Aaaaaaahhhhh

So hey, you know sentiments like "There's no platonic/straight explanation for this", "Ugh they're dating and they don't even realize it", "They're too close to just be friends", "Obviously A is in love with B, look at all the things A does for B"?

What do they all have in common?

That's right, every single one of them says that there's a strict limit to non-romantic relationships and if you go over that limit, it's automatically romantic.

"There's no platonic/straight explanation for this" = "This is beyond the limit of what a platonic or otherwise non-romantic bond can be. They can't be straight, because they are exhibiting a kind of closeness that must be romantic and they're the same gender."

"Ugh they're dating and they don't even realize it" = "The way they are acting is beyond the bounds of a non-romantic relationship, so it has to be romantic no matter how they view it"

"They're too close to just be friends" = "There is a limit to how close friends can be and they've moved beyond it"

"Obviously A is in love with B, look at all the things A does for B" = "Nobody would do these things for somebody they are not in love with, there's a limit to what people would do for somebody they don't have romantic feelings for"

So let's follow that idea to its logical conclusion, shall we?

If there's a strict limit to how close and intimate non-romantic relationships can be, if there's a limit to the depth of non-romantic feelings, then that puts a limit on what people who don't get into romantic relationships and don't catch romantic feelings can experience.

"There's no platonic/straight explanation for this" = "This is beyond the limit of what a platonic or otherwise non-romantic bond can be. They can't be straight, because they are exhibiting a kind of closeness that must be romantic and they're the same gender" = "You are incapable of ever having this close of a bond"

"Ugh they're dating and they don't even realize it" = "The way they are acting is beyond the bounds of a non-romantic relationship, so it has to be romantic no matter how they view it" = "Your relationships can never be this intimate"

"They're too close to just be friends" = "There is a limit to how close friends can be and they've moved beyond it" = "You will never have this kind of closeness with another person"

"Obviously A is in love with B, look at all the things A does for B" = "Nobody would do these things for somebody they are not in love with, there's a limit to what people would do for somebody they don't have romantic feelings for" = "You would never go to such lengths for someone. You are incapable of the depth of feeling that would require."

All of it says "Your relationships and feelings are inherently shallower than other people's because they are not romantic in nature".

What I got instead: some coward who apparently felt so personally attacked by this post that they went on anon to fully lean into the dehumanisation??

"This could be read as romantic"

"I interpret their relationship as romantic"

"They are obsessed with each other and I'd like them to kiss about it"

"You could make a lesbian/gay couple out of this"

"What if they were dating?"

"You could totally see this as romantic pining"

"I think they could be into each other and not realize it"

"I'm gonna write their relationship as romantic bc that's a concept I enjoy exploring"

"I'm smushing them together face-first like Barbie dolls"

Stories stall when everyone behaves. Real tension appears when someone:

• asks the wrong question • says something they shouldn’t • notices something uncomfortable • refuses to drop the topic • misunderstands something important • interrupts at the worst moment

To be honest, this goes for adult picky eaters as well. I used to be super picky (well into adulthood), but have now pinpointed specific things I dislike that can be fixed. I don't like mixing hot and cold food, so I make it all the same temperature. I don't like hard bits in otherwise soft food, avoid that. But i think most importantly is that last one, handling stuff being overwhelming.

Because people kept suggesting foods I should try that were simply too new for me. But once I began experimenting with adding one small thing to an otherwise familiar meal, i began to losen up. There are still things I don't like, but now I am able to eat most things without issue.

"I just want to see what it feels like. Besides, she seems chill."