A peek at the REAL Thumbster

What's in a name?

Hello...

My name's Thumbsucker




Actually my parents didn't really name me Thumbsucker. I picked that handle...(one of several I use on the net)...because I liked the sound of the word "Thumbsucker"...I never sucked my thumb...and now that I think about it...no one else's either. I once told someone who inquired about my handle this...

(edited)..."As for the origin of "Thumbsucker", (you must have missed the National Enquirer issue, "Thumbsucker, Sex Machine or God?"). I could lie and tell you it was inspired by all the famous thumbsuckers I've seen in the movies. Truth is, it's from a character I wrote about years ago, "Herman Thumbsucker". It captures the real me as well as any handle could; irreverent, playful, with just a hint at wildness. Maybe it says something completely different to others, anyways, it's mine until Herman comes looking to get it back."

I can play around with this handle...Thumb...Thumbster...(someone calls me "Thumby" which I think is sweet)..."Thumb" is the playful part of the name. "Sucker" would be the irreverent or "just a hint of wildness" side. I seldom do anything with this side of the handle...Maybe it's because I'd rather be playful than irreverent or wild.

The reason I'm even writing about this is that I just came across a site for adult thumbsuckers...To be honest, I never knew there were adult thumbsuckers. I guess there probably are adult what-evers out there...you name it...somebody's probably doing it.

It seems that for these past months, I have unwittingly become a public champion for a cause that I knew nothing about.

Apparently such celeberties as Kyra Sedgewick, Rachel Williams, Courtney Love, Madonna, Suzanne Summers, Jann Arden, Posh Spice, Geri Halliwell, Rosanna Arquette, Twiggy, Brooke Shields, Andrea Coor, Andie MacDowell, Liz Hurley(and a pacifier), Nina Hagen, Drew Barrymore, Renaud au Zenith and Tanita Tikaram...among others...have been photographed sucking their thumbs. I guess for some of these people it was more than just making a point or having a laugh...they do it because it comforts them.

A survey done at that thumbsucking site found that almost two thirds were female...62.92%, after about age 28 there was a sharp reduction in respondants to their survey, 60% had no dental problems from thumbsucking, 25% had calluses, almost half were left handed suckers...48.31%, right handers were 41.57%, 6.74% suck either thumb, 37.5% were previous pacifier users, 40.74% were breast fed, and 15.38% smoke.

By nature, I'm a very tolerant kinda guy...What adults do and as long as no one is getting hurt...is their business. After reading over that site's FAQ's...I think many adults find it comforting and relaxing...while many others are ashamed and seek a cure. When I call myself Thumbsucker from now on, I'll bear these folks in mind.

I also noticed an email I got from someone else calling themselves "Thumbsucker". I guess that's the thing about the net...first one to claim a handle wins...I've logged onto sites for the first time before only to find that someone at that site is already using "Thumbsucker"...Maybe they've been using it for years...Maybe it was just a coincidence that we both thought of it...but it still seems weird...like when you come across someone in real life that has your name.

I wish all Thumbsuckers out there the best of luck.



We are the Few...
..........................the Proud
........................................and the Wet...