txsvicki said:
PrincessM, I have never heard of this game being played by kids. Have you heard if it can cause the children any brain damage and have there been any deaths reported? This is very alarming and I wonder how on earth it got started.
txsvicki,
There are numerous instances of children engaging in "choking games". Choking is a less extreme form of erotic asphyxiation -- the difference being the use of a ligature device such as a rope or belt in EA versus the use of the bare hands in choking. In both instances sexual arousal is experienced. Choking and EA is employed almost exclusively by young males, although some females also do it.
It has been known since recorded history that choking causes spontaneous arousal. When men were sentenced and hanged until dead, it was often noted that they developed erections while being hanged.
Very young children can and do practice choking and EA, sometimes ending up in accidental death. From the Journal of Forensic Sciences, pages 490-491, 1995, the following case involving four males was recorded:
"Two adolescent males (ages 13 and 10) initially engaged in homosexual activity in conjunction with sexual asphyxiation. This unusual activity was by chance observed by one of the boys' younger brother and his friend. The younger children (ages 7 and 8) expressed a desire to join in the activity, which they did by letting ligatures be tied around their necks and engaging in anal intercourse to the point of fatal asphyxiation."
Usually, when young people (most often in their teens and twenties) use erotic asphyxiation devices it is for masturbation purposes. The FBI estimates that at least 500 people asphyxiate themselves while messing with EA and AEA, at least some of which were likely from choking.
IMO the ligature device around JonBenet's neck was for erotic asphyxiation purposes. It was not a garrote.
JMO