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The world of sexual desires and fantasies is amazingly broad and complex. From a lay person's point of view, it can seem overwhelming and quite complicated. Though, from a scholarly viewpoint, it's extremely intriguing and, in my opinion, a pretty fun topic to explore, especially when it gets to exploring specific topics. With that in mind, this article is the first of many more to come in small series where I plan on reporting on, in depth, sexual fantasies that turns heads and raises eyebrows, but are absolutely interesting. For the pilot to this series, we will be looking into vorarephilia, which derives from the Latin vorare (to devour).
Vorarephilia, or vore for short, according to Dr. Justin Lehmiller's article on this subject, is the concept of individuals "deriving sexual arousal from the thought of literally eating (or being eaten by) someone or something." Not to confuse this with sexual cannibalism, where someone finds the thought of consuming human flesh to be sexually arousing, vore is comparable to a predator and prey relationship or fantasy, to put it simply. According to excerpts from a case study done by Dr. Amy Lykins and Dr. James Cantor and examined by Mark D. Griffiths from PsychologyToday.com, vore, in most cases, the victim is swallowed whole. This is done while the victim is still alive, and almost always never includes chewing or ripping them apart, which is vore's main difference from sexual cannibalism. Now, vore is known to exist in different gatherings, to iterate before, but one that seems to be most associated with it is the Furry Fandom.
Even though vore is seen as a fringe interest, it is genuinely a popular role-play scenario, which is shared by at least 2 percent - 5 percent of furry fans, according to WikiFur. I decided to try and dig around and found a furry who who was willing to do a short interview regarding vore and his involvement and attraction towards it.
I began the interview and asked Setukh, how did you find vore?
I just kinda got turned on by the idea of things eating each other alive. I'm fascinated by the predator prey relationship. For years I thought it was sick that I found it fascinating...attractive even. Then I found the furry clique.
Did you find vore fascinating as a child? Or did your experiences with it come about at a later age?
Definitely later. Like post 18 years old if not 23 and later.
Now, had you ever heard of, or known about, vore and the concept of it before that time?
No I didn't. I just watched a lot of nature documentaries.
If find it interesting that some people jump to conclusions about those who find themselves attracted to or involved in sexual fantasies such as vore. With that in mind, what do you think contributes to society's negative viewpoint of vore?
I honestly think that when people get oppressed or don't have creative outlets to even their darkest fantasies, they become criminals, psychopaths, murders, etc.
It's comparable to how society is based I feel. Especially since we live in one based on puritanical values.
I mean, I think that's simple. People dislike what they're not used to. You could make a laundry list of things people abhor because they find it creepy, gross, taboo, or disgusting.
I don't know very much about vorarephilia and I find that there is very limited research on this topic. What can you tell me about vore; from your personal knowledge, what could you teach me and those whom need to be educated on the topic?
Vore is highly psychological, from the predator/prey relationship to submitting to someone to even unwilling prey. It ranges from the idea that you want to be so close to someone you want to be in them, or give yourself completely to them. It tinges the senses of fight or flight and makes interactions exhilarating by putting life or just fate on the line. It's a vast topic, and has a ton of facets and types of vore, from oral, to anal, to cock, to disposal, digestion, and more violent things.
Alright, well I thank you so much for this interview Setukh, and to close I would like to ask you this question: when participating in vore role-play, what role do you normally play? And what role(s) would you like to experiment with?
Generally, with my [fursona's] size, most people view me as a predator, when in fact I like taking all roles. I love being willing, unwilling prey, dominant or seductive prey. Anything really.
Vore is ultimately a highly psychological fantasy. Starting off, I only knew bits and pieces and never truly understood the full spectrum of what it encapsulates, but I feel now I have a better understanding where individuals, such as Setukh, come from. This attraction does not define them, yet it is evident that a mass misunderstanding through those not educated on the subject can lead to isolation or even thoughts that there is something truly wrong with them. From my eyes, I just see individuals engaging, through art forms and chat role-playing, sexual fantasies that are different, yet fascinating.
