Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 08:56:21 -0500 From: Wayne Glowka Subject: Re: Auto-erotic asphyxiation (new term?) A friend of mine in the psychology department has been studying the phenomenon for several years now. His research has convinced him that many of the suicides reported in prisons are actually failed attempts at auto-eroticism asphyxiation. He was trying to put together a conference at which world authorities would address the topic for law enforcement officials, but the faculty development committee did not want to fund the preparatory process for such a salacious meeting. Wayne Glowka > Is "auto-erotic asphyxiation" a new term? > INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence died. Today's NY Post (pg. 16, col. >1) has this: > > Cops initally called it a suicide, but now say the death might have been >caused when an act known as "auto-erotic asphyxiation" backfired. > Auto-erotic asphyxiation is a dangerous way of enhancing sexual >gratification that involves masturbating while cutting off the air supply, >often by hanging. (Kids, don't try this at home--ed.) > "Several friends of (Hutchence) have suggested that he has been involved >in kinky sex over the years, and so we are exploring the possibility it is an >auto-erotic death," a police source told The Post. > > What a concept. "Auto-erotic asphyxiation." > Sounds like someone who is deathly in love with a car.