All posts by Magnus Sullivan

Magnus Sullivan has been at the forefront of technological and cultural shifts for more than 20 years. In 1993 Magnus founded eLine, one of the first system integration firms in San Francisco, bringing some of the biggest brands in the world online. One of his first clients was the storied progressive adult toy reseller, Good Vibrations. This was his first foray into the world of adult and he never looked back, partnering with the powerhouse, Game Link, to help create one of the most formidable companies in the online adult market. He has created two of the most awarded and recognized movies in the adult industry (‘An Open Invitation’ and ‘Marriage 2.0', which won The Feminist Porn Awards coveted ‘Movie of the Year’ award in 2016) and recently launched www.manshop.com, a reseller of sex toys for men, and www.betterthanthehand.com, a sex positive blog that promotes male masturbation and discusses the various social issues associated with it. Sullivan has written extensively about the need to expand and enhance content production in the adult industry and is also the author of ‘Better Than The Hand: How Masturbation is the Key to Better Sex and Healthier Living’. He is a fourth-generation SF-native, lives with his wife and children in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys kite boarding, skiing, triathlon, cooking, reading, writing and just about everything else that engages his mind and his body.

Website: www.manshop.com | Email: a_e_sullivan@yahoo.com

Why Are Some Women Threatened by Male Masturbation?

September 8, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

As part of my goal to normalize masturbation and remove the deep shame and stigma around creative self-pleasure for men, I get to talk to a lot of men (and women). Masturbation is a topic they have strong feelings and opinions about but rarely discuss. It’s always a bit awkward at first, but once people get going it’s hard to stop the conversation. Over time, however, one theme continually resurfaced in my talks with men:

While most men are not particularly ashamed of masturbating, they are very worried about what their wives and girlfriends think – and for good reason!

Should I Breakup with My Partner If They Aren’t as Adventurous as Me in Bed?

August 30, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

The first step is to avoid the downward spiral of putting your partner in a box by saying things like, ‘I want us to be more adventurous in bed’ or, even worse, ‘I wish you were more adventurous in bed’ (and that’s what everyone hears even when you say ‘we’). While everyone has certain boundaries they might never feel comfortable crossing, as long as people feel safe and supported, most people are willing to consider just about anything. Start by approaching the topic in a way that demonstrates that your partner feels desired, respected and in control of the first step. It might be something as simple as, ‘I am so attracted to you and there are some things that I really want to do with and to you — and I want to tell you these things but I’m worried you’ll see me differently if I do.’ This subtle shift sparks curiosity rather than fear or a sense of deficiency.

Reviews

The Fleshlight Versus Blewit!

August 29, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

All the ‘stick your dick in it’ fantasy-driven marketing and tight association with porn blatantly betrays the transparent intentions of the Fleshlight’s founder. Blewit!, on the other hand, is the cock-child of the former CEO of Aneris, and the altruistic goals stem from a corporate culture dedicated to using self-pleasure as a springboard to sexual enlightenment. The Blewit! is positioned as the humble flag-bearer of a burgeoning movement that is akin to a sexual revolution for men.

Articles, Authors

Jerk Your Way to Great Sex – Three Simple Steps to Become a Better Lover

August 5, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

Most guys were so afraid of getting caught masturbating that they learned how to jerk off quietly and quickly to avoid detection. Going straight for the most powerful erotic zone and mastering the skill of rapid ejaculation are bad habits for good reasons, but those highly refined habits come at the expense of appreciating the entire spectrum of erotic experience and developing a nuanced understanding of how to activate zones and build slowly but powerfully towards orgasm. Approaching masturbation with a new perspective is extremely difficult for many men because, again, it’s embarrassing to think they’re doing something wrong, it’s embarrassing to think they don’t know how to have sex and it’s embarrassing to ask for help about almost anything, let alone this. But the first step is to expand the sexual canvass beyond your rod.

Masturbating to VR porn

June 6, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

VR fundamentally changes the adult viewing experience in two basic ways: first, assuming you’re using the proper headset, the viewing environment is completely immersive; second, the ability to shift the POV with a simple tilt of your head creates the anticipation of imminent discovery laced with just enough interactivity and control to give you a sense of power. that might sound odd, but the viewing experience of VR is very different from that of HD, 3-D or inter-active porn. So if you like to watch, there’s no better way to watch than with VR.

The First Time I Masturbated: Earthquakes in Paris

May 27, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

It was 1982 and Italy was playing in the finals of the world cup in Spain. We arrived at the train station in Milan to make our way to a small town just north to visit my Italian relatives and our train pulled in just as the game began.

The station was completely empty.

The platforms were quickly deserted, the rental car agency was closed and we stood alone under the massive, cavernous, arching ceilings. We sat. We waited. We starved. I decided to go to the bathroom. The Milan train station is normally one of the busiest in Europe and the bathroom was clearly designed to accommodate hordes of harried travelers. It was white. Entirely white. The tiles on the floors were white, the walls and ceilings were white, the counters and sinks were white. The giant mirrors reflected white. I paused for a second as I stared down the long line of wall-urinals that seemed to disappear into infinity.

The Best Masturbation Techniques: Tips and Tricks for Great Solo Sex

May 26, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

1) Shame and Fear Block Imagination, Pleasure and Personal Growth

For the past 40 years, women have worked hard to recast self-pleasure as a sign of health, liberation, power and independence. While owning a vibrator or dildo a few decades ago might have suggested a lackluster sex life, it now represents the empowered woman who knows how to manage all of her needs well. Men, however, lack the intellectual and cultural framework to place masturbation at the center of a sexually, emotionally and intellectually vibrant lifestyle. The result: women will talk openly with each other about their toys, their experiences, their interests and the positive affects of masturbation. Men?…Silence, fear and shame. Ironically, while women have progressed significantly, men have perhaps regressed. Masturbation is rarely discussed in genuinely curious ways and it’s still associated with a porn-addicted recluse — despite the fact that we KNOW it’s good for us on so many different levels. In addition to the fact that it just feels great, here are some other benefits of masturbation:

Reviews

Masturbating With The Robo Suck 3 Pump With UR3 Vagina Donut

May 19, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

What really makes this genre of toy unique is the way it fetishizes your own cock. You slip your limp dick in and – voila! – it grows! Most people think of the pump as something that enlarges your cock, but it’s usually used to create an erection and, when used with a cock ring, maintain that erection long enough to have sex — alone or with others. The Robo Suck is battery operated and has a nice the little rubber ‘vagina donut’ entry slot. If you turn the pump on and slip the tip of your cock between the lips, the pump sucks you right in and transforms your limp dick into something of pornstar caliber. This is all about watching your cock mutate right before your eyes into a swollen rod with veins throbbing down your column. It takes on a life of its own! The sound of the pump gains a higher pitch as your cock fills the chamber and the suction becomes increasingly intense, to the point where you wonder if it’s going to pull your cock right off. So the building anxiety about potentially exploding your dick adds an entirely unique erotic charge. It’s sort of like the ‘bubble machine’ scene in Willy Wonka as Charlie and Grandpa drift dangerously close to the giant fan.

Reviews

Masturbating With The Lux Prostate Stimulator – LX3

May 18, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

Sexual orientation does not affect where our nerve endings are. That it feels good to stimulate the prostrate is not the exclusive domain of gay men. And because of the huge stigma for men and their asses, straight guys have overlooked an entire landscape of blissful sensation. If you can shed the fear and shame and just relax, you can experience one of the most incredible and unexpected forms of masturbation available to you.

I like to think that the more open i am to experience, the more powerful and empathetic I am — and that’s hot. If you’re afraid to put this thing in your ass, you definitely shouldn’t ask to put your thing in someone else’s.

Welcome

May 17, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

I started this blog because there just really isn’t a good, honest dialog and resource out there for male masturbation. I mean, where IS the hitachi wand for men?! All of the reviews we read feel like advertorials that aren’t in any way convincing that the toy was somehow ‘Better Than The Hand.’ More importantly, reviews are generally technical but reveal nothing about the experience the toy offers and the various creative ways a toy can be used. After trying a couple of the ‘best selling’ and ‘top rated’ products, I was sorely (in some cases, literally) disappointed; besides, men (particularly straight men) just don’t share stories about masturbation and toys the way women do, and someone’s got to be the font of wisdom for the curious but leaderless masses. So I gathered a couple of my friends who are both avid, unabashed masturbators as well as articulate writers, and we decided it was time to up-and-masturbate and tell everyone else about our experiences.

Reviews

Masturbating With The Vibrating Vulcan Love Wet Vagina Stroker

May 16, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

This toy is like a box of Crackerjacks: it comes with a toy inside — a vibrating bullet to slide inside the sleeve for extra stimulation. But if you have two bullets, even better — it can easily accommodate more than one.

Reviews

Fleshlight Review

May 16, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

While it’s true that this is one of the most over-hyped and over-priced sleeves on the market, there’s a reason it’s the best selling toy in history. Yes, in history.

Reviews

Maven Masturbation Sleeve – Review

May 16, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

The daddy of all sleeves, the Maven can handle whatever you throw at it. The key, again, is finding the amount of lube that works best for you: you want enough for easy gliding but not so much that you lose grip and friction.

Reviews

Tenga Egg Review

May 16, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

The egg is a slithering membrane of pleasure slinking between hand and cock that channels and amplifies all of the simple joy of a good stroke.

Reviews

All In Blowjob Stroker: Better Than A Fleshlight?

March 3, 2016 by Magnus Sullivan Leave a comment

Despite its simple design, this has become my go-to toy for a variety of reasons. First, it’s clear so I don’t have the sense that my cock is out of sight and somehow detached. Second, it has nice internal textures but remains silky smooth, providing just the right balance of friction and glide. The best thing, however, is that its open end allows you to stroke all the way through.