a blessing as well as a curse at times.

Good! Because you may not get the same experiences the first few times you use it. For some of us, the journey requires many months. If you're the impatient type, you may be disappointed.

I'm a straight male and I have some concern. Particularly in terms of it turning me gay. I'm sure you all have heard this question before, but my question isn't JUST whether it will make me gay, but whether this "re-wiring" will give me feminine tendencies that many gay men tend to display.

Your sexual orientation cannot be changed no matter what sex acts you partake in. Someone explained it to me this way: Some gay men enjoy anal play, but gay men also masturbate and enjoy oral sex. Are you willing to give up all these activities? I enjoy having my wife play in my ass and she enjoys my reaction, but that doesn't change my sexual orientation. As for feminine tendencies, you don't lose any of your former self. Your masculinity and femininity are not mutually exclusive; they can co-exist. If you develop more of your feminine side, then that is called 'personal growth' and that enhances you, not diminishes you!

The decision to allow this into my life is huge! I have a life, with goals, dreams, a girlfriend, hobbies, and work. Ontop of that, I have historically had an addictive nature. I can't afford to have my life consumed... but hey, it doesn't have to be that way, right? Right?

Check out the FAQ section of the Wiki. There is a subsection on addiction you may find useful.

So here are my questions:

1) How has starting this journey changed you? How are you different? For better for worse.

We are all affected differently. For me, I've discovered a whole new area of pleasure that I've previously ignored and become much more mature in the process.

2) Do you regret starting this journey? Would you take it back if you could? If so, why? If not, why?

I answered this question in your poll.

3) Do you feel that people are able to sense a certain peculiarity in you after using this/having been 're-wired'?

Peculiarity? Are you suggesting something negative? I don't think so. I feel I am much more open and honest with people. With my wife, I am more patient and eager to explore new sexual adventures. I understand how her 'mind noise' affects our moments in the bedroom.

4) How has this benefited your life other than provide you lots of pleasure in the short-term?

Again, personal growth has been the biggest benefit. Learning mental control, experiencing spiritual connectedness and discovering new physical pleasure centers have all been benefits.

5) What would you tell someone who has philosophical and psychological concerns about doing something like this?

I wouldn't 'tell' them anything. I would ask them what their concerns are and discuss each one with them. Hopefully, they would discover that their fears or misconceptions are a result of societal myths and are not justified or substantiated by any other evidence.

I think that about sums it up for now.

Appreciate your input.

Darwin had an excellent response. I imaging you to be in your early twenties(?) and get the same feeling that you may not be mentally prepared for this experience at this time in your life. If you are more comfortable retaining your preconceived notions and prejudices, then you will probably not benefit from these devices. However, if you are more open and adventurous and willing to personally grow, then you will find a strong community here to encourage you and make you feel welcome.

Good luck on you decision,

slipperybugger

Note : This is re-posted due to loss during the Aneros site maintenance operations.
(Note : Underlined Text is a Hyper-Link)
Hi jason1nosaj,

Welcome to the Forum,

It seems your biggest issue with the Aneros experience is homophobia. You are who you are, the use of a prostate massager will not turn you gay. However, use of these marvelous little devices will probably get you in deeper contact with your emotional feelings, if you have latent bi-sexual desires, it is possible the quiet time during Aneros usage will allow those feelings to emerge. But these are your feelings, an inanimate object (the Aneros) can not implant ideas, thoughts or suggestions into your mind. It is not the physical act which makes you straight, bi or gay, it is with whom you desire to perform the act that colors the gender identification question. The “re-wiring” of which we speak here has nothing to do with sexual orientation or perceived gender behaviors, it is about learning a new paradigm of thought to experience orgasmic energies, it is not going to make you want to wear silk panties. You may want to read about some Psychological issues as well as Managing Addiction discussed in the WIKI.

Here are my short form answers to your questions:
1) How has starting this journey changed you? How are you different? For better for worse. - I think I am a better person for it, more understanding, more forgiving, less judgmental, more confident in myself and my creative abilities.
2) Do you regret starting this journey? - NO!
Would you take it back if you could? – NO! My life is richer for the experience.
3) Do you feel that people are able to sense a certain peculiarity in you after using this/having been 're- wired'? - NO!
4) How has this benefited your life other than provide you lots of pleasure in the short-term? – See #1
5) What would you tell someone who has philosophical and psychological concerns about doing something like this? – Challenge yourself to separate personal truths from enculturated social values, myths and lies. You will find many taboos within western culture are based upon notions whose purpose is controlling peoples behavior, not for their enlightenment, enrichment or freedom to experience joy. Then open your mind to possibilities beyond present self-limiting behaviors and thoughts. It is a beautiful world inside and outside that dividing membrane we call skin, let yourself experience as much as you can on both sides of that membrane. Give yourself permission to say "YES" more often in life.

I wouldn't worry too much about whether or not the aneros is gay or promotes gay tendencies. It is society that has put anal play and being gay together. And in my opinion the vast majority of society is comprised of idiots you shouldn't listen to, to put it plainly :d. I am also a straight male still in the prime of his life (21) and i think that the aneros will be beneficial to the average person. There are of course people who can't handle it, as is with all things that are fun. You got your sex addicts, drug addicts etc... But you know there are only two options: find it out for yourself or pass up the opportunity and go through life never knowing.

1. I do think the journey has changed me, but not in my masculinity. You know i'm a college student and i see my share of "conflicts" when i'm going out, and if someone gets in my face, I won't ever step down so no worries there. But i think i have gained more of an understanding of myself, because of the sessions. Hard to explain, but to me an aneros session is like meditating.

2. Only 1 regret: the fact that it takes up quite a bit of time, but ofcourse that varies from person to person. I do one session a week, which I think is not too much, but I still miss out on social events because of it, but you can't have everything right?

3. they don't sense anything peculiar, only the occasional, you don't have to go to class tomorrow so why are you going to sleep so early?

4. I don't know why, but for me, it improved my self-confidence i guess there is a certain element of control and power in knowing what you can experience, and knowing that the people around you will never get to know the feeling.

5. MAN UP BITCH.. Ehehehe.... you know people like to think that their morals and their philosophy stems from within themselves, but in actuality they have been implanted through social conditioning and by your immediate environment. once you realise that, it becomes easier to say f*ck it, i'll do it, which is kinda my philosophy ehehe

Please forgive me.....But i have to ask...ARE YOU SERIOUS????
Maybe you are gay...or have thought about it...I am a strait guy who has never asked myself that question...you know who you are deep inside....you know yourself like nobody else except God himself....

So ask yourself.....AM I GAY?

What ever your answer is...now you know...

Because of the site maintenence a page long response of mine got deleted.

Anyway, there's a lot more about myself that I should have mentioned in my first post that maybe would have kept some of you from judging me so quickly. I have had male/male experiences in my past. And there was a time in my life where I went through a pretty heavy sexual identity crisis. However, back when I was in college about 5 or 6 years ago, I lived with a gay guy for nearly a year. He really helped me understand who I am, which ultimately, is me. But if you want to catagorize me, then I'd probably fit into the straight/bi catagory. I just prefer the straight catagory because that's what I like/want/desire/am.

To all things in life there are degrees of variation. Nothing is black and white. Life is not polarized. There aren't convenient little catagories you can just peg someone into. Not to be lecturing, but, that's all labels are, are conveniences. Sexuality is a perfect example of this. I thank Socrates', Virtue Ethics for this philosophy.

My other main concern has to do with fulfilling my goals in life. My philosophy is that we don't KNOW we're going to heaven, going to be reincarnated, whatever, and for all we know once we die, we're kaput - gone. I want to grow as much as I can and be the best I can be. I don't want to lose my chance of reaching my higher goals in life because I'm spending all my time persuing a superficial pleasure that it sounds like a lot of people on here do. My life is not hedonistic. I sacrifice comfort and ease in favor of direction and discipline. I do leave room for pleasure though, and when I do pursue it, I go to the edge.

Lastly, I mentioned earlier that I have hobbies. I train in MMA. I haven't fought yet, but will very soon. This is my life's passion right now and I'm pursuing it with everything I have. Someone already touched on this earlier, but I'm still a little apprhensive because I don't want to lose my fighters instinct. Ya know? When I get into the ring I need to have no other thoughts then crushing my opponent with every ounce of my will. As cold blooded as that sounds, I'm a very compassionate person outside of the gym/ring.

I really appreciate all your responses so far. I'm just a little disapointed that there aren't more philosophical minded individuals out there who are willing to discuss this. Oh, and rumel, those are some good links - thanks.

Alright, for a long time I've had the desire to feel this. There's been a sort of knawing at the back of my mind/body. I've never had anal sex, but its like I've always known there's something I'm missing. I think I'll wait for a few more responses and then make my decision.

jason-

the aneros is best used to help you unleash your true erotic self, whatever it is, and you get the best, most profound results when you do so.

on the contrary, it is not compatible with hiding from your true erotic self.

here are some questions for you:
- have you ever had receptive anal intercourse with a guy and enjoyed it?
- have you ever had a guy's finger in your butt and enjoyed it?
- have you ever had receptive anal intercourse with a women (strap on, etc) and enjoyed it?
- have you ever had a woman's finger in your butt and enjoyed it?

have you ever fantasized about any of the above?

the aneros is an intense anal stimulation device. any erotic impulses or fantasies you have around anal stimulation and penetraton will definitely come to the fore with aneros use. if that is troubling to you, then avoid it.

any other erotic impulses or fantasies you have will also be enhanced. if that is troubling to you, then avoid it.

this is not to say it will turn you into an erotic miscreant. it is to say that it is an eroticism intensifier, so you will experience your eroticism, whatever it is, more intensely.

also, with respect to training hard for anything, the aneros does draw you in to sessions with it and make time disappear. if that is incompatible with your training regimen, then avoid it.

darwin

Hi jason1nosaj

An interesting approach you bring, and many interesting responses here. Philosophically, I think you and we in responding to you are exploring Phenomenological realms: what is your intention? What are your questions? What are your intentions for yourself and your life? What is your quest? What is the meaning of your experiences and the patterns of your experiences? What is your emerging narrative? And why?

Anal stimulation and prostate massage have ancient and honourable lineages in eastern cultures going back thousands of years. Right up to the WWII, the wife giving her husband prostate massages was a traditional practice in Japanese marriages. Taoist traditions and practices suggest that a man is not fully a man until he has sensed, experienced and developed his full erotic energetics and integrated them into the greater wholeness of his full bioenergetics and spiritual/universal energetics.

On the other hand, as many as 50% of western (Euro-American) gays do not practice anal intercourse and restrict anal practice to fingering. I second darwin's point in his post just above.

What are you searching for in your body/mind/spirit? MMA seems a very intense – hyper-intense – male on male physicality. One of strengthening, but also of damage and even death.

Is it multiple male orgasms that you seek, MMOs? Is it the "fullness' of your male potentiality, your access to your full phallic shamanic magic and power? Is it profoundly bonding with another? Is it the hormonal gene pool urge? Is it the lifetime lover? Or the joy spilling galaxies and galaxies of living half-replicants of your code out into universe/multiverse seemingly endlessly? The green rod?

Do you carry what angers, empathies, damage, courage, outrages, love? You are still young and your neural webs and narrative are still taking shape. Feel free to ignore the questioning of an old man who found his prostate in his youth and quietly practiced the joys ever since, explored them with a male friend briefly in late high school and early university days, has been happily married and procreative for about 40 years since, and feels such gratitude to Aneros and all the thoughtful, enriched and enriching men and women in this Forum, his own wonderful wife who has embraced the mutual prostate practice, and to Jack Johnston and KSMO.

Your Aneros, should you try one or more, would likely be, as BF Mayfield has termed it, your "Tantric training wheels". This can be the key to a new experience and skill that begins with things sexual in our Cartesian fragmented existence and expands/transforms/transmutes into an integrative whole body/mind/spirit expanding range of experiences that are lifetime shaping. A discipline that requires total relaxation, extended patience and "no expectations". What are your in-tensions?

Some years ago, Scientific American magazine had a cover article devoted to Plato's thought on the nature of our selves and our sexual body/mind form(s). As males, we are all incomplete males searching for our missing male other half, and as males even reclaiming that other male half, we are all missing our female halves, searching for that essence of our being to be complete. Mirror ditto females. And we are all in that exquisite dance fundamental to our experiences all.

In my blog called Ecstatic Energies and the Art of Living (you can click this title link) you'll find fragments of my evolving narrative that may or may not resonate for you at your stage, butt do suggest certain parallels, if they seem to hold any meaning.

be careful, courageous and love-giving, and

all the best as you grow in body, mind, spirit and experience

artform

What are you searching for in your body/mind/spirit? MMA seems a very intense – hyper-intense – male on male physicality. One of strengthening, but also of damage and even death.

What am I searching for in body, mind and spirit? Not happiness. That's too easy to come by and usually doesn't last. I'm looking for something more noble than that. Something that I feel passionate about. Something that isn't easy to obtain. Something that most people don't have. Personal enlightenment. Personal growth. Bottom line, I want harmony between my thoughts, feelings, my past history, the environment I live in, and the people I come into contact with. With total harmony I think happiness will follow suite, and I will be where I need to be in life, doing what I need to do.

I saw a couple of your posts where you had touched on quantum theory. In college I took a class called Quantum Reality. It was by far the most valuable and enjoyable class I had ever taken. Just thought it was interesting the connections that were being made between quantum nature and these experiences people write about on here.

8)

Homosexuality deals with a person who is attracted to other people of one's own sex.

WTF does having sex or deriving sexual pleasure from an inanimate object like the aneros have to do with homosexuality, or heterosexuality for that matter???

First off Jason, please don't take any offense from any of my response ... just some friendly feedback ...

I'm a straight male and I have some concern. Particularly in terms of it turning me gay. I'm sure you all have heard this question before, but my question isn't JUST whether it will make me gay, but whether this "re-wiring" will give me feminine tendencies that many gay men tend to display.

ZERO chance of this.

I have had male/male experiences in my past. And there was a time in my life where I went through a pretty heavy sexual identity crisis. But if you want to catagorize me, then I'd probably fit into the straight/bi catagory. I just prefer the straight catagory because that's what I like/want/desire/am.

Worrying about these "categories" seems like a major stumbling block to achieving many of the things you mentioned.

There aren't convenient little catagories you can just peg someone into.

EXACTLY! So one has to ask, why in the last paragraph did you say you "prefer the straight category"?

I don't know you and I wouldn't pretend to be able to analyze you from a couple of messages but it seems you ARE trying to force yourself into a category where you don't really fit. In fact one could suggest that merely asking these types of questions says something about ones personality. In other words, I do not believe that watching SAW is going to make me want to do those things. I do not even consider it a possibility because I simply do not have such thoughts or desires at any point in my life. I would never even conceive of asking the question. Frankly I think to even ask "will this make me ___" suggests you have curiousity or full blown desire in that area.

The REAL question (IMO) seems to be: "I have bi desires all the time which I try to supress ... will this device awaken those desires?" I don't know the answer to that question but I think it's better framed like that. My response would be "why are you so worried that it would?" and "what's the big deal if it does?"

My other main concern has to do with fulfilling my goals in life. My philosophy is that we don't KNOW we're going to heaven, going to be reincarnated, whatever, and for all we know once we die, we're kaput - gone. I want to grow as much as I can and be the best I can be. I don't want to lose my chance of reaching my higher goals in life because I'm spending all my time persuing a superficial pleasure that it sounds like a lot of people on here do.My life is not hedonistic. I sacrifice comfort and ease in favor of direction and discipline.

I find these comments somewhat contradictory to your philsophy. What driving force is there to have such direction and discipline? Logically I think maximizing your pleasures while on earth would be a major priority of the philosophy you've outlined.

Traditionally one sacrifices comfort on earth if you believe you have a great reward coming in the after-life. If you believe there is nothing (or at least consider that a possibility which suggests you are not 100% faith-based) then why sacrifice so many comforts in life?

Lastly, I mentioned earlier that I have hobbies. I train in MMA. I haven't fought yet, but will very soon. This is my life's passion right now and I'm pursuing it with everything I have. Someone already touched on this earlier, but I'm still a little apprhensive because I don't want to lose my fighters instinct. Ya know? When I get into the ring I need to have no other thoughts then crushing my opponent with every ounce of my will. As cold blooded as that sounds, I'm a very compassionate person outside of the gym/ring.

I'm a big MMA fan and that hasn't changed at all. Not the same thing obviously but IF this brought about changes in your personality then I may have stopped watching. Hasn't been the case (in fact I just subbed to HDNet so I could watch more). To me these elements are in two seperate "rooms" of ones personality.

There are lots of rumours about certain MMA guys being gay (and logically there has to be a few) and it doesn't seem to have hurt their careers. Plus the feminine aspects of Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg's personalities don't seem to have stopped them from pursuing their dreams.

3) Do you feel that people are able to sense a certain peculiarity in you after using this/having been 're-wired'?

I don't mean this in an insulting way but: nobody is paying that much attention to you; you are not that special. I have problems with this myself but I believe a huge key to happiness is trying to stop worrying about what people think. I invariably fail miserably in this regard but I do recognize the problem. 🙂

Funny, as I read these posts I understand the internal quandry I have had with my own emotions. The truth is I feel it has opened a door through which i`ve walked and it did indeed change my sexual wiring. I am still hetero but in the closet I am really into feminization and sissification. I do nothing overt about it but am extremely turned on by the fetish. I had incredible sessions while listening to sissy hypnosis files and came like girl over and over. it was so intense I began crossdressing while in my session and was cumming so fast it made me shake and quiver in a very feminine way. I got so nervous about my desires that I threw out my helix and progasm because I was frightened by where this was going and afraid of being caught.

Now I`m sure this is far from the norm but at least in my case it did change me inside. I still have those thoughts but have managed not to act upon them, I`m not sure where I would have ended up if I continued with those sessions. To be perfectly honest, if some guy hit on me I probably would not have been able to resist. I made sure not to put myself in a situation where that might occur so I never had to deal with that possibility. Long ago I spoke privately with someone on this board and confided to him my feminine feelings so this is a real true account. Anyway better late than never I guess. As for now I will stay away from the sessions as my life could not
handle these drastic changes. Too many people would be hurt and I`m sure nobody would understand.

Tks Obione for bumping this thread (I had missed it). Thanks also for your very honest sharing of your feelings. I applaud your wise decision for a vacation from Aneros sessions.

My own feeling: The very powerful solo orgasms and emotions the Aneros offers might be best deferred until after a guy has validated his satisfaction and orientation in one, perhaps two affect relationships beyond his family unit. Persuing and competing for, then experiencing the joy of affection and love of another is basic to our being. That said, take your time, don't hurry yourself and pick your affiliations wisely.

Some readings:

The making and breaking of affectional bonds.
The British Journal of Psychiatry 130: 421-431 (1977)
© 1977 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Quick read: -- http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/130/5/421 --

Hypoactive sexual desire; Helen Singer Kaplan
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 1521-0715, Volume 3, Issue 1, 1977, Pp. 3 – 9

Essay on the work elements involved in affect (long read):
What is Affection?; M.P. González, E. Barrull, C. Pons y P. Marteles, 1998
-- http://www.biopsychology.org/biopsychology/papers/what_is_affection.html --

Jason:
As you can see by now, this is a tremendously valuable forum with a lot of thoughtful people who are willing to spend time and energy helping the rest of us on this journey. I am a beginner at this, I am on my second week. I have skimmed the above posts, will read them later when I have more time, but I want to say this now:
I am far older than you, have always been straight, have zero worries about this practice affecting my gender identity. Less than a week ago, I began to understand what others have been alluding to here: the pleasure sensations and insights of which we are capable far transcend gender. They are common to all humans. Once you begin to experience them, I think you will see that they have nothing to do with our little gay/male/female games, prejudices, fears and anxieties.
I will be posting much more about my own trip later as I write it, but at this time I can say that embarking on this journey might turn out to be one of the best decisions of my life. During the past few days I have had some earth-shaking experiences, all 100% positive. The sense of well-being afterward is priceless and is guaranteed to improve your view of the world. I have no idea if I can keep this going, but if I can,
it could be life-changing. Go for it.

Welcome Woodsman! 😀

Great post and tease about your future posts! 😆 I look forward to your detailed comments very much, based on the sage quick comments here.

Sounds like you may soon be living up in the forest canopy! 😉

all the best with your unique journey here

artform

Thanks, Artform. Your posts have been an invaluable part of my education during the past few weeks. I just posted episode one of my own trip.

Hi Jason, here are a few comments.

I'm a straight male and I have some concern. Particularly in terms of it turning me gay. I'm sure you all have heard this question before, but my question isn't JUST whether it will make me gay, but whether this "re-wiring" will give me feminine tendencies that many gay men tend to display.

No more then you already posses.

The decision to allow this into my life is huge! I have a life, with goals, dreams, a girlfriend, hobbies, and work.

Really it is not that big a decision.

1) How has starting this journey changed you? How are you different? For better for worse.

Honestly it is simply another thing that is pleasurable that you can do. But what is it that you want to know . . . Did I feel compelled to go out have gay affairs? If you are not already poised that way it is not going to happen. If you feel or have some leaning you may, but so what.

2) Do you regret starting this journey? Would you take it back if you could? If so, why? If not, why?

No. By the way the whole 'journey' thing is often talked about here and I do not want to discount it but it fuffs up the whole thing. I say it here not to discount anyone’s experience but, given your concerns, you are overloading whatever decision you make.

By the way you can take it back, you can decide that you do not want to do anything with it any more. Over, done, fin, nada, no mas, Dosvidania, Say Good Night Gracie.

3) Do you feel that people are able to sense a certain peculiarity in you after using this/having been 're-wired'?

This is what I heard in Jr High School, you tell which girls went all the way because they walked differently afterwards. Wasn't true then, probably won't be true for you. But if you find that it is please PM me and I promise to be very, very surprised.

4) How has this benefited your life other than provide you lots of pleasure in the short-term?

That's not enough??? Seriously why not allow this to be the relatively simple thing it is. It seems you are already throwing up enough concerns about who you are, will you become gay, will OTHER PEOPLE KNOW (Oh I could just crawl away and die,) that by the time you use the thing if it fails to bring world peace it is a failure. I am not saying it won’t kick up questions about your orientation, given your questions it probably will, but so you get some answers. So far none of this is a reason not to go ahead.

5) What would you tell someone who has philosophical and psychological concerns about doing something like this?

What I would tell you is that gay is not a condition, not catchable and is not curable.

In some parts of the world being the recipient of anal pleasure is the defacto definition of being gay. In other words you could fuck a hundred guys and as long as you’re the pitcher, you’re OK. Be the catcher one time and your maricone, faggot, bitch....

What does it mean to you if you like taking it up the ass. Like it or not a lot of people will look at you differently if YOU TELL THEM you are taking a piece plastic, squirting lube your ass up and spending a few hours a week giving yourself anal pleasure. If that makes using an Aneros questionable then you should skip it.

Appreciate your input.

Look, give it a try. It may not even work, there are a lot of posts by people who can’t seem to get the damn thing started. But there are a lot more by people who like it.

So there are two ways to look at this:
1. We are in a sort of post post whatever world where you can do what you want to as long as you are not hurting other people. The definitions simply matter less they you imagine. Like the old song goes: "champagne don't make you crazy, cocaine won't make you lazy, ain’t nobody’s business buy your own." And it really isn’t.

2. Or you could continue to try and churn this out until you find a comfortable answer you can live with. But every part of the churning is against you. I. E. You are making a choice about your sexuality. That’s gay to start. Or you could find you like passive anal pleasure (see above.) Or you will walk differently then you do now.

I admit I’m having a little fun. But it is somewhat serious. I’ve seen posts here where the writer tortured out a series of questions designed to make it OK if he enjoyed anal pleasure and still somehow, managed maybe, to stay straight. I don’t think it matters. Maybe you will go gay, but if that is what you are, so be it. Maybe (and more likely) you will have some pleasure. A pleasure that will not engulf your life, cause you to stop working toward all your goals, leave your girl friend, or precipitate wholesale changes in your life until your friends just shake their heads as they watch you sashay into bus station bathrooms to do a ladyboy with anonymous men. Very unlikely.

gabrial

I agree with gabriel in that if you openly discuss using your messager with friends or partners you should expect different reactions. I myself did not share my experience with anyone close to me. In retrospect I`m glad that I made that decision because it gave me the option to work out my emotions on my own without feeling exposed. Now in your case i believe you should apply the 18-40-60 rule......At age 18 we care about what everyone thinks about us..........At age 40 we don`t care what anyone thinks about us ......And at age 60 we realize that nodody was actually ever thinking about us anyway !!!

That being said i believe in my particular case I do know how my wires got crossed. When I first began my journey to my first super-O I began feeling very submissive. Lubing my anus,lyiing quietly on my side, noticing every nuance and tiny sensation in my body. I discovered that the more submissive I allowed myself to be, the more in tune I became with these new sensations. When I had my first super-O it was so incredible that I was overwhelmed with different emotions. I actually cried a little because I guess i didn`t what to do with all these new feelings (again submissive).

When all is said and done I would never change my decision to go for it. Truthfully speaking I think every male should expreience this amazing pleasure and realize that it exists. Just like with all things, it`s a very personal experience and different feelings derived from this type of orgasm are sure to vary. However.I can`t recall a single post where the individual who has had a super-O ever regreted it.

Being a sarcastic guy, I'm always tempted to respond to the "Can using this make me gay?" with a stern warning like this:

"Of course! Anything that has a passing resemblance to homosexual activity will make you a homosexual. Everyone knows this. And it works both ways. It's one of the reasons that lesbian women strive so hard to make sure they never accidentally penetrate one another if they use dildos and vibrators. Should they do so, the mere penetration of the lesbian woman's vagina will turn her into a heterosexual and she will crave intercourse with a man!"

Okay, sarcasm off, but you get the idea. I like my prostate stimulated. I don't want a man doing it, thank you very much. My options are: wife, piece of plastic. Either work for me. 🙂

Furthermore, why is this relegated to anal play? I'll bet that more homosexual guy couples engage in oral sex than do heterosexual couples. As such, shouldn't you be concerned that allowing your girlfriend to perform oral sex on you will make you homosexual? I mean, it is something that homosexual guys do, right? Oops, sarcas-o-meter needle is starting to jump a bit again.

I'm heterosexual. My first impression after experiencing sexual activity with the Aneros wasn't how much better it would be with a guy's penis instead of the piece of plastic. For me (not judging) that's just an unpleasant thought. It was the same unpleasant thought both before and after a piece of plastic found its way into my ass. My first impression was "Hey, gotta get my wife involved in this. I bet a blowjob with this pressing on my prostate would be ming boggling."

And as usual, my first impression was definitely accurate.

🙂

I followed this thread with interest. I note the inbuilt fear, the justification and some aggression as a means of self defence or justification, basically all defending their egos in one way or the other.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines ego as "the self especially as contrasted with another self or the world". In my humble philosophical view, a better or truer definition for ego would be "the self formed by society to be accepted by society", really the ego has nothing to do with the true self as implicated by the dictionary definition. Thus IMHO, your ego it is your biggest lie and is like a hereditary disease, thus it needs to be cured.

Quoting Albert Einstein ... unfortunately national traditions are handed on like a hereditary disease from generation to generation through the workings of the educational system.

It is time to set our egos aside and be ourselves and allow ourselves to do whatever pleases us without harming anybody else. Once you have come to this conclusion and cured yourself from this hereditary disease, then there are no psychological/philosophical implications of using an Aneros. You now have no guilt feelings, suppressed fears, need to explain, need to defend etc, also you will not be judgemental and ask questions as were posed in this thread.

So set yourself free, no need for tranquiliser, shrinks - just start enjoying life by being your true self and hopefully your new life philosophy is contagious.

Doesn't your prostate throb after having sex? There is a connection.

I really enjoyed Billdo and alv's last posts. Thank you both for typing your thoughts out. These are really good things to think about for those guys who are still struggling with the false idea that liking anal play means I must be gay now. Fortunately for myself, once I started practicing regularly, it did not take me long to grow beyond this hurdle.

alv, your discussion of the ego is really powerful and insightful. The quote from Einstein reminded me of John Bradshaw's view the that family traditions(translate this to dysfunction or what he calls toxic shame), are also handed down from generation to generation by the parents of the children. I think this and Einstein's quote go hand in hand. Powerful stuff to ponder. Thanks. 😀

Love_is

Right on, Love is
Talking about toxic shame, I myself was raised in a religion that told me masturbation was a sin. That didn't stop me from doing it (although probably not as much as I might have) but for the first 20-some years of my life I felt guilty about it. I felt somehow defective, unable to control myself. That baggage was no fun at all. It took me far too long to realize how medieval those guys were, they might as well have told me I could only urinate once a day. Who knows how many men are now having prostate problems because they were trying to be good by keeping their hands off their little pee-pees?
If anything, now years later, I have been doing everything I can to make up for lost time.
One of the lessons for me was that the world is filled with people who claim to know exactly how you should live your life, but you should always get a second opinion.

Interesting topic. Just browsing thru the general opinion seems to be that a piece of plastic can't change your sexuality but on the other hand ppl have experienced generally positive changes?
PPl here seem to be vehemently opposed to the notion that a sex-toy could change a person's sexual orientation. Implicitly this means that a person's 'identity' is fixed. That nothing can change what you are, that's not already in you.
I guess that's true, but what if you have everything that any person has ever been or ever will be in you but that you just have to become aware of the pleasurable aspects to this, or just have to experience certain things or be in the right environment to become a pedophile or a rapist or a serial killer?

Why was it for example that in ancient Greece or in English boarding schools that homosexuality and pedophilia were more or less prevalent(or in Greece accepted and perhaps even the norm, women for procreation, men for pleasure)....or were the then hetero-sexual normal men and children severely traumatised? Or did they enjoy it coz it wasn't frowned upon by the majority?

What if the Aneros was a trainingwheel not only for making you aware of the prostate but also of wide range of different sexualities existing in humanity but latent in everyone?

Speaking from personal experience before using the Aneros I've never ever been turned on by men, sure I can admire the esthetics of a muscular body but it doesn't turn me on like a woman. Still, since I've been using the Aneros I have been turned on by the thought of having, in lieu of the Progasm, a warm big pulsating cock fucking me.
Still when I see a man I never think, geez, I would really like to fuck him or be fucked by him. Then the question arises:"How much is due to social pressure and indoctrination that I don't think that way? "
Another thought that's come up(again while using the Progasm), well actually a few thoughts, one was the turn on of fisting and rape/pedophilia and also what Obione described as sissification.
The pleasure and pain aspect of rape and fisting. The idea of tearing your asshole open was a strange turn on. And this dualism of being both male(active) and female(passive) made me get this strange fantasy that I was fucking this small women or even young girl whose cunt(my ass) is still very tight and can't take my huge(in comparison)cock....tearing it open, screaming with pain and then succumming to the pleasure.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a type op sexuality inherent in killing as well.
The idea that Obione presented has crossed my mind as well since there is this dualism. Crossdressing in tight pants and stockings or whatever, while getting 'fucked'would certainly be a turn on and perhaps even screaming like a young girl. Still you don't want this part of your latent sexuality to evolve and come to fruition or come out coz it is frowned upon by society.

It thus does appear to me that if you define change in sexuality as the part of your latent sexuality(which is potentially all types)that the aneros as a trainingwheel has the potential to turn 'normal'heterosexuals into bisexuals, crossdressors, pedophiles (and perhaps even serialkillers).

So what if that were the case, why would it be problem? If it wasn't a problem in ancient Greece why should it be a problem now?
Like an ex-gf I knew that used to get fucked by her own dadda. Seemed to me she was still in love with her pappa. Still it fucked her up and depressed her and made sexuality a problem. Was this coz of the fact itself?or coz it's considered decadent by society?
Like the act of rape and pedophilia. Sure I'm brought to see it as something to frown upon. But what about a women having sex with a man for his money? Consential non consential rape? One is severely punished by society the other isn't and sometimes even encouraged.
What if all acts of sex were to be savoured>no more rape?would all sex be enjoyable coz all types of sexuality are socially approved of?