I must say I contribute to the misuse of the word "fetish". I find smart Jewish men crazy-sexy, but I don't mean I can only get off on those nights Ezra Klein is on "Countdown", although, yes, I'm so obvious about finding him cute that my mom teases me about it, oh, almost every time.(Seriously, though, he's like the long-lost, fourth-estate, Eppes. So. Adorable.) And I think Wolffe could have a slave in me if I worked at the White House and he went on about his "tight shedule" and that he just wants a quote about "Obamar" but it's not like things only work if I hear Christiane Amenpour first. I think UKers are hotter, though. And the more I ramble, it shocks me that I learn *anything* from those broadcasts...I'm into half the analysts on MSNBC...there's no blood in my brain, and yet? Thoughts about the Fed.

I know that clinically, in psychology, it means "something that one must have in order to enjoy sex/get off" but conversationally it isn't used that way any more.

Bah - I disapprove. I think it's a useful linguistic distinction and eroding it does nobody any good. t /curmudgeon

I must say I contribute to the misuse of the word "fetish".

as do I. I joke that I have a fetish for the iliac crest. It doesn't mean that I won't get off if he doesn't have one, but boy does it make it (and me) much easier.

After careful study of the pricing scale, noting that "booty" is under "kitty" and that tits don't seem to be covered anywhere else I'm going to guess that "lady lumps" are titties.

I am with Jessica. I am particularly particular, because I run a couple, ah, thematic sites, and it's really clear when I get fetish submissions.

I know it's weird to have a website dedicated to barefoot guys. I know that. But have you seen foot fetish sites? I so totally don't have one of those.

So, Jess, what would you call those things that sort of, always work, but aren't psychosexual necessities. besides "How funny...Mom thinks I watch Numbers because of a new interest in math," To use a completely generic example...that happened to my friend. Steph J, David Duchovny has a good one. Of course on Californication, I see more of him than his internist.

Not to loop this conversation back into insanity, but I often hear/use the work kink in that context.

what would you call those things that sort of, always work, but aren't psychosexual necessities

That I call a kink, just because I think it's weird for something to sort of, always work. So having a kink for bandaged hands (what? don't look at me like that) is just a strangeness.

Ok, maybe not always-always. But, you know, dependably. Always-always would lead me to being into Wolflowitz and Joel Steinberg. Gross.