The nuance I feel you might be overlooking is your so-called visual aid is just someone else’s hot bod (as much as it is mostly artificial) and it might signal to your partner that you don’t find her physique attractive enough, whereas the use of sex toys or physical aids as you put it would be your partner’s way of signaling that her pleasure is not exclusively centered on your penis or its size. Even in phallic shaped toys designed for penetration, there’s always something else reputable manufacturers include, be it vibration, texture, shape, simultaneous clitoral stimulation, suction, etc. And none of these are meant to substitute your own physique and the intimacy you bring to the table (or the bed, or the couch, or the shower hehe).

I think the poster below makes a good point that toys designed for men such as fleshlights would be a more apt comparison. And the reverse for the example you provide would be something akin to needing the visual aid of Johnny Sins to get off. If we were to talk about getting off during your little lovemaking session by the chemistry and the fantasy on screen in porn - and both parties were ok with and equally excited by it -, then I’d also find no issue with that (albeit, I do think there are healthier ways to go about).

When it comes to sex, it all eventually comes down to communication and respect. And if your boundaries to feeling comfortable draw a line against using sex toys, then that’s you and your partner needs to respect your feelings as well. I just feel like it’s a shame if people are missing out, because their own insecurities equate a dildo or a vibrator (or whatever) to a substitute for your penis, your body, and your active role during sexy times, because they definitely are not.

There’s always something for everyone and not everyone is into everything. As long as there’s consent, respect for needs and boundaries, and communication, no one ever needs to feel innadequate in the bedroom.

AFAIK, yes, and they’re around the same ball park, I think cheaper on the individual plan, but a dollar more than Tidal on the Family Plan, IIRC. Nothing like trying them out.

Right now, it’s Qobuz that pays the most, and they also sport lossless audio formats as well. Tidal’s still a good pick, as far as music streamers go, though.

Non-targeted ads and funding from investors, as far as I can tell.

It’s French and free.

Can confirm: am over 35 and if I stay up later than that I start to get cranky and sour about kids these days with their insistence on trying, instead of doing or doing not. Ugh!

Congrats on falling down the audiophile rabbit hole. Shortly, you’ll be receiving your complimentary gold-plated interconnects and a lifetime subscription of A/B’ing different masters without actually listening to the full album 🙃

I’ve started collecting 1:24 and 1:18 scale models of my favorite movie cars and I guess you could say my holy grail would be a 1:18 sized, 1985, Cumberland Grey, V8 Vantage Aston Martin, from 007’s The Living Daylights (and recently, No Time To Die). That and the 1:18 Chevy Nova from Death Proof, without breaking my bank account.

Oh well, time to fine the shit out of them and roll out Linux across the continent.

Isn’t this admitting to breaking EU law?

So, am I being an ignorant sack of crap, or is this not the State overreaching in matters of the private sector? Thought American conservatives hated such muddling.