Quote Originally Posted by Aussie2B View Post
I don't know how technically correct it would be, but I've always regarded a fetish by the extent of obsession one has with something. Or, rather, what level of rejection one would have for things that don't meet that interest. Most guys in Western culture like big breasts, but that's just a preference in my book. However, if there's a guy that flat out wouldn't be with a woman with smaller breasts no matter how smokin' hot she is in every other way and no matter how awesome her personality is, then I'd call that a breast fetish, and in my personal opinion it would be foolish. Granted, I don't think it has to be that extreme to be a fetish. I think someone could make rare exceptions and still have a fetish, but it's hard to put into words the exact point in which a preference turns into a fetish.

Heh, I'm glad to see this topic is getting back to some intellectual discussion, even if it's as silly as "what is or isn't a fetish". :P Really, this topic was doomed from the start, haha.
What the DSM-IV considers a fetish is a sexual attraction/preoccupation with either an inanimate object (ie-women's undergarments) or a part of the human body not generally considered erotic (such as a foot). Sexual arousal can ONLY occur in these people in the presence of or context of this object or body part. So if a person likes feet but likes to fuck in the more conventional sense, that's not a fetish.

A common psych boards question is "What is the most common crime committed by individuals with a diagnosis of fetishism?" The answer is always "theft", because the perverts commonly steal panties and bras off of clothes lines.