I'm really sorry, but this is so confusing for me. I used to id as aroace, but now whenever I see mechanical objects I just want to kiss them. Everyone said I was too young to id as aroace, even though I'm about to turn 10. What should I do? Is there a name for what I'm feeling?
First things first, I have to admit to being concerned about the age mentioned in this ask. There are some bad people who like to use aspec kids as a âgotchaâ against us who want to paint us in a bad light for encouraging that people know themselves best, and I canât be sure this isnât a joke trying to do that.
But more important than if itâs a joke is if itâs not a joke. Because if youâre an actual kid who needs help and advice, then that deserves to be taken seriously and replied to sincerely. So Iâm going to approach this in good faith and assume you really do need this advice. To start with the aroace thing, while I do think thereâs a âtoo young to know for sureâ age for knowing if youâre aro/ace (that I canât dictate because everyone is different and I donât remember what attraction felt like when I was your age,) I donât think thereâs an âold enough to know for sureâ age. Only you can figure out if youâre aroace and if itâs not harming you now, itâs alright to ID that way. Of course that could always change, but Iâm 23 and my labels change all the time, so thatâs not special just because of your age.
So to answer your question, yes! There are names for what youâre feeling, and the one weâll put forth here is just objectum â being attracted to objects. Which includes many people who are into machines of all sorts! Some might more specifically call themselves mechanosexual, or variations of that word. Objectum is just a wider umbrella. A lot of objectum people, people who find themselves more attracted to different kinds of objects (like mechanical ones!), are also on the aro- and/or ace-spectrums!
Usually, this refers to how we relate to other non-object people, and a lot of people might or might not continue identifying as aro/ace after learning they experience objectum attraction because of that â itâs not that we donât experience attraction, itâs just not to people! But others still find their aro/ace identity important alongside being objectum and ID as both. Youâre not alone in those feelings, and you can decide for yourself what to do with those labels.Â
Itâs okay to wanna kiss mechanical objects! Itâs okay to feel attracted to machines, and iâve known plenty of people whoâve had lovely, complex, and meaningful relationships with all kinds of mechanical things. I know itâs hard when we donât get role models or representation or acceptance, but always remember that your feelings are good if they make you happy, and youâre allowed to explore them and accept them.Â
Iâm sadly not able to give you much more advice. I donât remember being 10, and my childhood isnât something to measure others by, anyways. I hope this information helps, along with my advice now to not be on Tumblr as a 10 year old, because itâs both against the siteâs terms and rules, and honestly bad for your mental health, as this site can get to be a really toxic place. But I understand if this is a blog you keep an eye on because weâre one of the only ones out there. Just stay safe, and always know itâs okay to explore and accept yourself and your feelings. ~Mod Crow
