Dear Mistress,

I’m a guy living with male roommates — it’s no surprise to find porno stashed in bedrooms and bookmarked on computers. But I recently stumbled upon a somewhat disturbing situation. My roommate’s computer has a bunch of sites bookmarked that show dudes getting off on women’s feet. This guy doesn’t have a lot of girls over, and he’s never had a girlfriend in the time I’ve known him. Is his porn habit abnormal, and do you think it’s holding him back from getting a girlfriend?

Signed,

Curious Georgie

Dear Georgie,

Based on his bookmarks, your roommate might very well have a foot fetish. I know it may seem strange to you, but your buddy isn’t alone in his taste for toes. ABC News reported that an estimated 2 to 4 percent of men have a fetish arousal pattern, and foot fetishism is at the top of the list. Additionally, AskMen.com recently ranked feet and hand fetishism number six on its list of top-10 fetishes (voyeurism was number one, in case you were wondering).

Where some people see a calloused, toe-jam-infested utilitarian part of the human body, others see an erotically arched pleasure zone with delicate bones and an evocative aroma. Add some toenail polish and fishnet stockings, and oooh, baby! So long as your roommate isn’t hurting anyone, who cares if he gets his rocks off to feet? His desire is not abnormal, and it certainly shouldn’t prohibit him from dating. Remember, just because he likes to masturbate to foot-fetish pornography doesn’t mean he wants to participate in real life. Do you want to act out every porn scene you’ve ever whacked off to?

The bottom line is, we are complicated human beings with complicated desires. Don’t judge your roommate just because you don’t share the same sexual fantasies. At the end of the day, his foot fancy is none of your business. Work on being open-minded and accepting of people’s sexual quirks — it will make you a better friend and lover.

Toe up,

mm