response 7 of 17:

Jan 13 13:51 UTC 2002

resp:1 From the backrub pimp.. ho ho, just joking..

I think a proper massage depends on what's tense.  Sure, I'll agree 
with Anne that sitting up is best for working the shoulders on up, 
especially if you're working on the temples of the forehead, or the 
scalp, etc.  If the back needs work, say, traps, then I think it's 
better to stand.  Anything lower than that, of course, it's best to be 
lying down.

Massage oils, such as Neutrogena's sesame oil body lotion, are really 
good to reduce nasty friction when the hands are directly on the 
skin.  Aromatherapy is really nice, too-- I've found fruit-scented 
lotions are nice, and I have been partial to the lime one Julie got a 
while ago.

I've also found that men and women seem to tense up with stress in 
different areas.  Women often have tension more often in the 
shoulders, and men more often in the lower back.  As for the neck, I 
think that's probably an equal thing.  I tense up badly on the right 
side of the back of my neck, so it's wonderful to have someone relieve 
the pain.

Of course, massage is a wonderful interlude to sex, but I think it's 
important in other ways.  Those who have sung in school choirs 
probably remember "the backrub chain" during warmup; good singing 
requires muscles to avoid too much tension.  It's also a good 
prevention tool against work injury, and in fact, a co-worker was 
helping out another in that regard.  As long as boundaries are 
respected and the intent is clearly understood, I don't think it 
should be a problem, but we live in times where people are afraid to 
touch each other, for fear of lawsuit.

response 9 of 17:

Jan 13 20:04 UTC 2002

(I've never been a big fan of backrub chains.  Giving a half-decent backrub
means using your whole arms and some of your shoulder muscles, and putting
your weight into it.  If I'm doing that, I can't relax my back and shoulders
enough to enjoy a backrub that someone else is giving me.)

response 11 of 17:

Jan 14 04:42 UTC 2002

Yeah, me too.  And I deffinately do a crap job of backrubbing if somebody is
trying to back rub me.

response 13 of 17:

Jan 14 15:59 UTC 2002

jazz lives up to his name

response 15 of 17:

Feb 6 15:20 UTC 2004

The "Demons and their backrubs" is actually a sidebar from the role-
playing game In Nomine.  It goes through the bands on demons, and 
describes how a demon of each band would go about asking for and 
enjoying a backrub.

response 17 of 17:

Apr 24 13:44 UTC 2004

I must respond, but perhaps after this the side discussion should be 
moved to the amalgam conference.

So far I have only made a character for In Nomine.  A "tripped" Ofanim 
of Dominic, who has his heart set of falling (my idea is he basically 
thinks Dominic's celestial undies are giving him an Eternal Wedgie).  
As Dominic is his boss, this character has 7 days to Fall (or redeem 
himself).

One woman who I thought was my friend, I am now convinced is a 
Habbalite.  But then, ALL Fundamentalists are Habbalah.