Poll: Would you date an asexual person?

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Verp

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Jul 1, 2009
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To people who say that a relationship without sex is the same as being friends; with your friends, do you...

Form an exclusive partnership?
Have a need to nurture and protect them?
Raise children?
Share a household and related property?
Make long-term plans for your future?
Kiss, hug, cuddle, caress, fondle?
Feel a need to make your relationship "official" and recognised by others?


As an aromantic person, I'm kind of confused here -- I thought romantic relationships had those as well and at least none of my friends tend to do that kind of stuff outside their romantic relationships.
 

bdcjacko

Gone Fonzy
Jun 9, 2010
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Verp said:
To people who say that a relationship without sex is the same as being friends; with your friends, do you...

Form an exclusive partnership?
Have a need to nurture and protect them?
Raise children?
Share a household and related property?
Make long-term plans for your future?
Kiss, hug, cuddle, caress, fondle?
Feel a need to make your relationship "official" and recognised by others?


As an aromantic person, I'm kind of confused here -- I thought romantic relationships had those as well and at least none of my friends tend to do that kind of stuff outside their romantic relationships.
What is the point of foreplay if it doesn't lead to sex?

This is just such a foreign concept of being in a mutually exclusive partnership that doesn't involve sex. I mean what is there to be mutually exclusive if neither of you are boning. Are you not allowed to talk to other people? It just seems so hollow.
 

Verp

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bdcjacko said:
Verp said:
To people who say that a relationship without sex is the same as being friends; with your friends, do you...

Form an exclusive partnership?
Have a need to nurture and protect them?
Raise children?
Share a household and related property?
Make long-term plans for your future?
Kiss, hug, cuddle, caress, fondle?
Feel a need to make your relationship "official" and recognised by others?


As an aromantic person, I'm kind of confused here -- I thought romantic relationships had those as well and at least none of my friends tend to do that kind of stuff outside their romantic relationships.
What is the point of foreplay if it doesn't lead to sex?

This is just such a foreign concept of being in a mutually exclusive partnership that doesn't involve sex. I mean what is there to be mutually exclusive if neither of you are boning. Are you not allowed to talk to other people? It just seems so hollow.
Don't ask me, I don't see the appeal of mutual exclusiveness even if you are boning the other half. I don't even see why people bother with partners if hands and toys can achieve satisfaction. I've just been very loudly told that "it's not the same".
 

bdcjacko

Gone Fonzy
Jun 9, 2010
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Verp said:
Don't ask me, I don't see the appeal of mutual exclusiveness even if you are boning the other half. I don't even see why people bother with partners if hands and toys can achieve satisfaction. I've just been very loudly told that "it's not the same".
It isn't the same, toy don't get all clingy and want to cuddle after wards. Whoa!
 

Verp

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Jul 1, 2009
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bdcjacko said:
Verp said:
Don't ask me, I don't see the appeal of mutual exclusiveness even if you are boning the other half. I don't even see why people bother with partners if hands and toys can achieve satisfaction. I've just been very loudly told that "it's not the same".
It isn't the same, toy don't get all clingy and want to cuddle after wards. Whoa!
But if cuddles are foreplay like you implied earlier, why do you want to do it after sex?
 

bdcjacko

Gone Fonzy
Jun 9, 2010
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Verp said:
bdcjacko said:
Verp said:
Don't ask me, I don't see the appeal of mutual exclusiveness even if you are boning the other half. I don't even see why people bother with partners if hands and toys can achieve satisfaction. I've just been very loudly told that "it's not the same".
It isn't the same, toy don't get all clingy and want to cuddle after wards. Whoa!
But if cuddles are foreplay like you implied earlier, why do you want to do it after sex?
Cuddling is the bread to the sex sandwich.
 

Verp

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Jul 1, 2009
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bdcjacko said:
Verp said:
bdcjacko said:
Verp said:
Don't ask me, I don't see the appeal of mutual exclusiveness even if you are boning the other half. I don't even see why people bother with partners if hands and toys can achieve satisfaction. I've just been very loudly told that "it's not the same".
It isn't the same, toy don't get all clingy and want to cuddle after wards. Whoa!
But if cuddles are foreplay like you implied earlier, why do you want to do it after sex?
Cuddling is the bread to the sex sandwich.
*shrug*

I guess by that logic, some people value the bread the same amount or more than what's between.
 

Korolev

No Time Like the Present
Jul 4, 2008
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The real question is: would they date you?

Somebody probably already said that.
 

jpoon

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Mar 26, 2009
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Verp said:
jpoon said:
LegendaryGamer0 said:
jpoon said:
An asexual person definitely has some mommy or daddy issues that I wouldn't want to deal with, so no.
Where did you get that idea from? (O_O)
Something has obviously changed their nature, humans are sexual beings so something quite "devastating" has changed them to the point where they don't even derive pleasure from one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have. Like I said earlier, I wouldn't want to be with someone like that at all, what fun could you possibly have with a woman who doesn't want to be shagged...ever?
You're talking out of your ass. Humans are complex and resilient beyond belief and sex isn't exactly some kind of magical life juice that you can't live without. Do you honestly think that the body of a person born in a way that makes them incapable of feeling sexual attraction goes like "OOPS, can't enjoy sex in the future, BETTER JUST DIE OFF THEN", I mean really?

Or, do you think that what makes us sexual is so sacred that it's immune to variation beyond a certain point? Children are born without the ability to feel pain, with conjoined brains, being allergic to water, without limbs, with internal organs mirrored, with both genitalia, brains that don't match their sex, inherently unable to recognise facial expressions, etc., and yet they're very capable of reaching maturity and having a decent quality of life -- being born without the ability to feel sexual attraction is small time.

You're highly overestimating the specialty and uniqueness of the things that make up human sexuality if you insist that asexuality cannot develop naturally, without some kind of drastic interruption from humans.
I never said anything like that, I just think it's highly suspect for someone to naturally dislike sex to the point of asexuality. I don't think it's a normal attribute at all. Just like furries are not normal...
 

Hap2

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trooper6 said:
Hap2 said:
Friendship to you perhaps, but some of us take our romantic relationships very seriously. Just because we do not want to have sex with the person, does not mean we cannot have a deep emotional bonding to them beyond that of simple friendship.
I, on the other hand, take my friendships very seriously as well. The phrase "simple friendship" does a disservice to friendships. Those who are my closest friends are as important to me as anyone else in my life. They are as important to me as my parents, my sister, my nephews. If you are a deep close friend of mine, that is for life. And you have my loyalty, my love, and deep emotional bonding.

My friends are not "less than" than my romantic relationships. Being my friend is not second place. Being my friend is a great honor. It isn't just some random acquaintanceship. It is a valued and important relationship for me.

So that asexual person who can be my friend...well, if they earn my friendship. That is a special and wonderful thing that not everyone gets to have.
You're arguing with a straw man, distorting the case into something it isn't. I take my friendships dead serious, and in fact camaraderie is just as vital as love to me, but it is understandable why you could make such a mistake, as you are most definitely not aware of my past history :).

I never did nor will I argue that friendships are more or less important than love, that issue is beside the case. But for someone who has been in love, I can tell you that it hurts to be relegated to being regarded as nothing more than a friend, and it is extremely hurtful to us romantic asexuals to be seen as incapable of true love because some people associate romance and sex as being the same thing. For some of us, 'friendship' is not enough in a relationship and we like to be more intimate with those we are in love with, albeit not necessarily sexually (hugs, kissing, and cuddling for instance instead). Some of us are willing to compromise for our lovers and have sex, and some of us do not mind sex at all, many are just indifferent. For most of us, our sexual organs work fine, there just isn't any drive or want or need to have sex with any particular others.

jpoon said:
LegendaryGamer0 said:
jpoon said:
An asexual person definitely has some mommy or daddy issues that I wouldn't want to deal with, so no.
Where did you get that idea from? (O_O)
Something has obviously changed their nature, humans are sexual beings so something quite "devastating" has changed them to the point where they don't even derive pleasure from one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have. Like I said earlier, I wouldn't want to be with someone like that at all, what fun could you possibly have with a woman who doesn't want to be shagged...ever?
You might want to throw the book on Freud out, his theories are little more than hypothetical disproved fluff these days that are more there for historical context and not so much for actual contemporary psychology. You might also not want to judge the rest of overall Reality on the basis of your personal perception of it, for what is actual is not always going to cater to your perspective of the world ;)

I have never been traumatized with zero bad sexual experiences, I have lived a healthy normal life, I am an aspiring artist and philosopher, and I am still asexual. We are quite normal, each with our own individual quirks like everyone else. The hegemonic belief in North American society that all people 'must' be sexual (heterosexual if you really want to get technical), is just a socially constructed 'norm'. Reality is always going to be much more diverse than what we believe it to be. After all, there are studies that not only show asexuality in humans, but in animals as well. The very conception of the phenomena itself is fairly new, but it isn't something that just popped up over night. Likely, no one has ever really thought about it before until now because of the way society has structured itself.

Also, if I had a girlfriend, asexual of course, I can think of plenty of things to have fun together. Going to the movies, having dinner and conversation at the fancy Japanese restaurant downtown, going to the carnival in the summer, hiking, cuddling, etc. Hate to burst your bubble, (well, not really), but not all relationships have to revolve around sex. I would much rather have a companion, someone that could count on me, and that I could count on in return, a relationship of mutual support of one another.

SomeBritishDude said:
First of all, I don't really believe in Asexuality. Unless there's some sort of medical problem everyone has some sort of sexual drive. I don't believe in it the same way I don't believe in people who don't get hundry or don't get tired; we all get horny.

But with the question no, I wouldn't. Sex is an important part of a relationship. I enjoy what a girl does to me and I love helping her enjoy herself too. I couldn't be in a relationship where there's non of that, not only because I want to be satisfied but also because I want to satisfy someone else.

I would question though, assuming Asexuality actually exists what the said Asexual person get out of a relationship. Wouldn't it make things a lot easy just to have really close friends? Maybe I'm closed minded but I would argue that a real relationship isn't really such without sexual attraction for one another. I understand that there our other things to get out a relationship but, though I haven't been that close to someone in that way without there being a sexual attraction, surelly you can get the same kind of understanding of each other though a very close friendship.
That's all right, I don't believe in you either ;)

Seriously though, as I replied to the other post, I have no such medical problems. I mean, I'm not as in great shape as I should be (slacking off on the weights and relying on too much DDR lol, at least it'll be warm enough soon for my bike to come out of the shed), but other than that, I'm fit as a fiddle mentally, physically and spiritually. Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction, not sex drive. It means the sex drive, if a particular asexual has one, isn't pointed at any one thing, gender, or person in particular or general. That's all. Need more information, look here: http://www.asexuality.org/

Different people are going to need different things in a relationship. Me? I prefer intimacy and companionship, and I'm indifferent to sex. Others, want something like a very close friendship. And others from them, want both sex and romance to be major parts. "Ask a million people, and you get a million different answers" as the saying goes.

I find it fascinating that so many would presuppose that their particular needs are universal amongst so many, but I'm guessing that's a sort of 'self-survival' instinct at work to help people cope with such a diverse Reality that goes beyond and over what each of our individual perspectives are able to handle. To make calm and predictable the chaos that Reality might otherwise represent, to keep a hold of that feeling of safety. That's another topic entirely though and I just wrote an essay on it which I am not too keen to relive...
 

Lizmichi

Detective Prince
Jul 2, 2009
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Lucifron said:
Lizmichi said:
I would honestly. Sex isn't all that matters in a relationship. I won't not date someone due to them not wanting to have sex. That's rather selfish in my book.
Was your post just strangely worded, or did you just say that you should sympathy-date asexual people on their terms because it's selfish to wish to satisfy one of your strongest biological needs?
Not to be rude but I think it was misread. I didn't say anything about dating them out of sympathy. All I said was that I would date someone that's asexual. Also by definition to join in a relationship being driven by sex, while yes sexual attraction is what starts it, and not being able to have sex makes it a deal breaker, is to me selfish. Relationships are about companionship and having romantic feelings for another. Sex is just a physical act.
 

Hap2

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May 26, 2010
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jpoon said:
Verp said:
jpoon said:
LegendaryGamer0 said:
jpoon said:
An asexual person definitely has some mommy or daddy issues that I wouldn't want to deal with, so no.
Where did you get that idea from? (O_O)
Something has obviously changed their nature, humans are sexual beings so something quite "devastating" has changed them to the point where they don't even derive pleasure from one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have. Like I said earlier, I wouldn't want to be with someone like that at all, what fun could you possibly have with a woman who doesn't want to be shagged...ever?
You're talking out of your ass. Humans are complex and resilient beyond belief and sex isn't exactly some kind of magical life juice that you can't live without. Do you honestly think that the body of a person born in a way that makes them incapable of feeling sexual attraction goes like "OOPS, can't enjoy sex in the future, BETTER JUST DIE OFF THEN", I mean really?

Or, do you think that what makes us sexual is so sacred that it's immune to variation beyond a certain point? Children are born without the ability to feel pain, with conjoined brains, being allergic to water, without limbs, with internal organs mirrored, with both genitalia, brains that don't match their sex, inherently unable to recognise facial expressions, etc., and yet they're very capable of reaching maturity and having a decent quality of life -- being born without the ability to feel sexual attraction is small time.

You're highly overestimating the specialty and uniqueness of the things that make up human sexuality if you insist that asexuality cannot develop naturally, without some kind of drastic interruption from humans.
I never said anything like that, I just think it's highly suspect for someone to naturally dislike sex to the point of asexuality. I don't think it's a normal attribute at all. Just like furries are not normal...
Ah, who said it is a 'dislike' of sex? There are sex positive asexuals as well you know. It wouldn't bother me to compromise for someone I really truly loved. Asexuals are not sexually attracted to anyone, that is all. Some don't like sex, and some don't mind it at all, we're not a universal group defined by one trait. We simply share the common trait of not being sexually attracted to anyone.

As for furries, they're as normal as any other fetish. You cannot expect Reality to conform to your perspective of what the 'norm' is, it doesn't work that way :D
 

Verp

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Jul 1, 2009
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jpoon said:
Verp said:
jpoon said:
LegendaryGamer0 said:
jpoon said:
An asexual person definitely has some mommy or daddy issues that I wouldn't want to deal with, so no.
Where did you get that idea from? (O_O)
Something has obviously changed their nature, humans are sexual beings so something quite "devastating" has changed them to the point where they don't even derive pleasure from one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have. Like I said earlier, I wouldn't want to be with someone like that at all, what fun could you possibly have with a woman who doesn't want to be shagged...ever?
You're talking out of your ass. Humans are complex and resilient beyond belief and sex isn't exactly some kind of magical life juice that you can't live without. Do you honestly think that the body of a person born in a way that makes them incapable of feeling sexual attraction goes like "OOPS, can't enjoy sex in the future, BETTER JUST DIE OFF THEN", I mean really?

Or, do you think that what makes us sexual is so sacred that it's immune to variation beyond a certain point? Children are born without the ability to feel pain, with conjoined brains, being allergic to water, without limbs, with internal organs mirrored, with both genitalia, brains that don't match their sex, inherently unable to recognise facial expressions, etc., and yet they're very capable of reaching maturity and having a decent quality of life -- being born without the ability to feel sexual attraction is small time.

You're highly overestimating the specialty and uniqueness of the things that make up human sexuality if you insist that asexuality cannot develop naturally, without some kind of drastic interruption from humans.
I never said anything like that, I just think it's highly suspect for someone to naturally dislike sex to the point of asexuality. I don't think it's a normal attribute at all. Just like furries are not normal...
Sexual orientation is not about how much you like or dislike sex. It's about sexual attraction. Homosexuals are attracted to their own gender, heterosexuals are attracted to whatever is considered their opposite gender, and asexuals... Asexuals aren't attracted to any gender. Or object. Or animal. And so on. An asexual person may still have a libido, but the sexual desires it invokes aren't targeted towards anything particular. If libido were a pool of water, a sexual person's libido would flow into some direction and create a river, a libidoist asexual's water would stand still, and a non-libidoist asexual's pool would be empty.

Also, to hell with "normal", whether you mean normal as in belonging to the statistical majority or what social norms perceive as the most desirable. Humans as a species have a lot of variety and variety is great, deal with it.
 

Rex Fallout

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I want to say yes I would but I really dont know for sure...

It would definately depend on the person no doubt, (coming from someone who has had very limited experience when it comes to dating) But I think I definately would want some kind of physical relationship as well.
 

DeathWyrmNexus

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A romantic relationship is based on needs that are filled by the people involved. Say what you will but physical intimacy is one of my needs and I am glad that I married somebody with similar needs and desires.
 

trooper6

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Hap2 said:
I never did nor will I argue that friendships are more or less important than love, that issue is beside the case. But for someone who has been in love, I can tell you that it hurts to be relegated to being regarded as nothing more than a friend, and it is extremely hurtful to us romantic asexuals to be seen as incapable of true love because some people associate romance and sex as being the same thing. For some of us, 'friendship' is not enough in a relationship and we like to be more intimate with those we are in love with, albeit not necessarily sexually (hugs, kissing, and cuddling for instance instead). Some of us are willing to compromise for our lovers and have sex, and some of us do not mind sex at all, many are just indifferent. For most of us, our sexual organs work fine, there just isn't any drive or want or need to have sex with any particular others.
Hap2 said:
Ah, who said it is a 'dislike' of sex? There are sex positive asexuals as well you know. It wouldn't bother me to compromise for someone I really loved. Asexuals are not sexually attracted to anyone, that is all. Some don't like sex, and some don't mind it at all.

As for furries, they're as normal as any other fetish. You cannot expect Reality to conform to your perspective of what the 'norm' is, it doesn't work that way :D
I did not say you are incapable of true love. However, you are not capable of being in a mutually satisfying relationship with me. I don't have an obligation to be in a relationship that doesn't work for me any more than you are obligated to be in a relationship that doesn't work for you.

Some people, say Person A, doesn't want to be in monogamous relationships. It isn't really fair of Person A to be forced into being monogamous to date Person X. Similarly, it isn't fair for monogamous Person X to be forced to be non-monogamous to date Person A. Person A and Person X have incompatible desires. They shouldn't be dating each other. There is not judgement or blame. They want different things.

Similarly, in my relationships, I want to have physical intimacy and sexual relations with a person who a) is sexually attracted to me in return, and b) who enjoys the physical intimacy and sexual relations we share. An asexual person who either a) is not sexually attracted to me (or anyone) or b) who doesn't enjoy sex or is bored by it or for whom it does nothing, is not going to be a fulfilling relationship for me. It would be a relationship I would be unhappy in. A person who actually loved me, would want me to be happy, just as I want the people I love to be happy. That won't be with an asexual person.

I want all the asexual people in the world to find mutually fulfilling relationships with people who a happy to be in asexual relationships. I am not one of the people for whom that would be a mutually fulfilling relationship. So the asexual person should find someone who would enjoy that style of relationship.

In other words. I won't pressure you to give up your asexuality, don't pressure me to give up my sexuality. Let's agree to just date mutually compatible people, who aren't each other.

No harm, no foul.
 

Shoggoth2588

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I am and I do :3

We still manage to find ways to stay up late and keep ourselves entertained though like gaming or, watching older movies. It's a great relationship, one which has lasted than many of my others and one which I think will last me many, many decades more.
 

DP155ToneZone

Good enough for Petrucci on I&W
Aug 23, 2009
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adamtm said:
I would have a problem with that, as I am a sexual, or at least demi-sexual. I expect an intimate physical relationship with my partner. So dating an asexual would be extremely difficult if not impossible if they would decline all sex -ever-. And even if they dont, just playing a log in bed would make me feel extremely bad, forcing my intimacy on someone would actually be even worse.
So i have to give it a resounding, no.

But, altogether to each his own, as long as this fact is clear from the first moment.

Really what i have a problem with are a few behaviors though:

1. Asexual people going to bars and clubs, and then getting in a hissyfit because you are hitting on them. Sorry to tell you but 99% of humanity is sexual, you will be (sexually) hit on by everyone in a social context.
Deal with it.

2. going into relationship while not telling the partner about your asexuality. This is incredibly dishonest.

3. Asexuals acting like they are somehow "better" because they do not play with their genitalia. This is the most infuriating thing. I get so pissed off reading AVEN forums with all the jackasses comparing themselves to angels and whatnot. Being the "purer" and "better" humans.
Well hello racism.

4. 15-20 year olds that decide they are asexual for the sake of being non-conformist.
You forgot at least one other criteria.

5. People who take themselves too seriously; and who use that to justify their childish stubbornness. These ones are often related to the uppity ones mentioned in number 3.
 

scw55

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Nov 18, 2009
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No.
Regular meaningful sex with someone you love and care about dealy gives great happiness.
I also would want children in the future.

As a result of these two things if I did have a relationship with an Asexual person it wouldn't last and I would end up breaking up with them and making them feel like a piece of shit. That would be cruel. It's better if I never have an asexual relationship with anyone.
 

Baneat

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Jul 18, 2008
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Monkfish Acc. said:
Ironic Pirate said:
I AM an...

Monkfish Acc. said:
I AM an asexual person.
I see that working out better for me than dating anyone else.

I would totally go and do that if I wasn't also aromantic.

...shit. I'll have to phrase that differently then...

Well, it's complicated. I may just have a really, really, really low sex drive, I'm not sure. Can you be asexual if you have fetishes?
You know, I'm actually not sure.
The AVEN wiki claims some asexual people masturbate for release. Not being one of said people, I never actually understood what they masturbated to.

Asexuality is primarily a lack of desire for the act of sex. You can be attracted to people or what have you, if usually in a sort of platonic way, so I don't see why having any weird kinks would make you non-asexual.
Hey I have a question for you:

Ok say you liked someone very much as a person, in a romantic sort-of way (Basically everything a normal relationship contains subtract the sexual parts)

Ok then, would you be willing to allow said person to sleep with whomever they wish for physical release, under the condition that the emotional fidelity is intact?

Or would you be willing to go so far as to have sex with that person to meet their physical needs, knowing full-well that you won't enjoy the act in itself?