A Talk in the Attic

a.s.m.r.

June 29, 2021 Season 2 Episode 129
A Talk in the Attic
a.s.m.r.
Show Notes Transcript

*watch on youtube*  (video will post by 2am et)

in today's educational installment, kirk dives into autonomous sensory meridian response (a.s.m.r.), also known as "brain orgasms". through captured audio and a written lesson, you will learn a little about this phenomenon while hearing and seeing some examples. it wouldn't be the attic if there wasn't a life lesson at the end, so you can expect that too. music by the host. #asmr

atita links

sources:
1.   asmr on wikipedia
2.  "28 asmr triggers for anxiety relief, sleep, and more"
3.  "we decoded the science of ASMR and we finally know why it feels so good!"

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a.s.m.r.


(Whispering): it’s a mess in this attic…lot going on but there ain’t no need to panic…. Come on up and join me, gettin’ wild, gettin manic, spittin truth for all you fanatics….UH….


every week got somethin new to say…ain’t no filter, this shit’s coming straight from the brain. (It’s coming straight from the brain..) it’s coming straight...coming straight from the brain (laughs).


(Whispering): What’s up everybody? Today in Tuesday, June 29th, 2021. 


This is A Talk in the Attic and I’m your host, Kirk Ross. 


I certainly hope this episode finds you all doing well heading into July. 


For those of you frantically adjusting the sound settings in your car, scrambling feverishly to find that familiar vocal tone so you can enjoy this episode as you usually do. 


But today’s episode is all about a weird phenomenon called autonomous sensory meridian response, better known as ASMR. 


You might already be feeling a strange sensation traveling from the back of your dome and down your neck, tingling ever so slightly at the very sound of my whispering. 


But whispering isn’t the only way to trigger this odd physiological response, which I’ll demonstrate both audibly and visually throughout today’s education installment. 


But before I get into what exactly ASMR is, I’ve got to stop whispering, and before I stop whispering, I’ve got to start the show. So…


Let’s start the show…


ASMR SONG


All right, I’m back. Sorry things got so…whispery…back there. 


Let’s break it the F down, people… ASMR: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. 


A is for autonomous because when we/re faced with certain visual or auditory stimuli, our nervous system simply react on their own. 


S is for sensory because your eyes and ears sense whatever is triggering the response. In other words, you don’t have to do anything but watch and listen. 


M and R are for meridian response because the body feels a nearly orgasmic peak of energy when faced with whatever it is making you feel this way.


I bet you didn’t expect to experience multiple brain orgasms today, did you? Sorry, in advance for tiring you out. 


(Whispering): Hopefully you won’t have to change your hat after this one. 


But wait, just because it’s referred to as a brain orgasm doesn’t mean it’s sexual. At least not for everyone. 


Now I fully realize that essentially everything I do oozes sexuality, but pretend for a second that I’m not the David Hasselhoff of podcasting, and if you can, I bet you’ll find that ASMR, while tingly and exciting, is not sexy. 


It’s creepier than it is sexy, not dissimilar to calling oneself the David Hasselhoff of podcasting, in fact. 


There are millions and millions of hours of ASMR videos flooding the internet. 


 These videos range from scientific…



…to strange…



…to downright bizarre at times. 



Point is, ASMR can rear its head from the sights and sounds of any number of activities. 


Whispering (whisper). 


Blowing (blow).


Eating (eat). 


Concentrating on something (concentrate on something).


Rubbing (rub). 


Brushing hair (brush hair).


Other grooming activities (show other grooming activities). 


Buzzing.


Tapping. 


Typing. 


Turning the pages of a book.


Words with S, P, and K.  elicit positive responses, especially when whispered. 


“What’s up, kids? The parakeets speak more specifically than I had previously considered.”



Until YouTube, there was no reference to the ASMR phenomenon that I could find, making it a relatively new concept, at least by name. 


But that doesn’t mean ASMR didn’t exist before youtube, because it most certainly did. 


Sometime last year, I happened across a subreddit called “unintentional ASMR”, which features user-uploaded content of videos that include ASMR but that are not specifically ASMR. 


One such video that was uploaded was a scene from the Matrix in which Agent Smith is preparing to interrogate Mr. Anderson. It’s an intense scene that makes your hairs stand on end - a common response to ASMR triggers. 


Not that you’re interested in my internet beefs, but I feel like you’d like to hear this quick one. 


A back-and-forth developed between a user named Zappy and I in which Zappy was trying to convince me that the ASMR present in the matrix had to have been an accident because the term ASMR hadn’t yet been coined in 1999. 


I replied, kindly, stating that while ASMR hadn’t been widely identified at that point in time, that the producers, directors, and sound editors intentionally included the content. 


Zappy disagreed, fervently. I walked away from the discussion at that point. 


But come on, Zappy, if you’re listening, you should know a couple things.


First off, virtually nothing was unintentional in The Matrix. Good directors are deliberate in every choice they make…Lily & Lana Wachowski are no exception. 


Secondly, just because the internet has had the chance to name, fetishize, and endlessly post about a concept doesn’t mean it’s a novel concept. 


Lastly, what’s up with downvoting my kindhearted responses, Zappy? 


Chill out, Zappy. Relax. 



Hey! Speaking of chilling out and relaxing, it’s reported that ASMR triggers near-immediate relaxation in those who experience it. 


Symptoms include reduced heart rates, slowed breathing, and low-grade euphoria are widely reported by fans of the phenomenon. 



But why in the world would videos of a dude slurping up noodles be relaxing?


Why do I feel better after watching and hearing a random YouTuber brushing his hair or rubbing her fingers together?


Why does a whisper make your spine tingle, regardless of what’s being whispered? 



The consensus seems to be that each of these examples: eating, close personal touch, grooming, whispering - these are all things that we have physically experienced in our lives, and in almost every case, we’re relaxed and comfortable and safe when we experience them. 


When someone whispers to you, it’s the ultimate form of personal attention. 


(Whispering): I’m talking to you and only you. You are being singled out for this communication. THat’s how important and special you are. 


You only brush your hair when you’re safe, right? 


Rarely are the sounds of gentle massaging born from a stressful situation…


Sure, hearing your best friend chewing a sandwich is annoying as fuck when you’re sitting next to it every day in the cafeteria, but if you’re seeking comfort and familiarity, then it sounds like a safe symphony of sonic serenity. 


It’s wild to think about, isn’t it?


We’re all so connected to our friends - real and virtual - that we’re only a click away at any given moment. 


But this idea of instantaneous connection comes at the cost of real intimacy in actual social settings. We’ve all made this correlation before. SO much so that’s become cliche:


(As mom): Sure, we’ve all got hundreds of Facebook friends…but how many face-to-face friends do we have?


But in the context of ASMR, this trope takes on a new set of lessons. 


It’s a little depressing, honestly. 


We’re all so lonely that millions of people across the world take to YouTube each and every day so they can hear and see something that makes them feel safer. Less lonely. More like we did when we were around more people. 


But when viewed from the right perspective, there’s positive angle, too. Because as paradoxical as it sounds, there is hope in the idea that the very thing driving us apart is not pacifying us too.


Yes, YouTube and Facebook have proven divisive and isolating.


But YouTube and Facebook also offer millions of hours of ASMR content, making us feel like we’re together again. 


There’s optimism in this idea that we can repurpose that which ails us to that which heals us. 


That said, I’m not advocating that any of you get really into ASMR rather than reconnecting with your actual friends. 


Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s no surprise that it was the lockdown of 2020 that led to the largest increase in ASMR content ever. 


We were all longing for a little familiarity and comfort during that bizarre era. 


But now we’re free to move about our lives again, unencumbered by masks or fear. And we should all be taking advantage of this.


Let’s ditch the ASMR and get back to actually experiencing the people and places and sounds that make us feel safe and loved. 


And further, when we do see those folks, let’s participate in lots of skin-on-skin massages. Let’s slurp noodles together. Let’s communicate exclusively by whisper. 


Maybe each of you could brush my hair for me, even?


And for god’s sake, let’s be sure to to never take our friends and family for granted. 


Someday, all we’ll have are pictures and sounds of our loved ones…and they of us. 


It’s incumbent on each of us to make sure we create new physical memories of serene familiarity; that way we’re less reliant on tricking our ears and eyes into feeling ASMR love.


Instead, we can rely on our actual friends and feel that actual love. 


(Whispering) : I hope you enjoyed today’s installment. 


Peace out, everybody.