Love+Sex

Let Your Fingers Do the...Vibrating

A new sex toy commercial sends good vibrations across the airwaves

-Carrie Seim

I just saw a commercial that made me blush - not an easy feat for a love and sex columnist. It was around midnight, and I was tuned into one of my guilty pleasures. No, it wasn't some late-night smut fest. Relax, Parents Television Council, it wasn't even Gossip Girl. Just a run-of-the-mill Project Runway rerun.

So I'm watching Nina Garcia dress down a designer's dowdy dress, when a rather low-rent commercial pops up. Before I can flip, I hear four magic words: Vibrating Touch Fingertip Massager.

My nonvibrating fingers freeze in their tracks.

In the spot, two youngish women whisper about the pleasure they get from their "discreet" fingertip massager (read: Liliputian phallous) made by condom king Trojan. A matronly librarian eavesdrops on their convo - and (spoiler alert!) - turns out Grandma has her very own VTFM.

Ignoring the incredibly lame dialogue, I am overcome with shock and awe.

First, the shock. Never before have I seen a vibrator advertised so plainly on basic cable. Every woman I know will dish freely with her BFFs about her bedroom friends. But TV vibe talk is verboten.

Instead, advertisers have a long history of referring to sex toys as massage aids and pelvic exercise equipment. Finally, a company is coming cleaning about getting dirty with your digits, in a way that doesn't make it seem seedy or shady.

Next, the awe. How inspiring to publicly acknowledge the value of female pleasure. We've come a long way, baby! (Shameless pun intended.)

The pocket rocket in question looks like a small, lavender saddle you strap on your finger. It costs $19.99, ships anonymously and promises 30 minutes of good vibrations before its battery needs swapping.

The VTFM seems a bit pricey for its puney size, but perhaps vibrators are like iPods and Porsches. Smaller = sexier?

Anyhow, after the commercial, I ditch Runway and race to my computer. Sorry, Tim Gunn, but mama's got a new mechanical crush!

I Google finger vibrator. (Please, lord, do not turn in my browsing history to the FBI.) Turns out the VTFM is made by Trojan's female-focused "Her Pleasure" outfit, which has an entire website dedicated to female pleasure and orgasm.

Kudos to Trojan for having a "Her Pleasure" division in the first place...even if it's just to drum up market share. The Sexual Health Credo posted on their site deserves a bravo, for being pro-woman, pro-safety and pro-sexual.

So, strictly as an act of female empowerment, I'm going to order my own VTFM. It's really my duty as an intrepid Betty reporter. I promise to write up my findings - if my poor fingers aren't be too tired for typing!

Do you own a vibrator? Are you embarrassed to talk about it? Do you think it's OK to advertise vibrators on television?