Sili

It seems like this thread could possibly be stickied? In the same way the early signs thread is, it seems like this thread could really help people who arent sure whether they are Aro, reading about how people came to realise it. Please tell me if I'm overstepping any mark though. As to the question, as I said in my introduction thread, im in my late 30's, and only very recently discovered it. I didnt know people could not feel romantic attraction. I've even been tangently linked to the LGBTQ+ community for quite a while, with most of my best friends being either Trans, gay, bi or even Ace. However, none of their experiences matched mine, so ive spent my time thinking im just oblivious and picky, confusing other emotions for romantic love. (Thats not to say i'm not those things as well) Then I saw someone else talking about being Aro/Ace, and while the Ace parts didnt resonate, the Aro parts deffinetly did, and pennys started droppings. I did a bit of googling, and saw how the description fitted me to a T. However, still not quite willing to believe it, I had to ask a polly friend what she experienced when she felt romantic love, and whether it matched any songs etc. Her response, while confused, was "Well, yeah, why are you asking?" I responded that I had just come across Aro as being a thing at all, and the pennys dropped for her. Apparently a lot of our relationship suddenly made a lot more sense. That brings me more or less to now.

Around 9 or 10 I guess, probably nearer to 10. I only remember because its just before we moved to secondary or senior school (UK here), and I was insistent we were too young for crushes.

I didnt make up crushes, but yeah, I did think everyone was just making them up. That would have been the earliest sign, and really should have made me think more. Goes hand in hand with romance in music and media, I just assumed it was made up or exagerated. I mean, its fiction, why wouldnt they be making it up?

Most of the thread, but these are the ones from the last page or so that stick out. YIMBAI - You have to ask a good friend what having a crush/being in love feels like, and to try not to use cliches or exagerate, because you've been certain for years that everyone was just doing just that.

My questionnaire. I would say I agree with about 30 statements. Maybes on 5/6, Disagree on around 15, plenty of provisos though.

Hi, I'm Matt, in my late 30's, a divorcee (shocker that didnt work out in retrospect) and pretty sure I'm Aro after coming across it for the first time not too long ago. The term certainly seems to fit what I feel anyway, and I can relate to a lot of the experiences people have posted here, particularly those people around my age who also do feel sexual attraction. I'm into computing in general, as well as strategy gaming, used to be into reading a lot, but my job has ruined that somewhat, still, the likes of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimon are awesome. This forum and reading people experiences has been a huge in helping me determine I'm Aro, and mostly I wanted to say thank you to the people who have posted. I'm still figuring out what subcategories I might identify with, and how this might have affected my previous relationships. probably a fair number of squishes, though i'm still unsure on that or what exactly would constitute a squish. Anywho, hello, and thanks again!