PerformativeSurprise

Yet another INTJ here.

I can completely relate. I've had to share a bed with friends and family members on occasion, and I hate it. When I was little, I distinctly remember wondering how people in romantic relationships dealt with this problem. Nobody could possibly want to share a bed, right? I remember assuming this was just another price you had to pay if you got married

I'm not touch averse, but I'm not a physically affectionate person either. I like hugs most of the time, but that's about it. I tend to get annoyed if people are too physically affectionate with me; it makes me a little uncomfortable.

Nope. I hate the taste of alcohol, and I hate the idea of anything impairing my judgement. Since I don't like the taste or the idea of being tipsy/drunk, and it's expensive, I see no reason to drink.

I still feel this way....I don't mind love songs per se, but I do get annoyed that they account for the vast majority of popular songs.

Same here.

Maybe it would be easier to look at it from a different (non-romantic) angle? The play isn't really about romance at all--the love story is just a catalyst. It's about the devastating effects of hatred and prejudice. It's about how the very people who were supposed to be guiding and protecting what was most precious to them--their children--were in fact the cause of their destruction due to the families' own blind hatred. Viewed from this lens, Romeo (and Juliet) was just a kid who was sacrificed at the alter of prejudice. His family wouldn't listen to what he had to say and pushed him further and further, not realizing the damage they were doing by forcing their own views onto him. He refused to buy into their prejudice and fought it, but ended up losing out in the end because he was a kid with little power. (Sorry, I'm a huge Shakespeare fan--I'll stop going on about it now )

Interesting topic. Hmm...let's see. I can't think of many off the top of my head, but here are a few noticable ones for me (two of which you mentioned): I don't get squishes I often enjoy fictional romance My friendships are less intense and emotionally involved than most people's (romantic and aromantic)--I prefer casual friendships

I think for me it wasn't just the lack of interest in dating, but the fact that I found the very notion of me being in a relationship ludicrous. As in I would literally laugh if someone asked if I was dating or if so-and-so was my boyfriend. I just couldn't imagine any reason why I would do such a thing. From the looks people gave me, I realized this was not a normal reaction and tried to stifle it. Side note: When I was trying to type the word "ludicrous," it was flagged by spellcheck. It took me a minute to realize I had spelled it "ludacris" like the rapper

Ugh, that's terrible. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. But I don't think you handled it so badly. I'm not sure how I would've handled that...I probably would have just gotten angry. Ha. Usually when stuff like that happens, when I feel like someone has disrespected me (or others), I get mad and don't hide it. It's honestly the one surefire way to overcome my social anxiety--get me mad, and I suddenly get quite assertive . If the group did that of their own accord and without the guy's consent, I would probably tell them off and take him aside and be nicer about it. But if the guy was involved, I would just tell them all off and not care about embarrassing him. No one should be pressured like that--it's selfish and disrespectful. I'm told I can be pretty harsh though, so I can understand taking a softer approach as well.

Absolutely not. I have zero desire to have children. Being aro ace could be effecting things, but I honestly don't think so. I don't think my personality or temperament are suited to raising children. I'm not good at relationships in general, and I think that would have a very negative effect on any potential children. I would feel very irresponsible raising kids, even if I wanted them, since I feel like I would make a bad parent. I don't think that would be fair to the child at all.

I like your traffic light analogy, and I would agree. I'm also fine with light PDA, but if it becomes too intense, it makes me uncomfortable. It can just seem really obnoxious sometimes. It doesn't help that I'm also a kind of sex-repulsed ace, so if it seems sexual to me, then I'm definitely uncomfortable. Honestly, it's a bit hard for me to separate the two and determine if it's the aceness or aroness that makes me uncomfortable with PDA. I know that I also get uncomfortable with people being overly into each other in public, if you know what I mean. Like when people seem to be unaware of everyone else and seem in their own little romantic world. So I guess I get uncomfortable on two levels

I always hate those kind of questions! Whenever someone would ask about what my "type" is or what qualities I find attractive in a partner, I would freeze up or try to deflect. Now that I'm more open about being aro I just answer honestly, but before I would get super awkward.

That does seem pretty comprehensive. Also, I find it amusing that the way it's written makes it seem like a listing of diagnostic criteria

I also get asked for relationship advice fairly often, which I've always found odd. I mean seriously, what on earth gave anyone the impression I know anything about the topic? I guess it is just that I approach it so rationally (since I have no other way to approach it). Also, my BA is in Psychology, so that could have something to do with it. Ha. I don't usually mind, but sometimes it's a little awkward for me, particularly if the person is emotional about it, and I have to try to be sensitive. So today in one of my language classes the lecturer was going over possible topics for our upcoming oral exam. On the day of the exam, we'll each randomly pick a topic from the pool, and we have to discuss it for about 10 minutes or so. One of the possible topics we could get is "dating and marriage," since we had a unit on it this term. With my luck, that'll be the topic I select