8 ms·

"[T]o twist Q-tips in our ears [...] feels great. [...] Tickling their insides triggers all sorts of visceral pleasure." Is this article coming from some alter

by rdancer 11y ago

"[T]o twist Q-tips in our ears [...] feels great. [...] Tickling their insides triggers all sorts of visceral pleasure." Is this article coming from some alternate reality where people clean their ears for some dangerous guilty pleasure, and ear wax does not need to be cleaned away just as any other bodily secretion?

craftkiller 11y ago
It's both for me. I've definitely done an extra swipe or two for the pleasure, but mostly its just cleaning for me.
graeme 11y ago
The wax is there for a reason. Generally speaking, the wax should be left alone unless it's causing a specific problem. There's a list of circumstances in which to remove ear wax here. And note that an article like this is written because doctors know people will try to remove wax when they don't need to, or via dangerous methods. http://www.entnet.org/content/earwax-and-care http://www.entnet.org/content/earwax-and-care
- njloof 11y ago
  The article also notes that sticking candles in your ears may result in burns. I expect to return to that page in another ten years and read, "Putting ice picks in your ears can result in bleeding. Christ, what is wrong with you people?"
  - fractalcat 11y ago
    The article is referring to ear candling[0], an alternative-medicine practice espoused by naturopaths and other such quacks. It's sadly quite common. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling
    - kbart 11y ago
      What?? I can't believe this is really happening, it's the funniest thing I've read this week.
    - rdancer 11y ago
      I've seen one of those things recently, and have been wondering about the mechanism of function. How it sucks the earwax (which really has the consistency of viscous oil to hardened wax) out of the ear canal. I feel dismayed if you're telling me it doesn't?
      - soylentcola 11y ago
        It doesn't. It's one of those things that sounds good enough in theory that people tried it and of course someone is willing to sell the materials/service if there's money to be made. But yeah, it's along the lines of those "cleanse" drinks that make you crap out what they say is "toxins" that had built up in your intestines but is really just the congealed fiber in the drink (which is mostly just a laxative). In this case, it's candle waxes on the cloth that people claim are ear wax that's been somehow drawn out.
      - rangibaby 11y ago
        They don't do anything. The "earwax" is literally candle wax.
- scottlocklin 11y ago
  Should I blow my nose, or does the giant honking sharp boogers that form in there have some purpose which it would be unwise to meddle with?
  - hueving 11y ago
    They're meant to be snacks for when you get hungry riding public transportation.
    - rdancer 11y ago
      ... trade them to toddlers for a sip from their milk bottle!
  - driverdan 11y ago
    If the mucous is preventing you from breathing properly, yes. Otherwise, no.
subatomic 11y ago
"You shouldn’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear" -- Unknown.
- mchahn 11y ago
  I remember a Q-tip ad where at the end a comedian said "Don't put anything in your ear except your elbow".
simonsquiff 11y ago
Oh yes - I'm one of those people. Sticking a q-tip in your ear feels soooo good. It's ticklishly, itch scratchingly good. It also feels better the longer you leave it - if I've not used one for a few weeks it's a genuine pleasure. It's also a common anecdote that having your ear syringed by a professional is one of the most pleasurable non-sexual feelings. So yes, it's a thing. It's definitely a key part of the reason I [mis]use q-tips. I'm surprised by your comment that you had no idea it was seen as pleasurable!
- rdancer 11y ago
  You must be kidding. It is uncomfortable to stick anything in one's ears; do you feel pleasure when putting something deep into the nasal cavity as well? For me, that's similarly uncomfortable.
  - koliber 11y ago
    You see, people are different.
- norea-armozel 11y ago
  I thought I was the only one that felt better after using a q-tip to clear my ears. It's a weird sensation to be sure.
- thedaemon 11y ago
  Using q-tips to clean my ears after a shower is better than sex. It's the greatest thing. You can take my q-tips from my cold dead hands. I have never had an ear infection or any problems related to my ears. I use q-tips daily. So, meh..
iSnow 11y ago
Yes, I never used Q-tips all my life until I had to use earplugs to sleep in a rather noisy environment. Those caused itching and I used Q-tips to scratch the ear canal. Since then, I must confess I am addicted. I tried to wean myself from Q-tips use, but I can't. The little buggers cause something I like to call an eargasm, it just feels so good. They also cause more irritation just to make sure you keep using them - they are worse than cocaine.
icebraining 11y ago
Here's a window to that world: https://www.google.com/search?q=asmr+ear+cleaning https://www.google.com/search?q=asmr+ear+cleaning
- rdancer 11y ago
  I always thought these were some really weird fetish camgirls. Only watched a bit of one video[1], and I'm going to avoid watching any more. Can confirm that the sensation is surprisingly haptic, and it is viscerally uncomfortable for me. I'm feeling disgust and revulsion even as I'm typing this. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPVuYgVEwt0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPVuYgVEwt0

by rdancer 11y ago

craftkiller 11y ago

It's both for me. I've definitely done an extra swipe or two for the pleasure, but mostly its just cleaning for me.

graeme 11y ago

The wax is there for a reason. Generally speaking, the wax should be left alone unless it's causing a specific problem. There's a list of circumstances in which to remove ear wax here. And note that an article like this is written because doctors know people will try to remove wax when they don't need to, or via dangerous methods. http://www.entnet.org/content/earwax-and-care http://www.entnet.org/content/earwax-and-care

njloof 11y ago
The article also notes that sticking candles in your ears may result in burns. I expect to return to that page in another ten years and read, "Putting ice picks in your ears can result in bleeding. Christ, what is wrong with you people?"
- fractalcat 11y ago
  The article is referring to ear candling[0], an alternative-medicine practice espoused by naturopaths and other such quacks. It's sadly quite common. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling
  - kbart 11y ago
    What?? I can't believe this is really happening, it's the funniest thing I've read this week.
  - rdancer 11y ago
    I've seen one of those things recently, and have been wondering about the mechanism of function. How it sucks the earwax (which really has the consistency of viscous oil to hardened wax) out of the ear canal. I feel dismayed if you're telling me it doesn't?
    - soylentcola 11y ago
      It doesn't. It's one of those things that sounds good enough in theory that people tried it and of course someone is willing to sell the materials/service if there's money to be made. But yeah, it's along the lines of those "cleanse" drinks that make you crap out what they say is "toxins" that had built up in your intestines but is really just the congealed fiber in the drink (which is mostly just a laxative). In this case, it's candle waxes on the cloth that people claim are ear wax that's been somehow drawn out.
    - rangibaby 11y ago
      They don't do anything. The "earwax" is literally candle wax.
scottlocklin 11y ago
Should I blow my nose, or does the giant honking sharp boogers that form in there have some purpose which it would be unwise to meddle with?
- hueving 11y ago
  They're meant to be snacks for when you get hungry riding public transportation.
  - rdancer 11y ago
    ... trade them to toddlers for a sip from their milk bottle!
- driverdan 11y ago
  If the mucous is preventing you from breathing properly, yes. Otherwise, no.

subatomic 11y ago

"You shouldn’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear" -- Unknown.

mchahn 11y ago
I remember a Q-tip ad where at the end a comedian said "Don't put anything in your ear except your elbow".

simonsquiff 11y ago

Oh yes - I'm one of those people. Sticking a q-tip in your ear feels soooo good. It's ticklishly, itch scratchingly good. It also feels better the longer you leave it - if I've not used one for a few weeks it's a genuine pleasure. It's also a common anecdote that having your ear syringed by a professional is one of the most pleasurable non-sexual feelings. So yes, it's a thing. It's definitely a key part of the reason I [mis]use q-tips. I'm surprised by your comment that you had no idea it was seen as pleasurable!

rdancer 11y ago
You must be kidding. It is uncomfortable to stick anything in one's ears; do you feel pleasure when putting something deep into the nasal cavity as well? For me, that's similarly uncomfortable.
- koliber 11y ago
  You see, people are different.
norea-armozel 11y ago
I thought I was the only one that felt better after using a q-tip to clear my ears. It's a weird sensation to be sure.
thedaemon 11y ago
Using q-tips to clean my ears after a shower is better than sex. It's the greatest thing. You can take my q-tips from my cold dead hands. I have never had an ear infection or any problems related to my ears. I use q-tips daily. So, meh..

iSnow 11y ago

Yes, I never used Q-tips all my life until I had to use earplugs to sleep in a rather noisy environment. Those caused itching and I used Q-tips to scratch the ear canal. Since then, I must confess I am addicted. I tried to wean myself from Q-tips use, but I can't. The little buggers cause something I like to call an eargasm, it just feels so good. They also cause more irritation just to make sure you keep using them - they are worse than cocaine.

icebraining 11y ago

Here's a window to that world: https://www.google.com/search?q=asmr+ear+cleaning https://www.google.com/search?q=asmr+ear+cleaning

rdancer 11y ago
I always thought these were some really weird fetish camgirls. Only watched a bit of one video[1], and I'm going to avoid watching any more. Can confirm that the sensation is surprisingly haptic, and it is viscerally uncomfortable for me. I'm feeling disgust and revulsion even as I'm typing this. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPVuYgVEwt0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPVuYgVEwt0