Tips included remembering the need for extra care not to leave potentially embarrassing evidence around. Others mentioned the need to ensure complete privacy, so as not to be interrupted by roommates or family. Some men mentioned how nice it is to have images of themselves when they were in their teens (or wished that they had made and kept such images).]
I once spent the night in a hotel room that had wall-size mirrors on two sides. While lying on the bed I had a view of myself both from one side and from the feet end. The urge to masturbate came over me, and I must admit it was kind of a turn-on to watch myself lying naked on the bed stroking. It was like looking at a stranger through a panoramic window. Later I tried to reproduce the scene at home by placing the largest mirror in the house next to the bed, but the feeling wasn't the same. Maybe it was because of the familiar environment that it felt awkward, so I haven't attempted to do it since. But if I ever spend the night in a similar hotel room again, I won't hesitate to take advantage of it.
- age 45, Germany
This Week's Wackiest Response:
I once took digital camera pictures of my anus, then enhanced it with my computer and made it look as if a penis was going into it. I am straight, but for some reason this was very arousing to me. I made it into an mpeg and masturbated while watching it.
- age 16, New York
When I was younger I masturbated in front of a mirror all the time – it looked hot! Unfortunately I haven't aged as well as I'd like, so now it doesn't turn me on as much. I would recommend that everybody videotape or take still pictures of your body when you're young. I sure wish I had.
- age 33, California
I frequently masturbate while I watch videos of myself masturbating. The videos are stored on a CD that I made with my webcam. I find it erotic to watch myself building up to ejaculation – the facial expressions, the sounds, the way I hold my penis. I also trade these videos with friends that I masturbate with. Also, I find it erotic to think about them masturbating while they watch me masturbate. I hope that doesn't make me a sick little pervert! I just consider myself to be an average, constantly horny guy.
- age 16, Arizona
My friend and I borrowed a video camera from school to do a project, and I had it at my house. I waited until my parents went to bed, turned on the camera, and taped myself masturbating. When I was done, I took the tape out of the camera and put it in the VCR to watch it. Then I masturbated again. Later, I decided to tape over it. The next day my sister needed a tape to record a show for a friend. She used the one in the VCR. I was so scared that her friend would see me masturbating and make fun of me, but it never happened. Apparently I was worried about nothing. It was so much fun, I would do it again. I have masturbated in front of a mirror before, but I don't like that as well as watching myself on TV.
- age 18, Ontario, Canada
Recently I bought a webcam, and since then, I've done some serious "recording." I liked the results! I first bought the camera because I was sick of just masturbating by myself. I've been single for 3 years now and haven't had any sexual encounters, so I bought the webcam to watch myself and trade with others. I like to watch myself because it's a view from another perspective. It's like you're looking at another person. Also it makes my penis look bigger, and I love the ejaculations.
- age 24, Belgium
I have videotaped myself masturbating twice. I tried it partly to see what I looked like while wanking, and partly for the excitement of "performing." I enjoyed it while I did it, but when I was done and I put the tape in the VCR, I felt like the most disgusting, perverted person ever. But I guess it's not really that bad.
- age 15, Tennessee
I really like masturbating in front of a full-length mirror on my closet door and do it quite often. Since I work out a lot I am rather muscular and like seeing my body from various views. I do "muscle poses" when I'm naked and erect, and that really turns me on. One of my workout buddies once took a Polaroid picture of me naked from the back as I was posing, and I sometimes like to look at that, too. I'm not gay but I have fantasized about doing a naked workout video with another guy. But that will probably never happen because I'm too chicken!
- age 21, Pennsylvania
When I was 11, I found my dad's video camera and started playing around with it. Then I started to get horny, so I taped myself. Now I watch that video all the time when I masturbate. I also bring it out during sleepovers so all my friends can have fun while they watch me. I love to watch it and see on tape how I react to an orgasm. I think everyone should try it.
- age 12, Canada (female)
I always liked to masturbate in front of a mirror. But a year ago, my dad bought a digital video camera. That is just awesome! Now I can video myself and then watch myself masturbate on my TV! I also like to scan a few video-stills, and send them to others by e-mail.
- age 19, The Netherlands
I once sent a scanned picture of my penis to my brother as a joke. He sent back one of the same. After sending worse and worse pictures to one another, I sent him a picture of me ejaculating and he did the same. This experience was fun for both of us. I think the feeling of having concrete evidence of each other masturbating was a thrill.
- age 17, Ontario, Canada
The last time I did this was while I was in college; I was sharing an apartment with a couple of roommates. One Sunday afternoon when nobody was home and I thought it was safe, I set everything up in my bedroom, and was all lubed up, when both of my roommates and some friends came home in a rowdy mood. They knocked loudly on my door before I could even get up, but I managed to keep them from coming in until I could get everything back in order. Somehow, I think they must have had an idea something was going on, though. Otherwise, they would have just barged right in. WHEW! That was a close one!
- age 38, Texas
I tried masturbating in front of a mirror, but for some reason, it was weird to see my whole body while I masturbate. I actually think it's more of a turn-off than a turn-on.
- age 15, Massachusetts
Once I thought it would be hot to watch myself masturbate on video. So I set up the camera and had a great session. Doing it in front of the camera felt really exciting – but I found watching the tape afterwards to be boring. I think it'd be better if someone else were using the camera, zooming between my face and groin area, and so on. Nowadays I like to masturbate in front of my bathroom mirror. Sometimes I even lean toward the "other person" and try to kiss him.
- age 26, Finland
I read on JackinWorld that some guys are turned on by seeing themselves masturbate in front of a mirror, so I tried it. It was a huge turn-on – just as all guys like girls to look in their eyes while they give them oral sex. It's the same thing.
- age 15, California
I've masturbated while watching myself on a camera. I've also done live stuff on the camera privately. I just got a wild hair to see if masturbating on camera would do anything for me. It didn't. I got too caught up in vacillating between being fascinated (I don't usually see myself from that angle!) and being self-critical ("I need to trim"). I couldn't understand what was so erotic about it. It would have been much more fun with someone else involved on my side of the camera.
- age 23, Maryland (female)
I have often watched myself masturbate, both in a mirror and on a camera connected to my computer. I first tried this when we moved to our new house and I had a full-length mirror in my new room. I was alone, so I started to masturbate. During my session I turned toward the mirror, and it aroused me to see myself. I like to do this because I can see what others would see if they were to see me masturbating. It feels good to see yourself as a person with sexual needs just like everyone else.
- age 16, Missouri
On several occasions I have masturbated both while looking at a mirror and while videotaping myself. I decided to tape myself so I could replay it the next time I wanted to masturbate. My favorite is masturbating in front of a mirror. I found I can get more aroused watching myself than from touching alone.
- age 23, Pennsylvania (female)
This is going to sound kind of sick. I was at my cousin's house and had a huge erection after looking at a couple of her friends. I went upstairs, put on some of her friend's clothes, went into the bathroom, and masturbated while looking at myself in the mirror wearing the girl's clothes.
- age 14, Canada
The mirror was just there, and it added a little stimulation. At my age I need as much stimulation as possible.
- age 80, California
I have never tried to, because I'm not attracted to myself. Some people turn on to themselves, but I do not. I usually masturbate to pictures or videos of other guys or girls, depending on my mood.
- age 13, Canada
I've used a mirror to see what I look like when I climax. I've even put the mirror in different positions to see how my body tenses. I made a video of myself masturbating so I can see how other people would see how I look (a mirror image is different from a photo or video). I neither liked nor disliked it. I did both just for the experience. I remember having an intense orgasm when I laid a mirror on the floor and leaned over it like doing a push-up. Then I supported myself with one hand while I masturbated with the other. I watched as the semen spurted out of my penis.
- age 32, Connecticut
I thought if I taped myself masturbating I would get a real thrill by watching it later on. I was right – I did. My penis seemed larger on TV. The best part was the expression on my face. I finally ejaculated on the camera lens, so the final picture was of my semen filling up the whole TV screen.
- age 15, Canada
I have done both, and I love it every time! Four years ago, a girlfriend/lover and I videotaped each other masturbating just for some kinky fun. I've masturbated to my copy several times. Seeing me pleasuring myself with my hand and toys always arouses me incredibly. The same is true when I masturbate in front of a mirror.
- age 25, California (female)
I just thought about it and said to myself that would be cool. What I liked the most about it was that I could see everything my body was doing.
- age 14, Italy
I hardly ever masturbate without looking into the mirror, or at least at myself. I find watching myself a total turn-on. I used to think it was bad or homosexual to do this, but it isn't at all. Now that I'm a little bit older and can actually talk to my friends about this stuff, I've never known anyone who hasn't done it.
- age 17, Kansas
I once made a video of myself masturbating, and each time I masturbated, I wore different things. One time, I walked into my room wearing only a pair of string bikini briefs while the camera was taping. I took them off, lubed up, and went at it. I also wore a thong, Speedos, boxer briefs, jockstraps – anything new and erotic. While I watched the video, it really turned me on to see myself masturbate. I told my best friend about it, and he did the same thing. Now we often trade tapes and watch each other masturbate. It is fun to see each other masturbate. I will continue to film myself, and maybe my friend and I can make a tape together.
- age 16, New York
I have a penile prosthesis, and sometimes I enjoy pumping it up. Once in a while I like to look at it in the mirror. I play with it by the hour and it feels great, but I ejaculate only once a week. Sometimes I keep the prosthesis hard for a week or 10 days. It feels great. I just lay it against my stomach so it doesn't show.
- age 81, Montana
I masturbated in front of a mirror once. I am an only child, and I tried it because I have always wanted a twin brother. It was fun to watch myself because it felt as if I were watching my twin.
- age 17, Missouri
One day I was alone in the house while my mom went out to the store. We had just bought a digital camera, so I took a few pictures of myself. I masturbate to it quite often – about 90% of the time. I did edit one of the pictures, though, so it looked like one of my friends.
- age 13, Michigan
From when I was young up through high school, I used a couple of mirrors in my room to get two views at the same time. This gave me a lot of satisfaction, because I considered my penis and testicles very attractive. The views made me super-hot, and the orgasms were terrific. In the 1970s I videotaped some masturbation sessions, and I play the tape from time to time to spice up my present playing. I just copied some of the orgasms to send to a male correspondent. I think all guys should use both mirrors and videotape.
- age 78, Texas
After I saw the movie "The Cement Garden," which has a scene where one of the characters masturbates in front of a mirror, I thought I might try it. It was a little disturbing to watch myself masturbate, because I couldn't get over the stupid expression on my face. I gave it up after a few minutes. It seemed so narcissistic.
- age 17, California
I made a videotape of myself masturbating. It was exciting to perform on camera – I like that the most. I enjoyed watching it, but I wasn't completely happy with the way my body looked.
- age 36, Nebraska
I've used a mirror only once, just to see what it looked like. I'm sexually active, so it's just interesting to see what the other person sees. It didn't really do anything for me, so I haven't done it since.
- age 15, North Dakota (female)
I have a Quickcam set up in my room. I set it for time-lapse photo mode and made a video of myself "Clearing My Head." I stroked as I played it back – my orgasm was intense!
- age 18, Canada
I have no idea why I tried it, but there were definitely positive aspects. For starters, I think it's healthier to focus on pleasure rather than fantasize. Looking at a mirror is a reinforcement of the concept that I am masturbating. Also, I get to see my genitals go through the response cycle from a different angle than usual.
- age 19, Indiana
I have not done this because I do not find myself attractive.
- age 16, Indiana
When I was in middle school we went to school in shifts. The 7th and 8th graders went in the afternoon and the 9th graders went in the morning. In the morning while my parents were at work and my sisters were at school I would put on my sister's underwear, stand in front of the mirror, and masturbate. I would try on 2 or 3 pair of panties before I would masturbate to orgasm.
- age 19, North Carolina
I made a video of myself masturbating when I was 17. The next day I decided to watch it while I masturbated again, and the orgasm I had was intense. I played football in high school, so my body was in really good shape. Even though I was watching myself, it was like watching another well-built guy. I still have the video today and watch it every once in a while!
- age 20, Ohio
I made a movie of myself masturbating and then watched it again. It kind of turned me off more than on. It was boring watching a movie of me. Instead, I gave it to my girlfriend, and she gave me one of hers. That way we get turned on by each other.
- age 15, Hawaii