NationStates Jolt Archive

...Or is it just closeted gays?

Is a bacterium a closeted gay?

Is a bacterium a closeted gay?

I meant human asexuality. Its somewhat rare.

I hope it doesn't. It would be terrible not to have a sexuality.

I have a friend who seems to be.

Well in the biological sense, no humans are really asexual. At least, in the sense of reproduction.

But you mean, are there really people who don't get any nookie? Ever? Yes!

Or you mean, they aren't ever attracted to anyone sexually? I'd say yes also. At least, their attraction isnt enough to overcome any other psychological or social factors. And some turn that lust into other things, like nuns and other chaste spiritual types. Others just repress it all the time. And yes probably still others convinced themselves that they aren't into sex, in order to deny the truth that they are, and they're into gay sex. Terrible, denial is.

forgive me if im wrong but isent asexuality where you can reproduce with yourself?

forgive me if im wrong but isent asexuality where you can reproduce with yourself?

Biologically, I think so, but I think they're looking at it more from a psychological point of view, as another possible thing to line up alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.

Biologically, I think so, but I think they're looking at it more from a psychological point of view, as another possible thing to line up alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.

Yeah, thats what I meant. Asexual simply means "Not sexual" which both bacteriums and some humans are, but in different ways.

sure there are
but it stems from an hormonal imbalance or some severely bad upbringing

It's quite possible.

I have a friend who seems to be.

Tell him to go fuck himself.

Tell him to go fuck himself.

Thank you for posting such a interesting suggestion :)

Thank you for posting such a interesting suggestion :)

heh ... first thing that came to my mind ...

I think asexuality in humans can and does exists. From personal acquaintances, I would say it is far more likely in women than men, though. Most men (myslef included) are built with their gonads hardwired to the decision making centre of their brain :)

Terrible, denial is.

Is that a Yoda quote? :) j/k

Is that a Yoda quote? :) j/k

Wonder I if asexual Yoda is. Hope so, I do. *shudder*

I think asexuality in humans can and does exists. From personal acquaintances, I would say it is far more likely in women than men, though. Most men (myslef included) are built with their gonads hardwired to the decision making centre of their brain :)

Well, are we talking more about Platonic relationships here, as opposed to a lack of a desire for sex?

Wonder I if asexual Yoda is. Hope so, I do. *shudder*

Well, according to AOTC, the Jedi aren't exactly sex-positive.

Well, according to AOTC, the Jedi aren't exactly sex-positive.

Yeah- but all those suppressed urges have to come out somewhere =/

Well, are we talking more about Platonic relationships here, as opposed to a lack of a desire for sex?

Well, I've known one or two female friends, who, as far as I could tell, pretty much asexual. Neither were virgins, but both had tried sex and didn't enjoy it. One ended up discovering she was a lesbian, the other (AFAIK, I haven't seen her for a few years) chose to be single and celebate.

I've been asexual as long as I can remember, and its not a religious thing either. I did try watching porn once, it was rather dull and repetitive, and repititively dull, and annoying. The woman screams, the man grunts, the camera zooms in on a random body part, rinse and repeat. It must be so boring having a sexuality. I will pity you all, and while you all engage in the same bumping and grinding night after night, I shall go make a bacon and egg sandwich.

I think asexuality in humans can and does exists. From personal acquaintances, I would say it is far more likely in women than men, though. Most men (myslef included) are built with their gonads hardwired to the decision making centre of their brain :)

True women are more likely to be asexual but I think it has little to do with biology and much to do with upbringing. Women are taught to be more ashamed of their sexuality (good girls don't and all that fucking bullshit) and also have more fear to the consequences, from preganancy, labelling, getting bad reputations, etc.

Victims of childhood molestation - whether male or female - have a higher than average chance of becoming asexual adults. Again feelings of pain and shame are connected to the idea of being sexual.

Guess it would be the same for closeted gays who are overwhelmed with internalized homophobia.

Yeah- but all those suppressed urges have to come out somewhere =/

Good point.

Asexuality does exist, but here its treated as a medical problem. A doctor visit to test hormone levels, counseling to work on issues of repression, anger or insecurity, and an opportunity to meet willing partners would be all be provided.

Sex is God's (or Nature's) own medicine. Doing without is not good for your mind, body or spirit. And it makes you (and your partner(s)) grumpy.

b2b :fluffle:

Now, if one is asexual does that mean that they don't even have any interest in wanking off? If they do wank off, do they fantisize about other asexuals? Like picturing Morrissey standing there completely clothed with an expression of utter boredom?

I remember reading something about is somewhere... something like it was usually a result of sexual assault or abuse at some point. I also remember reading somewhere that T.E. Lawrence (As in, Lawrence of Arabia) was asexual. Not sure if it is true or not. However, the movie did have him being raped, and not a single woman appears in it.

I remember being told he was gay…

sure there are
but it stems from an hormonal imbalance or some severely bad upbringingNo, it stems from choice and feelings, the same as any other sexuality. And to answer the question, yes, it does exist.

Well, according to AOTC, the Jedi aren't exactly sex-positive.

Yeah- but all those suppressed urges have to come out somewhere =/

Forgive me if I'm mistaken here - but don't the Jedi seem strangely keen on getting families to send them their young boys and girls for "training" in their academy?

Asexuality does exist, but here its treated as a medical problem. A doctor visit to test hormone levels, counseling to work on issues of repression, anger or insecurity, and an opportunity to meet willing partners would be all be provided.

Sex is God's (or Nature's) own medicine. Doing without is not good for your mind, body or spirit. And it makes you (and your partner(s)) grumpy.

b2b :fluffle:

You know they used to say that about being gay. People lead happy lives without sex, unless they miss it (in which case I'm not sure they count as asexual) I don't see how it is a problem.

Slightly related; does anyone got any lovely informative links about asexuality for me?

I think there is a gender continuum. Certainly we have known people who had neutral scharacteristics and low libido, who did not seem to be truly "sexual" in personality or behavior. Some people on both extremes of orientation seem to resent this possibility even more than they resent the opposing extreme. Why? Who gets hurt here? If someone truly wants to be celibate, why should that make me afraid?

here are a few sites on the issue:

http://www.symposion.com/ijt/hbigda/vancouver/eyler2.htm
[among the transgendered]

http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/gender/intersexuals/article_native_american.htm
[Native American]

http://www.gendersanity.com/diagram.shtml
[diagram model, includes asexuality]

Finally here's a bit from Wikipedia about human gender variance:

Biological varieties of discordance
Human variability occurs in all the levels by which sex and gender are defined. Discordance at the biological levels is often referred to as an intersex condition. For example, some women may have an XY karyotype (chromosomal constellation). Some boys may have a rudimentary uterus, or an extra X chromosome. In a small subset of boys or girls with intersex conditions, the external genitalia may be undervirilized or overvirilized. If the degree of virilization is "in-between", the genitalia are described as "ambiguous". Many people with intersex conditions do not have ambiguous genitalia. However, for these people the relationships between biological factors (such as hormones) and environmental factors and the psychosocial levels of sexual identity such as gender identity and sexual orientation have proven to be complex, with plenty of exceptions to proposed theoretical systems. For example, there have been cases of male genetic/chromosomal sex, with female external genitalia, assigned and raised as female, but discovering or deciding upon a male gender identity by adolescence. The degree to which a person's gender identity is affected by hormones, by genetic factors distinct from hormones, by early education, by social factors, and by "existential choice" remains imperfectly understood and a subject of contention.

[edit]
Psychological, behavioral, and cultural varieties of discordance
In contrast to the small percentage of people with biological discordances of sex, a fairly large proportion of human beings may be "discordant" in one or more behavioral or psychological dimensions. The vast majority of these people who are discordant in some aspect of psyche or behavior do not have any detectable biological intersex condition. Human societies respond to, or accommodate, these behavioral and psychological discordances in many different ways, ranging from suppression and denial of difference to acknowledging various forms of "third sex."

It is interesting, and perhaps significant, that some societies identify youths with atypical behavioral characteristics and, instead of giving them corrective therapy or punishing them, socialize them in such a way that their individual characteristics let them provide a needed and/or useful function for the society in a recognized and respected role. (See, for example, shaman, medicine man, tong-ki.)

See the article Pictogram for an example of a pictogram of a man and a woman, to indicate the respective toilets. It shows the man with broader shoulders (sex dimorphism) and the woman in clothing that is in the western world rarely worn by men, a dress (which functions as a gender signal). (Presumably these "male human" and "female human" pictograms are not used in countries where men wear dress-like clothing.) In most societies, it is considered improper for a person of one sex to misrepresent himself or herself as a member of the opposite sex by donning inappropriate clothing (thereby practicing transvestism or cross-dressing). Such behavior receives severe social and/or legal sanctions in some cultures.

See also berdache, hijra, xanith and transgender.)

Such complex situations have led some scientists to argue that the two sexes are cultural constructions. Some people have sought to define their sexuality and sexual identity in non-polar terms in the belief that the simple division of all humans into "males" and "females" does not fit their individual conditions. A proponent of this movement away from polar oppositions, Anne Fausto-Sterling, once suggested we recognize five sexes: male, female, merm, ferm and herm. Although quickly rejected as a bizarre flouting of human nature and social reality, and inimical to the interests of those whom she was attempting to champion, it expresses the difficulty and imperfection of the current social responses to these variations.

Thanks