*Looks at calendar*
*Looks at claim in previous blog that I'd write a blog this past Monday*
Okay, first things first, for once my ADHD isn't to blame for this. I poisoned myself over my road trip weekend, then contracted some delightful illness. I forgot I'd even done anything over here until now.
With that all out of the way: Attraction. Specifically as it relates to being ace, though I'm going to throw aros in as I always do. As a word, people use it in a variety of ways, for a variety of things. Saying someone is attractive could mean they are nice to look at, or that a person finds them sexy, or that they're crushing on them. Commonly in our society it's used for all three at once. But what about people who don't feel some of those?
That's where it's helpful to know types of attraction.
Sexual Attraction (I want to sex that): the desire to touch/interact with someone sexually. Not to be confused with sex drive (I want to do the sex).
Romantic Attraction (I want to romance/crush that): the desire to have a romantic relationship with someone. Romantic relationships don't have to involve sex (though that expectation pervades society).
Platonic Attraction (I want to friend that): the desire to have a platonic/friendly relationship with someone (platonic relationships are just as important as romantic relationships).
Physical/Sensual Attraction (I want to be touched by that): the desire to be hugged, kissed, touched, etc in a non-sexual way. Think hugging a friend or family member.
Emotional Attraction (I want to be emotionally open with that): the desire to be emotionally honest and open with someone. This is commonly linked to our trust of someone.
Aesthetic Attraction (I want to look at that): the desire to enjoy the way someone or something looks; the same feeling you might have looking at a sunset or the ocean or a particularly pleasing looking human being. There's nothing requiring this to lead to other forms of attraction.
Some of us have less or none of one type of attraction, and average or even lots of another type of attraction. For example, my highest amount of attraction is aesthetic, followed by emotional. The other four . . . not so much. Platonic is probably the next most common, but even that is intensely limited. I like knowing that there are terms for differing types of attraction, and that they have no intrinsic tie to any other type of attraction.
And that's if for this blog! If you have questions, if I wasn't clear, let me know!
