Mental Pictures
Over the years, there has been a tremendous amount of discussion on AVE and the like.
[Editor’s note: For those who may be unfamiliar with the term, AVE stands for Audio-Visual Erotica, and is similar to pornography as a form of media, but different in content. The word “pornography” is constructed in part from the Greek root word “porneia,” which is a broad term for sexual immorality. In contrast, Audio-Visual Erotica may display content of sexual acts that are not immoral, such as sex between a married man and woman.]
The discussion always generates some interesting and diametrically opposing arguments. There has never been a clear and definitive viewpoint set forth as the golden rule to follow. I make no attempt to do that here.
Instead, I’d like to shift the conversation in another direction by discussing a related, but slightly different type of visual erotica. Let’s call it “Mental Imagery Erotica,” or “MIE”.
We’re all here for the same reason, and that’s to be sexually stimulated by reading hot accounts of sexy action between a husband and wife or equally steamy accounts of solo masturbation. So, it begs the question of what we’re thinking while we’re reading them.
When a story begins, we develop a mental image of the author/couple based on preconceived notions or clues the author gives us. As the story progresses, we watch as he/she/they weave through the scene until it ultimately culminates into a satisfying climax.
We do this without giving it a second thought, and I would go so far as to say that none of us has ever felt guilty about voyeuristically following along.
So, I’m curious. Which of the following would best describe your mental images?
1. Do you picture hazy, shadowy, or vague imagery and focus more on the story?
2. Do you focus on picturing a specific attribute of the person/couple?
3. Do you develop a super clear movie-like image of the scene as it unfolds in front of you?
4. Maybe something else would better describe your mental imagery?
I usually picture my wife and I doing the things described in the stories.
That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing!
When I read stories here on MH, I relate them to specific things my late wife and I had done. We were not at all into anal sex, so I skip those stories, but almost anything else that is written about here has a parallel to the 33 years of sex that we enjoyed. I won’t think of women I know, and imaging us doing it, but it’s always my wife and I.
When I was deployed or on temporary duty somewhere, I thought of her when I masturbated. My wife would think of us too, but she often invented a couple and imagined them, but never her and another man.
I appreciate you sharing that Sarge. I’m glad that you and your late wife were able to create so many good memories.
Great discussion topic! I think I generally picture myself and my future husband in the stories about couples, myself in the solo female masturbation stories, and my ideal kind of guy (at least, the body, maybe not the face) in the male masturbation stories. For the ones that do describe some physical appearance, I may just picture that individual or couple as best as I can based on their description, but faces are usually elusive. And no, I don't think any of it is wrong! The intent of the heart is what determines that.
Great response! I think of this were a poll question, you would probably fall into the majority. And I totally agree about the intent of the heart.
Thanks for the question.
I would be a 1 I think. I do picture the couple, never faces, but maybe it's best described that I see what they do more than how they look.
I, too, remember our own sex adventures, or imagine my wife in the scenario.
I think that’s a good answer Britbloke, and most of us would probably fall into that category.
I’m like Martins, and think of my wife and I doing the things in the stories. That’s why I much prefer the real stories, as they contain things we have done or do ourselves.
That sounds great Tulsa.
Usually, I'm picturing the characters as described, and they're people I've never actually seen before, whether in real life or remembering pornstars. If they're not described, I go somewhat off the story's thumbnail.
If I knew a couple or someone from RL that wrote stories on here, I wouldn’t have any problem with picturing them in the act. But since I don’t, I usually go off of generalities or how they describe themselves.
Brilliant topic KM! you really got me thinking deeply about this before answering, it took me a while to gather my thoughts. I’ve come to realise (pun intended to a degree!), over the years, that I’m sapiosexual! So, I really need contact, communication, closeness, intellectual stimulation etc, to be sexually attracted or turned on. I think this is the main reason sex has died in my marriage; we’ve grown so far apart, that even if my husband approached me for sex, I’d just be going through the motions! So, when I read a story here, I am generally turned on by the stories that have context I.E., the couple make love after a romantic dinner, during a vacation, after a family gathering; you get the idea! I like these because they are natural, and because I can perceive the life event that has drawn the couple closer. If I am really turned on and feel the need to masturbate to them, I picture myself in the story, not necessarily with the writer, but close to one who loves me and who I love back, who is more often that not identity-less these days. I’m not sure if that makes any kind of sense, but its where I’m at right now, and its definitely a comfort to be able to escape in one’s head like this in a marriage where sex is a thing of the past. Thank you for making me think as ever; interesting subject!
Hi starlight,
As always, I appreciate your comment very much.
I also totally get where you’re coming from with the connection. The relationship is so important for sex that it cannot be overstated. I’m sorry for your marriage issues, but I’m in a similar situation and I get it.
I think that’s part of the reason I’m here and I think it’s part of the reason I write stories.
Anyway, I’m glad I could help you think and I hope a change for the better happens in your marriage.
I think option 1 best describes how I imagine and visualize MH stories. I have vague images, but don't put too much effort into imagining details. I do a little bit of option 2 and incorporate some general body descriptions from the story, like hair color, general build (height/weight), etc. I don't find myself desiring to imagine or read about overly specific body descriptions.
Occasionally, a story really resonates with me and gets me thinking, "I'd love to experience that with my future wife!" When that happens, I'm more likely to imagine myself and my future wife in place of the couple described in the story. My future wife remains a vague image, since I don't know who she is yet, but it still changes my mental context quite a bit to imagine the characters as myself and my future wife rather than an anonymous husband and wife.
Thanks PatientPassion. I think you have a healthy viewpoint, and I pray for your future marriage.
I focus most on the story, allowing myself to be directed to where the writer wants me. I like watching the couple celebrate their marriage. I want to celebrate with them as they want me to. The writer is divulging the act however detailed. In anyway, for whatever reason. I let that guide for why I am there. That brings me to either see hazy images, or detailed ones. I do take advice, too. If this story can translate into my wife & I doing the same, that is a plus. But, mostly, I enjoy just sitting down & letting the writer direct me.
I think that’s a great way to look at things. A good story will pull you in and allow you to experience something really nice. Thanks SCMM!
I like stories that take me into a different world. That includes picturing a vague type of person, maybe idealized version of how the person is described. I likely would not like actually seeing the person. That is why I prefer written erotica over visual. At least most of the time. Sometimes it’s easier to learn from a picture. When I was learning ways to masturbate the visuals were helpful.
Thanks for your response SecondMarge. I’m sorry I missed it way back when.
I agree that written is often better because it puts you into the mind of the author.
1. Do you picture hazy, shadowy, or vague imagery and focus more on the story?
I tend to imagine a lot of the basic details about the location, there are several personal and career reasons for this, but I’ll leave it at that, for now…
2. Do you focus on picturing a specific attribute of the person/couple?
Believe it or not, I try to picture their dynamic and personality, and their voices. I do imagine things from clues they’ve given about body type, ethnicity, age. But they aren’t very important
3. Do you develop a super clear movie-like image of the scene as it unfolds in front of you?
My brain tends to zoom in on random things at times, like hair texture or the angle of the light on the people as they make love. Maybe boring aspects of the scene, but realistic in that regard.
4. Maybe something else would better describe your mental imagery?
I tried to explain it above, but I have kind of a scattershot mind that takes in the basic surroundings, and tries to make head or tails of that first. Then I sort of envision the couple and their personas and the way they interact in life and in sex. For example, some writers would seem to be more the slow, seductive type when they make love. Others are more edgy, like wild and maybe would imagine them as riding motorcycles and shedding leather jackets and being covered in tattoos when making love with their spouse. My mind is a funny thing! 😄
Thanks for your response NS!
I sometimes think about non-written things like the sounds of licking and sucking, the excited, happy little laughs when something feels really good, the passionate looks shared by the lovers, and the contorted faces of those lost in the moments of release.