The New Intimacy

Irked...... What exactly makes a toy ANAL safe?

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Contributor: Dragon Dragon
I admit that I had played with exactly ONE toy before I joined Eden some time back. But I've learned a lot and read a lot since then. I just read a review - a hard plastic, slimline vibrator that operates on 2 AA batteries. Cal-Exotic. That should give you a picture of the vibrator itself. No base or handle, twist dial.

The review stated safe for ANAL play. There were no fewer than 6 comments including one Eden staff member. Not one mentioned that it really wasn't safe for anal play.

Am I missing something? What exactly safe for anal play, because it's my understanding that a flared base, handle, etc is what is necessary.

And to the second point - why exactly did nobody else bother to comment - even gently? I've seen it done before. My comment is so far down the line that it may not even get read!

***DBD stomps her foot, and has a tantrum!***
12/17/2009
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Contributor: Kayla Kayla
I'd say it depends on who you're using it with. By yourself, it needs a flared base or for you to be VERY VERY careful. (For most people, I'd say just get the flared base anyway. Buying a toy with a flared base is better than paying hospital bills to get a non-safe one removed.)

As for with a partner, it's a little different because they can hold onto the toy itself. I'd still recommend a base just for ease of holding's sake, but it's not *quite* as important.

Also, hard plastic vibrators...maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't want hard plastic up my butt.
12/17/2009
Contributor: Sir Sir
You are correct that those things are recommended for anal use, and in reviews, we should always encourage these things to not only promote safety but to also not give bad advice that may be harmful and cause a bad dispute. On a person's own use, if they are experienced, they will know how to use such things safely so using them internally (anally or otherwise) will be done with caution. In our reviews, we must assume that the reader may not know every little detail of sexual safety, hence we recommend not using things without flared bases, curves, or handles anally.

The review in question did not seem to be saying that the product was generally recommended for internal use, so I figured when they said "anally," they meant around the bum opening as opposed to actually inside of it, as they were adding a lot about clitoral stimulation rather than vaginal/internal stimulation. Perhaps the reviewer will clarify this for me.
12/17/2009
Contributor: Darling Dove Darling Dove
If a toy is unflared but long enough to have a good grip on, sometimes I'll say you CAN but I dont recommend it. I know there are toys without flares that I use just because they're so long that I can hang on to them no matter what. It's something you should do informed, and at your own risk.

Its weird that nobody commented, but maybe they just missed it. If I mean for external use I usually say that specifically, so eh.
12/17/2009
Contributor: Dragon Dragon
Any more comments?
Are all the reviewers that read it remiss if a review goes up on a toy that indicates it's safe for anal play do not make some comment otherwise?
12/21/2009
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
The big thing that I look for when trying to decide if I'll use a toy anally is that a toy be flexible (if it's noticebly long) and rounded on all edges, and have enough of a grip that you can keep a pretty secure hold on it. A rounded and flexible toy that gets slipped all the way in will pop out without much fuss, while a stiff or not-rounded toy can cause problems.

Before I'd say something like "anal safe", though, I'd look for a flare. That's the only way I'd use a stiff toy anally (if it had a flare), and flared toys go a long way to preventing possible anxiety among the users (especially those without much anal experience).

There are some toys that I really like anally (for instance the Epona) that don't have the flare - when I reviewed it I didn't call it "anal safe", but I did talk about using it anally and pointed out the risk of it slipping in if you're not careful.
12/21/2009
Contributor: Dragon Dragon
Quote:
Originally posted by ScottA
The big thing that I look for when trying to decide if I'll use a toy anally is that a toy be flexible (if it's noticebly long) and rounded on all edges, and have enough of a grip that you can keep a pretty secure hold on it. A rounded and ... more
ScottA, you're someone that I truly respect with regards to knowledge about anal toys.

Would you say that basically a slimline vibrator is anal safe? Similar to this one but smaller. (I picked the first similar picture I could find. This one is C batteries. The review I saw was AA)
12/21/2009
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
I pretty much agree with ScottA he's go the points up there to know what he's talking about.

I would only use a toy if it's flared or has a string on it when it comes to back door fun. There are some products out there that look great (i'm reviewing one now) but I really don't think they're that safe for anal play.

Something to keep in mind about flared bases though, make sure it is too big for your hole, not just bigger than the rest of the toy.

Good luck!
12/21/2009
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
First of all, your foot stomping "tantrum" was adorable. I definitely agree with the points that have been made here: whether or not we personally would feel comfortable using a toy anally, if there's no flange the review should mention that it isn't designed for safe anal play; if you know your limits, they can be used safely, but you really have to know what you're dealing with and know your body.

Personally, I feel safe with anything more than 7 inches long, because right now I simply cannot take more than 3-4 inches; anything more will NOT go in, no matter what I do, leaving at least half the toy outside. This basically turns the rest of the toy into a handle. For me, a toy that is simply too long for me is as good an insurance policy as a flange. As my limits change, this will obviously change. However, a beginner might not know this about their body; if you don't know your depth limits, or aren't familiar with the incredible power of the almighty sphincters, they can get in over their heads very quickly. Thus, regardless of my personal limits, I warn that a toy isn't designed for anal play.

My rule of thumb for review is, if it doesn't have a flange, I recommend not using it for anal play, regardless of length or handle status. If it's very long, or there are other extenuating circumstances (say, a severe curve toward the "handle" end) I may say "not recommended, but possibly safe if you're very, very careful."

Thanks for starting this topic, DBD. It definitely needs to be talked about. I know many reviewers, myself included, sometimes forget to add little bits of safety/cleaning/materi al compatibility information, simply because we've said it so many times that it's easy to forget that there are customers that DON'T know the shpeil by heart.
12/22/2009
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
I do have to wonder though: do you think the manufacturers of some of these toys realize that if they just added a little more to the design, they'd prolly sell better.
12/22/2009
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
I pretty much agree with ScottA he's go the points up there to know what he's talking about.

I would only use a toy if it's flared or has a string on it when it comes to back door fun. There are some products out there that look ... more
The flange doesn't really need to be bigger than your anus for it to prevent full insertion. While that would undoubtedly work, it also would make the toy very big. A rapid flare-out to about 3/4-1" larger than the neck will keep a toy from being inserted all the way unless you're really serious about getting it pushed all the way inside.

A gradual flare or a very floppy base can go "all the way" much easier, so they'd need to be bigger.
12/22/2009
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Quote:
Originally posted by Luscious Lily
First of all, your foot stomping "tantrum" was adorable. I definitely agree with the points that have been made here: whether or not we personally would feel comfortable using a toy anally, if there's no flange the review should ... more
Good points. Just because you or I might use something without that flared base doesn't mean that a newbie will know their body so well. Our reviews are read by people of all different experience levels and we sometimes need to look outside ourselves when writing.
12/22/2009