In your opinion, how should virtual cuddling work? Is it worth it?
There is an excellent sticky thread on the Professional Cuddling board with links to the main virtual cuddling threads. They contain a lot of information about how virtual cuddling works.
Yes, it is worth it in lots of circumstances.
Commonly on such threads somebody claims that there is no such thing as virtual cuddling. These people are confusing 'I haven't done it' with 'It doesn't exist'.
At present, the term virtual cuddling covers at least two distinct activities: online companship, and true virtual cuddling which explicitly seeks to replicate some of the emotions of a physical cuddle.
I suppose it depends on if you find value in a "friend" that you have to pay to have them spend time with you, or give you "attention" and/or "affection".
And here we go again…
Read this today on WebMD:
Hug Your … Phone? 10 / 10 In one study, people were asked to hug a human-shaped cushion with a built-in phone and talk to a partner through the device. The results showed they got one of the big benefits of a real embrace: lower stress hormones. Scientists are studying this effect to see if it might boost social support in this age of technology.
The Health Benefits of Cuddling https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-cuddling
@cuddle4health another nice and interesting piece of information - thanks!
I have done it, on many occasions (not recently though), and it doesn't exist. There is no such thing as virtual cuddling. There is such a thing as a video chat.
As to whether it's worth it: if you want an easy way to meet someone new, are not satisfied with the options in your area, and have a decent amount of disposable income, sure, it's worth it.
"I haven't experienced it" ≠ "It doesn't exist"
@CuddleWho then you haven't done it. Either you attempted it and failed, or didn't attempt it. If you attempted it, what did you do?
There are a million things you can do on a video call, companion ship being one of course. It is true that there are professionals offering virtual companionship and calling it a virtual cuddle: which it isn't. There is a problem of nomenclature in this area.
Part of the difficulty is that it is very common on this site for people to talk about doing various activities while cuddling. For example, watching a film while cuddling. In fact this is nearly impossible, and if you were to do it it would be catastrophically rude and uncaring. What you can do is cuddle while watching a film, but that's a very diffferent thing. This looseness of language is very harmful to our community.
@cuddle4health's link demonstrates another way of doing virtual. Note the importance of voice. It doesn't follow through to the original study unfortunately. If anybody fances a big of googlehunting, see if you can find it.
Wow guys, thank y'all for your thoughtful feedback... I learned something from all of your posts... really appreciate 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤️ Let the cuddling go on... virtual or not!!!😄😇
Thanks guys, very informative... I appreciate you all 😎😎😎😍😍😍
I haven't tried it, so I certainly can't argue that doesn't exist. That being said, I'm not at all certain of how it could help a person who's suffering from touch deprivation.
You will leave wondering, what did I just pay for? Am I in the meta verse or something?! I should’ve just got the real thing.
@Brownncuddly welcome to our CC community. 😊
As a fellow enthusiast like you (and on occasions a client) It is nice to talk on phone or facetime, etc. with members here. I had a wonderful 2 plus hour "virtual cuddle" with a member here today. Totally unplanned. There was laughing, crying, listening. It sure felt like we were together and we felt much better after.
Wonderful people here, and I am sure that a virtual cuddle can work for some here. For someone like me who can talk someone's ears off, its definitely worth it!
Wishing you all the success here! 🤗
@GreatHornedOwl I agree it does nothing for touch deprivation. I think it is more for people who are lonely or suffer emotional deprivation. If it helps them, good for them. I just do not see a need for me to use it. But then again, there are a lot of things I do not need—God, guns and gonorrhea—that make other people happy. You argue the third thing? Stockholders of pharmaceutical antibiotic companies are happy when STDs spike.