Explain ASMR
William Jenkins 
There's something on Amazon Prime called "Intimate Moments: A Gay ASMR Series" that seems to be nothing more than a guy speaking in a creepy whisper over what sounds like the kind of music you'd hear while getting a massage at a legitimate spa.
I gather it's supposed to help you relax, but hearing a voice say "I like to wash the fruit" has the opposite effect on me, even if it does involve half of a gay couple doing the fruit washing.
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | December 2, 2020 7:44 PM |
"autonomous sensory meridian response" It was a big youtube trend, it is supposed to give you a "brain massage" Seems dumb as fuck to me as well.
But it is a popular thing, some of the big accounts have over a million subscribers.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 1 | April 18, 2018 6:33 PM |
Interesting. It does seem dumb. Maybe I should have been listening on headphones, but I did not feel my brain being massaged in the approximately five minutes I lasted.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | April 18, 2018 6:37 PM |
You need headphones/earphones. You’ve gotta be somewhere where you can get in the zone, like while you’re in bed at night. You can’t just blast it from your computer or iPhone speaker and then wonder what the big deal is. That’s like watching a horror movie in your living room on a sunny afternoon.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | April 18, 2018 7:00 PM |
How the fuck did we go from soothing white noise, rainforest machines, etc. to this ASMR nonsense?
The sounds of someone eating pasta with sauce -- huh?
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | April 18, 2018 9:58 PM |
ASMR is a pleasant tingling sensation. I think it most commonly stems from being touched, but there are other triggers as well. Perhaps you've had a massage or a facial that caused it? Or when you were a kid did someone trace letters on your back and make you guess what they were writing? That tingly sensation is ASMR, and if you aren't getting tingles then I can understand why these videos would not hold much appeal. Some people can get it just from certain sounds like clicking, or tapping, or eating. Some people can be triggered from purely visual stimuli like graceful hand movements.
I've experienced ASMR since I was a child, but I first started getting into ASMR videos on Youtube through watching massage instruction videos to relax. It didn't really have anything to do with the audio, though those videos where the person doing the narrating had a soothing voice were obviously the best. I was imagining myself getting the massage and that was enough to trigger the tingles. I'm linking one of these videos, in fact the first Youtube video that ever triggered my ASMR and showed me the potential of this medium.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 5 | April 18, 2018 11:16 PM |
ASMR is why animals like being petted.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | April 18, 2018 11:19 PM |
My personal experience is that ASMR sensitivity diminishes with age. I suspect this is due to pineal gland calcification but that's just my intuition, and I get that it sounds woo-y. This is all to say the posters above may be too old and crusty to ever truly experience ASMR.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | April 18, 2018 11:31 PM |
Many posters on DL are too old and crusty for a lot of things.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | April 18, 2018 11:37 PM |
It's a bunch of annoying noises.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | April 18, 2018 11:44 PM |
ASMR is real. We have all experienced it at one time or another — like if someone you love and who takes care of you is speaking gently to you, you may feel a pleasant tingly sensation. Sometimes other sounds can trigger the same sort of response.
The biggest problem is, the asmr performer tends to do the things that trigger an asmr response in themselves. But everyone has their own triggers.
That said, I find Maria on YouTube very relaxing and sometimes listen to her clips before going to sleep if I’m stressed out. Even if they don’t trigger an asmr response in me, they’re very soothing.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | April 18, 2018 11:58 PM |
You enjoy the sounds of clicking, tapping, and other people's mouth noise, R10?
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | April 18, 2018 11:58 PM |
Not mouth noise, but gentle clicking, tapping, etc., can be soothing.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | April 19, 2018 12:03 AM |
To some. Not to me. Very annoying unless I'm the one doing it.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | April 19, 2018 12:04 AM |
Are those of you who like this women?
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | April 19, 2018 12:04 AM |
No, R15. We’re just not 75 years old.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | April 19, 2018 12:06 AM |
I didn't like annoying noises like this when I was young, either.
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | April 19, 2018 12:08 AM |
Have you ever enjoyed the feeling of someone touching your hair or scalp? Or caressing your face? Never had someone run their fingernails very lightly over your back? Or had a chill from someone whispering closely in your ear and tickling you with their breath?
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | April 19, 2018 12:18 AM |
Yes. But those aren't sounds, except for the whispering.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | April 19, 2018 12:24 AM |
ASMR is not a sound either. Try reading. It's a pleasant tingling sensation triggered by a variety of means, including (but not exclusively) some sounds. But since video is a limited medium, sound and image are the only triggers that its capable of transmitting currently.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | April 19, 2018 12:28 AM |
if you want something more masculine, try this guy, at the end, the quality of their microphone makes all the difference. I overdid it, and now I don't feel much anymore. And you really need good earphones.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 21 | April 19, 2018 6:27 AM |
I first experienced asmr in first grade when a little boy sitting next to me was moving his paper all over mine on a desk we shared. It's not sexual. My brain felt tingly and melty. It was very relaxing. I used to have it when we would go to our place of worship when I was a kid and a teen, and someone in front of me would rub their spouse's back during the service. I would enjoy those back rubs more than if I'd been getting one myself. Made me sleepy.
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | April 19, 2018 7:28 AM |
You either get it or you don't.
I get it. I have since I was a kid. I'd feel it particularly when I was getting a haircut.
This guy's voice totally relaxes me:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 23 | April 19, 2018 7:31 AM |
Another good male voice, ASMR Zeitgeist.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 24 | April 19, 2018 7:32 AM |
Here's one of my favorites, listening to his soft, calm voice has helped me with insomnia.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 25 | April 19, 2018 8:18 AM |
My first experience of ASMR was as a kid sitting under the sink while my mom got ready in the morning. She would wave the hairdryer back and forth while drying her hair, and the "wah wah wah" sound going back and forth was my first trigger. I would also get triggered from waching certain teachers or public speakers, especially if they had some sort of visual or vocal tic that would occur regularly.
I have to say though that there is some level of effort involved in getting triggered. It's kind of like looking at magic eye picture, you've gotta do it right.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | April 20, 2018 12:44 AM |
This lady is a national treasure. Forward to 4:40 for a surprise!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 29 | April 20, 2018 1:18 AM |
You either have it or you don’t. For those unfortunate to not experience it, stop judging those of us who do.
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | April 20, 2018 1:18 AM |
I think it has to, somehow, be related to misophonia. I tried listening to some of these and they all made me almost violently angry.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 32 | April 20, 2018 1:42 AM |
I don't know, I use a white noise app on my Echo when I'm going to sleep, but that's more about it being pleasant to fall asleep to the sound of a thunderstorm than needing a brain massage.
Hearing the sound of people eating grosses me out.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | April 20, 2018 1:45 AM |
whispering is not soothing its annoying
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | April 20, 2018 3:53 AM |
hearing people smack their lips whilst eating,slurping and chewing with their mouth open is not soothing, its vile! i do enjoy hearing the family pets munch food at their bowls.
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | April 20, 2018 4:11 AM |
It doesn't seem to work the same way for everyone. Some people are more sensitive to particular types of sensory stimuli than others. I find some sounds soothing and others very irritating but ASMR hasn't seemed to work for me so far.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | April 20, 2018 4:16 AM |
You guys are focusing too much on sounds. I think eating sounds especially are pretty niche. If sounds don't do it for you, try visual triggers like Reiki hand movements, makeup roleplays, face touching, cranial nerve exam roleplays, eye exam roleplays, moving lights, etc.
| by Anonymous | reply 39 | April 20, 2018 4:45 PM |
This is a good example of unintentional ASMR where the video is not made to be an ASMR video but still triggers a lot of people. It's got a combination of the soothing voice, and the graceful formal movements that is very triggering. Other good videos in this vein are the competitive Japanese bartender videos where they move like robots.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 40 | April 20, 2018 4:49 PM |
I like some of them. I usually have the laptop near the bed and the audio very low. The one that I like is by a sexy guy and there is something comforting about having him whispering as I am drifting off to sleep.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | April 20, 2018 5:08 PM |
Bob Ross was the granddaddy of this movement.
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | April 20, 2018 5:47 PM |
YouTube recommended this one to me today even though I had never watched one before. It was uploaded two weeks ago and went kinda viral. I wonder why.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 43 | May 21, 2018 11:10 PM |
You can get the same feeling doing Molly. And it's cheaper too.
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | May 21, 2018 11:12 PM |
r44 Molly is cheaper than watching a YouTube video? Are you on Molly right now?
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | May 21, 2018 11:15 PM |
R55 I'm talking about Amazon Prime, dummy!
I'd rather give my money to a dealer than to that sociopath Jeff Bezos.
Are you on crack? And I don't mean ass crack
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | May 21, 2018 11:20 PM |
r46 Amazon Prime doesn't have a monopoly on ASMR videos and the thread title refers to the ASMR phenomenon in general. The one on Amazon Prime is provided just as an example to get the conversation rolling...
| by Anonymous | reply 47 | May 21, 2018 11:25 PM |
R35 I don't get ASMR, but here is a link to live kittens that are sleeping in a cardboard camper, nursing, purring, munching. Very cute.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 48 | May 22, 2018 3:59 AM |
This bank robbery ASMR is going viral.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 49 | July 26, 2018 8:10 PM |
I just got a spammy text directing me to an ASMR YouTube channel ...
I still am not sure what this is
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | December 2, 2020 4:59 PM |
Why can't it be some French guy whispering sweet nothings in your ear?
| by Anonymous | reply 51 | December 2, 2020 5:06 PM |
It's just weird it turned into a little commercial industry. I know what the feeling is, but it has come from certain (emotional) music, not any old soft sounds. I suppose it has happened with someone whispering in my ear. I just can't see wanting to trigger it with long ass YouTube videos. I feel like you'd go numb after overloading your brain (which is a common complaint if you look it up.)
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | December 2, 2020 5:14 PM |
R51, your wish has come true. Voila, the French Whisperer
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 53 | December 2, 2020 5:24 PM |
The Turkish massages definitely give me tingles. There’s a whole world of soft porn masquerading as ASMR
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 54 | December 2, 2020 5:26 PM |
It's the STUPIDEST shit ever. Basically, the idea is that listening to the sounds of certain things are supposed to be satisfying. I mainly know it from food videos on YouTube.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 55 | December 2, 2020 5:33 PM |
ASMR = Annoying Sounds Made Real
ASMR = Aggravando Suoni Molti Ripetitivi
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | December 2, 2020 5:38 PM |
I don’t get the watching people eat videos. No gracias!
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | December 2, 2020 5:44 PM |
R57, I enjoy taste test videos. Those can be satisfying when you're curious about certain foods.
But most of that mukbang shit is disgusting
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | December 2, 2020 5:50 PM |
I used to get this as a child, especially getting my hair combed gently or soft touches. Now I’ll still feel it as anticipation for a haircut or massage. Strange, the actual event doesn’t cause it, only the anticipation. I think it has to do with someone being attentive and fully focused on me. I also get it from sitting while someone draws me, which doesn’t happen very often!
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | December 2, 2020 6:41 PM |
I do experience ASMR but never with those whispering stuff which i think is just creepy. A natural monotonous speaking voice is better. what work best for me is when i'm having a haircut or someone is massaging me. Also watching someone doing those. I also experience it watching when someone cooks.
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | December 2, 2020 7:04 PM |
I love ASMR.
My favorites on Youtube are TingTing- she is so beautiful! and Fred (Fred's ASMR) He looks like Thor but when he uses his whispery British voice, I am done!
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | December 2, 2020 7:04 PM |
I’m old! I dislike newfangled things! Where’s my shawl??
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | December 2, 2020 7:06 PM |
“ASMR” is just Internet trend bullshit. Like “the Mandela Effect.” Even if you enjoy it, it’s not based on science.
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | December 2, 2020 7:14 PM |
I still have no idea what ASMR is after reading this thread, watching some YouTube videos, and reading the Wiki entry
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | December 2, 2020 7:22 PM |
It's cunt crap, OP, as they pretend to relax with the sound of their plastic nails digging into their warty holes for 60 minutes.
You can guess the gay-male equivalent. And it's equally false and creepily, smugly narcissistic.
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | December 2, 2020 7:29 PM |
I listened to the cats purring videos to sleep at night. But they started getting creepy with women and men talking in weird voices.
| by Anonymous | reply 66 | December 2, 2020 7:34 PM |
There are a few ASMR things that trigger a pleasant tingly response in me. Most do not but chacon a son gout. The ones where someone is gently scratching the microphone or scratching something like foam do give me a pleasant tingling sensation.
My problem is finding the sounds I like in long videos where they don't change the trigger before I can get to sleep.
Another thing that's working for me for sleep, though it's not an ASMR thing per se, is listening to boring audiobooks. Truly boring ones where the narrator doesn't vary their tone very much and the plot is not that interesting to me. I put these on at a low volume and the droning narrator finally puts me to sleep
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | December 2, 2020 7:44 PM |
