Originally posted by: Hyvin
So I showed her the strap-on I had bought, after I told her that I had bought it to use with my ex but we never did she said she didn't want to use it, she was still game but wanted a different toy, one that was "ours". Now a decent quality strap-on can be expensive, so I don't really see the point in buying another when we have a perfectly good one. Am I missing out on some key piece of sex toy ettiquete? This toy has not been in anyone's mouth, ass or vagoo, so there isn't any hygienic reason why it would be unsuitable. Am I being insensitive or just practical?
Great question. My feeling is that the question at it's core is not so much about sex toy etiquette, but about your girlfriend not wanting to have sex with something that reminds you both of your ex girlfriend. same could be said for a pillow frankly, minus the sex.
"insensitive" is a label, one that's totally relative and unhelpful. "practical" is also quite relative and misunderstood in our culture. let's let both of those go for the moment.
In our culture we think of ourselves as logical and practical beings (not "animals", though animals are more true about who they are), yet we'll have arguments/fights spanning weeks or months of wasted time that could have been enjoyed otherwise - to defend a point that on it's face seems eminently logical. That's all ego. What matters is having a happy relationship.
Love, emotion, and logic are different animals, you cannot compare them any more than you can compare 2 apples to 2 pears - the number is the same, but they're different things.
Short answer: get over it and ditch the strap on. if you want one, get another one. Those are her terms for her to be comfortable, it's about emotion not practicality, pragmatism, etc.
Sure, you bought it, it's fresh, you want to use it. But the key point here is how your currently girlfriend FEELS about something that was intended for your previous relationship.
What we often don't realize is that we as humans make almost all our decisions (probably all actually) on emotion but our culture has taught us taht we have to back it up with facts - so our brain comes up with all kinds of facts and reasons to back up the decision.
At the risk of opening up a different tangent here, take a moment to consider if you have any emotional tie to that item, because after all it does tie you to a woman you were once with - a reminder of a special bond. Just something to ponder, not to answer.
In your place, I'd throw it out today and move on - but if you do that, do so because you WANT your girlfriend to feel at ease and comfortable. don't try to sell it, don't barter (the $10 you may get for it on ebay isn't worth it). This is about moving on and showing your girlfriend that you're ready to move on.
Hate to put it this way, but to her that strap-on is a symbol of your previous relationship.
Also consider if you actually still want to have such a toy and partake in that today, just to make sure it's not just hanging on to the old relationship. Likely it's just something you [want to] enjoy, which is fine.
Toys are not that expensive (barring the fancy ones that are well over $100), but they don't need to be that expensive.
If this helps you at all - we also have
a special deal with our friends at Adam & Eve exclusively for our North American viewers - see the details yourself, but basically it's 50% off almost any one item plus free shipping and some other stuff.
Again, be sure it's what you want and what she wants, though she sounds ready to go for it if you meet her in the middle.
Let us know how this works out!! -- Dan