Lithromantic!

Part of the aromantic spectrum. Someone who feels romantic attraction but has no desire for those feelings to be reciprocated (and may lose interest if they are). Romance is appreciated in theory but not in real life. Lithromantics may develop crushes on fictional characters or even real people, but would not want an actual romantic relationship with that person in real life. Lithromantics may or may not desire to be in a relationship despite their feelings, and may experience romance-repulsion. This is a sideblog about lithromanticism and aromanticism.

[cloudytwilightythingy]

saw an aro post that was angry over allo people in tags being arophobic, and an allo added onto it agreeing with one of the arophobic tags. the tag basically saying "i see romance as friendship BUT BETTER" and. SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPPPP

friendship and romance are relationships. none is better than the other. they are different things. they are two different types of relationship. one is not the other "but better". A FRIENDSHIP DOESN'T NEED TO BECOME "MORE" FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS. YOU CAN PLATONICALLY FUCK. IT'S BEEN DONE. YOU CAN KISS YOUR FRIENDS. IF EVERYTHING IS CONSENSUAL IT'S FINE. FRIENDSHIP DOESN'T NEED TO BE "ELEVATED" FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS TO TAKE PLACE.

i just got up and i am so fucking tired of allo people and romance propaganda.

[microwavedasphalt]

i just saw the phrase loveless marriage and i was gonna be like “oh thats so based actually” until i realized it was meant to be a bad thing ✌️💔

[objectophiliac]

non-aromantics getting access to the phrase “aros can date too!” is so tragic. because now they just repeat that to every aromantic (regardless of where they fall on the spectrum) to “reassure” us that we’re not “broken”, or to justify making unwanted romantic advances.

non-aros really struggle with the idea that there are some people who just. Don’t Want To Engage With Romance Ever. and that, with enough time and patience, they can somehow make us “return” to being alloromantic (despite, for a lot of us, there is nothing to “return” to; they just assume that romance is an innate part of living), or “correct” us in one way or another.

[saveyourhelplessspite]

when youre aro, especially aroallo, theres a certain point in a hang out with new other queer people where you slowly realize "oh, theyre the kind of people who think people like me are worthless pieces of scum who dont deserve any good graces and can be fixed eventually" and you dont wanna be there anymore for reasons you cannot voice lest you be attacked or marked heartless in their minds eye

[arosunflower]

AlloAros face specific discrimination based on the fact that we are BOTH allosexual and aromantic. They are both a part of us and if we want to take pride in that then we have every right to do so. 

[camestela]

change of plans

[intergalactic-lithromantic]

I went from “being aro sucks” to “being aro is actually really good.”

[aro-but-not-ace]

Explaining the depth of aromanticism to alloallo people as one of the first aro people they’ve met takes too much energy. I want compensation. Alloallo people are required to pay me $50 to have a conversation with an aspec person from now on

[intergalactic-lithromantic]

Me @ my mom

[intergalactic-lithromantic]

Sometimes I’m like “I’m SO aromantic and I do NOT want a significant other bc I am touch-repulsed and don’t have energy for a commitment right now.”

And other times I’m like “I’m SO aromantic and also panSEXUAL BABEY let me be ur gf and we can cuddle and touch bo0biez.”

[aroallo-culture-is-archive]

Socially anxious alloaro culture is deeply wanting a fwb relationship but no clue how to get there cause there's no option for this with your current friends and the thought of having to meet new people fills you with dread

.

[aro-comics]

Aro Joy

Aro Joy, 1/1 - it’s almost AUTUMN!!!! 🍁🎃🧣 ✨ (and I’m very excited lol, early fall is one of my favourite times of year 😂). Ok but back on topic - I’ve actually had a vision for this specific comic for … a while 😭 Like, half a year ago. It’s been a journey, accepting my arospec identity (and from what I’ve heard talking to y’all, it’s been like this for many of you too), and though I’ve been open about the bumpier parts of the experience, I wanted to also talk about the positives, all the joys of being aro, too 💚💚🐸

As a general disclaimer: The sentiments here aren’t meant to speak for all aros - because some aros want to be in romantic relationships (or be otherwise partnered), and of course this is equally valid and should be respected! And on the same note, allos can be happy with being, or just want to be single, because again - this isn’t something defined by orientation.

But I think for a lot of us, our arospec orientation can be tied to how feel about our lives in relation to partnership … which is that, we’re okay (or happy) being single! For the longest time, I held it against myself that I wasn’t in a relationship, but not because I wanted to be in one - I just thought it was a milestone that would make other people think of me as a ‘real’ adult 😭😭 Realizing I was aro gave me the opportunity to reassess how I viewed myself, and my relationships with other people. I was able to actually let go of that idea of having a “””missing piece”””, and appreciate everyone and everything I have in my life. I sound kinda cheesy saying this, but for the first time, I think I have everything I’ve ever wanted, relationships wise? I’m at peace, and I really appreciate it.

__

School’s gonna start soon for me and for some of y'all, so I hope that goes well for everyone! Please take care, and as always I’d love to hear what you think! What are your favourite things about being aro? 🐸

[Image Descriptions:

Slide 1: “I find it fascinating, the way alloromantics value romance.” Celia stands outside in front on a vibrant fall day. She seems to be on a walk on a trail.

Behind her, the leaves are a bright orange, and she is wearing a white wrapped top, jeans, and an orange ribbon choker.

Slide 2: “When I bring up the fact -”

A flashback to an earlier time, where Celia is talking to another girl (who is alloro). Celia says “You know, life without Romance is not inherently bad, or unfulfilling -” 

The other girls says, “yeah, but it’s DIFFERENT.”

Slide 3: [Pure text] There’s this really deep, engrained idea, even amongst people who are accepting and understanding of the idea that being aromantic is valid, that romance brings a new level of joy to life. A kind of special fulfillment they would be lost without.

Slide 4: “And I’ve got to say …” Celia speaks to the viewer.

Slide 5: “That sounds really hard, yikes” She shrugs nonchalantly.  

Slide 6: Celia speaks from the bottom of the panel, and a big speech bubble says, “People seem to have such a hard time with dating? Pining? Trying to court people? (I actually do not know much about romance, despite my love of the genre) It just seems like so much work, just to feel fulfilled.”

Extra doodles of character struggle with online dating, pining with writing love letters, and dollar bills with a rose exemplify the various struggles mentioned.

Slide 7: Shot switches back to Celia in the forest. She’s now holding a maple leaf in her hand, staring down at it contemplatively as she speaks. “I’m … actually feeling pretty good about my life.”

Slide 8: She holds the leaf up to the light now. “I don’t really feel like there’s something missing without a partner. Although, maybe one day -” In the bottom half of the panel, the perspective switches to her POV centered on her hand with the illuminated leaf, “I’d also be happy with a QPR.”

Slide 9: It’s one of the things that makes me grateful that I’m aro.

The shot has switched to be from behind Celia, staring out at the landscape of mountains, the fall foliage, and the river below. Celia has let go of the leaf and it drifts away in the wind]

[gaysie]

i love cheating if you don’t cheat what the hell is wrong with you

[fleurdelys-fletri]

have you ever been cheated on?

[gaysie]

i forgot some people are in relationships. to clarify i love to violate academic integrity on exams

[aroloverboy]

Can we please start giving some love to aroallo

And while I’m at it if you don’t agree with what I’m saying please block me I don’t want any exclusionist following me

[mythicalcoolkid]

[ID: a comic drawn in shades of green. Each panel has smooth light-colored lines around the characters.

Panel 1: a person wearing a collared shirt under a sweater with several earrings. They have short wavy hair and look angry or annoyed. Their hands are raised to just above shoulder height in no particular position. Speech bubble reads: “Aroallo are a valid and important part of our community.”

Panel 2: a person wearing a black camisole tank top over a light long-sleeved sweater/shirt. They have large hoop earrings and bangs and shoulder-length hair that curls in toward their chin. They also look angry or frustrated and have their hands in the air in an exaggerated shrug. Speech bubble reads: “Yes, even if they’re only looking for sex. They are not heartless player.”

Panel 3: a person wearing a dark spaghetti-strap tank top and large round glasses. They have a relatively short afro. They look mildly displeased and have their hands up similarly to the person in panel 1. Speech bubble reads: “Seriously we need to stop treating them the way we do, they deserve so much better.”

End ID]

[i-require-cheddar]

wanted to add this: a big stigma with lgbt+ people in the heteronormative eye is that we are all “vile sex creatures”. this is obviously just homophobia, but we try hard to distance ourselves from that regardless with things like “love is love” and talking purely about the romantic side of it. so when people who don’t experience romantic love come into play, other queer people tend to cast that same judgement onto them. aro/allo people deserve respect. sex is completely natural and there is nothing wrong with only seeking out sexual relationships instead of romantic. we need to stop casting our issues onto minorities within the community.

[arodabi]

I see a lot of post about people asking how aros actually realized we were aro, mostly bc it really is hard bc you’re basically trying to prove a negative

And like honestly my advice is: if you think you might be aro, it doesn’t hurt anything to id as aro. If later you realize that you’re not, no harm done, glad you could hang with us for a while, good luck with your identity.

Being wrong about who you think u are is fine, there’s literally nothing wrong with it.

I didn’t id as aro for a while bc i was worried about being wrong, but then one day i just said fuck it, I’m aro, and i never looked back. Honestly great move by me bc i was finally able to allow myself to participate fully in the community and i realized that i really related to what other aros experience too

So like if you think ur aro, try it out. If ur right then welcome, and if u find out ur wrong then it’s nbd

[ace-aro-queerplatonic-positivity]

Amatonormativity: the (cultural) belief that a monogamous romantic-sexual relationship needs to be central to everyone‘s personal happiness

Allonormativity: the belief that every person is allosexual and alloromantic, experiencing sexual and romantic attraction

Heteronormativity: the (cultural) belief that a monogamous romantic-sexual relationship being “hetero” is more desirable than a queer/non-hetero one; also leading to the assumption any non-hetero relationship desires/has to imitate “hetero”

[Image Description: Yellow Balloon shattering an arrow meme, originally by ShenComix. The yellow balloon is labeled “Aromantic & Asexual people supporting each other”. An arrow with a pink label is moving toward the balloon rapidly. The label reads “Amatonormativity/ Allonormativity/ Heteronormativity”. When the arrow connects with the balloon, the arrow shatters while the balloon stays whole. /End Image Description.]

[arokaladin]

being aro is like Yes you can have a sexuality No it will not look like ‘sexuality’ as you know it. 

[podencos]

Hey baby have u considered committing to friendship the same way you’re endeared to the idea of romantic love

[aro-mood]

is it just me