If the masturbator is embarrassed by being seen, the interrupter often withdraws courteously in the spirit of not wanting to cause further embarrassment. Or, if someone sees but has not interrupted the masturbator, that person often respects the masturbator's privacy and neither interrupts nor mentions it later. Sons or daughters who encounter a parent masturbating can be disgusted, or may feel a special bond with the parent, depending upon how they feel about their parents being sexual and how the parents have treated the topic of masturbation as they were growing up.]
When I was in high school, I went to my girlfriend's house to sleep over. She had a brother who was a year younger than we were (we were both 16 and well-developed). We were upstairs having fun, and in our panties and bras most of the night, trying on clothes. We went to bed and I had to get up to pee, so I went down the hall and opened the bathroom door. But it was not the bathroom door — it was the door to her brother's bedroom. He was on the bed, no sheets, nude, and was masturbating furiously. Our eyes met, and he turned as red as a beet. I was as astonished as he was. I stood there. He stopped and started to hide. I came to my senses and said, "Oh, I am sorry, I thought this was the toilet. Please continue what you were doing. It looks like fun." I closed the door, went to the bathroom, and then back to bed. At breakfast, I gave him a wink and he winked back. He was relieved that I let it drop.
- age 32, Florida (female)
I once saw my college roommate masturbating while he was in the shower. There is a crack between the door and the doorframe. As I walked by, I thought I would peek in and see if I could see anything. He was lying on the floor, going at it. I just stayed and watched until he ejaculated on his chest. It made the most vivid memory etched into my mind — one I will never ever forget.
- age 20, Oklahoma
Last weekend I accidentally saw my brother and his friend masturbating each other. I came home, but only had the backdoor key. So I walked around the back and saw them as I went past my brother's bedroom window. I just went back out front and waited for about 10 minutes. Then I knocked loudly. I didn't say anything to either of them about it then, and I haven't mentioned it to my brother since. He's only 12, and I remember doing stuff like that when I was around that age. I'm sure he would feel very uncomfortable if he realized I know what he was doing.
- age 17, Australia
I accidentally walked in on my father when I was 12 or 13. I sometimes had problems sleeping at night. One night, I was going in to sleep with him and I opened the bedroom door to see him with his penis in his hand and it pointing straight to the ceiling. I had been masturbating for a year or so at that point, so I knew what he was doing — but I *never* imagined that he would do it. I quickly turned and closed his door without him seeing or hearing me.
- age 27, Wisconsin
I was taking a break from shopping at the local mall and decided I had to urinate. While standing at the urinal, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the man standing next to me was masturbating rapidly. I then glanced ahead at the wall and noticed that he must have had an orgasm, because he was shaking, and his eyes were closed. I didn't know what to think!
- age 18, New York
My dad was taking me to stay with my mum and my brother. We had to stop halfway there and stay overnight in a hotel, where we were in the same room. A sound wakened me during the night, and I worked out that it was my dad masturbating. Now I don't know what to do when I go back to stay with him. It was disgusting. I don't think I'll ever be able to talk to him again. I know that's not fair, because I masturbate a lot; but somehow, it just makes me feel sick that my dad does it and that he did it when I was asleep right near him.
- age 14, Australia
When I was in my teens back in North Carolina, I saw a friend masturbating. I had gone to his house late one night, and to avoid disturbing his parents, I went to the front porch and leaned over to where I could knock on his window. As I started to knock, I saw him on his bed, nude and masturbating. I moved away from the window quickly and went back home. I never mentioned the incident to him, but I will always thank him for teaching me about baby oil. I had heard him and another friend joke about it before, but I had never tried it. That night, he was almost swimming in baby oil. Like mine, his penis is tightly circumcised and his hand just glided over the skin without moving it.
- age 60, Alabama
Once, I saw my brother masturbating in front of the computer. He didn't see me, so I watched him for a while and then went upstairs to masturbate myself. My brother is very muscular and sexy; he is 3 years older than I am.
- age 15, North Dakota
I have two brothers who are close to my age. When I was somewhat younger, I came home once and could tell by the lack of cars in the driveway that the only person home was my younger brother. Being a teenage male myself, I understood the "possibilities" that I might encounter, so I made as much incidental approach noise as possible. My efforts were in vain, however. As I walked into the TV room, I knew instantly what was going on. He was naked, though mostly covered by the couch. I pretended not to have noticed anything peculiar, said I was headed to the kitchen, and left. I knew that if I were in that position, it could be a huge embarrassment, so I was trying to help him out by "not knowing."
- age 23, Washington
Once I was going into the basement to get something from the freezer. I went down the stairs quietly, since I knew my stepbrother was down there. I was planning to scare him. When I looked around the corner to see where he was, I saw him with just a T-shirt on, sitting on the couch, playing with himself, and watching Jay Leno. I was young and had not masturbated before, so I freaked out. I stomped down the rest of the steps, and he hurriedly covered himself up.
- age 15, Iowa
I left work early recently only to arrive home and discover my 15-year-old son masturbating on the couch in the living room. I started to enter the back of the house through the sliding glass doors, and there he was in all his glory, stroking away. He did not see me, and I didn't want to frighten him. So I went to the front door, taking my time, figuring that he might finish or have time to go to his room. I entered slowly, making a little extra noise just to be safe. Sure enough, he was gone. He emerged from his room a few minutes later with his usual big smile and happy disposition. Even though it is just us two, and we are open with each other about sex and masturbation, I did not mention this to him.
- age 36, Florida (female)
I've heard my mom using a vibrator in her room with the shower running to drown out her moans. Bleah.
- age 16, California
I was 17 and about to mow the lawn. As I walked by my parents' bedroom window, I saw my dad in their room stroking away. I couldn't believe it. My mom was at work. I was in the bushes, so he never saw me. But honestly, it was hot to watch my old man blow his load. I had to go inside and do the same after that.
- age 34, Arizona
A while ago, I was at my friend's house. We were going to go to swim in his pool, and he was in his room changing. He was taking ages, so I just barged in. He was lying on his bed masturbating. I didn't know what to do, so I just said, "Oh, sorry," and closed the door. He came rushing out and started telling me it wasn't what it looked like. He looked upset, so I just said, "Don't worry — I do it too," and then he calmed down. It was weird, because I thought he would want to kill me for seeing him when he was masturbating. I found out later that he thought *I* would hate *him* for doing it. In a way, it was good that this happened, because we are much closer friends. Now we tell each other everything.
- age 13, Australia
I once walked in on my college roommate. He was sitting at the foot of his bed with his shirt open, and pants and underwear around his ankles. I excused myself and gave him his privacy for a while.
- age 40, Colorado
One night in the middle of the night, I had to go to the bathroom. When I walked in, I saw my older brother on the toilet and masturbating. It was definitely awkward, so I turned around, walked upstairs, and used the other bathroom. We never talked about it, and I am glad we didn't.
- age 17, Washington (female)
It happened in a men-only athletic facility in a large city in Sweden. Men were swimming, showering, taking steam and saunas in all stages of undress. (Hundreds of naked men and boys with not one circumcision among them!) In the room that held 3 tanning beds, I saw one man as I looked in to check that facility. The top half of the tanning bed covered the upper part of his naked body. The lower half of his body was clearly visible, and I saw that he was stroking his erect penis. I did not enter the room because he deserved consideration and privacy in this most pleasurable act. But I silently cheered him on.
- age 68, Vermont
One time last summer I walked into my dad's bedroom without knocking first to ask him something. Dad had just ejaculated all over his pubes, hand, and testicles. His hand was still going up and down on his penis, and semen was still leaking out. I stayed, and we talked as he cleaned himself up with his socks. It was no big deal to him or me, because he sees my brother and me masturbating all the time. Dad taught us a long time ago that masturbation is perfectly normal.
- age 15, Maine
I walked next door to ask to borrow a gardening tool from my single male neighbor. I went to the back door, which opens onto a screened-in porch where he keeps his washer and dryer. The dryer was running and masked the sound of my approach. I walked in and saw him sitting naked on top of the dryer, masturbating. Obviously, he was enjoying the heat and the vibration of the dryer against his genitals. We're good friends, so there was no embarrassment — we just laughed. He said, "Give me a minute, I'm almost there," and I watched while he shot a wad. I didn't tell my wife, though...it's a guy thing.
- age 38, Alabama
Once, when I was in the 6th grade, I was at a friend's house. In the middle of the night, I heard his mom, who was divorced, and very hot. She was masturbating (and quite loudly, as far as I'm concerned). Needless to say, she wasn't the only one who masturbated that night!
- age 14, Illinois
Once, before we were married, I accidentally saw my husband masturbate. I had been working on a Saturday and had gotten off work early, so he wasn't expecting me home for another two hours. When I walked into the bedroom, I saw him lying on the bed naked, stroking his penis. It was the first time I'd ever seen him — or any man for that matter — masturbate. He stopped when he saw me, but I told him to carry on, which he happily did.
- age 42, California (female)
I have heard my father a number of times in his bedroom really going at it. My mom works nights, so I guess he needs the relief. I hear him and it really puts me in the mood, too. So, I listen to him and do the same thing.
- age 17, Ohio
When my son had just entered his teens, we put together a makeshift bedroom for him in what had been a dining nook off the kitchen. (Until then, he had shared his older sister's bedroom.) One afternoon, I went to the kitchen to see what was in the refrigerator, and there he was, lying sideways half off the bed with his underpants pulled down to his knees, his eyes closed and head thrown back, and his hand rapidly moving up and down on his penis. I couldn't resist looking for a few seconds, and noted with pride that he used the same method I do: two fingers rubbing on the sensitive spot just under the mushroom cap. He didn't hear me or see me, so I backed out and never mentioned it to him. But I was delighted he had discovered the pleasures of masturbation, and I hope it provides him as much joy in life as it has me!
- age 39, Florida
I overheard my best friend masturbating in my bathroom. He was supposed to be taking a shower. I had to step in to grab something, and just as I did, I heard him groan and breathe heavily. That probably is the sexiest thing I have ever heard. I stepped out of the bathroom, and to this day he doesn't know.
- age 15, Texas (female)
I once heard my roommate masturbating when I was in college. It was very late at night, and I heard his voice in his bedroom, which was beside mine. I thought he was talking in his sleep until I realized he was having phone sex with a girl. I was so intrigued that I pressed my ear up to the wall to listen in. He was telling her exactly what he was doing, and I found myself becoming very aroused. By the time he ejaculated, I had, too.
- age 28, Canada
I was walking into my bathroom and my sister was in her bedroom, which is connected to it. She had her bedroom door locked, but the bathroom door was open. I saw her on her bed, sliding a vibrator in and out, and pulling at her clitoris and nipples. She looked so sensual and horny! I *ran* out of there as quickly as I could. She still doesn't know that I caught her — but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one in this house who masturbates.
- age 15, California (female)
I'm sure almost every college dorm resident has walked in on a roommate. I know I walked in on mine (as he had, at another time, walked in on me). No big deal — a wink and a smile.
- age 47, Colorado
In the summer I work as a pool cleaner, usually during the afternoon. I guess this one guy's parents didn't tell him there was someone coming to clean the pool. I was around back in their shed when he walked out of their house in the full monty, stroking like crazy. I was too embarrassed to walk out, so I sat there for over an hour while he just wanked away. He ended up spewing right into the pool. When he went inside, I left quickly and called the next day to say I had been sick and unable to clean their pool. Whoops!
- age 16, Canada
One of my friends masturbates all the time in front of people (well, he usually just plays "pocket pool"). One day, I walked into his house and he was playing Nintendo with one hand and playing with his penis and testicles with the other one. I just laughed and sat down; maybe I should have joined in! Nonetheless, I still think of it from time to time.
- age 21, Ontario, Canada
I was in the locker room at the local YMCA and noticed a guy in the shower — about 14 or 15, with an erection. He seemed to think there were no other people in the locker room that could hear and see him. He turned and faced the wall, and with the water running, began masturbating. I could tell he was masturbating since I saw his arm moving and his butt-cheeks tighten. I tried not to watch him, but I couldn't help it. He finished and wrapped a towel around himself. I left the locker room just as he was coming out of the shower.
- age 17, Illinois
At summer camp the week before the campers arrived, counselors were sharing quarters. I woke up one morning in time to discover another guy on the verge of orgasm. We stared at each other in shock, but he didn't or couldn't stop. I did the only thing I could think of — I threw him a box of Kleenex and said, "Here, have a tissue." He said something like, "You know it, man." As he reached his climax, I ducked my head under the covers. We later joked about it. In retrospect, I wish I had joined him. But, at age 18, I guess I just wasn't bold enough.
- age 61, California
Once I was babysitting a 12-year-old boy overnight. We had both fallen asleep. I awoke in the middle of the night to find him masturbating, completely naked on the bed next to me. I pretended to be asleep, so I don't think he ever knew.
- age 16, Pennsylvania
I have seen my 18-year-old brother ejaculating. He photographed himself after masturbating and then saved it on my computer. I saw it when I was searching my hard drive for pictures.
- age 22, Israel
When I was 8, I walked in on both my parents while they were masturbating each other. They did not see me and I got out of there, but my brother (age 6) walked in right after me and asked what they were doing.
- age 15, New York (female
I work for a large company. One night, I was in my office late until about 9 PM. I decided to go to the lounge for a bite to eat. As I was passing my boss' office, I noticed a light on, so I figured I would turn it off. When I entered the office, I saw my boss masturbating at his computer. He was terribly embarrassed, and so was I. I told him to relax, that I do it, too. Then I backed out, went to my own office, and proceeded to masturbate myself! I'm straight, but it was very cool to see another guy do it.
- age 38, Arizona
Once when I was 11, I was staying at my cousin's house and I heard him making grunting noises from the bedroom next door. I thought he might have hurt himself, so I went to see. I opened the door and went in. He was sitting on his bed, naked, and masturbating. He was 14 then, and much bigger than me. He was a bit embarrassed that I had caught him, but then he kept going and finished. He told me all about what it was, and that one day I could do i,t too. Now I have grown bigger and I am starting to masturbate, too, but I can't ejaculate yet.
- age 12, Australia
About 10 years ago, I was sitting quietly in the toilet at work, when someone entered the next cubicle. He did his business, cleaned up quickly, and then started a noisy and obvious session of masturbation. He slicked his fist with spit, climaxing in two minutes at the most, with lots of hard breathing. As he left, I bent down to see his shoes and trousers. Later, I identified the shoes. It was the office "wide-boy" — about 22, real jack-the-lad, and always bragging about his conquests and stamina. But I knew that wasn't the whole story...
- age 34, United Kingdom
I was around 12 when my dad and I took a trip. We stayed overnight in a motel room, and I guess he thought I was asleep — he was masturbating in the bed next to me. I pretended to be asleep and listened to the whole episode! It aroused me so that after a while, when I thought he was asleep, I did it. Now I wonder if he was really asleep or lying there listening to me. That would be cool!
- age 14, Nevada
I caught my son masturbating, but he never knew I was there. He had his music turned up in his room and didn't hear me as I watched from the darkened hallway through his slightly cracked door. He had just taken a shower and was posing nude in front of a mirror when he got an erection. He started prancing around and stroking his penis to the beat of the music. He finished himself off after what seemed like about 10 minutes. I have to admit this really turned me on. I was proud of him being able to do something I have done all my sexual life. He is a great kid, and I will never tell him what I witnessed.
- age 43, Washington
One time when I was 8 years old, I was at my cousin's house and was walking past his room (he was about 13). I heard this funny wet, squishy noise, looked in, and saw him masturbating. I didn't know what he was doing. I asked him, and he replied, "I have a bad itch, so I'm using lotion to soothe it." Now that I'm older and know what masturbation is, I told him about that time, and he laughed so hard his pizza fell out of his mouth!
- age 14, Oregon
You'd think that after a year of college, I would have walked in on one of my buddies "checking the plumbing" at least once, but I haven't. It's a little disappointing, actually — not because I wanted to see any of my floor-mates doing it, but because the look of surprise would have been just priceless! However, I know my roommate did it a lot. Every so often, he'd bring a porn tape from home, which was put in a place where we'd both be able to find it. Let's just say that whenever I went to use it, it was *never* at the same point in the movie that I had left it! We had a good system, though. If one of us was masturbating or having sex, we'd put a little circle on the marker board on our door with the approximate starting time. (It got called the "O-Face" — did you ever see "Office Space"?) When we were done, we'd simply erase the marks and go about our business. It worked out very well, and I suggest the same setup to anybody else who has a roommate at school.
- age 19, New Jersey
I accidentally heard my brother masturbating, and then I saw him. He was doing it in his sleeping bag when we were camping. It was making a noise and woke me up, so I moved. He must have thought it was making too much noise, because he unzipped his sleeping bag and continued. It made less noise that way, but he didn't know then that I was awake and could see him. It looked cool when the sperm squirted out. The next day, I asked him if that was masturbating. At first, he was angry, but then he said that is how you do it. So, I tried it and liked it, but I'm too young to make sperm.
- age 12, Australia
I once went to the bathroom at school and interrupted a kid as he was masturbating. He just stopped and looked at me through the crack of the stall door. When I left, I'm sure he continued. Now, whenever I see him in the hallway I just grin, he grins back, and we continue on our separate ways.
- age 14, Michigan
I walked up to my friend's house and was about to ring the doorbell when I looked in the window on the door and saw him masturbating on the sofa. I just waited until he got done, and then after a few moments, rang the doorbell. I never told him what I saw.
- age 22, South Dakota
Last week, I slept over at a friend's house. At about two in the morning, I awoke to hear his 17-year-old sister making moaning noises in the bathroom. At first, I thought she just had to drop a huge load or something; but to investigate, I got up and walked up to the door. I heard her whispering dirty little things as I could actually hear her masturbating. The next day, I referred to one of the things she said by asking, "Who's Jake?" We both laughed it off and are becoming great friends.
- age 16, California
Last summer, I was sharing a tent in the woods with my 14- and 11-year-old sons. On the very first night, when we were all supposed to be asleep, I heard the familiar sound of "stroking" — especially when two guys are going at it at the same time. They were lying naked on top of their sleeping bags. Moonlight lit up the tent, so I could see quite clearly when I rolled over. When they finished, within seconds of each other I might add, I handed one of my socks to each one of them to clean up with. Then they both went to sleep for real, at which time I masturbated myself to orgasm before going to sleep also. We all repeated these actions the next 3 nights we were there. It's no big deal to any of us, and my sons both know I indulge in the practice myself on a regular basis.
- age 43, Maine
I was on my way from Miami to Boston a few years ago on a late flight. At about 10 PM, the cabin lights were out and the movie was playing. I went back to pee and opened the door to the lav. There was this 20-something masturbating, totally naked! I just about fell over (and so did he). He slammed the door and locked it. Later, I saw him in the baggage claim area and I couldn't help but grin. He obviously was embarrassed, but if he only could have known how much I would have loved to join him. Oh well, maybe next time.
- age 41, Massachusetts
When I was in 6th grade, I was spending the night at my friend's house and I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I walked into the bathroom to find his older brother, who was a freshman then, sitting on the toilet masturbating. I was pretty freaked out, but also amazed because he was so big, and I had never seen it done before.
- age 17, Illinois
My friend hasn't had the Internet for a whole year, so he wanted to come to my house and catch up on some good Internet porn. Feeling sorry for the guy, I pulled up my best Web page for him. He got a big smile on his face and couldn't have been happier. I went to get some drinks downstairs, and when I came back up, the door was closed and I could hear heavy breathing. I waited in the other room for him to finish. I heard a big "Oooooh," and he came out a little later. All he said was, "Thank you."
- age 15, California