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You Learn Something New Every Day
Nov. 2nd, 2021 01:08 pmI don't always do this, because I'm usually running late and don't have the time, but occasionally I'll check the Etsy profile of someone who ordered one of my zines if they have an interesting username and avatar. The way I see it, they probably have good taste if they ordered my zine, and maybe they make zines too. If so, I can take the money they just gave me and give it right back by ordering something from them. I've discovered a lot of interesting work and even made a few friends this way. (I also try to do this with AO3 comments when I can.)
So recently I did this, and the person's profile prominently featured a collection of nipple clamps, all from the same store. I have to admit that I'm not really into that sort of thing, but friends, the variety of nipple clamps on display was kind of astounding. So I went to the store's page, and it seems like the small business of someone who invested in a 3D printer for the purpose of making sex toys. Which is all well and good, except they apparently specialize in fancy rubber band guns for ball flicking. Is that a thing? I guess that's a thing. How about that.
I almost want to start adding niche sex toys to a list on Etsy to see what the site uses that data to recommend to me. I feel the same sort of anthropological curiosity about kink that I do regarding furries, like, they've created a vibrant subculture with intricate codes of behavior that flies completely under the radar of mainstream society. I have nothing but admiration for them, but still. That's fascinating.
I should say that I respect people's privacy, by the way. I have no interest in investigating people online. There are only so many hours in the day, and also I don't care. That being said. If I get an Etsy order from the UK that has an address like "Bumbleton Proudfoot, The Cottage at the End of the Lane, Misty Hollow, Hobbitshire LA22 0LF," you can bet I'm doing an image search, and I am never disappointed. Apparently England is a real thing that really exists - just like ball flicking guns!
So recently I did this, and the person's profile prominently featured a collection of nipple clamps, all from the same store. I have to admit that I'm not really into that sort of thing, but friends, the variety of nipple clamps on display was kind of astounding. So I went to the store's page, and it seems like the small business of someone who invested in a 3D printer for the purpose of making sex toys. Which is all well and good, except they apparently specialize in fancy rubber band guns for ball flicking. Is that a thing? I guess that's a thing. How about that.
I almost want to start adding niche sex toys to a list on Etsy to see what the site uses that data to recommend to me. I feel the same sort of anthropological curiosity about kink that I do regarding furries, like, they've created a vibrant subculture with intricate codes of behavior that flies completely under the radar of mainstream society. I have nothing but admiration for them, but still. That's fascinating.
I should say that I respect people's privacy, by the way. I have no interest in investigating people online. There are only so many hours in the day, and also I don't care. That being said. If I get an Etsy order from the UK that has an address like "Bumbleton Proudfoot, The Cottage at the End of the Lane, Misty Hollow, Hobbitshire LA22 0LF," you can bet I'm doing an image search, and I am never disappointed. Apparently England is a real thing that really exists - just like ball flicking guns!
