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Cuddle Party!
Image: 30 04 07 - Cuddle Party by blogTO Flickr pooler Cliph.
There's a Cuddle Party tonight! What's a Cuddle Party you ask? According to the invitation, a Cuddle Party is "safe non-sexual event/workshop to explore giving and receiving affectionate touch, like hugging, massaging, foot-rubbing, spooning, nuzzling." Essentially the party is for anyone who enjoys human touching (which is pretty much everyone, as far as I know.) The parties are meant to give people an opportunity to be physically close with others, without the pressure of social norms or sexual activity.
Almost everyone loves a hug, but in many cases it's socially awkward to hug someone you are not in a relationship with. Even many close friends are not on a "it's okay for us to hug" basis. The Cuddle Parties are also a place to "learn communication skills and boundary-setting around touch."
So what can you expect from a Cuddle Party? Well, first of all, everyone brings pajamas to change into and remains in their PJs the entire time! You need to get verbal permission from someone before initiating any physical contact, and there is no pressure to cuddle anyone you don't want to. There isn't any pressure to cuddle anyone at all!
Tonight's party takes place at Wonderworks (79A Harbord Street) between 7pm and 10:30. The cost to attend is $40 per person and $30 each if you're bringing friends. The organizers have also offered to provide sliding scale options to those on fixed incomes.
For more information visit CuddleParty.com or the Facebook Event Listing.
Discussion
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what's next: a "scratch my back" party?
And I think the $40 charge is to ensure only serious attendees show up.
wake me up when we start a local fight club.
(And yes, this is a very *weird* idea)
I'm also perfectly willing to take heat for that.
Most people I know who are into this kind of cuddling have serious intimacy issues. It could be argued that this is therapy and I might buy that but I don't think it's being honestly presented.
I didn't pay as much because I negotiated a student deal. What I got for the money? A bunch of snacks (cookies, grapes, cheese and crackers), an afternoon activity, and a really great story.
It really wasn't creepy. People do need human contact, and Toronto can be a really tough city to get it. That's why seniors massaging babies is so beneficial for both.
You ask everyone before you touch them at all, and everyone asks you. It seems weird, but it wasn't after the introduction, that explains the rules, and why it's beneficial.
They take money so they can rent the space and so the "lifeguards" (the people moderating) can be trained and paid. They pay for their website, and whatever administrative costs they may have.
There were some people there that probably did have intimacy issues, but there were also people there that I would consider totally cool and normal (And I'm an expert on cool and normal).
It wasn't really my thing, but I wouldn't trash it. If it isn't for you, don't go.