Answer
NO self respecting company would have any doll say anything innapropriate. The one's you've heard of are probably defects that have been purposely put out on the market as duds. The original tickle me Elmo just laughs, giggles, and vibrates. It has NOTHING to do with the crotch, it just responds to touch in the abdomen, much like a child would if you tickled their stomachs. Because of manufacturing, some sensors MAY have shifted a little lower or higher depending on attention to detail at the manufacturing plant, and so many people assumed their Elmo responded to "unacceptable" touch or tickling... just immature adults looking for faults in a harmless childhood toy. Probably a result of a parody on the Simpsons where Homer or Krusty tickles Elmo and he jumps up, slaps him, and says, "No means No, for Elmo" and then runs off or something... and then I think on Family Guy, he was on the stand testifying against someone for "bad touch", but I can't remember for sure. Anyway, it is a very cute and fun toy for kids or Sesame Street collectors. Good Luck!!!