“Sex for the joy of sex.” That’s the swinger philosophy. Free the act of sex from all the heavy emotional hang-ups and heavy morals that it’s been burdened with. You don’t need commitment. You don’t need to have to “pro-create.” (In fact, if you’re smart, you’ll take extra steps to make sure you don’t.) Those are all ideas set by society that’s been taught to be ashamed of the body, just to “justify” an “evil act” and somehow make it “good.”
But sex is good, on its own, and it can be damn good if you know what you’re doing. And that’s what the swinger lifestyle is all about. The movement emerged in the 1950’s. Basically, these were people who wanted sex with no strings attached, hence the concept of “swinging” from one partner to another. They placed ads in the newspaper, and eventually, organized swinging parties or swinging clubs. Now there are swinging internet sites, which bring thousands of people together.
The Swinger Lifestyle
Most swingers fall between the ages of 20 to 50. They are found in almost every major city in the Western world, though the biggest clubs are found in Florida, Canada, and Las Vegas.
There are different levels of swinging. “Soft swinging” is when a couple watches other couple having sex. Think of it as watching a three-dimensional porn movie. You get to play the voyeur, and may engage in foreplay with others, like oral sex or heavy petting, but it always stops short of vaginal penetration. You still end up with your date. It’s a first step for many beginner swingers, or what some may call “swinger lite”: you get to experiment with multiple partners but only to enhance your own existing relationship and jolt it out of a sexual rut.
“Closed swinging” on the other hand does involve partner swapping, but with the benefit of a locked door. You mingle, check out the “open market” but when you’re ready to get hot and heavy, you escape to a private room. This is usually preferred by people who get conscious when they’re watched, or simply don’t want to be interrupted “mid-swing” so to speak.
“Open swinging” is the works: you swap partners and you get to watch everyone do it. It’s not actually a new concept: the Ancient Greeks held orgies, and some of these were documented in very elaborate paintings and tapestries. Nowadays, it’s just easier to bring a video camera. Bu the whole point of open swinging is that voyeurism adds to the eroticism. Yes, you get a new partner, preferably someone who’s hot to begin with, but knowing that other people are watching you adds to the excitement. For one night, you get to be a porn star, and nothing beats the feeling of knowing that a roomful of people are getting turned on just by watching you.
The role of the Video camera
The Greeks had their tapestries, but today’s swingers have the benefit of video cameras. (Adds a whole new dimension to the term, home video.) Many people are turned on by the idea of being taped. Even regular couples will prop one on a bedside table, even hooking it to a televison so they can watch themselves on the big screen. (Nothing like hearing yourself moan in surround sound.)
But video cameras are even more crucial in a swinger set up, where voyeurism is one of the key sources of eroticism. You like other people watching you—and you like watching other people. Some swinger parties will even have a makeshift stage where the particularly bold can show off their sexual prowess in front of the crowd. It’s liberating. And the attention is intoxicating. What more if there is a camera documenting the event—preserving the moment for posterity, turning you into a star, allowing you to perform in the truest sense of the word.
Others just need to see others perform, aroused by the sounds, the gasps of pleasure, and the look of wild passion on the other’s face. By attending a swinger’s party they are put right in the middle of the action. One couple at the sofa—another on the floor—another going at it in a corner. But a video camera lets you see beyond the limits of your eyes. You can see zoom in so close you can actually see the trickles of sweat on her nipple. You can follow the movement of his hand, down her breast, down her belly…and even lower.
And the video camera preserves the moment—a souvenir for couples to bring home, so they can reach the same levels of pleasure in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Lucky if you can go to a swinger party everyday. But if you can’t, or are content to just taste the lifestyle even once, this can bring you back to that moment at the push of a button.
Video camera basics
You don’t need to be Steven Spielberg to work the video camera. You need just basic controls: zoom in, zoom out, fade in, fade out. Trust us, you’re going to be too distracted to really work complicated features. You may want to bring a tripod in case you want to set it down so you can join the action.
It’s also good to bring the lightest one you can find. It’s easier to maneuver, in case you want to crouch down into a position that’ll give a good view of the, uhm, action. It’ll also serve you well in case you want to tape someone stimulating you. You’ll want the other hand free to do other things, and a little tongue action can do crazy things to your muscle control. The best ones can fit securely in your hand, with one-touch control on the sides.
Smaller cameras are also less obtrusive. You don’t want to be the jerk who ruins the mood, especially if some people aren’t really used to being taped. Some swinger parties will have several hidden cameras to get multiple angles without actually disturbing the moment. You can also stay a few feet away from the couple and use the zoom in function.
Battery life is very important. Bring an extra one, and aim for about four hours of total filming time. Remember that zooming in or replaying the film can consume more battery. You should also have extra tape, because nothing is more frustrating then running out of that just when the twins join you for a threesome.
As for ethics, realize that most people assume that you are taping them for personal viewing only. Don’t put the film on the web, or if you do, have the courtesy of blurring their faces. They’re not ashamed of their swinger lifestyle, but they do have jobs and families they’d like to protect.
