#romancefree

(source)

I had one romantic relationship when i was in high school.  I was like “wow i wanna touch that guy and share my feelings and ???”.  Then he asked me out.  We then proceeded to play video games every day at each others house, play magic, makeout and hold hands, and think about each other all the time.  That lasted for a month.

After a month i expected things to like.... not feel like a friendship anymore, but “grow” into a romantic relationship.  But all i felt like we were were friends who held hands and kissed and hung out a lot.  And on top of that, i was still crushing on some other guy.  When i realized i would dump my current boyfriend if the other guy asked me out, i ended the relationship.  That’s not how its supposed to be, you know?  It didnt seem fair for him to be dating someone like me.  It ended well.

I know there isnt a prompt this year for this but whatever lmao here it is

(art by @therealfuckedupghostbusters, special thanks to the butthead @botttlemouseh for putting this idea in my brain)

tada, Egon from Ghostbusters

I also headcanon him as ace for some reason?  I just cant see him as not being ace.  Anyway imagine him

only socializing with people over work, nerd interests, and food

spending all his time not doing ghostbuster stuff either reading, posting on the molds & fungus newsgroup, or more ghostbuster stuff

being self-aware how stiff he appears and pranking over it

intentionally making romantic admirers uncomfortable because its funny

blowing off people to work on personal projects

hating and refusing to participate in chit-chat

I hate it when people obsess over identity.  However, i cannot deny that imagery is a powerful thing.  Humans in general are very visual creatures, and sometimes a picture is quicker than an explanation.  Insignia also have the power to help people come together and find each other.  I encourage members of Romance-freedom to make their own insignia using the spirit of the original icon if they please.  Below the image you will find an explanation of the symbolism in the image.

The Components

The main and crucial components are

the ring/shackle

the breaking of the ring/shackle

the colors black (and/or grey), white, and red

The following is an explanation of the above along with the additional (and not required) components.

The ring symbolizes the ring of marriage (and can also be seen as a shackle, as how marriage and going steady feels to the romance-free).  A crucial tenet to romance-freedom is the refusal to marry (and any of its components or lesser versions such as dating/queerplatonic relationships).  The ring colors, black and white, are also the colors i associate with marriage -- black for the groom, and white for the bride -- and the divide represents the Dater idea that “we are only halves looking for their other half”.  The black and white also emphasize the heteronormativity in marriage, and visually emphanizing the cutting of the shackle/ring.

I used to think the excessive amount of Arospec hyperanalysis microlabeling blogs and their clones were a symptom of the ill state of general aro population on tumblr. Now im starting to see it the other way around, that it's the cause.

Youngins these days find the dubious words like "romantic attraction" and "romantic orientation" first. The conclude they are aro cause they "don't experience romantic attraction", as they put so academically. Attempting to tell them that aros copied gays with that term in a poor attempt to " legitimize" the aro way will be met with disbelief and confusion. Afterall, how could they know being that young? They weren't there. And haven't been exposed to our history yet. They're too caught up forming their identities (or "discovering" as they put it), an integral part of growing up.

Don't ask them how romantic attraction and wanting to be in a romantic relationship are two different things, nor to describe a romantic relationship without using the word "romantic attraction"; they are too caught up in philosophy and their tautologies to have a meaningful conversation about it yet. Give them time and distance.

But maybe im not going early enough. Afterall, wasn't it novice academics who coined "aromantic"? Who coined " asexual", the community "aromantic" originated? Maybe it's not reclaiming we are doing here at the Harosy community, but instead, trying to turn a dog into a cat.