The fourth Denying Thumper reader survey is over. Following are the results. Since I didn’t take my own survey, I’ll place asterisks next to my relevant responses.
Gender
In 2009, 70% of my readers said they were men. In ’10 in was 72% and in ’11 it was 69%. Now, it’s 80%. This number may be the most surprising to me of all because, it seems to me, women are more like 50% of the commenters (maybe more) and seem to be something like two-thirds of those who “like” posts. When I write, I think of myself as talking to a female audience, not a male one. Of course Belle, but in general, when I think of who’s reading my words, I think of a woman. I probably will continue to think that way, but in fact, 4/5 of you are dudes.
Two percent identified as something other than the binary choices usually presented. Maybe next time I should offer more options.
Age
Chastity and denial seems to be a more mature person’s game.
| Under 18 | 0% |
| 18-23 | 4% |
| 24-35 | 23% |
| 36-45 | 26% |
| 46-55* | 31% |
| 56-65 | 12% |
| 66-70 | 3% |
| Over 70 | 1% |
This is the first time the 46-55 group came out as the highest represented. We’re definitely skewing towards an older audience over time here at Thumpermedia Worldwide.
Sexuality
Still a pretty straight audience, but moderating from previous surveys.
| 0 – Exclusively heterosexual | 19% |
| 1 – Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual | 29% |
| 2 – Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual | 20% |
| 3 – Equally heterosexual and homosexual* | 13% |
| 4 – Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual | 8% |
| 5 – Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual | 5% |
| 6 – Exclusively homosexual | 7% |
It’d be nice if there was a way to study true sexuality based on brain scans or whatever. I suspect this self-reported thing skews towards politics, religious upbringing, social pressure, etc.
Kinkiness
Older, more queer, and now relatively more kinky.
| 1 – Not kinky | 0% |
| 2 | 1% |
| 3 | 3% |
| 4 | 3% |
| 5 | 8% |
| 6 | 10% |
| 7 | 23% |
| 8 | 28% |
| 9* | 14% |
| 10 – Kinkosaurous Rex | 10% |
Eight was still the most popular response, but more people scored themselves as nines and tens than in the past and we only had a single little one (which rounded down to zero percent). Hello there, poppet. Don’t be afraid!
Power play
I was about call these results “unsurprising” but I don’t know if they’re surprising or not.
| Dominant | 9% |
| Submissive* | 53% |
| Switch | 25% |
| Curious | 9% |
| Something else | 3% |
| Not kinky | 1% |
Not sure why more people identified as “not kinky” here than in the previous question. Also, I put “something else” in there but thought I had it pretty well covered with the choices offered.
Pain play
Interesting to me that in the same way there are more subs than doms and bottoms than tops (not just here but, it seems, everywhere) there are also more masochists than sadists.
| A sadist | 7% |
| A masochist | 28% |
| A little of both* | 23% |
| Curious about pain play | 20% |
| Not into pain play | 22% |
Anal
New question this year! I was honestly shocked at how many people were into anal sex. Or, more precisely, how few said they weren’t into it.
| Hell yes!* | 56% |
| Feh, it’s OK | 27% |
| Hell no! | 4% |
| Maybe, I haven’t tried it | 13% |
What I realize now, though, is that the question is pretty broad. A guy who fantasizes about fucking his woman’s ass could say “Hell yes!” but might never think of taking a strap-on in return. I should have broken this out somehow to suss out bottoms versus tops. Also, I’m really interested to know how many otherwise straight men are getting fucked by their women.
Still, this is probably a sign of the times. Back in my day, anal was far more polarizing.
Chastity
The number of people who say they have been locked up or have locked up someone has gone from 52% positive in ’10 to 57% in ’11 to 75% today. Not sure what to make of that. Is it more popular? Have I become more specialized in my audience? Something else?
Anyway, quite the jump.
Chastity devices used
This was interesting. The CB-6000 comes out on top of most used devices if you combine the standard and short variants at 28%. But, if you break those out, the Mature Metal Jail Bird is the top most used device with 17%. The Queen’s Keep appears to be the second most popular MM device with 3%. The most popular Steelworxx device based on usage is the Steelheart at 6%. Any version of the Looker series comes in second with 5%. I would have thought SW would have scored better overall, but I suppose the German thing and their notoriously finicky customer service work against them. Interesting to see so many still rocking the old CB-2000s and 3000s.
When asked about all devices ever used, the CB-X series scores very high as they’re pretty much everyone’s “training wheels.” With regard to silicone, it seems like a lot of people have tried them, but many fewer use them as their main axe over time.
| Use most often | Have ever used | |
| CB-2000 | 4% | 7% |
| CB-3000 | 5% | 12% |
| CB-5000 | 0% | 1%* |
| CB-6000 | 12% | 16%* |
| CB-6000s | 16% | 14% |
| The Curve | 1% | 4% |
| Holy Trainer | 2% | 1% |
| Holy Trainer (short) | 2% | 1%* |
| Other plastic device | 2% | 2% |
| Any silicone device | 2% | 6%* |
| MM Jail Bird | 17% | 7%* |
| MM Dungeon | 0% | 0% |
| MM Pet Trap | 1% | 0% |
| MM Queens Keep | 3% | 1% |
| MM Watchful Mistress | 1% | 0% |
| SW Looker 01/02/03 | 5% | 2%* |
| SW Steelheart | 6%* | 4%* |
| SW Steelheart 2 | 1% | 1% |
| SW Crossfire | 1% | 0% |
| Other Steelworxx | 2% | 1% |
| Any Steelwerks Extreme device | 1% | 0% |
| Any Lori’s device | 2% | 2% |
| Other steel trapped-ball device | 7% | 7% |
| Any full belt | 1% | 2% |
| Something else not listed | 5% | 8% |
I would have expected the Holy Trainer to do better because I think it’s such a promising device, but it hasn’t been out that long I guess.
In retrospect, I should have asked how many total devices do you own. That would have been very interesting, I think. Note that I only included responses from those who use or have used a chastity device. Also, there were more than two and a half times more responses in the “have ever used” question than the “most used” question.
Orgasm denial duration
Another new question (and I did get both sides of this one). I only included responses from those who practice orgasm denial. “Denied” is the longest the respondent has gone without orgasm and “denier” is the longest they’ve made someone wait.
| Denied | Denier | |
| A few days | 8% | 9% |
| About a week | 5% | 25% |
| About two weeks | 15% | 14% |
| About three weeks | 8% | 2% |
| About a month | 14% | 11% |
| More than a month but less than two | 22% | 11% |
| More than two months but less than three | 9% | 7% |
| More than three months but less than four | 7% | 9% |
| More than four months but less than five | 2% | 0% |
| More than five months but less than six | 1% | 0% |
| More than six months but less than a year* | 5% | 9% |
| More than a year | 4% | 2% |
So two weeks and a month or a little more are the most popular answers from those who are denied but about a week is by far the most popular for those doing the dening. Don’t know what to make of that (or the opposite swing at more than a month). Interesting also that there’s a dip after more than three months but that it comes back at six months and a year.
Again, in retrospect, another thing I should have asked here is how the denial period is determined. Random chance or some other method? Is it always the same? Never the same? Also, is the date or duration disclosed ahead of time? Is that good or bad? A lot more digging could be done here.
Male genital piercings
I’ve always wanted to know how many guys have done this.
| Yes, but it’s unrelated to chastity play | 3% | |
| Yes, and I/they got it at least partially for chastity play* | 9% | |
| No, but I/they have some other kind of male genital piercing | 6% | |
| Nope, no piercings down there | 82% |
Relatively few, it turns out. One respondent pointed out I left off as a choice “not yet but going to.”
Most simultaneous sex partners
Just because I wanted to know…
| One | 56% | |
| Two* | 25% | |
| Three | 9% | |
| Four | 5% | |
| More than four (!?) | 6% |
I bet this looks very different based on age and sexuality.
Feedback
I left an open-ended box for people to say whatever they wanted at the end. Much encouragement and good feelings there and I appreciate them all, truly. Here’s some notable comments/questions out of the many that were submitted.
I love your work, it is a very nice read. Recently I have been forwarding a selection of your posts to my beloved key holder, who actually isn’t much of a read. However she enjoys reading you and I notice it is helping her to understand better some of the male psychology behind the chastity experience. And also her own through Belle’s. For instance on her feeling guilty for the denial on which you wrote some excellent blogs. Thank you for that! A Dutch fan (6 months into the journey)
Thanks for putting all the time and effort into writing and maintaining this! It really hit home, and gave me an insight into the practical world of male chastity/orgasm denial. Well, at least your personal experience with it. My fiancee and I are slowly moving towards something resembling what you two have, and I’m happy to say that we’re both loving it! So thank you very much for being an inspiration, answering questions before I knew I had them, and giving me topics to think about and talk with my fiancee about! Keep up the great work!
I show my fiancée the posts describing the accounts of sex. Every one since last December maybe. The way you write is very elegant. We both really love the dynamic you and Belle have, it is what I like most about orgasm denial. I don’t like to consider it chastity play since its not a game for us. The fact that it makes me a much better partner is the real benefit. The “Gay stuff” is a turn on as well. I just haven’t told her that. Keep doing exactly what you are doing on this blog.
Thanks so much for your blog. I learned a hell of a lot through your own accounts and it helped me define and explain to my wife what I wanted. I am from good old Europe but I did an exchange year at the Unversity of Minnesota’s Twin City campus in the 1990s. Therefore, I have a sweetspot for Minnesota and really like your mentions of Minnesota Nice, the cabin etc. Reminds me very much of a great year I had back then. I’ll let you know the next time I am around… 😉 Best wishes to you and your family!
I have followed your blog since I discovered it and have gone back and read from the beginning. Your blog has been a positive influence on our relationship.
What you write seems real instead of the fantasy blogs written by older men living alone in their basements. Accordingly, I consider your blog SFM ( safe for marriage ) and I encourage my wife to read your blog. It makes us feel more “normal” and we have learned a thing or two along the way. Thanks
Thank you for posting some insight on how the submissive male mind works. One of the most useful things I’ve taken from your blog was a post that mentioned something along the lines of “what a male submissive wants most is to know where he stands”. I’m really into the psychological aspect of D/s and denial, and this morsel has not only made things easier, but has opened new doors so to speak. Thanks again 🙂
While embarking on the path of chastity devices for hubby, your site was a great help with a lot of useful information from the perspective of someone actually living this way and it’s been great.
This is my go-to sex/erotica website. As a timidly dominant woman (sadism is hard with a guilt complex!), I get a serious rush out of the descriptions of both the everyday and the sexual power-play between you and Belle. And the love between you two comes through very clearly in all of your writing. I secretly enjoy the “evil dominant, insists-on-capital-pronouns woman” stuff out there, but the blogging here is genuine, sharp, and very well-written! And the relationship stuff is both reassuring and grounds this blog firmly in reality. Sweet, kinky reality. Belle seems lovely, both physically and personally! I wish you all the best.
Thank you Thumper, for sharing so many intimate details. You really helped me accept my husband’s fantasies especially the ones involving men. Seriously, your posts on the subject opened my mind, eyes and heart.
Our chance to say “Thank You!” Integrating chastity into our D/s marriage was a big step and your blog really helps us talk, explore more and not feel so weird.
Just started reading from the beginning a few weeks ago, and I’m somewhere in 2012… Thanks so much for your honest account of chastity and orgasm denial. It has spurred many conversations between my husband and I. We’ve played around with a cb3k on and off for a couple of years, but we’re now deciding which metal device to get for more frequent use. Your insights have been invaluable — especially for a not-naturally-dominant female whose husband has somewhat recently come to identify as submissive.
Your blog gave me the confidence to tell my man I want to lock and own him. We’re investigating it all now!
I love hearing that people share the blog with their partners on either side of the key. I especially like hearing that we come off as “normal” sounding and that’s proven helpful as the the idea of chastity has been shared with an unsuspecting partner. Very cool.
Just wanted to say thank you. I think I’ve been doing the chastity thing longer than you, but you and Belle do it better 😉 Keep up the good work, you kinky fuckers. You guys are an inspiration to those of us who struggle with trying to make the Domme/sub lifestyle work for us. Plus, you are a good writer and you tell your story in a readable, engaging style. I appreciate the fact you try and balance your lifestyle with your lives. Kids, work etc. etc. Thanks for doing what you do.
It’s nice seeing the sort of almost effortless dynamic you two have built. And I am occasionally envious of your toy chest. Heh!
You have been inspirational in our own journey. Glad to find we’re not the only ones who are like this.
Thank you. I’m just getting started and have devoured your information – it’s easily the most “real” and straightforward, most honest and complete. While it scares the crap out of me after reading it all (how in the world am I going to do this??) it’s exciting as hell too.
Been reading you for years now (I’m your one lesbian reader who’s never done any chastity play irl, still here hi!). Thank you for sharing your experiences in such an articulate, vulnerable, and sexy way. I’ve honestly learned more about men, relationships, and people from you than from perhaps any other stranger besides Dan Savage. I don’t always 100% agree with your opinions or understand, where you’re coming from, but your honestly invites me to reflect on my own blind spots in a surprisingly deep way. Plus it totally turns my crank to read about kinky real life sex and relationships. I always want to get inside other people’s heads and worlds and you provide that like no other. Thanks, and keep it up.
Odd to think that we’re an inspiration, but nice to hear!
Belle was popular in the comments…
Belle – you let Thumper out waaaaay too often. He doesn’t need it. Really.
You once wrote that Belle said you have evolved nicely. Obviously so has Belle and we (my wife especially) would love to hear more from her POV / perspective on the evolution of your relationship.
How does Belle feel about sex toys, before, during and after using.
Like to read more from Belle’s perspective. Keep up the good work!
I’d like so read some input from Belle, if possible, especially as she seems to be gaining in confidence through this journey.
Belle, I am impressed by your commitment to your relationship and your willingness to work with Thumper to come to a place that you can both enjoy. I hope that you are as satisfied with the situation as he seems to be.
I’d love to read more from Belle!
Belle, you need to teach more ladies in their 20’s to hold keys!
Thank you for the effort to create and continue the blog. More from Belle’s side about what she’s thinking. What she likes and doesn’t from her perspective. Or the occasional commentary on her motivation, response to your post.
First off, thanks for the wonderful blog. I really enjoy reading about how the chastity dynamic works within your relationship. I also enjoy reading how Belle has grown more confident in her role over time. I would like to ask a question of Belle if I may? Belle, when did you first recognize you were OK denying Thumper (that you did not feel weird/uncomfortable telling him “no”)? Would you feel comfortable telling us about that event?. Thanks 🙂
Belle must be one special woman.
Belle’s fairly comfortable in her behind-the-scenes role and doesn’t want to write, but I’m considering ways to get her perspective on the blog more often.
Extracurricular activities…
Anymore boyfriend talk for belle?
Looking forward to hearing more about the potential male partner(s) for Thumper or Belle.
We talk about Belle’s imaginary boyfriend all the time. And trust me, as soon as there’s something to report on either front, you’ll be hearing about it.
Would you find it arousing to wear your chastity device at a nudist resort?
From what I understand about places like that, they tend to discourage things as innocuous as piercings below the neck let alone chastity devices. While I’d really enjoy going naked (and even in the device), I’m just not sure how many places there are where such things are possible. My dream vacation currently is to go with Belle to somewhere warm and temperate, rent a house, and be naked the whole time. That would be really cool.
What made Thumper begin denying himself?
I never did! I’ve only ever been denied with Belle, never on my own.
How old are you both and how long have you been in to chastity?
Forty-six and since October 12, 2008 (or thereabouts).
This isn’t a criticism because when I am I into it and it is totally hot, but chastity, submission and orgasm [denial] can be a very self absorbed kink. If “FLR” is totally great for women, why don’t many women blog about, and when they do, it is pretty fleeting? I’d like to see more from a woman’s perspective only because I am fascinated about how men and women fit together on this stuff. I feel like it is like getting my wife to play video games. When we are relaxed, she will try it out and have fun with it. But she’ll never be obsessed with it like me.
Complicated question.
When it’s the guy who’s interested in directing their relationship in the direction of FLR, it’s imperative that he let her find her own value in the dynamic. Also, he has to understand that his fantasy version being the guysub in that dynamic will likely be very different than the reality. Using the video game analogy, you need to ask are you interested in playing video games in general with her or Madden specifically? If she doesn’t like Madden for whatever reason, then is it video games she’s rejecting or just that one? She needs to find her genre, so to speak. FPS, puzzle, MMO, multiplayer vs. campaign, racing vs. RPG, etc. If you think about it that way and let her find the game she likes and not view her rejection of specific titles as a failure, you’re doing it right.
Belle had to come to a place where she could fit what became our version of the FLR dynamic into her life and desires. Once we got there, things became really good. I had to let go of my expectations and Thumper-centric vision of how things should be and recognize there was this while other person involved.
WRT to their lack of blogging, I think that’s related to their level of passion on the topic. Blogging about one thing is hard and blogging about it for an extended period even more so if not really into the subject.
The Lancelot is interesting – I have one. Invisible, comfy, easy to clean. You can easily come with it on, but you cannot get erect or big. Order a bit on the shorter side…
I came thisclose to adding the Lancelot to the list. It’s a device in which I’m very interested. Too bad to hear you can come in it, though. That puts a damper on my enthusiasm for it.
Did you ever try wearing the urethral insert in the Steelheart? And if so, could you wear it with the PA ring and the fixing for security? I currently have a Steelheart and I was wondering about whether it’s worth getting the insert, but not if it’s going to be insecure. Also with the insert installed, did the tube stay cleaner? Did it make it harder to get a finger in and clean it out without removing the device?
Nope, never wore the Steelheart with the insert. You would need additional holes at the end of tube to make that work since there’s usually some urine that goes around the insert. It would end up being much less hygienic than either the Looker or the SH. And no, you wouldn’t be able to use a PA ring and the insert at the same time. I can’t imagine that would work.
The use of the word “snatch”. I don’t know why I hate that word so I cringe when I see it used. I know it’s silly, that’s just my two cents.
That’s one of the reasons I like it. It’s a very “nasty” word. Also, I need a few more ways to describe it when writing and I’ve never really liked the word “pussy” very much. It seems silly to me.
Where did the pain and bondage go? I haven’t read about a nut smack or handcuffs in a while.
It just doesn’t happen that often anymore. I’d love to be flogged or caned, to be sure, but I don’t think Belle gets much out of doing it and I haven’t pushed the issue. Regarding cuffs, I have some ideas about that I hope will happen in the near future.
I wonder if there is, as far as you know, a place where we can meet ( on the net that is) people who are into chastity as well? It would be nice to have some ‘online friends’ who are in the same dynamic?
I like this place.
Finally, you may have noticed I didn’t mention the “strangest/hottest/craziest place you’ve ever had sex” question. There were some really great answers in there for that and I’m saving them for another post.
Thanks to everyone who had a chance to participate!
I think it makes perfect sense that your audience would be predominately male, masochistic and submissive. You think you are talking to a female audience…and I guess, dominant females? I follow your blog in order to try to understand things from a male, masochistic, submissive viewpoint, since I have NO clue about that and find it hard to understand. But since I don’t relate to a submissive mindset, I never felt you were writing for me.
I’m embarrassingly squee-ish over being quoted. But, as a dominant woman, I really appreciate hearing the other side of things. It ends up pretty pleasant for my boy.
More than a month but less than two 22% 11%
More than two months but less than three 9% 7%
More than three months but less than four 7% 9%
More than four months but less than five 2% 0%
More than five months but less than six 1% 0%
More than six months but less than a year* 5% 9%
More than a year 4% 2%
Interesting also that there’s a dip after more than three months but that it comes back at six months and a year.
Thanks for analysing the survey results. Very interesting. Plus I can see how ‘normal’ or not I am!
I would just say that there are probably more guys who have been locked for 6 months to a year than for individual fewer months because that option covers a lot more lengths of time.
Thanks for the results and your analysis!
And yes, please get more into that anal question. I have loved to play with my anus as far as I can think and could not imagine not involving it in sex on a regular basis. Therefore, I do not find it hard to believe that so many of your kinky readers are into it, too.
But there seems to be a general trend towards anal. In a 2010 Slate article William Saletan summarised a new study: “Since 1992, the percentage of women aged 20-24 who say they’ve tried anal sex has doubled to 40 percent. The percentage of women aged 20-39 who say they’ve done it in the past year has doubled to more than 20 percent. And 94 percent of women who received anal sex in their last encounter said they reached orgasm—a higher rate of orgasm than was reported by women who had vaginal intercourse or received oral sex.” (source: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/human_nature/2010/10/the_riddle_of_the_sphincter.html)