Apparently, then, you want your interactions with other people to be scripted, organized, and run by facilitators.
Shit, I’d try to say something snarky here but I feel too bad for you.
I say we need a mole. We need a Doper to infiltrate and see what it’s REALLY like without passing judgment.
I think Excalibre is just the guy to do it. 
I love cuddling, but count me in as one who just doesn’t get this concept of cuddle parties. I understand that sometimes you want non-sexual physical contact, that it can be reassuring and comforting without necessarily being arousing, but could you get that with a bunch of strangers? Can you trust them not to be thinking lascivious thoughts while you nestle in the crook of their arm? I don’t think I could.
Sorry, I only touch strangers when having anonymous, unsafe sex under the influence of methamphetamine. Touching people I don’t know in other circumstances it would just be weird and gross.
That’s called a boner, son. Under less weird stimuli, it can be a good thing.
You didn’t ask a question.
I think that IRL, the people would turn out to be less attractive and possibly less hygienic than in my imagination. And it is important; sex or no sex, it just doesn’t sound as fun to cuddle with a person who has tarantula-like hair srouting from their back collar, or smells like anchovies, or sports a horrible case of acne. And all of those traits I just mentioned would probably be well represented at a party for people who need a snuggle. 
I’m not sure I’m buying this whole “Strangers” part of the objection myself. I’ve been to many many parties in my day and I can’t think of one I’ve ever been to where everybody there was a complete stranger to me. I’ve been to clubs where that is the case, bars… but never parties. I think what is more likely happening with these cuddle parties is you have small clusters of close friends that are linked up by association with each other, that hear about the event and end up going so that in the beginning at least I bet you aren’t cuddling with ‘strangers’ but with already close friends and getting to know people there as the party progresses. Most parties I’m familiar with spread by word of mouth or via email lists ect… so how do you end up hearing about them? From friends, that’s how. I also wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t some movie watching going on… maybe some drinking, playstation or something… so basically what you have here is a gathering of people, most of whom know at least Somebody there who’ve come together to hang out and as a theme or precondition have agreed to play around with our cultural ideas on personal space and social intimacy by physical touch. BDSM parties do the same thing, only they play around with ideas about power and control. Discussion groups do the same thing, only they play around with ideas and memes. I’ve heard of stranger things.
Ya sure?
Sorry, not really plausible. If these were really just groups of friends getting together, they would cuddle on their own (if they wanted too). As a matter of fact, that actually happens already - and routinely at that!
Thing is, if you’re snuggling with someone who’s actually close enough to you for it to be socially normal, you don’t need a Cuddle Lifeguard on Duty and a Cuddle Caddy to ensure that no one starts dryhumping anyone or rejecting their emotional selves or whatever. You just, you know, cuddle. And if someone is uncomfortable (or gets a crick in their neck) they say something, and no one thinks twice about it. The fact that these parties are being managed by trained pseudo-professionals (check the CuddleParty.com website if you don’t believe me) is pretty much evidence that it’s not just normal, natural interaction with people. As are the oddly strict rules (you have to arrive on time, apparently people actually sign in, you have to seek explicit verbal consent before touching anyone.) It’s precisely the differences - and they are pretty hard to miss - between this and friends just getting together and happening to curl up together on the floor that are so disturbing to the rest of us.
The dating and dancing analogies are ridiculous. Those activities are not constrained so as to prevent any hint of sexual intimacy – in fact there is an implicit sexual goal involved – and dating, in particular, is about getting to know one person in a real way without any stop signs or babysitters. Dating is designed to create intimacy, this “cuddle party” thing is designed to replace intimacy with pretended affection from strangers.
I have known boners. I have served wtih boners. Boners have a special place in my affection. Cuddling ain’t no boner.
Meanwhile, I’m thinking back to my High School years. We had “toga parties”. Associated with getting “wild 'n crazy” but in reality? A house full of teenagers wearing nothing but sheets, drinking alcohol, and yet for the most part, at least at that particular venue and juncture, not gettin’ laid.
Despite the risqué element of being merely sheet-clad and hanging out with girlies also decked out in same, you get used to it pretty quickly. It’s an orgy? Oh, it’s not an orgy, it’s just a party like any other except we’re all wearing sheets? Melinda still looks cute but is no more likely than at any other time to toddle off to bed with me just cuz she’s only wearing a sheet? Oh, OK.
Meanwhile: given a choice between getting next to people I love and care about, or getting next to people I don’t know (or don’t know very well), I’ll take doing it with the ones I love and care about. But if I’m kind of in the market for new people to love and care about, the second option strikes me as a nice way to get started. Sure beats hell out of a bloody toga party.
I believe that Julius Ceasar would agree with you on that point.
Cuddle Party = One Step Removed From the “Glory Hole”.
That’s what I see, and it bugs me.
I may find scat and watersports gross, but they don’t involve a desire to escape all adult responsibility and return to childhood when mommy took care of all your needs.
The fact that you’re counterfitting emotional intimacy with strangers bugs me as well.
I’d like to note that the rules didn’t say anything about not peeing on the people you cuddle with.
Slipped my mind-
The official cuddle party people sell footsy pajamas in adult sizes.
'Cause some people have neither? (Even when I had–and I use the term loosely–a “family”, physical affection was not a part of the equation, unless you include striking contact in the context of “affection”.
That being said, I can’t imagine going to such a thing myself, but then, I don’t really care to be touched even by people I know, well, much less casual acquaintances or total strangers.
Oi. Despite the popularity and social pressure to engage in same, casual, anonymous sex is about the creepiest thing next to mutilating kittens.
Stranger
You mean in your humble opinion, right? Because in my humble opinion, I’m just not seeing the link between casual, consensual sex and depraved violence.