... to not consider vibrators "mainstream"?

[PavlovsDoggie]

In the sense that most of us have them, etc.

They're advertised on MN, but the reality is you never see them mentioned in mainstream books, movies, TV, etc.

Silly thoughts on a train passing time on a Friday evening!!

YABU - no of course they are mainstream, most of us have them

YANBU - yes, they are niche, just see ads for them on MN, but not much out there in the team world

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& can’t vote either way as neither answer applies plus even if the rest of us did see ads for them on here (which we don’t!) I don’t know where ‘in the real world’ you’d ‘see’ vibrators or see adverts for them as they wouldn’t be appropriate for kids so the opportunity for marketing is limited. Similarly terms of owning one I’d imagine for the same reasons you wouldn’t ‘see’ or know who does or doesn’t own them as it’s not like people go about waving them around it in the street!? As a pp said though it’s a lucrative market to be in so it follows that they are widely purchased.

Definitely mainstream. My DP expected me to have one when we chatted about fantasies etc.

You can buy little durex ones in Boots and Sainsburys! Can't get much more mainstream

Artificial penises have certainly been around since the sixteenth century.

I wasn't really interested in sex toys but had a six-month paid sick leave with nothing to do except read mumsnet and send off for things... a key phrase influencing my decision to do that was a poster who said she thought 'investing in [her] own pleasure' was worthwhile. So, I gave it a go, bought a range of things, tried them out. They were very, very dull. Even the very expensive ones. I think they're mainstream, I think probably many people have them but don't mention them in general conversation. I now have to carefully time throwing them away... I don't want to throw them immediately, as I might become curious again... on the other hand, I don't want to die with them still in the house.

@DoingItMyself

Artificial penises have certainly been around since the sixteenth century.

I wasn't really interested in sex toys but had a six-month paid sick leave with nothing to do except read mumsnet and send off for things... a key phrase influencing my decision to do that was a poster who said she thought 'investing in [her] own pleasure' was worthwhile. So, I gave it a go, bought a range of things, tried them out. They were very, very dull. Even the very expensive ones. I think they're mainstream, I think probably many people have them but don't mention them in general conversation. I now have to carefully time throwing them away... I don't want to throw them immediately, as I might become curious again... on the other hand, I don't want to die with them still in the house.

Classic.

Most of them are crap, but if you are lucky to find "the one" it is satisfactory. Sort of like men but with less aggro.

My adult DS who had the misfortune to spend first lockdown at home with me and DS2 instead of the travel he'd planned for ages got a part time job in an adult toy distribution warehouse.
Demands increased dramatically last year it seems.

My ads are for Mr Vegas and Boots.
My gambling habit extends to spending a couple of quids worth of 2p on the 2p-slidy-widey machines at the arcade maybe I need to see what DS2 has been up to

There's an episode of Motherland where Julia's cleaner finds the handlebar grip from her son's scooter and insists it's a dildo. It's very funny.

I've seen them sold in the supermarket

@LoopTheLoops

I’m 32 and don’t have one! Never have. I was bought one for a gift and found it it very cringey thing to gift someone

Similar age and same. I'd be horrified if someone bought me one as a gift.

I prefer the real deal and don't find them in the least sexy. I don't want to get desensitised and just don't feel the need for one.

They are mainstream though.

Yeh I’m definitely the only one of my friends who doesn’t have one, they are all open about their “toys” they’ve just never appealed to me and I was so embarrassed at being bought one as a “gift”

I've got adverts for Vans and Penhaligans...i do have 3 vibrators though

62 and I’ve never owned one.

My adverts are for silk pillowcases, cocktail rings and a weighted scarf with pockets for remote, phones, snacks etc. Sounds about right.

#selfcare

I think the reason they're not mentioned so much in films/TV is that alot of men do still feel threatened by them or there is a misconception that if you need to resort to toys then your sex life can't be very good. It is rubbish of course but there are a lot of people who believe it and so you won't see it in TV/films where they ar eoften trying to portray an idealistic fantasy rather than normal sex. Let's be honest TV, films and books often leave out alot of what happens during and after sex because it wouldn't have any added benefit, and nobody really wants to watch the main character waddling off to the toilet for an after sex wee. But vibrators are definitely mainstream.

Dildos have been around since the Stone Age, but they didn’t appear in the Flintstones!

The weighted scarf with pockets sounds great. My ads are around holidays (thanks but no), new laptops (fuck no we are drowning in tech) and booking a service for me car. Really dull stuff!

Mainstream.
I have four. I love sex with men, or on my own. The rabbit however can make me orgasm like nothing else. I prefer real sex but I need an orgasm a day and this makes it quick and easy.

You can also get them in Poundland if you like cheap thrills

I'm under 45 and don't have one. I did have one but didn't like it so eventually threw it away (fully wrapped up and hidden in the bin)

@Kanaloa

Lots of everyday things are never mentioned in mainstream books/telly etc. Was just talking to ds the other day about how nobody in books ever goes for a poo. Of course in real life everyone does.

I'm crying with laughter now imagining "Harry Potter does fantastic magical thing but has to stop to go for a poo" or "Peter Rabbit hops about with his friends and then...." Etc. (Hopefully doesn't hop off to use a vibrator of course).

@MrsDuggee

Completely mainstream. Aren’t MN ads linked to what you’ve googled though? Through cookies and algorithms and things? I’ve never seen one on here 😂

Haha

@GNCQ

Lol I think DS might prefer if they did stop for a poo. The more realistic the better. Although Harry never even had a bath until book 4! I told him they do poo they just don’t talk about it, I imagine it’s the same with vibrators. Would be a bit off putting if two characters started comparing vibrators in the middle of NCIS.

One of the best ones my lady friend , recommended is the magic wand with plug in, option, rather than battery operated, although they are also marketed as a sports massager on ebay.

I don’t own one never have , neither have my close friends.

metro.co.uk/2019/07/01/vibrator-funniest-review-amazon-10095225/?ito=article.amp.share.top.whatsapp
Read the above review. It must have increased sale massively, if only so we can levitate