A Different Way Forward

“slave d wrote (elsewhere) “You’re supposed to feel aroused, that’s the whole point” Generally, over the last six and a half months since starting chastity, I have come to agree with this. It’s especially true in my current cage, House of Denial S99 ‘Standard’, which gets and keeps me hard multiple times per day. However… I want to propose that the Cobra, and specifically the Cobra Nub has other intentions. I now believe that its whole design is based on preventing any feeling, sensations, and arousals. That’s why I called it the ‘deep vacuum of space’ among other variations on the same theme. I believe that the Nub does what it does because it is (deliberately) smooth inside and very accurately shaped to match the head of the penis. Nothing rubs, presses, or stimulates. It just sits there and surrounds you. You only feel it during those involuntary erection attempts, usually at night. A totally different approach but it does, of course, still do the same basic job (and very well too), just without the deliberate arousal. That’s my observation. Anyone care to endorse or refute my assertion?

"*slave d* wrote (elsewhere) "You’re supposed to feel aroused, that’s the whole point" Generally, over the last six and a half months since starting chastity, I have come to agree with this. It's especially true in my current cage, House of Denial S99 'Standard', which gets and keeps me hard multiple times per day. However... I want to propose that the Cobra, and specifically the Cobra Nub has other intentions. I now believe that its whole design is based on ***preventing*** any feeling, sensations, and arousals. That's why I called it the 'deep vacuum of space' among other variations on the same theme. I believe that the Nub does what it does because it is (deliberately) smooth inside and very accurately shaped to match the head of the penis. Nothing rubs, presses, or stimulates. It just sits there and surrounds you. You only feel it during those involuntary erection attempts, usually at night. A totally different approach but it does, of course, still do the same basic job (and very well too), just without the deliberate arousal. That's my observation. Anyone care to endorse or refute my assertion?

I’ve never been nubbed the way Miss Emmie puts it. Since you, Mr. Herbert, started detailing the distinct sensations of your four cages over these past months, I've gotten better at spotting those differences while wearing my Jail Bird. Unlike you, I mostly stick to just one device. It doesn't follow that "shorter is better" rule. Instead, it uses the length recommended by Mature Metal's sizing guide and a phone chat with them before I ordered my custom fit cage. The cage itself sits about 5/8 inch shorter than what I measured, but its inside diameter matches my normal measurement perfectly. So, MM designed it to literally "fit like a glove," and it truly does! Now regarding the base ring debate. My measurements suggest I need something between two Mature Metal sizes, so I have both options. One is slightly smaller than my measure, and one is slightly larger. I've found that with the bigger base ring, the shaft isn't pressed as hard into the cage, giving me a strong sense of deep empty space. I can barely feel my dick at all—sometimes even when I'm not caged. It feels locked on, hugging my shaft evenly along its length and tip. The underwear I choose and the room temperature also change how it feels. If it's under about 72°F (22°C), my sack sits tighter and higher, which influences the base ring and thus the cage sensation. Overall, though, that deep vacuum-of-space feeling is more common with the larger base ring. With the smaller base ring on—even before I clip in the cage—I can see and feel it squeezing my bits so that the shaft can't pull back into my body at all; everything sticks out front. This means there's significant pressure on the head (I'm circumcised). It's a constant, noticeable pressure. I KNOW I'm locked up tight, but not so small that peeing or functioning becomes hard work. However, I do need to adjust more often with the smaller ring because my sack has less room to move as temperatures shift. So I tweak things to prevent pinching and hot spots. I really love the sensation of the small base ring. I can truly feel my dick is secured and straining against the front bars all the time. I dislike the larger one because it creates the deep void feeling. Locked without the sensory benefits. But I love the larger one because it’s no muss no fuss. Just lock it and forget it. No adjustments. No need to remove to clean. Long term prison with the jail bird. Depending on where I am in my cycle of days since orgasm the small one or the big one is preferred. Days since orgasm is key because I am super horny day 10 until about day 33 then it’s constant level, and the cage provides nice sensations without getting me all wound up and wanting to fuck anything round. The tighter one during this time, feeds my horny nature and allows me to feel like I am at least getting SOMETHING even if that something is just some basic pressures in my dick. Better than the deep space sensation of the larger ring. And better than no tease at all. The larger one during the horny time drives me more crazy because I get nothing at all. Not even a little tease from the cage. It puts me in the Herbert void. (The deep space chastity void has been named The Herbert Void??!! -at least in my mind) The larger one after the horny spell is nice because it goes on easier and weather is getting chilly so more room for the balls to move with cooler temperatures. So after putting all these thoughts on the screen I think that I agree to some extent cage design does affect sensation of the cage. But I also believe that such a small change like base ring size, temperature, and underwear choice can also lead to a locked male entering into The Herbert Void also regardless of what the cage manufacturer was trying to accomplish. It’s so personal to each individual cock. How to get to the Herbert Void has been an enjoyable process of discovery for me. Now that I’m aware of it, I wonder if it will affect my decision on which base ring to use?!?! My KH has little interest in this day to day type discussion. She’s more bigger picture that I’m a better person when locked. I believe that if I had a key tuned into my chastity so closely, like Miss Emmie, that I may not share this for fear the journey into the Herbert Void for her enjoyment and at my expense would be a regular occurrence!

"The Herbert Void! I feel like I've finally entered this world, with a void bearing my name—much like Pluto has its radioactive element. Yes, it's evident that the deep space vacuum (which we shall now call the Herbert Void) truly exists and others understand what I mean. We're picking up some good terminology. 'Nub: Locked without sensory perks' is a solid one; Miss Emmie will appreciate that. As for being 'nubbed,' yes, Miss Emmie uses that term to describe me when she has me... well, nubbed! I don't love the word as much as I do the Herbert Void, but I'm not complaining. The issue of a missing penis also seems to have found its name in the forums: Absent Cock Syndrome. Back to design intentions. We may never know for sure, but it feels like House of Denial designed their device specifically to arouse, whereas the Cobra does the opposite by stripping away sensation. But as *@Curiousrk* points out: It’s so personal to each individual cock (along with factors like temperature). Both approaches are evil in their own distinct ways. Following this morning's chat, I know my next week brings heightened stimulation and unavoidable arousal. After that? Perhaps back to being nubbed and drifting into the Herbert Void. Who can say? Miss Emmie will decide.

Interesting. My mind is processing this...

> KHEmmi wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 3:52 am > Interesting. > My mind is working on it... Oh dear...

"Interesting." My mind is processing this...

> After all I am not the wearer of the cages! This morning while helping in the kitchen I bumped the counter top with the cage. I felt the contact but didn’t ‘feel’ anything. This caused me to wonder how to explain the herbi space to a non cage wearer. Think about wearing well fitted leather gloves without the fingers. Like bicycle gloves or good driving gloves. You know your holding the steering wheel but you can’t feel it with your palm. But you can feel it with your fingers. So like with the cage you know things are touching your penis, but you can’t feel them. But your balls still feel everything. Maybe that why a good ball massage feels so good. Slipping the gloves off is a lot like taking the cage tube off. It feels good to stretch and feel every molecule of air. And for what ever reason you can’t wait to get back in herbi space.:lol:

> KHEmmi wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 6:53 am > So a good properly fitted cage should prevent erection in all these cases, but the only cause of the underlying arousal it can hope to prevent is No. 1, the physical contact. > Some cages score more highly in this than others. > The more open style, such as the steel that Herbi is wearing now, does allow some contact because the gaps in the bars are wide enough for a little stroking, but not enough to be fulfilling. The middle-sized closed in cage prevents this entirely. > Given that a cage doesn't prevent any other sources of arousal (You're supposed to get aroused, that's the whole point) I still have my first and only cage, the CB-3000, which is more than 20 years old at this point. At my smallest, I don't completely fill it, so there is enough room to allow for some movement, which I can feel. Feeling the movement, reminding me that I am caged, can cause arousal, along with the other causes. There is enough room to allow an erection to start, but it can only go so far before it gets restricted, which reminds me that even though I am aroused I can't do anything with it. That reminder causes me to become more aroused, which causes more pressure, which causes more arousal, like an increasing feedback loop. I know that if it keeps going it will be...uncomfortable...even painful (especially if pleasuring Mrs. Twisted) and that knowledge causes even more arousal. Even something as simple as bringing Mrs. Twisted a cup of coffee or giving her a foot massage can cause arousal and start the cycle. If I am not aroused, Mrs. Twisted enjoys rubbing my balls and teasing, starting the cycle so that she can watch me straining against the restriction of the cage. I don't think that not being able to feel anything would work for us, being somewhat masochistic the partial erection getting forcefully stopped turns *me* on; and Mrs. Twisted is turned on by being able to cause it, watching me strain and struggle, enjoying my frustration in not being able to do anything with it until and unless she allows it.

This is only my 2nd post…KH introducing 1st cage. Herbert suggested that the Cobra Nano might be a good starting cage (thank you, @KnownAsHerbert!), but after reading this I’m not sure. Because my goal IS for hubs to feel something, not go into the Void. At least not in the beginning, when he’s just getting used to the device and we are working up to longer lockups. Later, that will of course be a consideration. But him being horny, and having to come to me with that need, is where I want to start. Appreciate all thoughts.

> Keeping Him wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 10:12 am > ... Because my goal IS for hubs to feel something, not go into the Void. I like the idea of the void and not feeling anything. I got a sung and tight cobra, I was thinking of larger size but was advised to go a size smaller than I thought, it was good advice. The sung is quite comfortable and the bit of movement gives me pleasurable sensations that I can do nothing about which is lots of fun. The tight is a perfect size, I really feel nothing as everything fits so well. I'm want to have my chastity journey to be about having no self induced orgasms, I'm only allowed to orgasm with someone. My only issue is my foreskin, depending on how things sit the tip can extent out and sometimes gets pinched in the tight. I already feel a need to address this somehow and maybe a different make / model.

> Keeping Him wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 10:12 am > Because my goal IS for hubs to feel something, not go into the Void. The void is by all accounts very real. Can't feel anything etc. But that's only in between when he's aroused. And he will get aroused and feel the Cobra becoming tight and restraining. He will definitely feel that. Sometimes he will get an attempt at an erection (prevented of course) for no known reason. Other times something will turn him on, something visual, sensual, or maybe just his own imagination. Other times you can ***make sure*** he gets aroused by teasing him. He will feel all of those things. It's just the in-between times when the Cobra doesn't actually ***cause*** the arousal in the first place. But maybe you want more deliberate sensation from the cage. My man wears a House of Denial cage (when he's not nubbed) that does just that. Questions welcome if you want to know more

> Keeping Him wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 10:12 am > ... Because my goal IS for hubs to feel something, not go into the Void. I like the idea of the void and not feeling anything. I got a sung and tight cobra, I was thinking of larger size but was advised to go a size smaller than I thought, it was good advice. The sung is quite comfortable and the bit of movement gives me pleasurable sensations that I can do nothing about which is lots of fun. The tight is a perfect size, I really feel nothing as everything fits so well. I'm want to have my chastity journey to be about having no self induced orgasms, I'm only allowed to orgasm with someone. My only issue is my foreskin, depending on how things sit the tip can extent out and sometimes gets pinched in the tight. I already feel a need to address this somehow and maybe a different make / model.

> Keeping Him wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 10:12 am > Because my goal IS for hubs to feel something, not go into the Void. The void is by all accounts very real. Can't feel anything etc. But that's only in between when he's aroused. And he will get aroused and feel the Cobra becoming tight and restraining. He will definitely feel that. Sometimes he will get an attempt at an erection (prevented of course) for no known reason. Other times something will turn him on, something visual, sensual, or maybe just his own imagination. Other times you can ***make sure*** he gets aroused by teasing him. He will feel all of those things. It's just the in-between times when the Cobra doesn't actually ***cause*** the arousal in the first place. But maybe you want more deliberate sensation from the cage. My man wears a House of Denial cage (when he's not nubbed) that does just that. Questions welcome if you want to know more

There! I knew a wearer (or 2) would be able to write a better answer than mine as a keyholder. As *@Mr Pickle* says, "The void doesn't kick in until everything settles down” - I'd forgotten about that. And *@Tongue+groove* says the void will make the wearer think about his keyholder and “the snugness starts up again" I agree. Arousal happens a lot (The snugness starts up) and Herbi reports feeling it a lot. It's just the comfort and excellent fit of the Cobra mean that the cage itself doesn't actually ***cause*** arousal (I think!)