In my first year of university I dated a girl who absolutely LOVED to be choked like that. I had never done anything like that before, so it freaked me the fuck out. She taught me a few things though....
Similar story. It wasn't freaky but it's a life scary because you don't want to bruise or hurt the lady. I've let a few girls choke me (by hand). The actual look in their eyes and faces was the turn on for me, not the actual choking.

