February 2, 2013

Why petting feels good.

"Researchers looked at this phenomenon in lab mice and found that stroking stimulates a very specific set of neurons that have to do with hair."
The results suggest that mammals may have evolved this propensity for caressing to encourage good hygiene through social grooming. It may also explain why certain hair-covered areas of the human body (think armpits, pubic hair) are more sensitive to touch or associated with pleasure.

309 comments:

1 – 200 of 309   Newer›   Newest»
kentuckyliz said...

Why does petting my kitties make me so happy? And to hold and cuddle them.

Bob_R said...

Definitely my favorite tag.

Ann Althouse said...

The palm side of your hands has no hair, so the petter can't be feeling good for the pettee reason explained at the link.

kentuckyliz said...

See what I did there? I turned it around. It's good for the petter too.

I like unleashing the beta waves in my kittehs. They love it too. But it makes me feel good to be the cat charmer.

Lewis Wetzel said...

Another "just so" story.

McTriumph said...

These researchers didn't date much in high school or pay attention when they did. I guess the studies on mammals needing to breath to survive were already funded.

rhhardin said...

Bad hair days weren't studied.

kentuckyliz said...

Sounds like it would be a good idea to stop shaving and waxing.

chickelit said...

"Pet Sounds" strokes the hair cells of my organ of Corti all along my cochlea.

McTriumph said...

This study should be published in all the women's magazines, make Italian girls feel better.

southcentralpa said...

So the stereotypical Italian woman experiences more pleasure than the "Sex and the City" gals?

chickelit said...

Sounds like it would be a good idea to stop shaving and waxing

Miss him yet?

Dante said...

Two of three of our kids like "Little Tickles." Aka, light caressing that causes goose bumps. I'm guessing goose bumps come from hair follicles. So it looks like my wife and my one kid have missed out on the hair neurons.

In any event, even if there is areas with no visible hair, they still love it.

Dante said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Darrell said...

The palm side of your hands has no hair, so the petter can't be feeling good for the pettee reason explained at the link.

We do for others. And the good feeling is the reward. It is in giving that we receive. Pardoning that we are pardoned, Etc.

kentuckyliz said...

chickelit: who?

Anonymous said...

Why just test it on mice?

Test the theory on Al Gore!!!

Otherwise, we have to assume that there is a biological basis for Al Gore's sex-crazed-poodlish behavior, and he is therefore acquitted of being a sleaze, at least by volition...

GAVEL! GAVEL!

The Court of the Divine Julius is adjourned!

chickelit said...

43?

edutcher said...

When The Blonde's mom moved in with us, Quasy had her pups a couple of months later and she spent hours petting them. Quantum is still just a little affection whore because of it.

kentuckyliz said...

chickelit: who?

Peter, ironrailsironweights.

An unshorn woman is full-flavored.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor are another thing entirely: one needs to know the difference.
Those Who Listen in the Walls are Rational: they can give you the Power of being five seconds in the Future, for example: perfectly rational and sometimes useful.

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor are quite Irrational. They can mislead you into thinking you are five seconds into the Future when you really are still in the Present. All of a sudden things don't make as much sense, everything doubles up, people look at you funny.

Anonymous said...

Irrational. Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you that you are Invisible. Being Invisible would be Freeing. So you walk out the door and get on the bus naked, but the bus driver sees you, you still have to pay the fare.

Anonymous said...

It is generally a Bad Idea to sit naked on a Big City bus seat. All kinds of strange things may have transpired on that seat. The person who sat there right before you could've been naked, for instance. The day could have been excessively warm.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will only tell you that you are Naked when you are, indeed, Naked. But the way they say it can be disconcerting, if not creepy. I could tape it for you to listen to, but you would not hear anything: we have already discussed this.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you that a Stranger fully understands you, they hear the same voices, too: you can walk right up to them and hug them warmly, like Old Friends, it is an Understanding. Except it isn't. It is now a Misunderstanding. A Misunderstanding that could lead to Police involvement.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls are fully aware that there is no understanding. That is why they let you hear what people are thinking.

Anonymous said...

When you are five seconds in the Future you are at least five more seconds ahead of the Police. And you would probably be wearing pants.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will let you hear what your cat is thinking when you pet it.

Anonymous said...

Cats often live five seconds in the Future: that is why they so often look bored. They have already seen you. Go away.

Anonymous said...

@VHS3001 -

Creeoiest. Comments. Ever.

bagoh20 said...

That's a professorial explanation, but in the real world we know it's simply that you can't get Home without passing 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you to shave your entire body so that strangers do not put you on the bus.

This includes eyebrows.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, I think Betamax got into some bad stuff, dark and broody today.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you to shave your entire body so that strangers do not pet you on the bus, either.

bagoh20 said...

Mata Hari was a she-wolf in need of petting.

Wince said...

Ann Althouse said...
The palm side of your hands has no hair...

Speak for yourself.

Anonymous said...

Only if ya don't have hair on your palms, like a hobbit.

Titus said...

I like having my balls tickled while they blow me.

If they don't start ticking within 30 seconds, I am like "tickle my balls bitch".

Anonymous said...

This entire thread reminds me of a bad acid trip.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will let you know who on the bus knows. They will try to avoid eye contact. You must stare at them intently, often for long periods of time, for them to acknowledge this.

bagoh20 said...

"Why does petting my kitties make me so happy? And to hold and cuddle them."

I think the current theory is that in the process of domesticating dogs we selected for traits that eventually led to a wolf that remains in a permanent puppy state, and which gives us those sweet feelings and rewards. In short, we made them that way because we like it. I assume we did the same with cats. Our domestication of the porcupine has been an abject failure.

bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Honey Badgers will rip your throat out if you try to pet them.

bagoh20 said...

"The palm side of your hands has no hair..."

I'm working on it.

Anonymous said...

I tried petting my goldfish when I was but a wee child, it died.

Titus said...

Sometimes while tickling my balls the middle finger wonders and tries to put in my ass.

I then grab the tickling hand and say, "no ass play just tickle tickle". And put the tickle hand back on my sac.

thanks.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will lead you to believe that you can see the people on the Big City bus Naked.

When you see the people on the Big City bus Naked you realize that many are hiding the Devil's Mole.

Anonymous said...

I once pet a spider monkey, it bit me, little bastard.

bagoh20 said...

That was weird:

I left out the second > of the italics tag and it got through the format checker and posted, but with the entire quote invisible. Even the space it occupied was there. It was like "<i" is HTML code for make it in invisible ink.

Acid trip here too.

Anonymous said...

You can say to them: "No, it's OK. You have the Devil's Mole, a lot of people do." They will pretend not to understand.

Anonymous said...

My kitty was acting weird earlier today too, running to and fro making weird noises, I think she heard the people in the wall, or maybe the floor.

bagoh20 said...

"I tried petting my goldfish when I was but a wee child, it died."

When my little sister was about 3 yrs old, she took her goldfish out of the bowl and cut it up into pieces on a plate like she was making dinner. We discovered her just before the actual feasting began. I don't turn my back on her to this day.

Anonymous said...

I kissed a frog when I was 7. I pet him too, he peed on my hand.

Anonymous said...

Still, this is Important: you must tell them they should NEVER remove the Devil's Mole. It is there to test your Resistance.

Anonymous said...

Bagoh, I hope we're not disrupting Betamax's stream of creativity.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will suggest that perhaps YOU should remove their Devil's Mole for them. They will say that there are scissors in the drawer: it would be a Good Thing.

Anonymous said...

Whatever you do, don't run with scissors.

bagoh20 said...

Titus is the only chick in here that's not writing in code.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will let you know that it is, in fact, a Bad Thing.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will let you know when and if there is a Right Time to remove a stranger's Devil Mole.

This is why it is important for strangers to wear clothes on the bus.

bagoh20 said...

" I hope we're not disrupting Betamax's stream of creativity."

No it's flowing. Just ride it like you're whitewater rafting.

Anonymous said...

When both Those Who Listen in the Walls and Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor are talking to you at the same time sometimes the only thing you can do is go outside and Walk Backwards. This can disrupt the reception of the frequencies.

Anonymous said...

We are just along for the ride. Wooooo what a trip!

Chip Ahoy said...

))) whap (((   feel that?
pet pet pet   feel that?

)) whap (((   feel that?
pet pet pet   feel that?

)) whap (((   feel that?
pet pet pet   feel that?

Anonymous said...

When you Walk Backwards strangers will get out of your way. As you walk backwards past them they are now in front of you. You can see them averting their eyes.

Anonymous said...

No, but I hear the voices in Betamax's head.

McTriumph said...

I knew an Air Force pilot with hair on the palm of his hands from skin graphs, shaved them every day.

bagoh20 said...

I think what betamax is trying to say is:


"Enjoy the decline, bitches."

Anonymous said...

If you are five seconds into the future you are already in front of them before you were ever behind them.

Anonymous said...

You can hear them think "Oh My God he is going to walk backwards into that oncoming Big City bus!" and this lets you know to Stop.

They look at you like "How could he have known? Its like he was inside my head."

This may be their first experience with Those Who Listen in the Walls.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you can hear someone thinking "I could have PUSHED him right in front of that bus!"

This may be their first experience with Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor.

Anonymous said...

Dang, I'm getting scared, it's like being a girl scout again sitting around the campfire eating s'mores, listening to some disembodied voice telling tales of the damned.....

Anonymous said...

When the voices stop there is an initial sensation of Relief. This is often followed by a tinge of Sadness: Those Who Listen in the Walls were speaking to YOU, they chose YOU. And now maybe you are not that Special anymore.

Maybe you WANT the voices to come back.

Anonymous said...

You find yourself listening extra hard: was that THEM, or just the hum of the refrigerator?

You know the feeling.

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded fondly of my night shifts working at the County Psych hospital, kind of comforting being back amongst the "touched".

Bob_R said...

"The palm side of your hands has no hair, so the petter can't be feeling good for the pettee reason explained at the link."

That's true, of course, but I certainly love the sensation of stroking hair or fur. Is just empathy, or is it something about the sensation itself. I'm very sorry that fur clothing has gone out of style. As a meat eater I don't agree with the generic arguments against fur. (Yes, I understand the cruelty issues with some types of trapping.) I love the feel of fur and sheepskin clothing.

Anonymous said...

"Is my compulsion to remove a stranger's Devil's Mole the sign of Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor, or am I alone making that Judgment?

Sometimes the Sign is that there is no Sign.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes Those Who Listen in the Walls will be silent for days at a time. They are testing you.

They are questioning your Commitment.

Anonymous said...

Maybe you just have a Dermatologist deep within your psyche.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it will make you feel better to carry a sponge and a spray-bottle of Windex onto the Big City bus and clean the seats with rigor, each and every one. This should be done at least twice, starting from the back / driver's side and working clockwise.

Anonymous said...

If anyone attempts to stop you simple sustained eye contact should set matters straight. Do not blink. Blinking is weakness: Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor deplore weakness. Better to let the surface of your eyes dry.

Anonymous said...

I need a Glass of Tap Water.

furious_a said...

So the stereotypical Italian woman experiences more pleasure than the "Sex and the City" gals?

Did any of those women seem happy to you?

Well, maybe whats-her-name after her King Charles had puppies.

Anonymous said...

My windows are shrieking for a cleansing Betamax.

furious_a said...

"I tried petting my goldfish when I was but a wee child, it died."

When I was ~5, I fed my goldfish ice cream because I thought he would like it.

Afterward, my parents told me that goldfish float belly-up when they don't like what you're feeding them. Then they run away.

Anonymous said...

Betamax?

I hope Those Who Listen in the Walls didn't pull him through....

Anonymous said...

If a stranger comes up to you on a Big City bus with a pair of scissors you should calmly say the following:

"I understand you. I understand that my Devil's Mole is a sign of Restraint."

If they are naked you must say this even more calmly.

Note that calmly is not just speaking slowly: they are not Stupid, and they have scissors.

Anonymous said...

It is often best to never mention that you can hear Those Who Listen in the Walls and Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor. Peolple are not ready to Understand.

This is especially true if you work in a day-care facility. Children often feed their parents with lies.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will sometimes try to tell you that the people YOU see are Invisible, that only YOU see them. "Find out: touch them," they say.

Anonymous said...

"Mommy, there's a real scary man at Wee Care. He yells 'shut up!' to the Mr.Potato Head."

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you will see Invisible People walking Visible Dogs that are Five Seconds into the Future. People often mistake these for strays.

Anonymous said...

The Devil's Mole is not a nipple. This is a common misconception.

Anonymous said...

A child will not suckle to The Devil's Mole: that is just Hollywood Nonsense, like when they try to make you believe that Dustin Hoffman hears Those Who Listen in the Walls. He does not: he is an actor, pretending to hear Those Who Listen in the Walls.

Anonymous said...

I will not tell you what Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor suggest I do to Dustin Hoffman.

Anonymous said...

Put me on a Big City bus with Dustin Hoffman: we will see how much he really knows about Those Who Listen in the Walls.

Eye contact.

Anonymous said...

Inga: yes, I heard that.

Do not warn Hoffman.

Anonymous said...

I didn't!

Anonymous said...

I have seen Dustin Hoffman's Devil's Mole. He had a plastic surgeon remove it, twice, but it came back each time.

Do not F**K with Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will tell you that it is "Safe."

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you that it is "Not Safe."

Dustin Hoffman plays with things he doesn't truly Understand.

Anonymous said...

Sounds malignant.

Anonymous said...

His mole, I mean.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls have more patience than Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor, but you are a Fool to test either of them.

You cannot be Invisible forever.

Anonymous said...

Mixed messages are always confusing.

Anonymous said...

One moment you are Invisible and able to distinguish between those who Know and those who do not, then suddenly you are naked walking backwards in the street, looking in vain for a Big City bus.

Capricious, Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor.

Anonymous said...

Sure, some may scoff, but when you read on the Internet that Dustin Hoffman was found Naked on a Big City Bus with a Large Bandage on his abdomen you will know it all to be true.

Anonymous said...

Barbra Streisand will forsake him.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor have Big Plans for Barbra Streisand.

Anonymous said...

And I will know five seconds before anyone else.

Anonymous said...

But people who love people are the luckiest people in the world....

Anonymous said...

By the time you find out it will -- for me -- be misty water-colored Memories.

Anonymous said...

Can you seriously believe that Barbra Streisand does not hear Those Who Listen in the Walls?

Do not make a "Yentl" joke: this is serious.

Anonymous said...

When she hears Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor her eyes go straight: watch for this.

Anonymous said...

Oy.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps I have said too much.

Anonymous said...

I won't tell Josh Brolin.

Anonymous said...

Or his father James Brolin.

Anonymous said...

That she was having a fling with Dustin Hoffman.

David said...

Armpits?

bagoh20 said...

Precisely.

Unknown said...

Tupac was the man.

Such that years after the man's death, I speak and link his work.

How racist have I been for not linking my idols black?

Guildofcannonballs said...

Some aspect of notquiteunBuckley has determined idiocy under and because precisely of nomenclature "unknown" I, notquiteunBuckley, fail again and again.

Were I intelligent, or even much less than that, accounting for taste as I am want to do, this wouldn't happen.

This.

Would.

Not.

Happen.

virgil xenophon said...

Is there a full moon tonight?? If not, I'll be really worried about our obsolete piece of equipment..

kentuckyliz said...

Maybe cats purr at the right vibration that induces happiness.

The vibrations from musical instruments and singing work the same way.

My tomcat is on my lap trying to groom his remaining fur off.

I'm not mad about the z key any more.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"Why petting feels good."

My Senator Menendez might know something about that... but he is not taking any questions right now.

So what does the Daily Caller do?

They hype the story by linking a very young tweeter Menendez is following to the Dominican hooker scandal... This is not right.

Here is how they put it...

It might be nothing. Or it might be something. The Daily Caller has been asking Menendez’s office for a phone call or a meeting so we could show this stuff to them, but they’ve ignored us.

Why is Bob Menendez following this very young-looking girl of Dominican descent on Twitter? That seems like a relevant question, doesn’t it?


The Senator doesn't call back so the DC goes trolling for connections on the internet... and the hell with the life of a very young girl - linking her to a sex scandal on next to nothing?

A similar nationality is a very weak link to base a "story" on.

I was just checking her tweets... The young girl is looking for a prom dress for petes sake.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I'm all for aggressively pursuing a story to where ever it might lead... but not at the expense of potentially harming people who have nothing to do with the story.

Its not journalism. imho

Alex said...

Yeah I can imagine those hookers petted Bob Mendendez REAL good.

HoftheP said...

I feel harassed by our blogger, who is hinting in a very unsubtle way that she wants her bush petted.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Of those feeling such,

whose more witting than Dottie Parker?

As she was.

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

Darrell,

We do for others. And the good feeling is the reward. It is in giving that we receive. Pardoning that we are pardoned, Etc.

I honestly think that's the nub of it. The core of our love for pets -- dogs and cats, at least -- is that they can be made so happy so easily. Making another living being happy is a very great pleasure. Making other humans that we love happy is the greatest pleasure, but it is often difficult; it's wonderful to have someone around for whom strokes and food and laser-toy play are manna from heaven, and who delights in curling up with one at the end of the day.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will abruptly wake you from a deep and restful sleep: they can be relentless.

Anonymous said...

Often small children hear Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor: they believe it is Something Mysterious Under the Bed.

They are very close in this regard.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will counsel them: put a towel around your shoulders, it is your cape, You are a Super Hero.

Anonymous said...

So there you are with you towel-caped, clutched in a ball at the head of the bed, hoping this will protect you from The One Who Waits behind The Door.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls suggest keeping the door closed.

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor cajole you to open the door.

Anonymous said...

When you are older you understand that Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor are not monsters. They may suggest monstrous things, but they do not have claws, they do not smell of a burnt match.

Anonymous said...

F. Scott Fitzgerald heard Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor: you can just tell. They would "say more adjectives, more adjectives: this will keep the Other Voices at bay."

Zelda, on the other hand, was very familiar with Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor.

Anonymous said...

Alcohol can garble the messages sent by Those Who Listen in the Walls. Those Who Listen in the Walls find this funny. "Drink more," they say.

Faulkner listened, perhaps too closely.

Anonymous said...

Alcohol and Those Who Listen in the Walls can make you believe you are levitating. Maybe only two or three inches, but that is Enough.

Anonymous said...

When you are levitating two or three inches you are now that much further away from Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor; this can be a Good Thing.

Anonymous said...

When you have been drinking Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor may suggest that YOU should be the Big City Bus Driver. It is YOUR bus. Take it.

Anonymous said...

Many people will choose to avoid getting on a Big City bus driven by a Naked Driver: they will act like they have suddenly forgotten something, It's OK, they will catch the Next bus.

Anonymous said...

You do not need to know the Bus Route: Those Who Listen in the Walls will give you the Proper Directions.

People on the bus will have to accept the Proper Direction.

Anonymous said...

"I have a Big City Bus full of concerned strangers," I might say. "Where are we going?"

"Drive straight," Those Who Listen in the Walls suggest.

"Turn Left" says Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor.

Anonymous said...

When presented with conflicting directions it is perhaps time to leave the Big City bus. Leave the engine running, tell the people that they are OK now, they are not Doomed.

This will reassure them.

Anonymous said...

As you leave the bus you may now find yourself in a Bad Area of Town. This is where Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor are helpful.

Let Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor shine through your eyes; bad people will leave you Alone. On some primal level they Understand.

You will get Home safely.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes the Bad People will cross the street to get out of your way.

Their own voices are helping THEM.

Anonymous said...

In Bad Places in Town many of the liquor stores are still Open. You are Naked, with no wallet, but sometimes they will offer you a free bottle to Help You On Your Way.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor suggest Fortified Wine. They like Grape.

Anonymous said...

As you walk the streets Naked drinking your Fortified Wine you can look at the skyline: at these times of Night the City can be a beautiful Thing.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes on an evening like this a stranger will let you sleep in one of their beds. You do no need to ask: they Understand, and are asleep.

Anonymous said...

There is a certain smell to a Stranger's bed linens. Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you it is from the One they lead there before.

Anonymous said...

You will be gone by the time the strangers wake up, so make sure to make the bed: it is only proper.

When they see the empty bottle of Fortified Wine on the nightstand they will know The One Who Waits behind The Door.

Anonymous said...

There is nothing like Your Own Bed. You can take your prescription medications and crawl beneath the covers:you will hear Those Who Listen in the Walls, but the voices will be softer, softer. I could tape it for you to listen to, but you would not hear anything: we have already discussed this.

Anonymous said...

When you close your eyes you may see drifting worms of blinking light behind your eyelids. It is best not to try to decide who put them there, Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor or Those Who Listen in the Walls.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor may try to continue to suggest things to you, sometimes they stay and stay and stay. Tell your self it is the hum of the refrigerator. Tell yourself over and over: it is your Mantra.

Anonymous said...

In your impending dream the refrigerator will grow larger, larger, and the Hum will become louder and louder still.

There is White Light inside the Refrigerator.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps there are Voices within the Refrigerator, talking through the Hum.

The Milk.



It is most likely the Milk.

Anonymous said...

You will Drink the Milk: this is a Good Idea.

Anonymous said...

The Milk will give the voices Cotton-Mouth. You will hear them swallow repeatedly but no words come out.

When you wake up you will Drink a Glass of Milk.

It is important to have plenty of Milk in the Refrigerator, at least three gallons at a time.

You don't want to be left with Not Enough Milk.

Anonymous said...

The Voices are quiter in the Morning. This could very well be because of the Milk. You will go to the Grocery Store and get more Milk.

Anonymous said...

At the Grocery Store the Cashier may look at you funny, you and your five gallons of Milk.

They have seen this before.

Anonymous said...

The Cashier may attempt weak humor, like "you must really like Milk."

Tell them you have a Lot of Voices to feed.

Anonymous said...

As you push your shopping cart with its five gallons of milk Home you may sing a song to yourself.

Strangers will pretend to not recognize the song.

No eye contact.

Anonymous said...

At Home, when you are putting the five gallons of Milk into the Refrigerator, Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will know exactly what you are doing. Do not listen to them.

Anonymous said...

"THe Milk has gone Bad," they say. "It is sour and you will be sick."

Anonymous said...

For a moment you might believe them: perhaps it would be wise to pour the Milk down the sink.

Anonymous said...

Those Who Listen in the Walls will counsel otherwise: drink the milk sparingly, they will say.

Anonymous said...

No more than half a glass in any four hour period.

Perhaps Ginger Ale would be better: it will help settle your stomach.

Anonymous said...

And perhaps some Saltines. It will help you keep up your Strength.


You will need your Strength.

Anonymous said...

"Yes, you will need your Strength" Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will say.

"It takes Strength to be Invisible."


Anonymous said...

"There are Strangers that need you Help: your Invisible help."

Anonymous said...

It can be a lot to bear on one's Shoulders, hearing the Voices.

It is not for the Weak.

Anonymous said...

When the Weak hear the voices Bad Things happen: they have no Will.

Anonymous said...

They cannot keep the Voices inside. They want to Outspeak the Voices. Faster, faster.

Anonymous said...

"I have every Right to Stand here naked," they will exclaim. "When the End Times come you will feel the Fire, not in Voices but in tightening skin and burning hair. I am telling you but You are Walking away: you should Not walk away from me, I am telling you."

Anonymous said...

"Do not walk away, I know that you can hear me. The Voices will follow you, they will follow you everywhere, they will chase you down and make you Listen, make you Listen to the Truth."

Anonymous said...

"Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor are beneath YOUR floor, too: you are not Excluded. You must set down your Resistance like a small child lets go of a toy."

Anonymous said...

"I am not stalking you, I am trying to tell you something Important."

Anonymous said...

"Do not make me Set You on Fire: the Words are Enough."

Anonymous said...

"I will get on the bus WITH you. I have ridden this bus before; I have driven this bus, Naked."

Anonymous said...

"One day I will be the One to drive All of the buses naked, and people will KNOW."

Anonymous said...

As I said, the Weak of Will have problems with Those Who Listen in the Walls and Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor. A Towel-Cape will not save their Nakedness.

Anonymous said...

I think I will check the Internet for news about Dustin Hoffman; perhaps it has already happened.

Then I will drink a large glass of Milk and Hope for Sleep.

Anonymous said...

I need a second glass of Milk: the Refrigerator is humming.

Darrell said...

Making other humans that we love happy is the greatest pleasure

Michelle--
It is for me. Just as you coax pleasant sounds out of your violins and violas that wash over your listeners inducing pleasure in their souls--a form of mass petting in itself. Thank you for that. And there are few sights as sensual as four female violinists in floor-length skirts--with a slit--playing in synchronicity. Petting for all the senses.

rhhardin said...

Dogs groom you if there is salt involved.

Phil 314 said...

This thread needed some lithium or maybe some Seroquel.

Anonymous said...

Re: "This thread needed some lithium or maybe some Seroquel."

Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor will tell you to avoid such advice. It is They Who Want to Change You.

They Who Want to Change You have their own plans for you, bad plans: Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor want to HELP.

Anonymous said...

They Who Want to Change You think that they know better: for instance, they will tell you that the White Light in the Refrigerator goes out when the door is closed.


Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor have told you this is Untrue.

Anonymous said...

Oh? I see my patient escaped again while I was sleeping.

Anonymous said...

They Who Want to Change You will say that you are Naked when you are really Invisible: they are just guessing.

Anonymous said...

They Who Want to Change You will try to tell you that Milk is not the answer, that they have something better.

Charlatans.

Anonymous said...

They Who Want to Change You will leave messages on your phone, messages anyone can hear. Delete the messages as soon as possible.

And never -- NEVER -- pick up the phone when it rings: it is THEY.

Anonymous said...

The antidote is coffee, rich black strong coffee. Made by those who live in the coffee maker. Milk will only weaken it.

Anonymous said...

Re: "he antidote is coffee, rich black strong coffee. Made by those who live in the coffee maker. Milk will only weaken it."

Coffee.

As stated above: "They Who Want to Change You will try to tell you that Milk is not the answer, that they have something better.

Charlatans."

Anonymous said...

There are NO Voices in the coffee-maker. Those Who Listen in the Walls
will confirm this.

Anonymous said...

They Who Want to Change You will ask you to leave the Big City bus: you are making them uncomfortable. They suggest places you should go, often accompanied by hand gestures.

Anonymous said...

When you are Five Seconds into the Future you already know what They Who Want to Change You are going to say.

Anonymous said...

This is why you can start most conversations with strangers with a loud "NO."

Anonymous said...

And -- always -- eye contact. Unrelenting Eye Contact.

Anonymous said...

Do you remember what Those Who Whisper Beneath the Floor said about blinking?

You should be paying more attention. This is Important.

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